The bargain hunters at Good Housekeeping regularly browse the Internet for the best deals that our readers can shop. Amazon Warehouse helps with just that—and we have the tips and tricks to wield it!
In short, Amazon Warehouse is a dedicated section on Amazon where you can browse pre-owned, used, and open-box products and buy them below market price. During major savings events (like Prime Day, which is happening from June 23-26), Amazon Warehouse deals can fly under the radar.
But the fact is, Amazon will often roll out extra discounts on top of the already-marked-down items—so Prime Day will be one of the best times to shop the warehouse during the year. Let’s break down how to navigate Amazon Warehouse to score the most savings.
What exactly is Amazon Warehouse?
Living as its own section on the site, Amazon Warehouse consists of sale items, including sought-after name brands, like Ninja and Apple products to Amazon devices (Fire TVs, Echo, Kindle). The retailer marks these down because their condition is "like-new, open-box or pre-owned," according to Amazon Warehouse's FAQ page.
Lexie Sachs, the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute, has “had major luck getting steep discounts on brand new products sold directly by Amazon,” she says. She stumbled upon the Amazon Warehouse site when purchasing balloon sets (normally $30) for her kids and noticed a “new from $20.50” option with the Amazon Prime logo next to it.
Sachs clicked through and found out that the only issue with the product was that its packaging came slightly damaged, so she gave it a shot. "When my order showed up, the box looked like it was in perfect condition," she says. After that, Sachs says she was hooked.
How do I get to Amazon Warehouse?
From the Amazon.com homepage, simply click the dropdown arrow to the left of the search box and scroll to "Amazon Second Chance" under Programs & Features. After, navigate to “Shop pre-owned items,” and then scroll down to “Amazon Resale.” That specific link will bring you to the Warehouse.
(Note: Our team noticed that you may see “Amazon Resale” as a shortcut in your dropdown menu. If you do, you can skip the aforementioned process.)
Alternatively, you can type amazon.com/resale and you’ll be directed to the Amazon Warehouse homepage.
How does Amazon Warehouse work?
According to Amazon, all items are evaluated and graded using a 20-point quality process. The site uses the labels below to give shoppers a quick understanding of the product's condition, along with detailed comments unique to that item. Look out for these labels when shopping at Amazon Warehouse:
- Renewed: This is Amazon's version of refurbished. All renewed products have been inspected and tested by Amazon to work and look as good as new. It should have minimal to no signs of wear and comes with the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which gives you 90 days to request a replacement or refund.
- Used – Like New: An item in perfect working condition. The packaging may have minor damage.
- Used – Very Good: The item has seen limited use and remains in great working condition. The packaging may be damaged, or it may come repackaged.
- Used – Good: The item shows wear but remains in good working condition. The packaging may be damaged, or it may come repackaged.
- Used – Acceptable: The item is fairly worn but continues to function properly. The packaging may be damaged, or it may come repackaged.
If you're unhappy with your purchase, Amazon Warehouse offers free replacements within 30 days when there is a product with the same listing condition available in its inventory.
As for scoring a great deal, it's first come, first served. “It's not like there are multiple units in inventory,” explains Sachs, “It's something you should keep an eye out for, and you have to be quick because it's usually a one-off item at a time.” She suggests adding your selected item to Amazon's "Save for Later" to keep tabs on markdowns.
To give you an idea of what "damaged packaging" might look like, Sachs kindly provided us with pictures of a recent purchase she made on Amazon Warehouse, and if you ask us, it's barely noticeable!
Sachs has since made more purchases on Amazon Warehouse and claims most of the time, there is usually zero noticeable damage. “I honestly would've still given some items as a gift,” she says. “Today I got a new tie-dye kit, and the edges did look a bit dented. However, the contents were perfect.”
Is Amazon Warehouse legit and safe to shop from?
To be extra safe, only make your purchase when your item is labeled "Fulfilled by Amazon." You can see this on the far right of the page, under the price. “Knowing it’s fulfilled by Amazon, I know it's legitimate, and I can easily resolve any issues if they come up,” says Sachs. “I don’t think I'd feel safe if it was a third-party seller that I had to deal with separately if there was an issue.”
