Discontinued stock buyers: sell your end of line stock

Every range review leaves something behind. A retailer deletes a line, the new packaging arrives, the model is superseded, and you're left with stock that's perfectly good but no longer has a home. We've been buying discontinued and end of line stock for over 30 years, from businesses across Australia, New Zealand and overseas.

What counts as discontinued or end of line stock?

Any stock you're no longer going to sell through your normal channels because the line itself has finished. Common examples:

• Range review stock. A retailer has deleted the line, or cut the number of SKUs it carries.
• Packaging change stock. The product is the same, but the old pack is now wrong for your customers.
• Superseded models. A new version has launched and the old one has to go.
• Seasonal or licensed lines. The season, the movie or the licence period has ended.
• Components and packaging. Labels, bottles, cartons and parts made for a line that no longer exists.

It's different from dead stock, which simply hasn't sold. Discontinued stock might have sold well. It just has nowhere to go now. (If that sounds more like your situation, see our page on dead stock buyers.)

Why is discontinued stock harder to sell yourself?

Because your normal customers have already moved on, and the obvious ways to clear it can hurt you.

Discounting it in your own channels puts the old line next to the new one at a lower price. Selling it on auction sites means it can turn up anywhere. Offering it back to retailers rarely works, because a department-store purchasing manager receives 200 to 300 emails a day and a deleted line isn't a priority.

The stock needs a buyer who wants it for a different reason, in a place where it won't get in your way.

Who buys discontinued stock?

More people than you'd think. We sell to major retailers, discount chains, overseas buyers, charities, wholesalers and distributors.

Each one has different motivations, and we structure the offer to suit them while keeping the stock away from the channels you want to protect. Our guide to who buys excess stock in Australia covers each one.

The glass bottles: a discontinued line with a second life

Sometimes the discontinued item isn't a finished product at all. We once bought a discontinued line of glass bottles. On their own, empty bottles are a hard sell. So we found a beverage company with spare capacity, had the bottles filled with soft drink, and sold the finished product to a discount retailer.

The bottles were made for a line that no longer existed. They ended up on a shelf anyway. It's a good example of why it pays to ask before you scrap packaging, components or part-finished stock. Anything is possible!

Another example from our files: 1,400 full HD camcorders from a leading brand, a superseded model with plenty of life left in it.

How do you sell discontinued stock to us?

1. Send us the details. A stock list spreadsheet (SKU, description, quantity, cost or RRP if you're happy to share, and best-before dates if it's dated), photos and the location.
2. We survey the market. John discreetly checks with buyers to see what the line is worth.
3. We make an offer. In most cases we offer for the whole parcel. If that isn't possible, John gives you his best advice on how to sell it.
4. We agree collection and payment. Collection is flexible and agreed per parcel. We pay promptly, as per our agreed terms.

There's no minimum. We buy from anywhere in Australia, from New Zealand and internationally.

How do you protect your brand when clearing discontinued lines?

By deciding where the stock can't go before it's sold, and selling to someone who'll respect that. Our four guarantees put that in writing:

1. "We strictly follow your guidelines in relation to pricing and distribution locations."
2. "We send payment promptly, as per our agreed terms."
3. "We place a priority focus on clearing your stock."
4. "We speedily and discreetly convert your stock into cash at the highest possible price, without damaging your market position."

Typical guidelines include no sale in particular retailers or states, export only, or no online listing. Our guide on protecting your brand when clearing stock goes through the options.

When should you sell discontinued stock?

As soon as you know the line is finishing, ideally before the replacement lands. The old version generally loses value once the new one is on shelf, and if the stock is dated, the clock is running too. Selling early also frees warehouse space for the new range.

If you're not sure what it's worth, our guide on how much your stock is worth explains what affects the price.

What if the stock has a problem?

Discontinued lines often have one: old artwork, a labelling change, a missing component, outdated instructions. Tell us. We're transparent about issues with our buyers, and we can often still find someone for it.

Got a deleted line, a range review hangover or a warehouse full of old packaging? Send us the details and we'll take a look.