Northeast US: Ocean State Job Lot. Free stuff.

[Mosca]

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, and New Jersey. They’re a repack retailer; broken crates, refurbished, odd mistakes, etc. But they have this thing called “crazy deals”, where you buy an item and get a gift card of equal value. So the Mosca household got a $100 Cuisinart meat grinder refurbished and discounted to $80, and a $25 Cuisinart sandwich grill, for $105… along with an OSJL gift card for $105!

And the stuff in the store is mostly good stuff. They have name-brand canned goods and dry goods, imported pastas and sauces, clothing, shoes, tools, etc. They had a deal this past winter where you bought a coat for $40 and 1) you got a $40 gift card, and 2) they donated a coat to a homeless vet. So, 2 free coats! I got a nice parka.

Anyhow,



Ocean State Job Lot

Example: Cuisinart Indoor Pizza Oven, $299, get a $299 gift card free!

[Michael_in_TX]

Buy something and get a gift card for that amount. That is not a promotion one sees every day!

[Mosca]

They’ve been doing it as long as I can remember, though!

Here’s an example of what you get sometimes: I bought something called a Sherpa jacket for $15, and got a $10 gift card; so, $5 for a really nice, warm jacket. Like early spring/late fall. 40°-50°. BUT: the zipper is on the wrong side! It is DEFINITELY a men’s jacket, but it zips up like a women’s jacket! I don’t care. It fits, it’s warm, and it looks great, and nobody knows how it zips. It was $5.

[STEbbq]

How do they make money? For that Sherpa coat example, they would have to get the coat for $1-$3 to make money.

For the $300 item and gift card, it’d almost be like they have to pay $20 or $30 per item.

Pay $25 for item that sells for $300 and make $275, and then sell $25 item for $300 using free gift card. Still ahead by $250.

I guess it can work.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

damaged freight often sells in bulk, same with open box returns. You might have a Treasure Hunt store near you, similar principle. Sometimes there's some hidden gems. Sometimes you get lucky and snag 2 broken things and are able to make 1 good thing. A store like this is probably the first line in that business model chain and what they reject goes to places like Tresure Hunt.

[RichieB]

I don't know their business model. I do know they're prices are well below "mainstream stores". Both B&M and online. I'm about 8 miles from the closest one. I really don't need anything but that hasn't deterred me before. Mosca do you know how long this is going on?

[Mosca]

Idk. I get the emails and the flyers. I’ve been signed up for about 6 months. There are ALWAYS “crazy deals”. They had a Blackstone a few months back.

[RichieB]

I went to the website and selected crazy deals. A list of product came up. None that would interest me. But it says updated every day and more in the store. So it seems to be an ongoing promotion with changes every day. I guess at some point in time a trip to the store is in order. Thanks Mosca for the lead on this.

[SheilaAnn]

Do you have to live (shipping) that side of the Mississippi?

[Mosca]

No idea. You could always register an account and give it a shot, though!

[SheilaAnn]

Mosca “contact us” note response revealed that they only ship to the store. Not to other addresses.

[RolfTaylor]

Every time I drive through Rhode Island and Connecticut I see the stores and trucks and want to stop and check this place out! But driving home to VA from Massachusetts doesn't allow time for stops.