Are bin stores the same as thrift stores?

Bin stores are not the same as thrift stores. A thrift store usually sells donated secondhand goods, while a bin store usually sells liquidation inventory such as customer returns, overstock, shelf pulls, and closeouts from retailers. Thrift stores often sort, price, and display items individually by category. Bin stores usually use a flat price system, large shared bins, and a rapid markdown schedule. Product mix differs too. Thrift stores lean toward used clothing, housewares, books, and donated goods. Bin stores lean toward mixed general merchandise, including small electronics, beauty items, toys, tools, and household goods. Both formats can overlap at the low-price end, but their supply chain, pricing model, and inventory quality are fundamentally different.