HAVE TO TAKE THE THIS IS THE MAC DISCOUNT WAREHOUSE AT PITTSBURGH MILLS. THIS SECTION HERE, THIS IS KIND OF THE HEART OF IT. THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THE ITEMS GET PROCESSED AND PUT ON THE SHELVES. TAKE A LOOK AROUND. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE THIS MASSIVE WAREHOUSE. AND THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU PLAN TO BID AND COME INSIDE. HERE IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS. IN FACT, IT’S WHERE IT MUST. ALL OF OUR STUFF IS SOLD ONLINE THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR THE APP. SO EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SEE PILED HERE IN BOXES AND ON SHELVES IS LINKED TO AN ITEM BEING AUCTIONED OFF HERE ON MAC DISCOUNT SITE. AND YOU CAN USE BOTH TOGETHER TO GET A GOOD DEAL. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO. THAT IS THE MAIN ADVICE. STRAIGHT FROM MAC DISCOUNT CO-OWNER KELLEN CAMPBELL, WHO GAVE US SOME INSIDE TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN GET THE BEST PRICE ON HIS MERCHANDISE, STARTING WITH A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS HERE BEHIND THE SCENES. THE TRUCKS WILL BACK UP IN THE DOCK JUST LIKE THIS. YEP. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE’S AN AMAZON TRUCK, RIGHT? RIGHT THROUGH THERE, CAMPBELL SAYS THEY BUY ABOUT A THOUSAND TRUCKLOADS OF RANDOM ITEMS A MONTH AND UNLOAD THEM AT 14 WAREHOUSES, INCLUDING HERE AT PITTSBURGH MILLS, MONROEVILLE, MCKEES ROCKS AND BUTLER. PATIO CHAIRS, LOUNGERS, GRILLS. THE ITEMS ARE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING CLOTHING, LAUNDRY, DETERGENT, FURNITURE, CARPETS, EVEN A SURFBOARD. CAMPBELL SAYS MOST OF THIS WAS RETURNS TO BIG BOX STORES. SOME IS OVERSTOCK OR MODEL CHANGE OVERS. IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF CONDITIONS FROM STUFF THAT IS SO POORLY DAMAGED AND ABUSED THAT IT JUST GETS THROWN OUT TO STUFF THAT’S ESSENTIALLY SOMEONE BOUGHT IT AS A GIFT FOR SOMEBODY AND THEY JUST DECIDED THAT THEY DIDN’T WANT THAT ITEM AND THEY SENT IT BACK. ONCE THE ITEMS ARE UNLOADED FROM THE TRUCK, THEY ARE PLACED ON THIS BELT, OPENED AND INSPECTED BRIEFLY. IT’S UP TO THESE EMPLOYEES TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION. YOU WILL SEE IN THE ONLINE LISTING. IF THEY NOTICE ANYTHING DAMAGE RIPS, TEAR IS MISSING, PIECES. THEY’LL NOTE THAT IN THE LISTING. EACH LISTING IS MARKED EITHER LIKE NEW OPEN BOX OR DAMAGED BASED ON THE INSPECTION THAT, CAMPBELL WARNS, DOES NOT MEAN EACH ITEM IS FULLY FUNCTIONING. THAT’S THE TRICKY PART. AND SOMETHING HE SAYS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND. AND BEFORE YOU BID, WE SELL. SO MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS IN SUCH A VARIETY OF STUFF THAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE SELL. SO A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE ITEMS THAT THE CUSTOMER IS GOING TO KNOW A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT AND WHAT THE FUNCTION OF THAT ITEM IS AND IF THERE’S SOMETHING THAT’S DEFICIENT OR MISSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY’RE GOING TO KNOW BETTER THAN WE WILL. SO THAT’S WHY WE SET EVERYTHING OUT IN ADVANCE OF THE AUCTION CLOTHES AND ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME IN TO INSPECT THEIR ITEMS. THAT IS THE NEXT BIG TIP, CAMPBELL SAYS. EVERY ITEM UP FOR BID CAN BE INSPECTED BY YOU IN PERSON. FIRST, PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIMES THE ITEM CAN BE REVIEWED AND IN WHICH SPECIFIC WAREHOUSE AND GO CHECK IT OUT BEFORE YOU BID. BECAUSE ONCE YOU WIN, YOU OWN IT. WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT. AND KNOW THAT WHEN YOU DO WIN, THERE ARE RULES HERE TOO SPECIFIC TO EACH ITEM, INCLUDING THE DAYS AND TIMES. YOU CAN PICK IT UP BEFORE THE ITEM IS FORFEITED AND WHETHER IT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER STORE FOR $5. ALSO, WHEN YOU COME IN TO PICK UP YOUR ITEM, YOU HAVE TO CHECK IN ON THE APP AND THEN YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE SPOT ON THE SHELF WHERE YOU CAN FIND YOUR ITEM. THERE IS NO WAY TO FIND IT. JUST BROWSING ITEMS AREN’T CATEGORIZED. THEY’RE PLACED ON THE SHELVES IN THE ORDER THEY’RE UNLOADED FROM THE TRUCKS. IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO GET USED TO IT, BUT ONCE YOU LEARN HOW TO DO IT, IT’S RELATIVELY EASY. THE CUSTOMERS WE FOUND CHECKING OUT AT PITTSBURGH MILLS HAD THIS DOWN PAT JUST ABOUT EVERYONE HAD BEEN HERE BEFORE THIS WEEK TWICE SO FAR. BEV BEVAN SAYS SHE HAS LEARNED TO PAY THE SMALL FEE OFFERED WHILE BIDDING TO PROTECT HER PURCHASE. THE BUYER’S ASSURANCE IS AMAZING. IT’S YOU CAN GET BUYERS INSURANCE FOR LIKE IT’S A FRACTION OF THE PRICE. BUT IF FOR ANY REASON FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU CAN COME IN AND RETURN IT OR IF YOU WANT A LITTLE EXTRA PROTECTION AT A BIT OF A HIGHER FEE, YOU CAN PAY. 29.99 A MONTH TO GET A FREE RETURN EACH MONTH. EXTENDED PICKUP HOURS. THE OPTION TO REQUEST A FEW EXTRA DAYS TO PICK UP YOUR PURCHASE AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE ITEMS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER WAREHOUSES FOR FREE. SO IF YOU LOVE A GOOD DEAL AND YOU’RE ENTICED THAT ALL BIDDING STARTS AT $1. DEALS ARE OUT THERE WITH A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SOME TIPS FROM THE TOP. MOST OF THE DEALS ARE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE AND SPECTACULAR. AND YOU’RE GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK. DOES THAT MEAN THAT BAD DEALS DON’T HAPPEN? OF COURSE NOT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIQUIDATION AND THAT’S WHY YOU’RE GETTING STUFF FOR 70 TO 80% OFF OF RETAIL. SO YOU CAN WALK INTO A WAREHOUSE AND SHOP AROUND. REMEMBER, THINGS ARE NOT ORGANIZED FOR THAT. AND YOU STILL HAVE TO MAKE A BID ONLINE BEFORE YOU CAN WALK OUT WITH ANY OF THES
At the M@C Discount warehouse at Pittsburgh Mills, you can find just about anything. Every single item piled in boxes and on shelves is linked to an item being auctioned off M@C Discount's site. You can use both together to get a good deal.“Understand what you're getting into.”That is the main advice straight from M@C Discount co-owner Kellen Campbell, who gave Pittsburgh's Action News 4 some inside tips on how you can get the best price on his merchandise, starting with a look at what happens behind the scenes.Campbell says they buy about 1,000 truckloads of random items a month and unload them at 14 warehouses, mostly here in our area, including Monroeville, Butler, McKees Rocks, Robinson, Washington and Beaver Falls.The items are just about anything: Clothing, laundry detergent, furniture, carpets, even a surfboard. Campbell says most of these were returns to big box stores. Some is overstock or model changeovers.“It could be any number of conditions," Campbell said. "From stuff that is so poorly damaged and abused that it just gets thrown out, to stuff that someone bought it as a gift for somebody and they just decided that they didn't want that item and they sent it back."Once the items are unloaded from the truck, they are placed on a belt before being opened and inspected briefly. It's up to employees to determine the condition you will see in the online listing.“If they notice anything damaged, rips, tears, missing pieces, they'll note that in the listing,” Campbell said.Each listing is marked either "like new," "open box," or "damaged." That’s based on the inspection that Campbell warns doesn't mean each item is fully functioning. That’s the tricky part and something he says you need to understand before you bid.“We sell so many different items, such a variety of stuff that we're not going to be experts in everything that we sell,” Campbell explained. “So, a lot of times, there are items that the customers are going to know a whole lot more about and what the function of that item is, and if there is something that is deficient or missing or something like that, they're going to know better than we will. That’s why we set everything out in advance of the auction close, and encourage everybody to come in to inspect their items.”That is the next big tip. Campbell says every item up for bid can be inspected by you in person first. Pay attention to the times the items can be reviewed and in which specific warehouse, and go check it out before you bid.Because once you win, you own it, whether it works or not. And know that when you do win, there are rules specific to each item, including the days and times you can pick it up before the item is forfeited and whether it can be transferred to another store for $5.Also, when you come in to pick up your item, you have to check in on the app, and then you will be directed to the spot on the shelf where you can find your item. There is no way to find it just by browsing. Items aren't categorized. They are placed on the shelves in the order they're unloaded from the trucks.The customers we found checking out had this down pat. Just about everyone had been here before."This week, twice so far,” said Bevin Orr.Orr says she has learned to pay the small fee offered while bidding to protect her purchase.“Buyer's assurance is amazing," Orr said. "You can get buyer's assurance for a fraction of the price, but for any reason, whatever reason, you can come and return it.”Or, if you want a little extra protection at a bit of a higher fee, you can pay $29.99 a month to get a free return each month, extended pickup hours, the option to request a few extra days to pick up your purchase, the ability to have items transferred to other warehouses for free.So if you love a good deal and you're enticed that all bidding starts at $1, deals are out there with a little research and some tips from the top.“Most of the deals are going to be incredible and spectacular, and you're going to keep coming back," Campbell said. "Does that mean that bad deals don't happen? Of course not. This is liquidation, and that's why you're getting stuff for 70-80% off of retail."
FRAZER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
At the M@C Discount warehouse at Pittsburgh Mills, you can find just about anything.
Every single item piled in boxes and on shelves is linked to an item being auctioned off M@C Discount's site. You can use both together to get a good deal.
Advertisem*nt
“Understand what you're getting into.”
That is the main advice straight from M@C Discount co-owner Kellen Campbell, who gave Pittsburgh's Action News 4 some inside tips on how you can get the best price on his merchandise, starting with a look at what happens behind the scenes.
Campbell says they buy about 1,000 truckloads of random items a month and unload them at 14 warehouses, mostly here in our area, including Monroeville, Butler, McKees Rocks, Robinson, Washington and Beaver Falls.
The items are just about anything: Clothing, laundry detergent, furniture, carpets, even a surfboard. Campbell says most of these were returns to big box stores. Some is overstock or model changeovers.
“It could be any number of conditions," Campbell said. "From stuff that is so poorly damaged and abused that it just gets thrown out, to stuff that someone bought it as a gift for somebody and they just decided that they didn't want that item and they sent it back."
Once the items are unloaded from the truck, they are placed on a belt before being opened and inspected briefly. It's up to employees to determine the condition you will see in the online listing.
“If they notice anything damaged, rips, tears, missing pieces, they'll note that in the listing,” Campbell said.
Each listing is marked either "like new," "open box," or "damaged." That’s based on the inspection that Campbell warns doesn't mean each item is fully functioning. That’s the tricky part and something he says you need to understand before you bid.
“We sell so many different items, such a variety of stuff that we're not going to be experts in everything that we sell,” Campbell explained. “So, a lot of times, there are items that the customers are going to know a whole lot more about and what the function of that item is, and if there is something that is deficient or missing or something like that, they're going to know better than we will. That’s why we set everything out in advance of the auction close, and encourage everybody to come in to inspect their items.”
That is the next big tip. Campbell says every item up for bid can be inspected by you in person first. Pay attention to the times the items can be reviewed and in which specific warehouse, and go check it out before you bid.
Because once you win, you own it, whether it works or not. And know that when you do win, there are rules specific to each item, including the days and times you can pick it up before the item is forfeited and whether it can be transferred to another store for $5.
Also, when you come in to pick up your item, you have to check in on the app, and then you will be directed to the spot on the shelf where you can find your item. There is no way to find it just by browsing. Items aren't categorized. They are placed on the shelves in the order they're unloaded from the trucks.
The customers we found checking out had this down pat. Just about everyone had been here before.
"This week, twice so far,” said Bevin Orr.
Orr says she has learned to pay the small fee offered while bidding to protect her purchase.
“Buyer's assurance is amazing," Orr said. "You can get buyer's assurance for a fraction of the price, but for any reason, whatever reason, you can come and return it.”
Or, if you want a little extra protection at a bit of a higher fee, you can pay $29.99 a month to get a free return each month, extended pickup hours, the option to request a few extra days to pick up your purchase, the ability to have items transferred to other warehouses for free.
So if you love a good deal and you're enticed that all bidding starts at $1, deals are out there with a little research and some tips from the top.
“Most of the deals are going to be incredible and spectacular, and you're going to keep coming back," Campbell said. "Does that mean that bad deals don't happen? Of course not. This is liquidation, and that's why you're getting stuff for 70-80% off of retail."
Rossen Reports: Trade in your used car seats for a Target discount
Rossen Reports: How to save $10k a year
