If you, like me, are always looking for a good deal, you might’ve heard of MAC.BID, the mysterious discount warehouses popping up around our region. With treadmills at close to 90% off and a $2,049 vanity going for about $60, it may seem like a dream come true or the most confusing of all scams. The truth is a lot more complicated.
Is It a Scam?
MAC.BID is not a scam, despite some of the complaints on its Better Business Bureau’s page. (It does have an A- rating!) However, it isn’t a traditional business. MAC.BID is a liquidator, which means it buys overstocked or returned goods at a massive discount and then resells them. T.J. Maxx is also a liquidator, except they buy overstocked designer items — not returned items.
Here's where things can get tricky. Sometimes people send back an item because they don’t like the color; other times it’s because the item is broken. MAC.BID puts the onus on the consumer to figure that out.
Some items can be transferred from one warehouse to another for a fee. (Megan Harris / City Cast Pittsburgh)
How Do I Use It?
On the website, select the locations you’re willing to drive to for a pickup. In the Pittsburgh area, there are warehouses in Robinson, Butler, Monroeville, and the Pittsburgh Mills mall. From there, search for items that you would like, but make sure to pay attention to the classification system: like "new," "open box," and "damaged."
If an item is classified as “open box” or “damaged,” inspect it at the warehouse before bidding or purchasing (They don’t provide refunds on those items!). If you buy something classified as “like new,” you can get a refund if it’s damaged, but you must flag it to the staff before leaving the store.
You have three days after you win the online auction to pick up your item — or else it is considered abandoned and you lose the item and your money.
There's a lot of rules, but the upside? There are amazing deals to be found, and it's more sustainable than buying new items. The City Cast Pittsburgh team (and friends) have snagged everything from foldable bikes to floating shelves at a major discount.
Pro Tip: Don't use MAC.BID to find a specific brand or model. They’ll have a lot of mixers but might not have the KitchenAid of your dreams.
No matter how expensive the retail price of an item is, the auction always begins with $1. (Megan Harris / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Why Is MAC.BID a Thing?
A lot of perfectly-good items get returned, like this beautiful wooden utensil organizer I picked up for 90% off retail at MAC.BID. Americans returned about $800 billion worth of merchandise in that 2022 alone, according to the National Retail Federation.
The process of retrieving a returned item, checking its quality, and putting it back on shelves (figuratively or virtually) is complicated and costly. So a lot of returned items don’t end up being resold by their original retailer, and places like MAC.BID buy truckloads full of pallets with returned products at a huge discount. They get these items at such a big markdown that they still profit if you buy a $100+ vacuum for $2!
Liquidators are popping up around the country as a business model. MAC.BID is just our local version of this larger trend. It’s complicated and a little confusing, but Pittsburghers love a deal!
