Los Angeles, CA

Most people assume the best bin store in Los Angeles is whichever one has the most Google reviews. The data tells a different story. A location with 924 reviews can be a glorified Amazon counter, while a shop with 12 reviews might genuinely change how you think about bargain shopping. This list cuts through the noise.

Bin stores, for the uninitiated, operate on a simple premise: retailers and Amazon return centers offload unsold or returned merchandise in bulk, and these stores sell it by the bin, often priced by the day or by the pound. Los Angeles has a growing number of them, and the quality gap between a great bin store pal and a mediocre one is enormous. Some days you walk out with a queen-size air mattress. Other days you leave with nothing. That variability is the whole game.

Five stores earned a spot here, ranked not by star rating alone but by what the reviews actually say, what makes each place worth the drive, and where each one falls short.

1. Best Bin

4.7 stars across 248 reviews is a real number. But what earns Best Bin the top spot isn't the rating; it's the sheer density of services packed into one family-owned operation that has been running since 1992. That's over three decades of sourcing closeout deals and organic produce before "bin stores" became a trend anyone was writing articles about.

Best Bin accepts EBT and SNAP payments. In a city where roughly 1 in 8 residents relies on food assistance, that matters more than most retailers acknowledge. Very few bin stores in Los Angeles offer this. The fact that this one does, while also offering U-Haul rentals, DMV services, auto broker services, and party rentals, makes it less a bin store and more a neighborhood anchor. Yes, all of that is under one roof. Genuinely strange, but in the best possible way.

New inventory comes in every day, which reviewers consistently flag as a reason to return. One shopper noted that Wednesday is slow because everything sells fast, while Friday brings the freshest stock. That's actionable intel. Plan accordingly.

"I absolutely LOVE this store! I didn't know what to expect but finding great buys makes me smile all day long! I got to spin the wheel with points I earned and hit the jackpot! I got a queen size air..."

A loyalty points system with a spin-the-wheel reward mechanic. At a bin store. That's not something you see every day.

Best feature: Daily new inventory plus EBT acceptance, a combination almost no competitor offers.
Caveat: Mid-week visits can feel sparse. If you go on a Wednesday, don't be surprised if the bins look picked over. Friday is the move.

2. Bins and Deals

32 reviews at 4.4 stars sounds modest until you read what those reviewers actually wrote. Words like "addictive" and "favorite place to shop" show up repeatedly, which is not language people use about a store they feel neutral about. Bins and Deals earns its spot here because the reviews describe a consistent experience, not a lucky visit.

Merchandise drops every Friday and prices fall daily through Thursday. That sliding price structure is smart retail psychology, and it rewards shoppers who understand the rhythm. Come Friday for the best selection. Come Thursday for the steepest discounts. Most bin stores don't explain their pricing cadence this clearly to customers, so the fact that reviewers have internalized it says something about how this place communicates.

Staff members Khalid and Andrea get named in reviews. By name. That doesn't happen unless people genuinely feel welcomed. Customer service at liquidation stores is often an afterthought, which makes this stand out sharply in comparison.

"Bins and Deals is by far my favorite place to shop! It is so much fun and addictive! They have the best finds in every category. In practice, the staff are awesome. Khalid and Andrea are so cool and they make shopping fun!"

Best feature: A clear weekly price-drop schedule that rewards repeat visitors.
Caveat: No listed specialties in the data, so the inventory can be unpredictable. That's half the fun, but also the risk.

3. LA Bin Store

Only 12 reviews, which is a small sample. But the range of opinions in those 12 reviews is actually more useful than 200 reviews that all say the same thing. One person called it "a more disorganized Goodwill" with poor ventilation. Another said "great customer service, great everyday deals." Both things can be true simultaneously at a bin store, and usually are.

Tuesday is $5 day. Sundays are $10. That tiered pricing by day of the week is a format that regular bin store shoppers recognize and love, because it lets you calibrate your visit to your budget. Contrary to popular belief, the cheapest day isn't always the best day; by the time prices drop to $5, the best items are usually gone. But for someone shopping on a tight budget, Tuesday is the only day that makes sense.

Typically, the ventilation issue mentioned in reviews is worth taking seriously. Some of these stores are in warehouse-style spaces that get hot and stuffy, especially in LA summers. If you're sensitive to that, go early.

"It depends on the days... kind of slow during early hours... sometimes great items and sometimes junk... Tuesday is $5 day. Sundays are $10."

Best feature: Day-based pricing gives budget shoppers a real framework.
Caveat: The store's own reviewer described it as disorganized and poorly ventilated. Go in with realistic expectations.

4. Dollar Bargain

14 reviews, 4.4 stars, and an honest mixed bag of feedback. Dollar Bargain makes this list not because it's perfect but because it serves a specific purpose well: proximity and convenience for low-income shoppers in its neighborhood. One reviewer literally called it "my 99 cent" store, which is a compliment in the world of bargain retail.

There's a lottery scratcher component mentioned in reviews, which is a tangential detail that tells you something about the store's community vibe. People are hanging out there. It's not just a transaction point.

And here's where honesty matters: one reviewer had a negative experience with the owner on a third visit, describing a shift in attitude once the novelty wore off. That's a real concern. A single bad owner interaction can erase five good ones in memory. Worth keeping in mind.

"I call it my 99cent.. lol. Cheap closes to my house. Good service. If you play lottery scratcher good spot to get one Here and Win!!!"

Best feature: Strong neighborhood convenience factor and low price points.
Caveat: At least one reviewer flagged owner attitude as inconsistent. Results may vary depending on the day.

5. Amazon Pickup and Returns at USC Village

Wait, this is technically not a bin store in the traditional sense. But it earns a spot here for a specific reason: if you're hunting Amazon return merchandise, understanding where that merchandise originates matters. This location holds packages for up to seven days, offers free two-hour parking around the clock, and has 924 reviews at 4.6 stars, the largest review base on this list by a factor of nearly four.

For the bin store shopper, this is useful context rather than a direct competitor. Amazon return merchandise flows from locations like this into the liquidation supply chain. Knowing that the USC Village location runs a tight, well-reviewed operation means the products cycling through it are probably handled with some care before they hit a bin somewhere else in the city.

Staff quality gets mentioned by name in reviews here too, specifically an associate named Raul. Two-hour free parking, 24/7, is a genuine amenity in a city where parking is its own special kind of suffering.

"Raul was an associate who helped us and he was fantastic! He was quick, kind, and had an amazing attitude! Props to this young man!"

Best feature: Free 24/7 parking and the highest volume of verified reviews on this list.
Caveat: This is a pickup and return counter, not a bin store. If you're looking to dig through discounted merchandise, this is not the place. Go to Best Bin or Bins and Deals for that.

The Bottom Line

Best Bin is the clearest winner on this list, and it isn't particularly close. Three decades of operation, EBT acceptance, daily inventory, and a loyalty rewards program add up to something most competitors haven't figured out yet. Go on a Friday. Bring a bag. Be patient with the bins.

For everyone else on the list, the weekly pricing calendars at LA Bin Store and Bins and Deals are the most underrated tools a budget shopper can use. Most people show up randomly. As a rule, the regulars who understand when prices drop and when fresh inventory arrives do significantly better on average. That's not luck. That's just paying attention.

If you've been sleeping on Los Angeles bin stores because you assumed they were just glorified junk piles, the reviews here suggest otherwise. People are finding queen-size air mattresses, spinning prize wheels, and calling these places their favorite shops in the city. That's worth at least one visit to find out for yourself.