We’re not trash-talking here, we’re just talking trash. An investigation into suspicious activity on Amazon has revealed that third-party vendors are repackaging items they found in the garbage. After confirming multiple parties involved in this practice, the Wall Street Journal went undercover to see for themselves how easy it would be to sell products recovered from a dumpster.
As it turns out, it was easier than a kindergarten crossword puzzle. By simply providing a driver’s license and some bank information, the WSJ team had an Amazon vendor’s account set up in no time. In the two days that it took to process their paperwork, the team did a little dumpster diving behind a local mall and came home with a treasure trove of still-packaged goods. After just a few minutes of cleaning, they were able to sell all of their items to Amazon as an official third-party vendor, where the products then shipped to a fulfillment center to await their new home.
While this investigation may appear as though certain vendors are taking advantage of Amazon’s massive lack of oversight, the real scandal here is just how much waste ends up in the landfill. So next time you come across a secondhand good that has firsthand appeal to you, go ahead and buy it. Purchasing existing products helps cut down on waste on both sides of an object’s lifespan. Just be sure you learn the difference between dumpster gold and dumpster mold by referencing our training manual below.
Photo: Art-Of-Photo (Getty Images)
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Amazon Dumpster Dive
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Mason Jars
Buy. Just be sure to sanitize them upon arrival, as you never know what they were previously used for.
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'Bespoke' Diapers
Don't buy. It's a scam. Anyone who's never met your baby couldn't possibly make them a custom-fit diaper.
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Fresh-Style Fruit
Don't buy. Never purchase fruit on the internet. It's offensive to fruit.
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Broken-In Shoes
Buy. But only if you like your shoes to have that weathered, rough-hewn, I've-seen-some-things kind of smell.
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'Slightly Burnt' Firewood
Depends. Are you looking to build a nice-smelling fire or one that has the quality of noxious fumes?
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Vintage Luggage
Also depends. Were they used to transport drugs or body parts?
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Antique Cans
Don't buy. No matter how antique they are, if they don't have a beverage inside of them, cans belong in the recycling bin.
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Discount Milk
Don't buy. We don't care how much money you saved on a 10-gallon box. You will definitely always regret it.
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Distressed Haute Couture Bathrobes
Buy. It doesn't matter how many moth holes it has, it's the way you wear it poolside in front of a crowd of total strangers that counts.
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Cheap Wigs
Buy. Live a little. Be the person you long to be with a gorgeous ginger wig (with bangs). That's what spending money is all about.
