How to Buy Stock Lots and Bulk Lots in India

A stock lot is a parcel of goods sold together, usually because the seller has more than they can sell. Buying lots can give a much lower cost per piece, but the risk is yours: you have to check what is in the lot, who is selling it and how you will be paid back if something is wrong. This guide shows how to buy carefully.

Short answer

To buy a stock lot in India, find lots that match what you can resell, ask for the count, condition and purchase invoice, see photos or a video or visit the stock, check the seller is a real business, agree the total cost including transport and tax, and pay only to the seller's business bank account against a proper invoice.

What is a stock lot

A lot can be one product in one quantity, a mixed parcel, a graded parcel (A, B and C grade), a pallet or a whole warehouse. Lots are sold by the piece, by the carton or as one price for everything. Always ask which.

Where buyers find stock lots

Wholesale markets and dealers who deal in surplus
Liquidators and bulk traders
Trade groups on WhatsApp and Facebook
Factories and brands that clear their own surplus
Stock boards such as ClearLot, where sellers list lots and you browse by category

What to check before you pay

The exact count and unit: pieces, cartons or kilograms
Condition and grade: new and sealed, open box, returns, old season, near expiry
Photos of the stock, the labels and the outer packing, or a live video, or a visit
The purchase invoice or GST bill, so you know the goods are genuine
Batch numbers and expiry dates, for anything that expires
Whether the seller is a real business: GST number, address, a working phone
Who pays transport and who is responsible for damage on the way

How lots are priced

Price depends on the brand, the age, the condition, the quantity, how complete the sizes or models are, where the lot is and how fast the seller needs to sell. Compare with the price of the same item new. Ask for the rate per piece even if the lot is sold as a whole, so you can compare lots.

Costs beyond the price

Transport and loading
GST and the paperwork for it
Sorting, repacking or repair
Some pieces that will not sell, so plan for a small loss
Storage until you sell it

How to avoid being cheated

Never pay a deposit, fee or "registration" to a stranger before you have seen the goods
Pay only to a bank account in the seller's business name, against an invoice
Check the stock yourself or send someone you trust, and count it out when it is loaded
Do not accept a lot you have not seen on the strength of a photo alone
Keep every agreement in writing, even a message

Buying on ClearLot

Open a lot on the stock board and tap I am interested. We call you first, then connect you with the seller. You inspect the goods and agree payment directly with the seller. ClearLot is a free-to-list stock board in India. Our team checks every lot before it goes on the board, and the seller's name, business name and phone number are not shown to visitors. When a buyer is interested, we speak to them first and then connect the two. ClearLot does not buy, hold or transport stock and is not a party to the deal: price, payment and dispatch are agreed between seller and buyer.

Frequently asked questions

What is a stock lot?

A stock lot is a parcel of goods sold together, usually surplus, clearance or closing stock. It can be a single product, a mixed parcel or a graded parcel, and it is priced per piece or as one price for everything.

Where can I buy surplus stock in India?

Wholesale markets, liquidators, factories and brands clearing surplus, trade groups, and stock boards such as ClearLot where sellers list lots by category.

How do I know a stock lot is genuine?

Ask for the purchase invoice, photos or a video, and the count and condition. See the stock yourself or send someone you trust, and pay only to the seller's business account against an invoice.

Does ClearLot sell the lots?

No. ClearLot is a stock board that introduces sellers and buyers. The price, payment and dispatch are agreed directly between them, and ClearLot never asks for money for goods.

Read next: How to sell dead stock in India. Or see what ClearLot is.

How to buy stock lots and bulk lots in India