Retail is for Chumps

Normally, when we buy goods, we go to a retailer (either online or in person). However, there are many items that can be bought from other businesses - such as industrial suppliers. Here are a few items you can save significant amounts of money or get much better performing goods by looking elsewhere.

Pictured: Someone paying a premium for retail products.

1: Jackets for Extreme Cold

Most consumer jackets are made with two things in mind: (i) keeping the user warm and (ii) looking good. Unfortunately, these considerations can lead to the other's detriment. One of my favorite jackets looks fantastic, but isn't super warm.

So that got me thinking about who would design a jacket purely for warmth (and doesn't charge an arm and a leg like Canadian Goose). The answer? The military.

Military surplus stores are common in cities around the world. Even if you don't have one, there are scores online. I personally picked up an East German military coat. Since it was made for the eastern (I guess, from their perspective, the western) front, it is super warm. Plus it's a cool talking point.

2: Moisturizer

It's no secret that beauty companies mark up their lotions and cremes by an extraordinary amount. But for those with skin care routines, this is a necessity.

Pictured: One of my favorite moisturizers.

I found this one in the psych ward (see here for a post on that). It is hands down one of the best moisturizers I've ever had the pleasure of using. And, since it is made in industrial quantities and sold on the B2B market, you can pick it up for $1.40.

3: Lube

Speaking of industries that charge a premium for no good reason other than profit, the sex product industry has some of the highest mark ups. Again, turning to the medical field, doctors need lube too! They typically use it for things like a colonoscopies and other non-sexy applications.

Pictured: Is your lube bacteriostatic? I didn't think so.

I'd say it is more jelly-like than typical liquid lubes, but it works quite well. Plus, it's sterile - which is a quality you definitely want in a lube.

4: Mattresses

Mattresses are expensive. In fact, I just spent way too much on a new one because my back needs it. But, if you are on a budget, used mattresses are much cheaper because people don't want to buy them.

There's really no good reason for this. Obviously heavily used mattresses are gross, but those aren't the only ones out there. Some people have mattresses that they simply don't use any more (or used for a guest room few people actually used). And it can be a pain to get rid of them.

My first mattress that I owned (when I was really hurting for cash) was lightly used. Instead of paying over $1000 for it, I gave the owner a good bottle of scotch.

If you are still iffy on this whole thing, think about the last time you were at a hotel. Far more people have slept on that mattress than almost any used mattress you can find on the market.

5: Office Supplies

Many people already have a hack for this - stealing from work. This can get you in trouble though (and it's, you know, wrong). But you can still buy your pens, post-its, and other stationary stuff from the same places your job does. You may have to buy in a larger quantity like you're shopping at CostCo or something, but the price per item is far better than what you would get when buying pens in smaller quantities.

If you work in a smaller office, you can also probably talk to your office manager and see if they will add a box of pens to their order (which you pay them back for).

6: Cars

You know that Hertz and other rental car companies rent cars (it's in the name). But, you may not know that they also sell cars. Typically, these companies want to keep their fleet relatively up to date. So, they just sell off their older (think 2 or so years older than current year) cars. Instead of going to your typical dealership, it can be far cheaper to buy from a rental car company. Plus, you know the prior drivers were careful - it was a rental.

***

In short, there are often many alternative sources of purchasing goods rather than going to regular retail stores. One of the easiest ways to spot this is to think what industrial use a certain good would have and to go to those suppliers instead. Happy hunting!