Loco Bins draws bargain hunters on opening weekend

Shoppers ready to bin dive for a deal were greeted with a long line at Loco Bins, a new discount store, near Barton Street and Gage Avenue this weekend.

The store, which opened Friday, sells previously returned or unopened items from major retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, that are sourced through a supplier. The items are dumped in large bins that customers can search through.

It was actually an awesome turnout. It was really better than we expected," said Loco Bins owner Mohammad Al Momani, who has owned the neighbouring Mr. Liquidation for five years.

On Friday and Saturday, the items go for $10 each, and the price drops the rest of the week - $8 on Sunday, $6 on Monday, $3 on Tuesday, and $1 on Wednesday. On Thursday, the store is closed to customers for restocking.

Al Momani expects Fridays and Saturdays to continue being popular for customers, as that is when stock is replenished. To make the experience fair for everybody," he said he limits shopping time and capacity to 20 minutes per cohort of about two dozen people on the busy days, with customers welcome to re-enter the line if they need more time to dig. Some line up hours before opening, as early as 6:30 a.m., he said. He estimated they exceeded 300 customers on opening day.

Shopper Courtney Woods said she turned a profit from her shopping trip on opening day, scoring a Pokemon card booster pack for $10, and quickly selling it online for $350. She also found a retro gaming console, and other items including flowerpots, LED lights, and string lights that she hopes to incorporate into her macrame designs at her business, Knotty Friends.

Woods has also shopped at Krazy Binz, another discount retailer located about 15 minutes away down Barton Street toward Stoney Creek.

I think that they would benefit from opening more in the city," said Woods, noting other shoppers shared that feedback on the shops' social media. Especially when you go in the morning, as soon as they open, there's usually a lineup."

Vincent De-Berardis said he spent about $120 on the weekend for at least five times as much value in the items he picked up - from smartwatches and a Ring video doorbell, to a photography backpack.

When you're in there, they were telling [shoppers] to keep your distance. There's a lot of bins, like one person can go to practically each bin," said De-Berardis, who shopped on Friday and returned the next day.

Vjosa Isai is a reporter at The Spectator covering Hamilton-based business. Reach her via email: visai@thespec.com.