Customer shares photo of shocking sight while shopping at Staples: 'Definitely jarring to look at'

When you head into a big-box store, you typically expect to find neatly arranged shelves of products. 

One person found something else entirely when they went shopping at Staples, however. They snapped a photo for a post in Reddit's r/Anticonsumption community. 

"The resell bins at Staples," they wrote underneath the image, which shows a row of large containers full of loose products. 

"Full of random stuff," they explained. "Half the boxes are open and there's no organization to anything." 

The items were on sale for $15 or less. The shopper theorized that the store may be a designated place for online shopping returns and called the bins "a new type of thrifting." 

While this overflow does present an opportunity to find a good deal, it also highlights just how much waste is allowed in the e-commerce industry. Many "returns" just end up in bins like these — or worse, the landfill. 

This type of careless production is profitable for big brands and supported by shoppers' online orders. But there is an easy fix: Buying things that you're confident you'll keep from smaller, local businesses. Thrifting is a similar solution that curbs waste, especially in fashion. 

Not only are these shopping choices more sustainable, they can also save you money. Buying and returning fewer things means spending less, and so does looking for durable items that you won't need to replace for a long time. 

Check out another Reddit community, r/BuyItForLife, for more inspiration on money-saving shopping habits. 

People viewing the Staples photo were surprised at the sheer volume of debris in the bins. 

Would you be more likely to shop at a store that paid you for your old stuff? Absolutely 💯 Only if they make it easy 😎 Depends on the store 🤔 Nope 👎 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"It's definitely jarring to look at, seeing all the stuff people don't want or didn't buy," one person commented.

"It's wild to see that concept inside of a 'real' store like Staples," another added.

"This is the essence of 'when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging,'" a third offered.

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