Dumpster diving seems a little hard to begin, but once you know all the tricks, it is none less than a goldmine, especially if you plan to dumpster dive at TJ Maxx.
However, it is not all about finding valuable items from trash and selling them for profit, as the risk element is also involved.
The most important thing you need to be careful about is your safety from unsanitary conditions and legal issues.
Dumpster Diving at TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx is among the biggest American retail chains for selling designer apparel.
Apart from it, you can also find home goods and multiple other items at discounted prices.
The company started in 1976, and currently, there are over 1000 locations in the USA where TJ Maxx is located.
When we talk about the dumpster diving experience here, a lot is going on since you can often find valuable items ending up in the trash.
The business model of TJ Maxx involves bulk purchasing of inventory items, and sometimes those items do not sell very well, making some pieces in the trash.
So, if you are searching for cool clothes for cheap, checking TJ Maxx dumpsters might be the way to go.
You can quickly find multiple usable items in the dumpsters, and the best part is if you cannot wear them yourself, those will be good enough for selling.
The same goes for home goods and other items at TJ Maxx since the main business model of buying bulk inventory stays the same.
Related article: All you need to know about Dumpster diving
Pros and Cons: TJ Maxx dumpster diving
Dumpster diving here comes with its unique benefits and demerits. So, considering them both is important before you start, especially if you are a beginner.
A. Pros
The top pros of TJ Maxx dumpster diving include:
1. Free items
Even though TJ Maxx sells its products cheaply and competitively, the items you find here are free. It means you can find these things for free and use them or sell them for profit. So, you will never need to buy anything again.
2. Huge variety
TJ Maxx does not have the biggest inventory list. However, it still has lots of items. You can find almost everything in the dumpsters here.
3. Ecofriendly
Most items in the trash go to landfills. That can pollute the environment in many ways. You can protect the plant from a lot of trash with dumpster diving.
B. Cons
The most important cons of TJ Maxx dumpster diving you must consider are:
1. Injury prone
Dumpster diving always has chances of injury. For example, broken glass from a photo frame can cut your skin. It will cut you and introduce the body to many germs.
2. Legal problems
Legal issues are the biggest problem you can face here. You must look for local laws allowing dumpster diving. Additionally, it is essential to check dumpster diving laws at TJ Maxx.
3. Unsanitary dumpsters
The dumpsters are unsanitary and very dirty. They can be the house for rodents, insects, and many germs. It also contaminates the items you find in there.
How does TJ Maxx handle its waste?
Waste management at TJ Maxx is pretty straightforward. They don’t keep anything on their shelves if it is not selling and only takes up shelf space.
Those items are taken down when the new stock arrives, and then they end up inside the dumpsters.
However, you may not find good things in the dumpsters daily because the employees don’t throw away stuff very often.
Mostly they throw out the trash when they restock the shelves.
The process of restocking at TJ Maxx also has specific days during the week, so you can only find good things at TJ Maxx dumpsters on specific days.
How does TJ Maxx handle its returns?
TJ Maxx is known for providing great satisfaction to its customers, and that is because of its friendly returns policy.
However, it is by no means bad for the company itself since returns are not thrown away in dumpsters straight away. Instead, they usually send the returns back to the distribution center.
The distribution center then sells them in the clearance sale at discounted rates.
Items are also sent to TJX companies for sale at a discounted price. However, if something is not good enough to be sold or sent to others, it ends up in the dumpsters.
That’s how they manage returns at TJ Maxx, where the chances of something ending up in the trash are the least.
Dumpster diving laws at TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx has not declared any specific laws for dumpster diving. However, it is important to follow the basic ethics of dumpster diving and consider them as the dumpster diving laws at TJ Maxx.
Remember that these stores are usually present on private property, so their dumpsters will also be present inside private property.
It would be better if you don’t go inside if a no-trespassing sign is deployed nearby. Also, don’t go inside gated areas.
The best way to dumpster dive here is by asking for permission from some official working at the store.
Even in that case, you have to do certain things, including:
- Never create a mess
- Never cause any disturbance with staff or items
- Leave immediately if anyone from the store asks you to
- Be cooperative and respectful towards the employees at TJ Maxx
By following these laws, you can enjoy a much better and more peaceful dumpster diving experience.
So, the best thing you can do is wait until they move their trash to public property.
That way, it becomes legal to get whatever you want since they withdraw all the ownership rights to that trash.
Is dumpster diving illegal at TJ Maxx?
No, it is not illegal, but certain things must be remembered.
Since these stores are usually located on private properties, all the private property laws implement, so the experience depends; firstly, you must remember that even if you don’t see any gate or sign protecting the dumpster, you still don’t want to go inside.
It is because if the dumpster is present on public property, you can charge with trespassing and theft if you are caught.
In the worst case, you can be fined, given some prison time, and even get a permanent ban from the location.
What do you expect to find while TJ Maxx dumpster diving?
Knowing what to look for when dumpster diving is the most important thing.
TJ Maxx stores have specific types of things, so having a mindset about going for something will make you more efficient with dumpster diving.
So, when you are dumpster diving here, you can look for the following:
- Clothes with or without tags
- Cosmetics that are still in good shape
- Unused shows
- Vases and decoration items
- Candles
- Picture frames, etc.
Even if the number of inventory items is less than most places, TJ Maxx can provide you with a great dumpster diving experience.
Make your dumpster diving trips comfy with this shirt
As you dive into the dumpsters, there are always chances of ruining your clothes. So, why not get something dedicated to dumpster diving?
This “Dumpster Diving Olympic Team” T-shirt is designed for dumpster divers.
While you go through multiple dumpsters in town, this shirt will keep you clean and safe.
Moreover, it contains attractive visuals that can help spread awareness about dumpster diving, among others.
The best thing is that it is available in many variations and colors.
More details: Dumpster Diving Olympic Team T-shirt
How much TJ Maxx dumpster diving can help you earn?
How much you can earn is the most important question for many people since many are opting for it to make a better living standard.
As TJ Maxx stores are known for offering clothes at competitive prices, you can find valuable things and sell them for profit since they often throw away items in dumpsters.
So, on a good day, you can earn around $50.
If we say you have 3 good days a week, you can make around $600 from dumpster diving alone, which is pretty attractive.
This earning figure can vary depending on your expertise at dumpster diving and the type of things found in the dumpsters at your nearest TJ Maxx store.
However, it is important to note that you will often not find anything in these dumpsters since they don’t throw away items regularly.
When you find something you don’t want to use by yourself, you can sell it online or at a local garage sale without any issues, making it a great profitability opportunity.
Is it possible to replace your job with TJ Maxx dumpster diving?
If you plan to take TJ Maxx dumpster diving as your part-time source of income, then it would be a great option.
However, planning to take it as the main source of income and replace it with your main job will not be the best idea.
Especially if you are a beginner at dumpster diving, you must not quit your main job since that is a stable source of income.
Even if you want to convert dumpster diving into your main source of income, the best way is to plan to visit multiple places on every trip for the best earning options.
Best time to dumpster dive at TJ Maxx
Visiting TJ Maxx dumpsters at the right time and day of the week is crucial to find good items.
It is because there are specific days for receiving shipments and restoring the store.
These stores usually get their shipments on Tuesdays and restock on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and even on Thursdays on busy weeks.
On these days, you can visit the store early in the morning before the store opens or right after it opens will be great since employees usually throw away their trash then.
Tips for safety TJ Maxx dumpster diving
Minor mistakes while dumpster diving can make it a safety problem for you.
So, while you are at TJ Maxx exploring the dumpsters, make sure to follow these tips for good safety:
- Always look out for sharp objects in the dumpsters, and stay safe.
- Wearing protective gloves, goggles, and a mask on your face will keep you away from germs.
- It is a great idea to check the local laws about dumpster diving regularly. It is because these laws can change often.
- Never get something that looks used since that may contain germs.
- Make a routine of washing yourself and your findings when you return home.
- For better efficiency while dumpster diving, go with a fellow dumpster diver.
- If the dumpster is present on private property, don’t go inside without asking for permission from any official at the site.
Following all these tips will ensure a safe dumpster diving experience on every trip.
Related article: A complete guide on Dumpster Diving Tips that you never knew before
Final Words
Dumpster diving can be more fun than it seems if you know all the right steps and tricks.
One of the most important things you need to learn is to maintain your safety while you dumpster dive.
So, when you follow all of the dumpster diving at TJ Maxx tips we shared here, be careful about the local and state laws too.
This way you will get a great experience.
