The BOLO Insider

Free BOLO Friday: Hardware Store Treasure

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:31:13 GMT

If you don’t know already, I love a good old hardware store. The kind with creaky floors, handwritten signs, and inventory that looks like it hasn’t been touched in years. There’s so much gold that can be found in stores like these.

And this is one of them.

BOLO: Minwax Antique Oil Finish

Minwax still has this listed on their website but it’s been hard to find for quite some time. They’re still out there though, sitting on shelves at old hardware stores collecting dust.

Next time you’re in one, don’t just walk the cleaning aisle. Check the stains, finishes, and wood care section too. Products like this sit on those shelves for years.

How to Find These Stores

A common question I get is how do I find mom and pop hardware stores or older chains?

I use Google Maps. Type in “hardware store” and start looking for names you don’t recognize. Skip past the Home Depots and Lowes. Look for the independent, locally owned spots. That’s a good place to start.

I also like pulling up the pictures on the listing before I go. You can usually tell from the photos what kind of store it is. Small storefront, hand-painted signs, the kind of place that looks like it hasn’t changed in 20 years. Those are the ones I want to hit.

But don’t skip the Ace, True Value, and Do it Best stores either. Just look for the ones that have been around for a while.

You never know what you might find.

One subscribers said it best: “If you haven’t sourced discontinued products before, it opens up a whole new door. Every store becomes a sourcing opportunity.”

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Happy hunting!!

Please understand that product discontinuation information can change without notice. Companies may reverse discontinuation decisions, resume production, release updated versions of discontinued products, or make other changes that affect product availability and market value. The discontinuation status of any product discussed in this newsletter should be independently verified before making purchasing decisions.

This newsletter reflects my personal opinions and experiences only. I am not a licensed professional advisor (financial, business, legal, or otherwise), and nothing here should be considered professional advice. All content is for educational purposes only, may contain inaccuracies, and market conditions can change rapidly. Product reselling involves financial risks, including potential losses. You are solely responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on this content. I am not liable for any outcomes, profits, losses, or consequences. Consult qualified professionals (e.g., accountants, attorneys, or certified advisors) before making significant business or financial decisions. All activities are at your own risk.

15 hours. 19 stops. 293 miles. $2,679 spend. Here's What I Found

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 27 May 2026 21:31:11 GMT

I took a road trip to source in uncharted territory this weekend. If you didn’t know already, rural areas are gold mines for discontinued products.

Small pharmacies, old hardware stores, grocery stores that haven’t updated their shelves in years. The kind of places most resellers don’t think to hit.

I found a ton of BOLOs like this floor cleaner:

Pledge Clean It Gentle Wood Floor Cleaner - Lemon scent (27 oz)

That was one of many discontinued finds. Here’s what else made it in the car:

Free BOLO Friday: It's a Treasure Hunt

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:31:43 GMT

Sourcing discontinued products is like a treasure hunt. You’re looking for hidden treasure sitting in plain sight. Others are walking right past these products every day without knowing what they’re worth.

This week’s BOLO is a perfect example.

BOLO: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Wash Deep Cleansing Coconut Milk (8 oz)

Something I want you to think about. If you walk into a store looking for one specific product, you might not find it. But if you walk in knowing 100 different BOLOs, your chances of finding something go way up.

That’s how I approach every sourcing trip. I’m not going in hoping to find one product. I have a catalog of discontinued products in my head and in the database. The bigger that catalog gets, the more you find. A product you’ve never heard of before catches your eye because you recognize the brand. A clearance tag on a shelf makes you stop and scan it. A price tag with a line through it makes you pull out your phone.

The more you add to your discontinued product catalog, the more productive your sourcing trips become. You stop walking past money on the shelf.

That’s what the Free BOLO Friday series is all about. Helping you build that catalog one product at a time.

Enjoying Free BOLO Friday? There’s a lot more on the other side, including access to the beta-app which is getting close to 300 BOLOs!

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Happy hunting!!

Is the Same UPC Always the Same Product?

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:31:07 GMT

Something new came up in my sourcing and I want to dedicate this week’s article to it. There’s an assumption most of us run on without thinking about it:

same UPC = exact same product

Is that assumption always right? Well I came across an example where the UPC stayed the same, but customers were treating the new version as if it were a different product entirely.

I want to walk through what I found because it’s something you should be aware of. A brand can redesign packaging, drop a featured ingredient callout from the front of the label, and keep the same UPC. From the brand’s system, nothing changed. From a customer’s perspective, the product they used to buy is gone.

A BOLO in the Shaving Aisle

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:31:20 GMT

Anddd we’re back with another edition of Free BOLO Friday. This week’s BOLO is….

BOLO: Nivea Men Clean Shave Gel - Vanilla & Bourbon Scent (7 oz)

Average cost: $5.50

Click to see the eBay sold listings

Found at a local grocery store. The key indicator on this one was the line through the price tag. If you’ve been following along, you know what that means.

For anyone new, when a grocery store puts a line through the price tag, it typically means that product has been flagged in their system to no longer be restocked. The store is selling through what they have left and once it’s gone, they’re done carrying it. It doesn’t always mean the brand has discontinued it but it’s a simple way to find leads when you’re in the store. When you see that line, check the comps.

Another product to add to your list when you’re out sourcing local grocery stores and pharmacies!

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Happy hunting!!

Root Cause Sourcing: When the Store Tells You Something Before the Brand Does

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 13 May 2026 21:32:01 GMT

Most resellers think discontinued sourcing works in one direction. You hear a product is discontinued, then you go hunt for it.

But there’s another way that catches a lot of people sleeping. I call it root cause sourcing.

The idea is simple. You spot a product sitting in a bargain outlet, discount store, or an off price retail chain first and you let that be the trigger to figure out why it’s there. Every product at a bargain outlet has a reason for being there. If you can figure out the root cause, you can make smarter plays.

Bargain outlets like Ollies, Grocery Outlet, Big Lots, even places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, Five Below, etc. are where manufacturers offload inventory they’re trying to clear. By the time a product hits those shelves, something happened on the brand side. Sometimes it’s a packaging change. Sometimes it’s overstock. And sometimes it’s an early hint that that product is discontinued.

If you can figure out the why, you’re ahead of most sellers. You either know the product is going to get harder to find or you know to walk away. Either way, you’re making a better call than buying blind.

This week I’m walking through a major brand you’ve definitely seen at your local grocery store, drugstore, or big box retailer. One of their products turned up at Grocery Outlet, which kicked off the research. By the time I was done, I had confirmation that the entire product line is being discontinued.

I’ll break down which line it is and how I confirmed the whole thing using root cause sourcing.

Featured on the Clear the Shelf Podcast

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:31:08 GMT

No Free BOLO Friday this week. Instead, I want to share something I’m pretty excited about.

I was featured on the Clear the Shelf podcast and we covered a lot of ground. If you’ve been following the newsletter, a lot of these topics will sound familiar but hearing them talked through in a conversation format hits a little different.

We talked about the buy and hold strategy, how I confirm discontinuations, the database, ungating on Amazon, using eBay as a sourcing tool, Dollar General clearance events, and a bunch more.

If you want to check it out, here’s the link:

Clear The Shelf Podcast

I appreciate Chris & Chris for having me on. It was a fun conversation and I hope you get something out of it!

Chapters:
00:00 - The Bolo Insider Database: What It Is and How It Works
04:22 - "His Revenue Tripled" (Subscriber Results From the Database)
06:17 - $2 Product, 243 Units, $15 Each: The Math on Discontinued
08:49 - Five Signs a Product Has Been Discontinued
14:25 - "Just Call and Ask": Confirming Discontinuation With Brands
16:24 - Buy and Hold vs. Quick Flip: How to Decide
20:04 - Cash Flow Management: Funding Your Hold Cycle
22:54 - Using eBay as a Sourcing Tool (Not Just a Marketplace)
25:00 - Your First Trip: Google Maps, Dusty Shelves, and Price Tags
29:18 - Dollar General Clearance Events: Digging Through the Dust
31:06 - 12 for 12 on Amazon Ungates: The Full Strategy
35:56 - 155 Days, 50+ Attempts: What Kept Him Going
38:37 - Combining Brand and Walmart Invoices (Did It Work?)
45:53 - The Case for eBay: Brands You Can't Sell on Amazon
49:03 - eBay Algorithm Hack: End + Sell Similar vs. Relist
55:51 - Using Claude AI to Automate RA Receipt Processing
59:05 - Lightning Round: Bargain Outlets, Air Purifiers, and Dreams

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Happy hunting!!

Grocery Outlet Bangers

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:31:03 GMT

Today’s newsletter is simple. No fluff, just straight BOLOs.

Free BOLO Friday: DG Clearance Weekend Special

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:31:19 GMT

Dollar General’s second clearance event is here

So today I’m dropping a special DG BOLO you don’t want to miss.

The BOLO: Lysol Concentrate Disinfectant - Original Scent (12 fl oz)

These won’t be at every store but don’t pass these up if you find them in the clearance section. Remember what I said about the treasure hunt, dig through the boxes, check on top of shelves, and look below them!

If you’re a paid subscriber, don’t forget to use the Database Beta App to filter DG BOLOs before you head out this weekend.

If you’re not a paid subscriber yet, you can get access here:

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Good luck and happy hunting!!

Dollar General BOLOs for Clearance Event 5/1 - 5/7

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:31:06 GMT

Dollar General’s second clearance event of the year has been announced for this upcoming weekend. So I did some early scouting.

You won’t believe what I found sitting in the clearance section.

$3.49/unit

Listed on Amazon for $90+ a bottle.

Check it out!

Free BOLO Friday: Check the Laundry Aisle

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:30:48 GMT

It’s on the shelf. Can you spot it?

The BOLO: OxiClean Color Boost Power Paks

A product that’s no longer on OxiClean’s website and it’s a household product people still want. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a flashy find. Sometimes it’s as simple as a laundry stain remover.

As you can see in the eBay sold listings, there are multiple sizes to be on the lookout for: 10 count, 18 count, and 26 count. I found the 18 count here.

I’ve been able to find these at local hardware stores and grocery store chains. Add it to your list next time you’re out sourcing!

Enjoying Free BOLO Friday? There’s a lot more on the other side, including access to the BOLO Insider beta app.

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Questions, comments, or suggestions? Feel free to DM on Substack

Happy hunting!!

214 Units and Counting: Why I'm In on This Buy and Hold

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:30:53 GMT

I bought 214 units of a discontinued product this weekend. Ollie's restocked heavy on this one and I spent the weekend hitting as many stores as I could.

Free BOLO Friday: Don't Pass Up this Discontinued Body Lotion

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:31:20 GMT

Welcome back to another edition of Free BOLO Friday. Today’s BOLO was found on the shelf at a local supermarket.

Before I tell you, can you spot it on the shelf?

Hint: Remember your price tag training…

Drum roll please 🥁

BOLO: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Whipped Body Balm (7 oz)

Once again, another product to be on the lookout for when you’re sourcing independently-owned grocery stores and pharmacies.

How did I know this was discontinued? The price tag was the easy indicator but as we’ve covered before, a store discontinuing a product doesn’t always mean the brand has discontinued it.

A little bit of legwork goes a long way. If you go to Neutrogena’s website and search for this specific product, you’ll see they have it marked as officially discontinued. A lot of brands like Neutrogena have dedicated pages for their discontinued products. Makes it super easy to verify.

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Happy hunting!!

Buying and Holding Discontinued Products

Zach Altmyer — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:03:33 GMT

How many months are you holding? What’s your average hold time? I get these questions a lot and they’re all fantastic questions. I wish there was a straight answer.

This is one of those instances where I say I don’t know because I don’t want to pretend or make up numbers just to give an answer. Every product is different. Every situation is different.

But what I can do is break down exactly what I’m looking for and some lessons I’ve learned over the years. There are a lot of factors and variables that come into play when it comes to buying and holding discontinued products.

BOLO Alert: Shaving Product Line Discontinued

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:31:37 GMT

Found this shaving product for $4.49

Recent eBay sold listings:

-$70 for a 5-pack

-$23+$13 for shipping for 2-pack

-$50 for 4-pack

Got word that it’s discontinued and there are 3 other versions to be on the lookout for.

One being at Dollar General!!

Free BOLO Friday: When the Price Tag Gives It Away

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:31:02 GMT

It’s that time again, welcome to another edition of Free BOLO Friday!

First and foremost, it hasn’t even been a year yet but I’m grateful every week when I sit down to write these so I just want to say thank you for being a part of this newsletter.

BOLO: Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick (0.26 fl oz)

Retail: $9 (Found on 50% clearance)

As you can see, the price tag makes it easy to spot that this product has been discontinued. But remember, a store discontinuing a product and the brand discontinuing a product are two different things. A store might drop a product because it’s not selling well at that location, because they’re making room for new inventory, or because they’re cutting down on SKUs. That doesn’t always mean the brand has stopped making it.

But if you take the extra step and check Burt’s Bees’ website, this product doesn’t appear to be listed. That’s a good sign it’s been discontinued by the brand.

Another product to be on the lookout for at your local pharmacies and grocery stores!

Tip: When it comes to beauty and personal care products: always check expiration dates before buying. If you can’t find an expiration date on the packaging, you can use sites like checkcosmetic.net (no affiliation) to look it up by batch code. Or you can always call the brand directly with the lot number.

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Happy hunting!

BOLO Alert: High Demand Hair Gel

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:31:03 GMT

A product caught my eye on eBay.

Retails around $6

Selling fast for $20-25 per unit on eBay.

So I put on my Sherlock Holmes sourcing glasses and investigated

Free BOLO Friday: Don't Sleep on Cleaning Supplies This Spring

Zach Altmyer — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:01:19 GMT

Spring is garage sale and estate sale season and one category you don’t want to sleep on is cleaning supplies.

Most people go to estate sales looking for books, electronics, and toys. But old bottles of discontinued products like Weiman, Murphy’s, and other brands that have been sitting under someone’s sink for years can be worth $20-50+ on eBay (Let me be clear - eBay only.) Especially if it’s in the original packaging. People clean out their garages, basements, and closets and a lot of this stuff ends up on folding tables for $1-2 because the seller has no idea what it’s worth.

As you can see in the sold listings, some of these have even been used and they’re still selling.

Weiman Lemon Oil is also something to keep an eye out for at old hardware stores. Same strategy we’ve covered before. The older the store, the better your chances of finding products like this still sitting on the shelf.

Keep this in mind as the weather warms up and the sales start popping up in your area.

The BOLO Database is Live

Products like the Weiman Lemon Oil are in the database. If you’re a paid newsletter subscriber, you already have access. Sign up here:

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260+ discontinued products you can search and filter by store, category, or brand. New products added as they’re found. Now is the time to get in.

Happy hunting!!

The Tail End of Ollie's Products

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:30:46 GMT

You ever see a product on Amazon or an eBay sold listing and think I saw that at Ollie’s for months. You walked past it, maybe scanned it, but the margins weren’t there so you left it. Now the price is up and you’re kicking yourself.

Well here’s a strategy you can use (without having to buy and hold product early)

Welcome to the BOLO Database

Zach Altmyer — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:31:24 GMT

This is your guide to the discontinued product database. Everything you need to know before you start sourcing

If you're a paid newsletter subscriber, database access is now included with your subscription.

You can sign up here: