---
title: Processed vs Unprocessed Inventory- what’s the difference and what does it mean for my business?
description: Learn the key differences between processed and unprocessed inventory and what it means for your business on Liquidation.com.
image: https://blog.liquidation.com/hubfs/Corporate-Site---Blog-image-May-13-2025-05-17-35-6979-PM.jpg
---

[processed inventory](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/processed-inventory), [unprocessed inventory](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/unprocessed-inventory)

# Processed vs Unprocessed Inventory- what’s the difference and what does it mean for my business?

[ By Mary Hageny, ](https://blog.liquidation.com/author/mary-hageny)  February 10, 2026

![](https://blog.liquidation.com/hubfs/Corporate-Site---Blog-image-May-13-2025-05-17-35-6979-PM.jpg)

You many have recently noticed words like “processed” or “unprocessed” inventory in titles or auction descriptions on Liquidation.com. If you are like many other buyers and are unsure of the description of each then this guide can help you!

 

## **Understanding Processed vs. Unprocessed Inventory**

Processed Inventory means that high value items (usually with a retail over $80) have been removed. Some people in the industry refer to this practice as cherry picking.

- Why would we do this? Auction pricing is usually based as a percentage of retail value of the entire lot. If there are a handful of high value items, it can skew the pricing up on all of the inventory.
- Who does this benefit? Companies that operate discount stores or Bin stores find this practice helpful. It keeps the cost of the product low and helps prevent losses due to not maximizing value for high ticket items.

 

Unprocessed Inventory means that the pallet is sold exactly as it is received by us from the client. The industry often refers to these pallets as “raw”.

- Why would we do this? Certain business models make more margin on higher value items, and this practice helps those businesses maximize their profitability.
- Who does this benefit? Companies that operate online marketplaces or stores that are focused on quality (at a discounted rate) will benefit the most from having high value items included on their pallets.

Keep in mind that Liquidation.com never processes truckload inventory. Truckloads on Liquidation.com are always sold Raw and Unprocessed directly from the client. This concept only exists with pallet/LTL auctions. Ifan auction does not specifically call out if an auction is processed or not, buyers always have the option to view manifests (when available) on Liquidation.com to view if a lot has some items that are high value (over $80) or only low value items ($50 and under).

###### Category

- [ Truckloads ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/truckloads)
- [ Industry events ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/industry-events)
- [ Networking ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/networking)
- [ newsletter ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/newsletter)
- [ Buying on Liquidation.com ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/buying-on-liquidation-com)
- [ Choose the Right Truckload Buying Option ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/choose-the-right-truckload-buying-option)
- [ Flipping ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/flipping)
- [ Lowering Transportation Costs ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/lowering-transportation-costs)
- [ Sourcing/Reselling Inventory ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/sourcing-reselling-inventory)
- [ Tips and Tricks ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/tips-and-tricks)
- [ asd ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/asd)
- [ condition codes ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/condition-codes)
- [ customer story ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/customer-story)
- [ processed inventory ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/processed-inventory)
- [ shipping ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/shipping)
- [ side-hustle ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/side-hustle)
- [ unprocessed inventory ](https://blog.liquidation.com/tag/unprocessed-inventory)

###### Popular Post

- [Introducing Our New Payment Processing Partner: Flywire](https://blog.liquidation.com/introducing-our-new-payment-processing-partner-flywire)
- [Processed vs Unprocessed Inventory- what’s the difference and what does it mean for my business?](https://blog.liquidation.com/processed-vs-unprocessed-inventory-whats-the-difference-and-what-does-it-mean-for-my-business)
- [Understanding Liquidation.com Condition Codes](https://blog.liquidation.com/understanding-liquidation.com-condition-codes)
- [How To Source & Flip Liquidation Merchandise for Profit](https://blog.liquidation.com/how-to-source-flip-liquidation-merchandise-for-profit)
- [Truckload News Volume 3](https://blog.liquidation.com/truckload-news-volume-3)

### Blogs You May Also Like

[![](https://blog.liquidation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/create%20a%20header%20image%20with%20the%20items%20featured%20Kitchen%20and%20bath%20fixturesFaucets%20and%20plumbing%20suppliesAppliances%20and%20accessoriesLighting%20and%20ceiling%20fan-1.png?width=352&name=create%20a%20header%20image%20with%20the%20items%20featured%20Kitchen%20and%20bath%20fixturesFaucets%20and%20plumbing%20suppliesAppliances%20and%20accessoriesLighting%20and%20ceiling%20fan-1.png) ](https://blog.liquidation.com/why-buyers-are-turning-to-liquidation.com-for-home-improvement-inventory)

###### [Why Buyers Are Turning to Liquidation.com for Home Improvement Inventory](https://blog.liquidation.com/why-buyers-are-turning-to-liquidation.com-for-home-improvement-inventory)

[ Written by: Liquidation.com Team May 14, 2026 ](https://blog.liquidation.com/author/liquidation-com-team)

The home improvement category continues to be one of the strongest sectors in resale. From kitchen...

[ Read more ](https://blog.liquidation.com/processed-vs-unprocessed-inventory-whats-the-difference-and-what-does-it-mean-for-my-business)

[![](https://blog.liquidation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Corporate-Site---Blog-image-4.jpg?width=352&name=Corporate-Site---Blog-image-4.jpg) ](https://blog.liquidation.com/understanding-liquidation.com-condition-codes)

###### [Understanding Liquidation.com Condition Codes](https://blog.liquidation.com/understanding-liquidation.com-condition-codes)

[ Written by: The Liquidation.com Team May 13, 2025 ](https://blog.liquidation.com/author/the-liquidation-com-team)

Purchasing liquidation inventory can be complex. We strongly encourage you to do your research,...

[ Read more ](https://blog.liquidation.com/processed-vs-unprocessed-inventory-whats-the-difference-and-what-does-it-mean-for-my-business)

[![](https://blog.liquidation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Tractor%20Trucks%20with%20Trailers%20at%20Loading%20Dock.png?width=352&name=Tractor%20Trucks%20with%20Trailers%20at%20Loading%20Dock.png) ](https://blog.liquidation.com/how-to-cut-shipping-costs-by-consolidating-pallets-into-a-single-truckload)

###### [How to Cut Shipping Costs by Consolidating Pallets into Truckloads](https://blog.liquidation.com/how-to-cut-shipping-costs-by-consolidating-pallets-into-a-single-truckload)

[ Written by: Liquidation.com Team June 11, 2026 ](https://blog.liquidation.com/author/liquidation-com-team)

In the world of resale and liquidation, margins are everything and shipping costs can quickly eat...

[ Read more ](https://blog.liquidation.com/processed-vs-unprocessed-inventory-whats-the-difference-and-what-does-it-mean-for-my-business)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Mary Hageny",
    "url" : "https://blog.liquidation.com/author/mary-hageny"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-02-10T18:57:16.058Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-02-10T18:52:53.000Z",
  "headline" : "Processed vs Unprocessed Inventory- what’s the difference and what does it mean for my business?",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.liquidation.com/hubfs/Corporate-Site---Blog-image-May-13-2025-05-17-35-6979-PM.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.liquidation.com/processed-vs-unprocessed-inventory-whats-the-difference-and-what-does-it-mean-for-my-business",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.liquidation.com/hubfs/Liquidity-Services-Logo.png"
    },
    "name" : "Liquidity Services, Inc."
  }
}
```