FAQs
You have questions, We've got answers!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
OTB sells bulk home & body products by weight (ounce). Our mission is to reduce unnecessary waste by reusing containers. You may bring your own clean container (jar, bottle, bag, etc) to be filled with your choice of quality goods, from shampoo to laundry detergent, olive oil to epsom salt.
Step 1
Bring or Select a container (we will weight and tare the container, starting at a zero (0.00) weight).
Step 2
Decide what product you’d like.
Step 3
Choose the quantity (weight by ounces). We fill the entire container, or partially, as you see fit (one ounce minimum, please).
Step 4
Pay for your product(s). $ Price = how many ounces x price per ounce
Step 5
Enjoy! Fill and Refill again and again!
What do you sell?
OTB sells bulk home & body products by weight (ounce). Our mission is to reduce unnecessary waste by reusing containers.
Our Offering:
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• Laundry Detergent
• Dish Soap
• Shampoos & Conditioners
• Hand & Body Wash
• Lotions & Moisturizers
• Cleaning Products
• Cooking Oils
• Teas & Spices
• Toothpaste
• Skin Care
• Candles
• Gifts & Greeting Cards
• Plants
• Jewelry
• Makeup
• And much more!!!
Is refill shopping expensive?
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No. And yes.
It really depends on the products. OTB Refills offers non-toxic, eco-friendly, biodegradable merchandise. It’s important to us that we deliver quality products, good for both people and planet. It’s also important to us that refill shopping is accessible to anyone, so we do everything we can to keep prices low.
At OTB, prices are similar to what you might expect to pay for other good quality, eco-conscious, non-toxic products. Prices, on the low end, could be compared to Seventh Generation, ECOS, Method, etc...
Unfortunately, there is no way for us to compete with the dirt cheap prices some big companies offer, but the products we offer are also far superior.
What is your return policy?
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Unopened, unused items can be returned for store credit, with receipt, within 14 days of purchase.
Items that cannot be returned:
•Any and all Refills
•Toothbrushes
•Floss
•Water Filters
•Drinking Straws
Do you sell beer?
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No. Sorry. ;)
Do you sell food?
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No. We offer some teas, spices, and cooking oils, but no foodstuffs at this time.
Do you sell essential oils?
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Not at the moment. We hope to do so in the near future.
Can I bring my own container?
Yes, please! That’s the idea. Any clean container works.
What if the container’s not empty?
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It’s okay if there’s a little home or body product left in your container. No food reside, please. We will tare the container and it’s products, starting at a zero weight.
Can the container be plastic?
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Yes. Any clean, intact material is okay. Plastic containers will be around for centuries. We might as well reuse them!
Can I use a Tide (or similar) large laundry jug?
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Yes. Any container works, though please keep in mind that the laundry detergents we sell are concentrates. A little goes a long way. A full jug will cost a little more than most grocery store standards, but last very much longer. The average dose of our detergents is 1 to 2 TBS per load.
Do you sell containers at the shop?
Yes. We offer glass and aluminum containers in a variety sizes, shapes and colors. We also offer lotion or soap pumps, spray nozzles, misters, mason jar adapters, foaming pumps, up-cycled pumps, and other accessories.
Do you have any free containers?
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Yes. We accept glass jar and bottle donations, which are cleaned thoroughly and offered for free to our guests.
We also offer cool, unique, second-hand glass for cheap.
Can I donate containers to the store?
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Yes. We accept glass jars and bottle donations. HOWEVER, we ask that the containers be clean, intact w/ lids, and free from labels and glue residue.
Tips on how to remove labels / glue from your containers:
Step 1 - Peel off as much of the labels as you can by hand (works best for plastic-based labels — paper labels come off best after the soak).
Step 2 - Soak the jars/bottle in hot water with a couple of cups of cleaning vinegar or a capful of bleach for at least an hour or two (even over night).
Step 3 - Use some kind of flat scraper (we use an old plastic car window snow scraper) to scrape off any remaining label or goo.
Step 4 - Rub some baking soda on any remaining glue residue and let sit for 5 minutes.
Step 5 - Use steel wool to scrape off the remaining glue residue.
Step 6 - Wash container(s) with soap and water.
Can I donate plastic containers to the store?
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No. Although we promote the reuse of any decent container, we do not accept plastic donations. Plastic acts differently than glass and we cannot verify that the product that was previously in the container, or the use of the container, itself, hasn’t compromised the plastic. We don’t want to be responsible for any negative effects or reactions.
We do allow anyone to bring in their own plastic containers. However, we cannot guarantee anything about how that container will act or react with the products put in it.
Can't find an answer?
Get in touch through the contact page and we will get back to you as soon as possible.