Shipping

How to Purchase a Shipping Container

Written by: Port Containers

Shipping anything across the country or overseas can be an expensive operation. If you’re moving an office or just relocating your stock to sell to more customers, there is a lot of pressure to control costs so that your overhead doesn’t suffer. One method used by shipping companies is to purchase a used storage container for sale, but there are other concerns when buying a container besides price.

New or Used?

A used container will have some visual dings that may hurt the attractiveness of the container, but if branding is not a concern then the cost savings may be worth it. With new containers, there is the option down the road to sell the container and recoup some of the potential losses from the purchase in the first place. Used containers may also be dependent on supply, but new containers have a number of benefits that make the cost worth it.

Measure Everything

Before you make a purchase, you need to be sure that you’re looking at the proper sized container for what you need. That includes measuring the height of the items you plan to ship. You should be willing to do some creative packing as well, so you can maximize all of the extra space in your cargo containers.

Decide on Upgrades

When you purchase a container, there are a number of upgrades you should consider dependent on your needs. Long term storage on-site, like a retail location or construction site, might require a lock box. You can weld these boxes to your container to cut down on potential breaches from crowbars and saws. You may also want a refrigerator unit, or something insulated so that your stock will stay fresh. There are also other upgrades that relate to accessibility, like doors on the side or openings at the top.

Assess the Site

The container you need will also depend on the site. For instance, a retail location in California might be able to store a flat rack container with no top, because the elements are less of a concern than a container on a barge. Be sure that you understand the elements you will be dealing with during the storage period.

Deliver the Shipment

You might be tempted to use a series of crates to coordinate a move or shipment, but this can be a waste of resources. Think about what you can carry, and how much you need. A shipping container on a flat bed can carry as much as two moving vans full of supplies, and the accessibility upgrades mean you can be up and running faster.