New shipping containers are very expensive, so when you need one for a project for your home or your business, you are not going to want to spend a large amount. It is completely possible to purchase a used shipping container directly from a shipping container supplier that buys them in bulk and then distributes them. This can save you money because many bulk buyers get a great deal and pass on those savings to the customer. New shipping containers can cost upwards of $4,000 while used containers range in price from $2,000 to $3,000 depending on the condition of the container.

10ft shipping container

Is the container you are purchasing in decent condition? Most of the time used shipping containers are in great condition and can be reused. There are certain things that you should consider and look for when you are purchasing a used container and these tips will help you to get the best bang for your buck.

Look at what you are buying

If you cannot get to the location where the containers are (i.e. the dealer ships them to you), ask to see pictures. These pictures should provide certain details and should all be pictures of the same container. Often when you look at ads from sellers that are not really dealers in used containers, they will group several photos together to make them appear as though they are one container, but they are really from several different containers. The inside roof could be from a container roof that is in great shape while the container that you are looking at has a roof that is not in such great condition. Look at the pictures very closely to make certain that it is the same shipping container.

20ft shipping container

If you are working with a container dealer it may not be physically possible for them to provide pictures of every container because they are a large supplier of bulk containers and a huge inventory. Smaller dealers have a limited inventory and have more option of providing accurate pictures of containers. When you see pictures from larger container dealers, those pictures are meant to represent what the condition is on average of most containers. Read the description of the container so that you have a working knowledge of the container that is to be delivered.

Grade and age

The grade of container and the age of it are also things that you should consider. Each company has their own way of grading shipping containers, so it is important to know what the grading definition is for a certain company. This is how you will know what to expect when you are looking at used containers. You want to know exactly what you are buying and how you can send the container back if it is not what you were expecting.

40ft shipping container

Examine the exterior of the container. Walk around it and note the appearance of all four sides of the container. Look at the corners, to ensure that they are still held together in place. How is the condition of the paint and look closely at the seals at the edges of the container? Dents are not an issue to be concerned about (and very normal considering what shipping containers are subjected to on the open ocean) but corrosion around those dents can be concerning. If the container is structurally sound, then it is a good purchase. There are going to be some blemishes and dents and those are not an issue, it is just a good idea to take a close look to ensure that the seams are intact and that the container is not going to fall apart. If the container you receive does not match the description of the container that you ordered then there is an issue, especially if the container that you received is in bad shape.

Is there a guarantee?

Some container companies will offer a certified condition guarantee while others will not. It is up to you to do your homework and ask if they offer this type of guarantee or not.

Carefully inspect the inside of the container. Starting with the doors, look to see what they are like, if they have any serious damage, if they seal and lock and then check the condition of the fittings, seals, gaskets and lock mechanism to see if there is damage. When you open the door, check for rust or mold because if there are those two things inside the container (or either of them) it means that the container could have a leak.

Once inside, have someone stand outside the container and close and seal the doors. Look around to see if you can spot any daylight inside the container, this will be a solid indication that there are holes somewhere in the container. The interior of the shipping container should be completely dark with no light at all. If you see light, then that means that the shipping container is neither windproof nor watertight.

To inspect the interior structure, open the door of the unit and look inside. Examine the floors and look for any holes that may be present. Check for signs of spills from cargo and inquire as to whether the floors were treated to make them waterproof. It is a good idea to find out about what kinds of chemicals were used in that process if it was completed.

Ask about delivery

Are there any delivery fees? When you purchase a shipping, container find out what the fees might be and if it those fees are included in the purchase price. If those delivery charges are added to your purchase price, then you want to make allowances for them. Find out if you need some insurance in place during transport if the unit is damaged in transit or upon delivery.

Don’t forget to ask if there is any kind of a guarantee on the container. If you have something delivered that you did not expect then you want to be able to return it to get your money back, if possible. Maybe there is a no return policy in place. Either way, it is a great idea to find out ahead of time what you are getting into.

Images from Tiger Containers