Ashley
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Need more information? read this handy guide to purchasing shipping containers in Australia, Guide To Purchasing Shipping Containers In Australia
