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A Guide to Buying a Shipping Container

Oscar Martinez • Nov 03, 2019

You Want to Buy a Shipping Container, But Have No Clue Where?

Where do I buy a shipping container?

I wrote this blog to give you a number of places to start  your search for your future shipping container.

5 Places to Buy:

1) Online Re-sellers/Brokers
2) Directly from the Port
3) Online Marketplaces- Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay
4) Local Shipping Container Companies
4) Auctions/Liquidation Site

Online Re-sellers and Brokers

Lets start with re-sellers and brokers.

The experience

You will most likely find brokers and re-sellers if you make an online search.

For example, if you Google- "shipping containers for sale," you will find ads and websites listed for a number of re-sellers and brokers. Odds are you will be asked to fill out an online form or call a 1 (800) number.

When you reach a sales agent they will attempt to sell you a container based on your needs. They may class them as WWT (wind and water tight), CW (cargo worthy), One Trip, or as is (to learn about these click to read our blog here ).

Pros and Cons

The advantage of brokers and re-sellers are that they are quick and easy and will typically quote you with delivery to your door. The disadvantage is you have to deal with salespeople (if you consider this a disadvantage), there is typically a mark up in price, and you normally do not get to see the container you are purchasing before it arrives. They may give you the option to pick-up at the port, and this may be a question worth asking when negotiating price.


Directly from the Port

Another option when purchasing a shipping container is buying it directly from the port.

The experience

Here you would need to contact a shipping container depot (click here to learn what a shipping container depot is) and find a way reach their sales department.

You can do this with a google search (google search- container depot and the port city- ie container depot Oakland) and a brief scour of the internet, to locate the closest container depot to the port you would like to pick up from. Once you reach them via phone or email, you would ask them the cost for a used and or new container.

Pros and Cons

The advantage of buying directly from the depot is you may be able to buy at a lower price (however, in some cases their rates are similar to the re-sellers or brokers who typically also buy from them) and you may be able to see the shipping container you are purchasing before you buy it. In some cases, they may also be able and willing to make alterations to the container for you- add windows, doors, paint etc...

A disadvantage would be that you are most likely going to have to find a way to transport the shipping container on your own and you may have to contact multiple depots before you find the price you like. For ideas on ways to do this you can click here to read another article we have published.

Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces often make a nice outlet to purchase a shipping container locally.

The experience

Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, and a number of others give you the ability to search for shipping containers within their platform. Once you log on to their app or website, you would search shipping container. You will find a number of ads for shipping containers near you.

Pros and Cons

The advantage is that the shipping containers are usually local, you have access to view them via pictures or in person, and they offer a number of price points depending on how badly someone wants to get rid of it. In some cases you can find a gem for a killer deal from someone local who wants to get a container off their hands.

The disadvantage is you still have to figure out the delivery end of things and you never really know who you are dealing with as these sites are forums for third parties to exchange goods. In addition, you may still run into a number of brokers and re-sellers who use these platforms to find clients online.


Local Shipping Container Companies

These companies can usually be identified by searching online.

The experience

You may need to do some diggingonlineto sort them out from the online brokers and re-sellers who advertise online but they offer a physical inventory in a yard that you can visit and view your future shipping container.

Pros and Cons

The advantage here is you are supporting local business, you will most likely get to see, touch and feel the shipping container you are buying, and they usually have a delivery truck or partner for transport your container to your door. The often also offer alterations that can be made if you are looking for a customer container.

The disadvantage is there is typically a mark up in cost as they need to pay for their overhead.

Auctions/Liquidation Sites

Local auction companies and online liquidation sites often also sell shipping containers.

The experience

You may need to do some web searching to find Government Auctions sites and local auction companies but they often sell shipping containers which can go for a steep discount.

Pros and Cons

The big advantage here is you can find a killer deal and the excitement that comes from buying something in an auction format.

The disadvantage is it will take some digging to find an auction or shipping container that is being sold near you.

We hope this article helps you to find you next shipping container!

Below are a few pictures of the three most common types of containers you will buy on the market:

Wind and Watertight (WWT) shipping container
Cargo Worthy (CW) shipping container
One Trip shipping container

These will help you get a sense of what you may be purchasing online.

A Wind and Watertight Shipping Container
A Cargo Worthy (CW) Shipping Container
A One Trip Shipping Container
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