How ordering works
Ordering works in six steps: you describe the load, we send a quote matched to it, you confirm grade, count and photos, we book LTL or truckload freight, and you receive and check the boxes. Nothing ships until you have agreed to the exact containers in writing.
- Start with
- What goes in the box
- Quote
- Container, grade, count, freight
- Before shipping
- Photos and written confirmation
- Freight
- LTL or full truckload, per load
The steps from request to delivery
Every order follows the same path, whether it is a few pallets of totes or several trailers of collapsibles. The order of steps is fixed; the time each one takes depends on the containers and on how quickly details come back from you, the seller or the maker.
- 1. Describe the load. Tell us what goes in the container, how much it weighs, how it gets filled and emptied, and where the boxes travel. Add any footprint, height or part number you already know. The quote form asks these in order.
- 2. Get a matched quote. We look for containers that fit that load: new from a maker sheet, or used and refurbished lots from sellers. The quote names the container by its dimensions, wall, deck, base and doors, not just a catalog code.
- 3. Confirm grade, quantity and photos. For used and refurbished lots you get photos of the boxes themselves, the grade, and the count of bases and lids. Ask for more angles if anything is unclear. Then you confirm in writing.
- 4. Freight is booked. We quote and arrange LTL for a few pallets or a full truckload for larger orders, based on what you confirmed and your delivery details.
- 5. Delivery. The carrier calls ahead on most loads. A dock gets the trailer emptied fastest; without one, tell us so the right truck shows up.
- 6. Receive and check. Count, inspect and note anything wrong on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves, then tell us at info@plasticcratesforsale.com.
What we need from you
Good quotes come from specific answers. A request that says "bins, about 200" gets a question back; one that says "48x45 collapsibles, two drop doors, for stampings, 1,000 lb per box, dock delivery" gets a quote.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product and weight per container | Sets wall, deck and capacity |
| Footprint and height, or a part number | Narrows the search to boxes that fit |
| New, used, refurbished, or open | Decides where we source |
| Grade you can accept | Changes cost and what is available |
| Count, including lids | Sizes the freight |
| Food contact or not | Rules lots in or out by history |
| Delivery address and dock or no dock | Sets truck type and equipment |
| Timing | Lets us say early if it won't work |
LTL or truckload
LTL, less than truckload, moves a few pallets on a shared trailer. It suits small orders of crates and totes, but freight per box runs higher, and bulky empty containers fill space quickly. A full truckload is a dedicated trailer and usually the lowest cost per unit once an order fills most of one.
How many fit depends on whether boxes ship folded, nested or standing. Some maker sheets list per-trailer counts for their models. For planning, our trailer loads guide works through it, and trailer fill lets you try combinations.
Tell us about delivery conditions that change the truck: a site with no dock needs a liftgate or a flatbed you can unload by forklift; a farm road may rule out a 53-foot trailer; many receivers want an appointment window; rural, residential and construction addresses often add accessorial charges. Splitting one order between two plants or warehouses is possible but priced as separate drops.
Receiving and checking
Have a forklift or pallet jack ready and space cleared. Before signing, count the pallets or stacks against the bill of lading and look for crushed or broken units. Write shortages or visible damage on the receipt; once it is signed clean, freight claims get much harder.
Then spot-check the boxes against the photos and grade you confirmed: rims, corners, latches, and for collapsibles, fold a few. If something is off, send photos and the order details while the load is still stacked as delivered.
Why a quote can change before shipping
Used supply moves. A seller may recount and find fewer good units, another buyer may take a lot first, or a maker may revise a part. If anything you confirmed shifts, such as count, grade, lid total or freight, we tell you and you decide again. You are never shipped a substitute you didn't approve.
Repeat buyers can ask us to watch for a particular footprint or model and flag matching lots as they surface, which suits seasonal growers and plants that replace damaged boxes a few pallets at a time.
Payment and paperwork
Payment terms, freight terms and who carries the load until it reaches you are set out in the written quote before anything is booked. We don't take card numbers or bank details through this website or by email. If you need documents for your purchasing team, such as a W-9 request or a vendor form, send it with your confirmation.
Questions
Can I order without knowing the exact size?
Yes. Describe the product, weight and how the boxes are handled, and we suggest footprints and heights that fit. Measurements of a box you already use help even more.
Do you ship to my state?
We quote delivery nationwide, and each load's freight is quoted on its own. See areas for regional notes.
Can a lot be held while we get internal approval?
Only as long as its seller agrees, which is often brief. If your office needs a purchase order, budget sign-off or new-supplier setup, start that paperwork alongside the quote so the boxes you liked are still available.
Can I pick up the containers myself?
Sometimes. It depends on the seller and the location of the lot. Ask when you request the quote and we'll say whether a customer pickup is possible for that load.
What if the delivered boxes don't match the photos?
Note it on the delivery receipt if you can see it then, and send photos to info@plasticcratesforsale.com with the order details. We work it out against what was confirmed in writing.