How selling works
Selling to us takes five steps: describe the lot, send photos, receive a written offer, agree a pickup or delivery plan for that lot, and settle payment on terms we both sign off on first. The offer itself rests on what the containers are, how many match, their condition, and how far they have to travel.
- Step one
- Describe the lot
- Offer
- Written, for the lot as described
- Logistics
- Pickup or delivery, set per lot
- Payment
- Terms agreed in writing first
The five steps
The same sequence applies to a single trailer of totes and to a fleet of bulk containers spread over several buildings. Bigger lots just take more back-and-forth at the first two steps.
- 1. Describe the lot. What the containers are, their outside size and height, maker if molded on them, count by type, condition, what they held, and the address where they sit. Send it to info@plasticcratesforsale.com or through the request form.
- 2. Send photos. A wide shot of the stacks, one container up close, its underside, any maker mark, and the worst damage. Phone pictures are fine.
- 3. Get an offer. We review it, ask what's missing, and send a written offer that names the containers, the count and condition it assumes, and what happens to rejects.
- 4. Arrange pickup or delivery. Each lot gets its own plan: we send a truck to you, or you deliver to a point we agree. Date, trailer type, loading crew and how the boxes are stacked or folded are all settled up front.
- 5. Get paid. Payment terms, including timing and method, are agreed in writing before loading, and paid as agreed.
What affects an offer
| Factor | Raises the offer | Lowers the offer |
|---|---|---|
| Type and size | Common footprints buyers already use | Odd sizes, one-off custom parts |
| Matching | One model, one color, one program | Many makers and sizes mixed |
| Count | Enough to fill a trailer | Too few to cover freight |
| Condition | Working latches, rims, doors; little breakage | Cracked bases, sun damage, missing parts |
| Cleanliness | Empty, swept, labels mostly removed | Residue, odor, heavy tape and stickers |
| Location and loading | Near buyers, dock or forklift on site | Remote, no loading equipment |
| Folded or nested | Collapsed or nested before pickup | Standing, taking full trailer space |
| History | Clean, known past use | Chemical, oil or unknown contents |
Freight is part of the price
Containers are bulky and light, so moving them is a large share of what a lot is worth. A trailer full of folded collapsibles or nested totes carries many more units than one full of rigid bins, and that difference shows up in the offer. Your location against the next buyer matters too; it's why two identical lots in different states can get different numbers.
You can help: fold or nest what you can, stack by type, set damaged units aside, and give the truck a clear approach. Our trailer loads guide explains how counts per trailer change with height and folding.
Large fleets, several sites
Retired programs rarely sit in one place. Boxes end up split between a supplier's plant, a customer's dock, a consolidation warehouse and an overflow lot. List each location with its own count and condition; we quote them together or one at a time, and the logistics plan can run site by site so no one building is tied up for long.
For very large fleets, a staged sale often works better than one deal: we take a first trailer, both sides check that the grading and counts match the photos, and later loads follow on the same terms. It also lets an operation keep a working reserve until a replacement packaging system has fully taken over.
Tell us early about deadlines you can't move, such as a lease ending, an audit, or a building being emptied, so the plan respects them.
If the lot isn't what was described
Offers are made on the description and photos. If the truck finds a different count, more damage or a different model, we say so before loading and either adjust the offer for what's there or leave the load. Nothing changes after the fact without your agreement. Clear photos of a typical box and the worst one are the best way to avoid a surprise on either side.
Ownership and paperwork
Only sell containers you own. Returnable packaging is often supplied by a customer, a pooling company or a supplier, and stamped with their name. If a customer left its boxes with you after a program ended, ask for a written release first. We may ask for a bill of sale and a short description of where the containers came from, and we don't take lots whose ownership is unclear.
For lot-specific details, see the pages for collapsibles, harvest bins and totes and crates.
Questions
How long does it take to get an offer?
It depends on how complete the first description is. Clear photos and a count by type usually mean we can respond without a site visit; missing details mean a round of questions first.
Do you pay for pickup?
Freight is planned per lot and built into the offer. Some lots are best picked up by our truck, others delivered by you. The written offer says which and who covers the cost.
Can I sell containers that are partly broken?
Yes. We price sound units and broken ones separately, and the offer says whether rejects are bought for recycling, left behind, or excluded.
When do I get paid?
On the terms in the written offer, agreed before anything is loaded. We don't ask for bank details by email or through this website; payment details are set up directly once terms are agreed.
Do you buy containers that were used outdoors or in cold storage?
Yes. Sun exposure and freezer work both age plastic, so expect us to look closely at brittleness, fading and corner cracks, but weathered lots still sell for reuse or recycling.