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How To Buy A Shipping Container

The Simple Buying Information…

Buying New Or Used Shipping Containers

Buying a recycled ISO shipping container is like buying a car, though we think a little less complicated. It's important because this is the base structure of your home or other construction project. We don't believe you are simply buying it to be Green or environmentally correct. We believe you are buying it for strength and peace of mind.... Here's a checklist that will help you make your Project a good experience, whether this is for a storage shed, a cabin, or a multi-unit home, you don't need to loose anything on your first important ISBU Project.

Where To Buy

•  Your first choice should be to buy an ISBU near you so you can go inspect it in person, however,     that isn’t always possible. •  The second choice is to buy from an ISBU Association Member and/or CDA member. •  Third, buy from a reputable dealer with history who is actually in business, not just a side job. •  Certified Shipping Container Dealers: Container Dealer's Association. (CDA)                                                           Shipping Container inspection, age, and recording CIN code.                            [Photo: GreenCube Research]

Checking Container Quality

•  No matter who you buy from, If you can't see it in person, request several high quality photos of     the inside, outside and top. ...all 4 sides, …inside and out. •  Ask it's age, and/or some documentation of it's age such as a photo of the CSC plate. •  Expect to replace the floor. The cost is low. If not, be prepared to seal the wood with a quality     polyurethane or epoxy paint coating. A properly prepared and sealed coating is usually sufficient. •  Buy an ISBU that is un-painted. Don't ask for it to be painted first. You want to see the unit with     no paint so you can better assess it's value and damage. •  Scrapes are okay. Rust is okay. What you don't want is corrosion. Corrosion and rust are two     very  different conditions. If you see an ISBU with scaly corrosion then it probably hasn't been     well maintained.    Rust oxidation is common on scrapes. ...but corrosion and scale is not common. It can mean poor    care, or possibly it is not even Corten steel. The cost to replace and patch the corrosion may not    even worth the discounts offered by the dealer. •  Small dings and dents are okay unless they are so bad they effect your finished interior/exterior. •  Check to see if the ISBU is square, not twisted so it will sit flat and connect to other ISBU properly •  Does the container have a valid CSC inspection?  CSC plates are only valid for 5 years. The CSC     plate is not necessary for use as an ISBU module, however it’s important to know if, and why it     does not have one. For more than 100 detailed graphics, photos, and commentary of the key ISO Container parts, sections and areas to check before buying, Login to the Members Section.

Certified Container Dealers

Q- Why should you expect a Shipping Container dealer or broker to be an ISBUA Member? A- For a legitimate dealer or business the small annual membership fee is very small to pay. They will earn it back their first sale and probably increase their business substantially if they become a certified Member. Q- Since the cost of ISBUA Membership is so small why wouldn't a dealer or business join ISBUA? A- There are not any good answers to this question if someone is legitimate. The credibility of an ISBUA Member is easy to check and report. it's similar to BBB but much less expensive to join and more specific, it ultimately benefits to success of both the dealer and buyer. A legitimate dealer or business will also be a Member of the Container Dealer's Association (CDA).

Should I Lease or Buy?

Leasing is not applicable for someone who is planning to modify and use an ISBU in a construction project. You always want to buy your ISBU shipping container unless you only want it for storage. Leasing is only for storage at construction projects or short term business storage solutions.

Shipping Container Costs

Obviously the cost of an ISBU module or shipping container will vary depending on a few factors. •  The country where you live •  The condition and quality of the shipping container •  How near you are to a shipping port We have discontinued including suggested ISO Container prices in this section. Container prices vary too much from country to country, state to state, province to province, and month to month and too confusing and misleading to attempt. That’s why there’s so much confusion on the Internet. To suggest prices for a Container could vary more than $1000, depending on whether they lived near a Port, or in an area 500 or 1000 miles away. Get quotations and compare for your exact location, door-to-door. Anything else will be a guess.

Delivery Costs

Who is paying the deliver costs? How much will they be?

When you get a quotation for the ISBU you must always get the exact details regarding the delivery and delivery costs. Some dealers or sellers will "scam" the buyer in the delivery process. Make sure the quotation is Door to Door, or know exactly how much the delivery will be from another source. Most legitimate dealers quote the price of the ISBU + the exact price of delivery is extra, but they can give you an exact amount before you buy. For detailed delivery tips see our container Delivery Transport Information page. DON'T •  Don't Pay 100% cash in advance, unless you are very confident of your dealer. •  Don't Buy from Classifieds or Internet unless you can actually go and inspect the ISBU module     personally in daylight, then write a serial number and take photographs to be certain the     delivery is what you pay for. •  Don't Buy an ISBU module that is crooked, twisted, or has corrosion. •  Don't Buy insulated ISBU modules unless it will be used alone, unconnected, or for a special     purpose. The insulation cannot be cut well, or welded near. •  Don't Buy containers from a Third Party vendor. Buy directly from the dealer or distributor.
Shipping Container inspection before you buy. (ISBU Association) Certified shipping container dearler from the Container Dealers Association.

How To Buy A Shipping Container

The Simple Buying Information…

Buying New Or Used Shipping Containers Buying a recycled ISO shipping container is like buying a car, though we think a little less complicated. It's important because this is the base structure of your home or other construction project. We don't believe you are simply buying it to just be Green or environmentally correct. We believe you are buying it for strength and peace of mind.... Here's a checklist that will help you make your Project a good experience, whether this is for a storage shed, a cabin, or a multi- unit home, you don't need to loose anything on your first important ISBU Project. Where To Buy •  Your first choice should be to buy an ISBU near you so you can go     inspect it in person, however, that isn’t always possible. •  The second choice is to buy from an ISBU Association Member     and/or CDA member. •  Third, buy from a reputable dealer with history who is actually in     business, not just a side job. •  Certified Shipping Container Dealers:     Container Dealer's Association. (CDA) Shipping Container inspection, age, and recording CIN code.                [Photo: ISBU Association] Checking Container Quality •  No matter who you buy from, If you can't see it in person, request     several high quality photos of the inside, outside and top.     ...all 4 sides, …inside and out. •  Ask it's age, and/or some documentation of it's age such as a    photo of the CSC plate. •  Expect to replace the floor. The cost is low. If not, be prepared to    seal the wood with a quality polyurethane or epoxy paint coating.    A properly prepared and sealed coating is usually sufficient. •  Buy an ISBU that is un-painted. Don't ask for it to be painted first.    You want to see the unit with no paint so you can better assess    it's value and damage. •  Scrapes are okay. Rust is okay. What you don't want is corrosion.    Corrosion and rust are two very  different conditions. If you see    an ISBU with scaly corrosion then it probably hasn't been properly      maintained. Rust oxidation is common on scrapes. ...but corrosion and scale is not common. It can mean poor care, or possibly it is not even Corten steel. The cost to replace and patch the corrosion may not even worth the discounts offered by the dealer. •  Small dings and dents are okay unless they are so bad they effect    your finished interior/exterior. •  Check to see if the ISBU is square, not twisted so it will sit flat and    connect to other ISBU properly •  Does the container have a valid CSC inspection?  CSC plates are    only valid for 5 years. The CSC plate is not necessary for use as an    ISBU module, however it’s important to know if, and why it does    not have one.
For more than 100 detailed graphics, photos, and commentary of the key ISO Container parts, sections and areas to check before buying, Login to the Members Section.                                  ___________________________________________                                                                                 ___________________________________________                                       Copyright © 2006-2016 ISBU Association.                                                              All Rights Reserved.  Contact  •  RSS  •  Legal  •  Privacy  •  Terms Of Service   •  Join   •  Media
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Shipping Container inspection before you buy. (ISBU Association)