Qualities of a Good "Used" Shipping Container
Shipping containers for sale on the storage market can all look the same, but there are some things to look out for which can give an indication on if a container is sound. Shipping containers will either be used (10-15 years old already, and retired from the shipping lines), or once-used (a once-used container will have been shipped once with cargo from the country on manufacture in order to keep costs of import down). Although a used container is cheaper than its once-used counterpart, this doesn't mean it should be any less effective as a storage unit, and can be a good solution for customers working to a tight budget.
Things to look out for when purchasing a used container
Used containers aren't always the most aesthetically pleasing. You can expect your used container to have dents, dings, scrapes and rust. These qualities do not mean the container is unsuitable or unfit for purpose, they're just signs of its previous life as a shipping container.However, there are certain characteristics of used containers which give a good indication as to their quality:
- Fully seam welded patch repairs.
These containers will have been shipping cargo across the oceans for many years, often stacked high on cargo vessels and filled with a variety of different cargo. As such, between the ocean air, salt water and handling at various shipping depots across the world, some containers will have required maintenance and patching in order to keep them usable. This involves a welder removing a broken or damaged part of the corten steel and replacing it with a matching piece of corrugated steel, fully seam welding the patch to ensure the container is still watertight and structurally sound. Some people see these patches as unsightly, however a proper seam welded patch shows a repaired container, not a broken one.

