Containers vs. Sheds, Pole Barns, and PODS

OK, you’re thinking storage. Over easy, hold the hassles.

What are the options?

There’s that ready-to-assemble shed you saw at Home Depot … or that pole barn kit from something-dot-com … and those portable storage PODS occasionally trucked on and off neighbors’ driveways.

But wait—what about a steel container? If it’s not on your list, maybe it should be. Yeah, we admit we’re biased. But it’s a fact that steel containers have many advantages compared to other storage solutions.

You know your storage situation best, but hopefully this table can help if you were on the fence about which style to go with.  If you want more information on containers, please visit our website (www.SuperCubes.com) or call us (877-374-5452)!

Buying a Container: 6 Questions for Smart Container Shopping

You need storage. Now. You’re out of room for business records, inventory, farm equipment, your stamp collection, or all the bargains you snagged at Costco. The bottom line is, you need space. And you think a container might do the trick.

But how do you know for sure if a steel container is the right choice? Here are six questions you need to ask when you’re container shopping:

1) Do I have space for a container? Standard steel container sizes: 8’ wide, 8’6” tall, and either 20’ or 40’ long. Space needed to get the container trucked in: Usually 110-120 feet of straight clearance (including where the container will go.)

2) What size do I need? A 20’ container can hold the furnishings of a 3-bedroom home. A 40’container can hold about 24 3-foot-wide pallets (or cars and boats). The 40’ is usually a better value for the money. But if you plan on moving the container around, go for the 20’—it will save you many headaches.

3) Do I need modifications?

Security. Containers are made of Corten (weatherizing) steel, so they’re impenetrable. Levers work the doors—snap on a padlock and you’re good to go. If your container will reside at a remote cabin or construction site, consider adding a metal lockbox to protect your padlock.

Upkeep and appearance. The Corten steel inhibits rust, but all steel will rust eventually. A used container will already show some rust. Paint is an inexpensive option that can extend container life—and make your container blend into your site (as much as a massive steel box can!)

Modifications. An extra door (“man-door” or roll-up), a window, or extra vents are easy vendor add-ons. If you can weld, you can do it yourself with a kit!

4) What container quality do I need?

New/one-trip containers: Manufactured in Asia; shipped to the U.S. for sale. Generally gray, tan, or green. Rust-free and dent-free. Most won’t have shipping-line markings.

Cargo-worthy containers: Used containers certified as structurally sound for overseas shipping. The best-quality used containers on the market. Some rust, dents, and shipping markings.

Wind- and watertight containers: A small step down from cargo-worthy, but still good, solid containers. Their cargo-worthy status may have expired or they may have a defect that does not affect storage performance, but would not meet the standards for overseas shipping.

As-is containers: have known problems—a hole, bad floors, a bad roof. Generally are very close in price to a wind- and watertight container. Frankly will cost more to repair than are worth it. Note: An as-is container is NOT the same as a wind- and water-tight container sold “as is” with no warranties (vendors cannot warranty a container once it is delivered).

5) How do I get a container delivered? Empty containers are stored at distribution centers across the country. Your vendor will locate an empty container as close to you as possible and then put it on a truck. The truck will back the container off right where you want it—all you need is a straight and firm patch of ground (paved, gravel, packed dirt are all fine).

Want to offload the container yourself? That can lower delivery costs—but only if you happen to own a crane, backhoe or forklift.

Rail delivery? Not practical in most cases. Your most cost-effective solution is almost always going to be having your vendor find the closest container to you and put it on a truck. (If you see containers near a rail yard or port, be aware that they are neither empty nor free.)

Shipping overseas? Discuss delivery with your container vendor and shipping line.

6) What should my container cost? When shopping vendors, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Look at the total price including delivery, and make sure quotes are for the same quality of container. Three tips:

Location matters: Container prices are usually cheaper on the coasts than inland.

Quality matters: A cargo-worthy container costs more than a wind- and water-tight container. But used 20’ and 40’ containers should be similar in price.

Delivery details matter: Final costs are determined by how far you are from the closest container and by your specific delivery needs.

Container Availability Changing Throughout the United States

Throughout the recession, the container industry has been talking about the decline of container availability in the United States.  Here is a story that is showing the affect that will have on industries that depend on a ready supply of containers throughout the US.  In this case, farmers are experiencing a changing market: Illinois grain exporters, seeking empty containers, fret about decline in imports from China

As a container vendor, this is obviously a concern as well.  There is a sense among container buyers that containers are a never-ending resource that simply fall off of trains in unlikely areas or are simply sitting in yards near ports and rail yards, there for anyone who cares to come in with a truck.  This simply is not true.

Containers are a commodity like anything else.  They are manufactured in Asia and used to ship goods all over the world.  They are available for purchase in certain cities throughout the United States.  They are made of steel and a lot of money has been put into moving them around, which means they are not free, or cheaper than the cost of scrap metal.  Most importantly, as Americans export more and import less, the availability of containers will dry up.

What does this mean to people who want to buy containers?  You will need to be careful with your purchases.  As there are fewer containers, prices will go up.  Containers that are wind- and water-tight, won’t leak, are going to be in higher demand.  There will probably be a few more containers that are not in good condition that will be sold for old prices, which will disappoint those buyers who are set on finding a “good deal”.  There will also be more scams.   Buyers will need to do more homework on the companies they are buying on and realize that the days of very low-cost containers are gone.

Hopefully as the economy improves, we’ll see a return to plentiful containers and better prices.  In the meantime, be ready to see prices go up a bit and to do your homework to make sure you end up with a good container that will meet your needs.

You Can Help Fill a Container of Hope for Haiti

We have all watched in horror the reports about the earthquake disaster in Haiti.  We all certainly feel helpless in such situations.  Our hearts go out so many people suffering and the enormous task of providing medical and other humanitarian aid to so many people in need.  It can leave us all feeling like there is little we can do to make a difference.  That is where Bright Hope International comes in.

Bright Hope International has been committed to helping Haiti over the past 15 years.  When the earthquake hit, they were engaged with their Hope4Haiti program which brings hope to children and families in Pignon, Haiti, by providing food and school supplies as well as microloan and job skills programs.  That was before the earthquake.

Now they are working with their partners in the U.S. and Haiti to send relief supplies to Haiti, including their MedPacks – packages of medical supplies, clothes, blankets food and water.  They are currently filling cargo containers with these supplies and sending them to Haiti.  For more information, please visit their website:  www.BrightHope.org .  If you are in the Chicago area, they have various volunteer opportunities, but they are also seeking donations from across the country.

When disasters like this hit, it is sometimes hard to know how to help out.  Bright Hope International makes it easy to know that you are directly helping people in need. Super Cubes has been lucky to be able to assist this worthy agency in obtaining containers. Your donation can help fill them.

What’s in your steel container?

From datacenters to farm storage to storm cellars

Whether it’s food and hunting supplies in a little retreat in the woods or pigs in a farm shelter, there are some interesting things showing up in steel shipping containers. Here are a few more examples of how people are using their containers:

• Microsoft’s  Cloud Computer Data Center
• Cabin
• Modern root cellar; the container is buried in a hill and holds veggies and a plow.
• 8 minis (yes 8 cars, sans wheels, in a 40′ container)
• Burn building used by a fire department to train firefighters.
• Car port; two shipping containers set up for storage with a roof between the two.  Talk about storage space!
• Warehouse space.
• Sides of a barn; containers provide lockable storage areas.
• Large barn.

• a home bar (see Gail & Paul’s Barnacle Bar)
• a portable store

• ATV and other toy storage.
• Storm cellar; with survival supplies.
• Repair shop.
• Stuff I can’t identify.
• Tools and garden stuff
• Employees, guests, normal folk
• Minnesota brothers
• Shopkeepers
• Traveling art
• a cafe
• Workshops, labs

Before you purchase your own steel shipping container to use for your own creative purposes, be sure to check your local codes. A few communities have special requirements if the containers are going to be buried, hold food, or house humans.

Everyone has storage problems. Shipping containers probably won’t help with all those shoes cluttering your closets. You can’t store you baby sister until she grows up either. But you could store you old car until it’s old enough to qualify as a collectible instead of junk.

What’s in your storage container?

What would you like to see in your container?

Do you think Santa has 40′ steel containers on each continent to keep toys safe for Christmas?

Moving Overseas? How about Shipping Overseas?

Are you leaving for an extended stay overseas?  Do you want to ship items overseas?  Shipping is easier than you think.  Shipping lines will move a cargo container from anywhere in the United States to your destination.  Containers provide much more space than mailing goods overseas.  Whether you are on assignment overseas, or want to send items back home again, containers are an efficient way to move large quantities of goods from one country to another.

But how easy is it for an individual or non-profit?  Easy!

The first decision you need to make is if you want the container that moves your items to stay at its destination, or if you want to give it back to the shipping line when you are done with your move.  For many individuals and non-profits, having extra storage space at the destination makes more sense.  Super Cubes LLC can sell you a container and provide all the necessary certification to ship the container overseas.  If you need help bringing the container to your location for loading and then bringing it to the closest port or rail location to ship the container, we can help with that too!

If you are simply trying to get goods from point A to point B, the shipping lines will provide you with a container to use.

Super Cubes will help you coordinate with your shipping line and freight forwarder to make sure the process goes smoothly.

Once the container arrives at its destination, you have built-in storage right onsite!

Land owners and cabin owners – do you need more storage space?

When you bought your cabin or hunting land, what did you visualize? For most people, getting away from the day to day grind and enjoy being in nature. For some people that is spending time on the lake or river, for others it is snowmobiling, and others want a hunting getaway. But where to store all those toys? Most cabins have smaller garages and lack the security most landowners want for when they are gone. Containers are a great solution to this problem.

Boats, waterskis, jetskis, skis, snowshoes snowmobile storage

You have all these things to enjoy the outdoors, but want to store them away from the elements. Containers are a great way to lock up your more expensive equipment. Containers are wind and water tight, insect and rodent proof, so the elements (and its critters) won’t get at your equipment.

Hunting lodges

Is your land a bit more rustic? Is a cabin too cushy for your hunting with the guys? A container can be a great solution for you too. We set a container on your land. During hunting season, you have a safe, dry space to stay or even store your food and gear that will stay protected while you get out and hunt. If the weather turns, you have a big enough space to accommodate the whole crew that is dry, yet right there on your land. If you want to spruce it up a bit, you can always add in some windows, insulation, additional doors, even electricity to run off of a generator.

Safety

As much as you may love your cabin or hunting land, you can’t be there all the time. Let a container be your safe for everything you want locked up tightly in your absence.

Do you let friends and family use the cabin, but would rather they didn’t use all of your things? Lock them in the container. You know everything will stay safe and sound for you to enjoy when you come up to the cabin next.

Add a lock-box, or a metal box that protects your padlock, and you have peace of mind when you are home that everything is safe and sound on your land.

And if you klutzy Uncle Fred wants to borrow your cabin, you can always let him use the cabin, but forget to give him the keys to the container. Your boat will thank you.

Why rent when you can buy?

We are often asked, should I buy or rent a container?  While there are good reasons to rent, buying often can provide a more cost-effective solution.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Generally speaking the break-even point financially is about 18 months, depending on where you are located.  If you think you are going to need your container for 1-2 years, you are probably better off purchasing your container.
2. You always need to store longer than you think. Everyone is hopeful that their project is only going to last a year, but once you get used to the convenience of a container, you will continue to find new things to store in it.  Your original project may finish, but your storage needs may not.
3. Even if you are only close to your break-even point financially, you have a container at the end of your project. Super Cubes will buy back most containers, so you make something on your purchase.  Often friends, family and neighbors have noticed your container.  If you are ready to get rid of it, you will find people lining up to buy it from you.  Let Super Cubes help you move it from your location to your buyer’s location.
4. Modifications are easier on a container you own. Whether you want to paint the container to match your location or to show your logo, convert it into an office, or just add doors so it is easier for you to use, making modifications on a container you own is easy.  However, most container rental locations will not allow such modifications for rental.

Please call us or visit our website for more information on containers:  877.374.5452, www.SuperCubes.com.  We will help you find the best container to fit your needs and budget.

Welcome!