Question 1

How do I actually buy, there's no add-to-cart?

Accepted Answer

By design. Shipping containers aren't t-shirts. Your ZIP, site access, timing, and grade choice all change the delivered price. You tell us what you're trying to do, we text within 1 business hour with a written quote, and if you like it we send a secure Stripe checkout link. Pay and we dispatch.

Question 2

How long does the quote-to-delivery process take?

Accepted Answer

Quote back within 1 business hour. Checkout link within 24 hours if you're moving forward. Delivery typically 3-7 business days from payment.

Question 3

Do you have a minimum order?

Accepted Answer

No. One 20ft used WWT is fine. We quote one-offs and fleet orders with the same attention.

Question 4

Will you price-match a competitor's written quote?

Accepted Answer

Yes, send us a legitimate written delivered-all-in quote and we'll beat it. If we can't beat it, we'll tell you where to buy instead. We'd rather lose a sale than lose trust.

Question 5

Why do you only lock prices for 7 days?

Accepted Answer

Because container costs and trucking rates can move fast when fuel, tariffs, port congestion, or conflict around major shipping lanes tighten supply. Seven days gives you time to decide without us promising a number we cannot honestly hold.

Question 6

Can I finance it?

Accepted Answer

Not yet in v1. We're partnering with a couple equipment finance lenders, if you need financing, mention it when we text and we'll refer you to one. Most container buyers pay cash or business card.

Question 7

Where do you deliver?

Accepted Answer

Anywhere in the continental US within ~300 miles of a depot. We have depot coverage in most major metros. Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories take longer but are possible.

Question 8

How long does delivery take?

Accepted Answer

3–7 business days from payment for most ZIPs within our core metro footprint. Rural or long-haul (300+ miles from the nearest depot) can be 7–14 business days. You get a firm delivery window in writing before we dispatch, never a vague 'sometime this week'.

Question 9

How does tilt-bed delivery work?

Accepted Answer

A flatbed trailer arrives with the container already loaded. The driver tilts the bed up to about 35°, slides the container off the back, and as the rear end touches the ground the truck pulls forward slowly so the container ends up sitting flat on your site. The whole offload takes 10–15 minutes. Full walkthrough on the /delivery page.

Question 10

What if my site won't fit a tilt-bed?

Accepted Answer

We arrange crane delivery as an add-on (typically $800–$2,400 depending on metro and reach). You send 2–3 site photos during the quote phase so there are no surprises. Hi-rail, rough-terrain forklift, and roll-off are also options for unusual sites.

Question 11

Can I pick it up myself from the depot?

Accepted Answer

In most metros, yes. Depot pickup saves the delivery portion of the quote (typically $400–$1,800 depending on distance) if you have a tilt-bed-capable trailer and a CDL driver. Ask during the quote and we'll check depot policy, most yards require 24-hour notice and a container-rated rigger.

Question 12

What happens if the driver can't deliver?

Accepted Answer

If the driver arrives and the site has an access problem we didn't catch in pre-delivery review, the container goes back to the depot and we reschedule. A 'dry-run' or failed-delivery fee does apply (typically $350–$800) because the truck was already dispatched. This is the single biggest reason we're aggressive about the T+24h prep checklist and photo review, we'd rather you cancel for free than eat a dry-run fee.

Question 13

Do you pre-call before delivery?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every single delivery. You get a call from the dispatcher 24–48 hours before the delivery window with the driver's ETA, truck type, and a final site-readiness check. If anything has changed on your end, this is the call to flag it.

Question 14

What are the most common reasons a container delivery fails?

Accepted Answer

After thousands of deliveries, it's almost always one of five things: (1) the driveway has a tight turn or cul-de-sac a tilt-bed can't negotiate, (2) a low tree branch or power line blocks the 14ft vertical clearance, (3) the ground is too soft and the corners sink, (4) the path is narrower than 10ft, or (5) nobody's home to confirm the drop spot. All five are 100% preventable with the T+24h prep email we send after you pay.

Question 15

How much driveway / approach space does the truck need?

Accepted Answer

A tilt-bed needs about 100ft of straight, drivable approach to position, tilt, and offload. Think of it as a long pull-in, not a parking spot. It does not have to be paved, gravel and packed dirt are fine, but it has to be drivable in wet weather. Sharp turns, switchback driveways, and cul-de-sacs under 40ft across usually require a crane or rough-terrain forklift as an add-on.

Question 16

How much vertical clearance do I need for tree branches, wires, or arches?

Accepted Answer

14ft minimum from the road to the drop spot, every foot of the path. This is non-negotiable, the trailer bed tilts up to about 14ft during offload. Measure: low tree branches, power lines feeding the house, telephone or cable lines across the driveway, gate arches, carports, and overhanging eaves. If a branch is in the way, it must be trimmed before the driver shows up, the driver will not and cannot trim it. Same goes for low utility lines, you'll need the utility company to raise or drop them temporarily (usually free with 1 week's notice).

Question 17

How wide does the path need to be?

Accepted Answer

12ft comfortable, 10ft bare minimum. Side mirrors, the trailer chassis, and the container itself all stick out a little past the path's painted width. Fences, retaining walls, parked cars, and low landscaping boulders all count against clearance. If there's a narrow pinch point along the path, measure at the pinch, not at the average.

Question 18

Does the ground need to be level? Do I need a concrete pad?

Accepted Answer

No pad required. The container rests on 4 corner castings (the steel blocks at each corner), and those castings can sit on gravel, packed dirt, compacted aggregate, pavers, railroad ties, or concrete blocks. What you want is firm and level within about 2 inches across the container's footprint. Soft lawn or freshly-laid topsoil is the #1 ground problem, the castings will sink and the container will rack (twist), which makes the doors jam and can eventually deform the frame. If you have any doubt, put 4 railroad ties or 8 solid concrete blocks (not cinder blocks) under the corners, it's $100 of materials and solves the problem forever.

Question 19

What if my ground slopes?

Accepted Answer

Up to about 2 inches of slope across the container's footprint is fine, the driver can shim the low corners with pads during offload. More than that and you need to grade the site or build up the low side with compacted gravel and railroad ties before delivery day. We can send a prep spec sheet with your order.

Question 20

Can the delivery truck drive across my lawn?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes in summer, risky in spring and wet weather. A loaded tilt-bed with a 40ft container on it weighs ~65,000 lbs, it will leave ruts in any lawn. Fresh sod or irrigated turf is a no-go. If the drop spot is across a lawn, either lay plywood sheets along the path or accept that you'll need to re-seed a strip.

Question 21

Do I need to be home for the delivery?

Accepted Answer

Someone with decision-making authority needs to be on-site to confirm the exact drop position, door orientation, and sign the delivery receipt. That can be you, a spouse, your contractor, or a site foreman. If nobody can be there, we can arrange a concierge who meets the driver and calls you on speaker, but this needs to be coordinated before dispatch, not the morning of.

Question 22

What if I'm not sure whether my site will work?

Accepted Answer

Text or email 2–3 phone photos of (1) the road approach, (2) the drop spot, and (3) anything overhead (trees, wires) to chris@containers.direct. We'll tell you straight up if we see red flags. If we spot a problem after you've already paid, we'll either quote a crane upgrade or cancel and refund, you won't be stuck with a failed delivery.

Question 23

Can I change my mind about the drop spot on delivery day?

Accepted Answer

Within a few feet, yes, the driver will work with you. A whole different area of the property usually isn't possible because the truck is already positioned for a specific approach. If you think you might change your mind, mark 2 acceptable drop spots with paint or stakes before the truck arrives, so the driver can pick whichever works best for the actual approach angle.

Question 24

What grade do I actually need?

Accepted Answer

For storage, WWT. For modification projects where you'll replace panels, WWT or CWO. For container homes, retail, offices, or anywhere it'll be seen, go New/IICL. Full breakdown on /grades.

Question 25

Will it arrive with rust?

Accepted Answer

Used containers (WWT/CWO) come with visible surface rust, that's normal and structural weathering steel forms a protective patina. New/IICL arrives with factory paint intact.

Question 26

Do you ship containers from the port?

Accepted Answer

New One-Trip containers yes, they come from the port after one ocean voyage. Used containers come from depot yards after years of international service.

Question 27

Can I build a container home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, One-Trip/IICL containers are the standard starting point. We don't modify in-house but can refer regional fabricators. Text us the plan and we'll advise which size, orientation, and grade to buy.

Question 28

Do I need a permit?

Accepted Answer

Depends on your county + HOA. Storage containers usually don't require permits if temporary; permanent installations and modifications (windows, doors, electrical) typically do. Check with your building department before you buy.

Question 29

Can I stack containers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, shipping containers are designed to stack 8 high at sea. Dry-land stacking typically goes 2-3 high with proper corner castings and locking hardware. We can quote the twist-lock hardware.

Question 30

What's your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Three windows: (1) Before we confirm depot stock (typically within 1 business day of your purchase), full refund, no fees, no questions. (2) After stock is confirmed, you can cancel free up to 48 hours before the scheduled delivery window. (3) Inside that 48-hour window or after dispatch, restocking and freight costs we've already incurred apply. Full legal wording on the /terms page.

Question 31

What does the 30-day guarantee actually cover?

Accepted Answer

It's a condition guarantee, not a buyer's-remorse return policy. If within 30 days of delivery you can show the container arrived in worse shape than we sold you (wrong grade, undisclosed damage, bad CSC plate, roof leaks on a "wind and watertight" unit, etc.), email chris@containers.direct with photos and we'll make it right, repair on-site, partial refund, or pickup and full refund less return freight. This is the industry-standard grade guarantee, just written in plain English instead of fine print.

Question 32

Can I return the container if I just change my mind?

Accepted Answer

Not after delivery. Shipping containers aren't returnable the way a couch is, once a 40ft box is sitting on your property, the round-trip freight and crane alone can exceed $2,500, and no reputable seller in the industry does post-delivery remorse returns. That's why we push hard on the pre-dispatch cancellation window (free up to 48 hours before delivery) and the T+24h site-prep email, we want you to catch any doubts before the truck is on the way, not after.

Question 33

What if the container arrives damaged or doesn't match the photos?

Accepted Answer

Note it on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves. Take photos from multiple angles. Email them to us within 48 hours. We'll work with the depot on your behalf, possible outcomes are: we fix it on-site (rust repair, dent work, door seal), we partial-refund you to fix it yourself, or we pick it up and refund in full. You're not stuck with a container that doesn't match what you bought.

Question 34

What if the delivery fails because of my site?

Accepted Answer

If the driver arrives and can't deliver due to an access issue (too narrow, low branches, soft ground), the container goes back to the depot and we reschedule once you've prepped the site. A dry-run fee applies (typically $350–$800 depending on distance) because the truck was dispatched. This is 100% avoidable if you read the T+24h prep email and, when in doubt, send us site photos for a pre-delivery review.

Question 35

What if I pay and you can't actually get the container?

Accepted Answer

Full refund to your original payment method within 3 business days, zero fees, zero fight. Stock can shift at the depot between when we quote and when we allocate, on the rare occasion it does, we absorb the problem, not you.

Question 36

Are you a broker or do you own the containers?

Accepted Answer

We're a marketplace. We partner with depot operators across the US rather than owning a single yard, which means better pricing, better availability, and honest quotes. The depot owns the container until you pay; then we dispatch it to you.

Question 37

Who answers when I text?

Accepted Answer

Our team does, not an outsourced call center. Containers Direct is a small, family-run operation founded by Chris Riley, and whoever replies can quote your ZIP, pull up your order, and coordinate the delivery. No handoffs, no ticket numbers.

Question 38

How is this different from Boxhub or Eve on Containers?

Accepted Answer

Same marketplace model, better execution. We pre-call every delivery, send depot photos (not stock photos) with every quote, and price-match any written offer. Family-run and owner-operated means you're talking to the people whose names are on the LLC, not a rotating call center.

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