New vs. Used Shipping Containers: Which is Right for Your Business?

For businesses of varying sizes across countless industries, shipping containers deliver convenient, effective solutions that improve their day-to-day operations. However, if your company is looking to utilize shipping containers, understanding your options is crucial. Not only do you need to choose the right size and type, but you also need to determine if new or used is best for your business.  

Both new and used containers offer valuable solutions, but depending on your business’s goals and needs, one option may stand apart as a superior choice. What benefits do new and used shipping containers offer, and how can you choose which option is best for your team? Learn about the advantages of each option, allowing you to make an informed decision and meet your business’s objectives accordingly. 

Benefits of New Shipping Containers

New containers deliver the advantage of arriving in mint condition, but how can this pristine container provide results that differ from its used counterparts? Explore five of the top benefits below. 

Durability

When you opt for a brand-new storage container, you can expect maximum durability. These units lack any of the wear and tear of the used models, allowing you to rest assured that your container is in the best condition possible. This durable steel structure empowers users to feel confident that their unit is built to last—a perk that also speaks to the value of the investment in a storage container. 

Heightened Protection

In the same vein as the durability offered by these shipping containers, new storage units also provide even more reliable protection for your items. Without any existing damage, you can rest assured that even your most fragile and valuable items are safe in your unit. Shipping containers are built to be weather-resistant and watertight, preventing moisture from entering the container and damaging the contents or causing rust.  

Additionally, this prevents pests from entering the shipping container. Overall, a new unit provides unmatched safety and security, preserving the quality of your items for longer time periods. 

Customizability

Another major advantage of new shipping containers is the endless variations you can choose. New shipping containers are like blank canvases for the world of modifications available to add onto them.  

These modifications are designed to cater to each business’s unique operations, goals, and needs. Windows, flooring, HVAC, shelving—these are just a few of the many customizations that can be added to a new storage container. Whether you aim to use your unit for inventory or as a pop-up shop, the options are never-ending, and modifications make these uses possible. No matter your industry or your desired use, you can tailor your container accordingly. 

Increased Options

With new storage containers, your business can be as picky as you need because of the many available options. Rather than relying on used units to have the specifications and modifications you’re looking for, you can enjoy the simplicity of having all the options available for your choice with new containers. Find the perfect shipping container for your business, tailored to your exact requirements, when you choose a new unit. 

Portability

With any container—new or used—you can enjoy the main advantage of a shipping container: portability. These units are designed to be moved, so no matter where you need them, you can relocate them as much as you need.  

Although some may choose to keep their unit in the same location, these containers can be moved to different job sites as needed. For example, storage containers offer excellent advantages to construction companies, as they can be placed on a job site to hold tools and materials or to serve as a breakroom. However, when it’s time to move on to the next job, your container can come along with you to the new location—a simple solution. 

Benefits of Used Shipping Containers

Although new units provide many advantages, used shipping containers may be a better option depending on your business’s priorities. Find a few of these perks below. 

Cost-Effectiveness

First and foremost, cost-effectiveness is a significant advantage for any business considering storage units. In fact, many used units are comparable to their new counterparts, but they are available at a much lower price. You can even choose from different levels of use, allowing you to gauge the expected performance of a used container before buying. Learn more about the different container conditions below: 

• As-Is: As-is containers provide the least guaranteed protection for your items, but this also means they deliver the lowest prices. They run the risk of sustaining damage in the shipping process, though, which can be a cause for concern. Overall, as-is containers aren’t available from many providers. 
• WWT: WWT means “wind and watertight.” These containers can effectively keep their contents safe from the elements, and they are a commonly available option. This means they are available in many specifications and modifications, and they serve as a financially savvy option. 
• Cargo Worthy: Cargo worthy shipping containers have been deemed suitable for shipping cargo overseas, as their name suggests. Effectively, these containers aren’t much different from WWT units, but they have the added assurance of being inspected by a maritime surveyor and being deemed cargo worthy. They are only slightly more expensive than WWT units. 

Sustainability

Another significant advantage of opting for a used storage unit is the sustainability aspect. By reusing a container still in working condition, you make an eco-friendly decision to make the most of a unit. Getting the maximum output from a single container means less unnecessary waste, which reduces your business’s environmental footprint. 

Portability

As with the new units, the top advantage can’t be denied: portability. Whether your unit is new or used, it was made to be transported, and that’s what makes these containers so advantageous for businesses of all types. By having endless flexibility with the placement of your storage container, you can choose what works best for your business and adapt to changing goals and needs.  

Choose the Ideal Shipping Container for Your Business

Whether you opt for a new or used shipping container, these units offer many advantages that will ultimately improve your business’s operations and yield enhanced results. Seeking a reputable storage container provider to buy from? Choose Container Technology Inc., Atlanta’s shipping container leader since 1988.  

We offer new and used models to customers in Atlanta and beyond, and our team can provide a comprehensive menu of modifications to adjust your unit to your specific goals. Request a free quote online or call us today to learn more about our broad inventory and affordable pricing!