Terms & Conditions
Every container we sell is graded, matched to its container number, and disclosed to you before you pay. This page explains exactly what each grade includes, what it does not, and what you are agreeing to when you buy.
How a purchase works
Three steps, in this order. Nothing ships until step three is complete.
You pick a grade
We quote a specific grade. Price follows condition — the lower the grade, the lower the price and the fewer the guarantees.
We disclose the unit
Your container is assigned a container number. Depot and shipping-line documentation for that exact number is available to you on request, at any time.
You sign the acceptance record
You confirm in writing which grade you bought and that you understand its limits. That record is attached to your order and emailed to you.
Container grades and what each one guarantees
Grades run from factory-new to scrap-repairable. Read the grade you are buying. If anything is unclear, ask before you pay — we will answer in writing.
New / Factory New
Lifetime leak + frameA container that has left the factory and has never carried cargo. Premium factory paint inside and out, new door seals, new gaskets, new floor.
What we guarantee
- Lifetime leak warranty — no leaks, or we repair, replace or refund
- Lifetime structural frame warranty
- Doors open, close and seal correctly on delivery
- Floor rated to full cargo capacity
- Cosmetically clean, uniform factory paint
Not covered
- Damage caused after delivery, including by modification, cutting, welding, or improper siting
- Normal surface weathering over time
New — One Trip
Lifetime leak + frameOur top seller and our top-of-the-line used-market unit: a factory container that has made a single loaded voyage, delivered in IICL standard. Premium factory interior and exterior paint, best door seals, best footing.
What we guarantee
- Lifetime leak warranty — no leaks, or we repair, replace or refund
- Lifetime structural frame warranty
- Doors open, close and seal correctly on delivery
- Floor rated to full cargo capacity
- Door lock box and forklift pockets installed
Not covered
- Minor transit marks, scuffs, or handling scratches from the single voyage
- Color selection unless confirmed in writing on your invoice
- Damage caused after delivery
IICL
Lifetime leak + frame UsedThe highest used grade, inspected against Institute of International Container Lessors criteria. If you cannot buy new, this is the best used unit available.
What we guarantee
- Lifetime leak warranty and lifetime frame warranty
- Doors shut and latch correctly
- Floor supports full cargo capacity
- Structurally sound with a valid CSC plate
Not covered
- Cosmetic uniformity — expect some paint variation and marks
- Door hardware stiffness; used doors can be stiff and still be correct
- Automatic overseas certification (see below)
Cargo Worthy
Lifetime leak + frame UsedCargoworthy standard: a structurally sound container with a valid CSC plate. Outside the Americas a minimum 18-month Periodical Examination Sticker (PES) is supplied as standard. Inside the Americas, a PES for shipping use can be applied by request.
What we guarantee
- Lifetime leak warranty and lifetime frame warranty
- Doors shut and latch correctly
- Floor supports full cargo capacity
- Valid CSC plate
Not covered
- Cosmetic condition — dents, patches, repaired areas and paint variation are normal
- Door stiffness on used hardware
- PES in the Americas unless requested and confirmed in writing
Wind & Water Tight
25-year leak warranty Function, not looksThis is our lowest-priced functional grade, and the grade customers most often misunderstand. WWT is sold on function only. It is inspected for holes before delivery and it will not leak. It is not sold on appearance.
What we guarantee
- No holes — inspected before delivery
- 25-year leak warranty
- Doors will shut
Expressly not guaranteed
- Cosmetic condition of any kind — faded and mismatched paint, dents, scratches, patches and surface rust are normal and expected
- Smooth door operation — doors may be stiff
- Flawless flooring — the floor may be stained, marked, gouged or show minor delamination
- Frame warranty
- Suitability for overseas shipping
As-Is
No warrantyDecommissioned containers sold to us by the shipping lines under the title As-Is. Typically 12 years old or older, suitable for storage or modification. These can be rough, with or without holes.
What you can expect
- Faded paint
- Dents, scratches, patches and surface rust inside and out
- Floor stained or marked, with minor delamination
- A usable shell for storage or a modification project
No guarantee of any kind
- Sold with no warranty whatsoever
- Doors are not promised to close properly
- Flooring may be damaged and need repair
- The unit may have holes that need repair
- No leak warranty, no frame warranty
Damaged
No warranty Rarely soldThe lowest quality the shipping lines release. These units carry damage that costs more to repair than the container is worth. We rarely sell them. They exist for buyers who intend to do their own repairs to save money.
What you can expect
- Significant structural or panel damage
- A repair project, not a finished product
No guarantee of any kind
- Sold as Damaged and As-Is, with no warranty whatsoever
- No leak warranty, no frame warranty
- No promise the doors operate
- No promise the floor is usable
- Not suitable for shipping use
Grades at a glance
A summary only. The full description of your grade in Section 1 controls.
| Grade | Leak warranty | Frame warranty | Doors | Floor | Cosmetics | Refusal fee applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Lifetime | Lifetime | Seal correctly | Full capacity | Guaranteed | See Section 3.5 |
| New 1 Trip | Lifetime | Lifetime | Seal correctly | Full capacity | Guaranteed | See Section 3.5 |
| IICL | Lifetime | Lifetime | Shut correctly, may be stiff | Full capacity | Not guaranteed | See Section 3.5 |
| Cargo Worthy | Lifetime | Lifetime | Shut correctly, may be stiff | Full capacity | Not guaranteed | See Section 3.5 |
| WWT | 25 years | None | Will shut, may be stiff | May be flawed | Expressly excluded | $500 + delivery |
| As-Is | None | None | Not promised | May need repair | Expressly excluded | $500 + delivery |
| Damaged | None | None | Not promised | Not promised | Expressly excluded | $500 + delivery |
General terms of sale
These terms apply to every order placed with Cheap Cargo Containers.
Your container is identified by number
Every container we sell is assigned a specific container number, and the paperwork for your order matches that number. You may request the documentation for your container number at any time — from the shipping line, the depot and from us — and we will provide it. That documentation is the record of your container's condition.
Grade is what you are buying
You buy a grade, not a specific appearance. Price is set by grade. The grade on your invoice and on your acceptance record is the condition you have agreed to accept. Unless a photograph of your assigned container number was provided to you in writing and identified as your unit, photographs and images on this website are illustrative of the grade only.
Warranties
Leak warranty. Where a leak warranty applies to your grade, we warrant the container against water penetration through the roof, walls, floor or door seals, subject to the exclusions below. The term is a lifetime leak warranty on New, New One Trip, IICL and Cargo Worthy containers, and a 25-year leak warranty on Wind & Water Tight containers. Your sole remedy under this warranty is, at our option, repair of the affected area, replacement of the container, or refund of the purchase price.
Frame warranty. New, New One Trip, IICL and Cargo Worthy containers carry a lifetime structural frame warranty against frame failure under normal use, on the same remedy terms. There is no frame warranty on Wind & Water Tight, As-Is or Damaged containers.
Money-back guarantee. On New and New One Trip containers, if we cannot repair or replace a container that fails the leak warranty, we will refund the purchase price.
Warranty holder. These warranties run to the original purchaser at the original delivery site and are not transferable.
Exclusions. No warranty covers: damage caused after delivery; modification, cutting, welding, drilling, painting or roof loading; siting on uneven or unstable ground; condensation, which is a normal function of a sealed steel box and is not a leak; rust or corrosion arising after delivery; damage from storms, floods, fire, vandalism, or accident; or containers moved from the original delivery site.
Claims. Report a warranty issue in writing to estela@cheapcargocontainers.com with your order number, container number and photographs. We may require access to inspect the container before approving a claim.
No warranty on As-Is or Damaged. Containers sold As-Is or Damaged are sold with no warranty of any kind, and to the fullest extent permitted by law all implied warranties, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are disclaimed on those grades.
Cancellation before delivery
You may cancel at any time before your container is dispatched for delivery, at no cancellation fee, and we will refund amounts you have paid us within 5 business days. "Dispatched" means the container has been released from the depot and loaded for transport to you. Once dispatched, Section 3.5 applies.
Refusal at delivery and restocking
If you refuse a container at delivery, the container must return to the depot and the delivery is a cost already incurred. Where permitted by law, a refusal after dispatch results in a $500 restocking fee plus the applicable delivery charge, which may be deducted from any refund or charged to the payment method on file.
This fee does not apply where the container delivered is a lower grade than the grade you purchased, is not the container number assigned to your order, or fails the guarantees stated for your grade in Section 1. In those cases we will correct it at our cost.
This fee does apply where you refuse a container for reasons expressly excluded from your grade — most commonly, refusing a WWT, As-Is or Damaged container because of its appearance.
Delivery site and access
You are responsible for the delivery site. Before delivery, confirm that: the ground is level, firm and dry enough for a loaded truck; there is clear straight-line space to offload; overhead lines, branches, wires and structures are clear; and access is legal and permitted. Tell us in advance about gates, low bridges, tight turns, weight limits or soft ground.
If the driver arrives and the site cannot safely take the delivery, the load returns and Section 3.5 applies. Zoning approval, permits, HOA consent and any required foundation are your responsibility, not ours. We are not liable for damage to driveways, curbs, lawns, paving, irrigation, septic systems or underground services caused during a delivery you have directed.
Payment, title and risk
Payment is due in full before dispatch unless agreed otherwise in writing. Title and risk of loss pass to you on delivery to your site. Prices exclude applicable sales tax unless stated. You confirm you are authorized to use the payment method you provide.
Payment disputes and chargebacks
If you have a problem, contact us first at 800-811-6439 or estela@cheapcargocontainers.com — most issues are solved the same day. Your acceptance record, invoice and container documentation are retained by us and may be submitted to your card issuer or payment provider as evidence of what you agreed to purchase. Nothing in these terms limits any right you have under your card network's rules or applicable law to dispute a charge.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability arising out of or connected with any container is limited to the purchase price you paid for that container, and we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including loss of use, loss of profits, or damage to property stored in the container. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Electronic records and signatures
By completing the acceptance record below, you consent to transact electronically and agree that your electronic acknowledgment and typed signature have the same effect as a handwritten signature. We retain a copy of your record with a date and time stamp and email a copy to the address you provide. You may request a paper copy at any time.
Governing law and changes
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas. The version of these terms in effect on the date of your acceptance record governs your order; we may update this page for future orders.
Español
Hablamos español. Si negoció su compra en español, pídanos una copia de estos Términos y Condiciones en español antes de pagar, y se la enviaremos sin costo. No firme el registro de aceptación hasta que entienda por completo la condición del contenedor que está comprando.
We speak Spanish. If you negotiated your purchase in Spanish, ask us for a Spanish copy of these Terms & Conditions before you pay and we will send it at no charge. Do not sign the acceptance record until you fully understand the condition of the container you are buying.
Customer acceptance record
Complete this before your container is dispatched. It attaches your order and container number to the exact grade you agreed to buy. A copy is emailed to you.
Acceptance record
Acknowledged:
Signed:
Cheap Cargo Containers · Terms version 1.0 · Retain this record with your invoice.