Container Scams - Buyer Beware
Used 20’s in a container depot
11/5/21 Update: Yesterday we found a website that had lifted much of our website including a ton of the text and pictures from our website, our testimonials, even pictures of us to create their website. For their contact information, the listed an address that is a container yard that is not the company that is listed on the website. Even in the FAQ’s to this website, they copied and pasted our FAQ’s and didn’t bother to change where it would say things like Super Cubes does this or that to help you out. A careful reader might pick up on it.. But I highly doubt it. They are banking on the fact that most container buyers are new to the market and don’t know many companies that sell containers. They won’t recognize Super Cubes as the name of a company that sells containers.
But here’s the concern - clearly this company is not up to anything they are proud of. If they were, they would list a real address. they would list real contact information. By virtue of the fact that they are leaving very misleading information on their website, it is clear that they are making sure that any unsatisfied customers have absolutely nowhere to turn. The other company whose address is listed on the website and Super Cubes are working together to find their real address so we can send a cease and desist letter, but in the meantime, we have no way to stop them. So please, be very careful to confirm that your container vendor is a legitimate company.
Now back to your regularly scheduled blog…
We had a call this week from a potential customer who paid out for a container from a different company, got to delivery day, continued to talk to the seller and then - poof! - the container disappeared. Another recent call was from someone who had used Craigslist or a similar site. The seller “let” someone else pick up the buyer’s container after collecting money from the buyer even though it was clear it wasn’t the buyer’s truck (wrong date, wrong type of truck). In both cases, money changed hands, but the container didn’t come to the buyer. The buyers still needed that container, but now had less money to buy one and were calling us looking for a reputable vendor. There have been other cases as well. You can check them out here and here.
The global container shortage has opened the door to inevitable container scams. Prices are rising, which no one likes. It is tough on all of us. As people call around and find those high prices, they may encounter scammers who offer prices that are too good to be true. Since most people do not buy containers very often, if ever, in their lifetime, how are they supposed to know the good companies from the bad?
Here are a few tips:
Pricing that is too good to be true.
If you are calling around and only one place has a container that is significantly lower than everyone else, that should raise some eyebrows. Why is that? Can they give you a credible reason for that?
Contact information that leaves a lot of guesswork.
Do they have a physical address (not a PO box)? A real phone number (not just an 800 number)? Do they have any actual people’s names? If you had an issue and had to actually reach them, could you? Where would you find them? Who would you contact? That isn’t to say if you can’t find all of these things it is an issue. But if you can find none of them, that is a pretty big red flag.
Questionable website addresses and social media.
Does their website offer a lot of promises, but not a lot of detail? Does it tell you where their offices are located? How far back does their social media go back? What kind of comments do you see there? Often they use websites with addresses that look very similar to more familiar companies. Are they hoping you will get confused with a more well-known, more well-established player in the market? If you Google them by the name of the company, what do you find? This should give you an idea of how well established they are and if they have been in business for a decent amount of time.
Reliable reviews and and other signs that they have been in business for some time.
Can you tell if they have been in business for awhile? Scammers usually pop up quickly and disappear just as fast. One other way to tell is if they belong to groups in their industry. For containers, one association is the National Portable Storage Association. Members usually post that on their website or you can ask if they are members when you are on the phone.
They ask about delivery information.
If a company does not plan on delivering a container, they will make it sounds like they will delivery anywhere. If a company has to get their truck and a container into a delivery area, they will have some questions about that delivery location to make sure it will go smoothly. If you get to the point where they are asking for money and haven’t raised any questions on the delivery, that is a huge red flag. Wouldn’t want someone who is the slightest bit concerned their truck will make it onto your property?
They do not ask for banking information.
One very easy way to protect yourself is to use your credit card. If they run your card and don’t deliver the container, you have the protection of your credit card company. You can check with the Better Business Bureau or with the the state where they are located as well.
This obviously can’t guarantee it will save you from everyone., but hopefully save you from a slick scammer.