Transportable, affordable, strong and adaptable, shipping containers can be an incredible investment. You just need to find the right one for your situation.
Mistakes can be costly. Buy the wrong container, and you’re left with a large and inconvenient white elephant.
So let’s make sure you don’t.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
What are the top mistakes to avoid when buying a shipping container? Here are the five most common traps, and how to ensure you don’t fall into them.
1. Not checking container condition
Mistake: Failing to ask about the condition of the container, buying it unseen, or ignoring issues like rust, dents and leaks.
Avoid by: Inspecting the container in person or requesting detailed photos/videos. Buying from a trusted, proven supplier that offers clear and honest container condition ratings: new, single use, cargo worthy (CW), wind & watertight (WWT), as is/damaged.
Avoid by: Carefully calculating the size of container you need for the intended use, and carefully measuring your site to ensure the container will fit.
3. Ignoring delivery access and costs
Mistake: Assuming the container can be placed anywhere on your site, or that delivery is included in the purchase price.
Avoid by: Getting a quote for delivery before you lock in the purchase. Speak with the container supplier about where you’d like to place the container, and how they plan to place it there.
4. Overlooking local regulations
Mistake: Not realising council or zoning approvals may be required, and facing penalties for an unapproved addition to your property.
Avoid by: Contacting your local council before you secure your purchase, to understand your responsibilities and complete any paperwork before you take delivery.
5. Focusing exclusively on price
Mistake: Going for the cheapest option without considering quality or resale value. Ultimately spending more money on repairs or replacement to get the container up to scratch.
Avoid by: Considering not just the upfront cost, but the condition, suitability, longevity and potential resale value of the container.
Your trusted container supplier
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can save money, reduce hassle, and get the perfect container for your situation.
As a proven, trusted supplier and converter of containers, at Shipping-containers.com.au we help you do just that.
Andreas Atrott is the founder of shipping-containers.com.au, operated by Containerbase Pty Ltd (Hemmant, Queensland, Australia). He combines long-standing industry expertise with a hands-on approach to container sales, modifications, and custom solutions. He also conducts applied field research on the thermal and humidity behaviour of shipping containers in subtropical climates, publishing open datasets and reports under the Container Performance Research Series. His research dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21466036 (ORCID: 0009-0007-9305-8058). His goal is to make buying and using shipping containers straightforward, reliable, and tailored to customer needs.
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July 3, 2025
About Us
At shipping.containers.au we believe in making shipping container buying simple, transparent, and stress-free. Our experts inspect every unit, offer honest advice, and handle delivery so you can focus on your project—not the paperwork.
Got questions? Let’s chat.
Our team’s here to make container buying simple.
Talk to a real expert, get advice, and find your perfect fit – fast.
Hello! I’m Sophie - Container Specialist, how can I help you?
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