Frequently Asked Questions

Used boxes typically cost 30-60% less than new, depending on the type, size, and grade. Gaylord boxes offer the biggest savings, often 50-60% less than purchasing new from a manufacturer. The exact discount varies with market conditions and order volume, but most customers see immediate cost savings on their very first order. We publish transparent pricing on every product page so you can compare before you commit.

All our boxes are inspected and graded using a three-tier system. Grade A boxes look nearly new with minimal wear and no printing or markings, making them ideal for customer-facing shipments. Grade B boxes have light wear such as minor scuffs or previous labels but are fully functional and structurally sound. Grade C boxes show visible wear including creases, markings, or tape residue but remain strong enough for storage, internal transfers, or less demanding shipping needs. You choose the grade that fits your needs and budget.

We accommodate all order sizes, from a few dozen boxes to full truckloads. There is no hard minimum, though we do recommend ordering at least one bundle (typically 10-25 boxes depending on size) to make shipping cost-effective. Larger orders qualify for volume pricing tiers, with significant discounts starting at pallet quantities. Contact us for a custom quote tailored to your specific needs and volume.

Most in-stock items ship within 48 hours of order confirmation. Local delivery in the greater New Haven, CT area can often be arranged same-day or next-day depending on fleet availability. Nationwide freight shipments typically take 3-7 business days, depending on your location and the carrier selected. We also offer expedited freight options for urgent needs at an additional cost.

Yes! We can send sample boxes for you to evaluate quality and condition before committing to a larger order. Sample requests are free of charge for most standard products, though shipping costs may apply for destinations outside our local delivery area. This is especially popular with first-time buyers who want to confirm a grade meets their requirements before scaling up. Contact us to arrange samples and we will ship them within one business day.

Absolutely. We believe in letting the product speak for itself, so we encourage new customers to request samples before placing a bulk order. We can send up to three different box types or grades so you can compare side by side. There is no charge for the samples themselves, and local customers can pick them up directly from our warehouse at 113 Wallace St, New Haven, CT. For shipped samples, a small flat-rate shipping fee may apply.

We offer a straightforward return policy designed to give you confidence. If boxes arrive in a condition that does not match the grade you ordered, contact us within 48 hours of delivery and we will arrange a replacement shipment or issue a full credit. Boxes must be unused and in the same condition as received to qualify for a return. We do not charge restocking fees for quality-related returns, and we cover return shipping when the issue is on our end. For buyer-remorse returns on correctly graded boxes, a 15% restocking fee may apply.

Yes, recurring orders are one of the most popular options for our business customers. We can schedule automatic shipments on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cadence based on your consumption patterns. Recurring orders lock in your negotiated pricing and receive priority fulfillment from our inventory, meaning you are first in line when stock is allocated. This is an excellent way to ensure a steady supply while simplifying your purchasing workflow. Contact your account representative to set up a recurring order plan.

We do carry a wide range of standard sizes and can often source specific dimensions from our rotating inventory. If you need a size that is not currently in stock, our custom orders team can work with you to source or cut boxes to your exact specifications. Custom sizing is available for corrugated boxes, gaylords, and specialty containers, with minimum order quantities that vary by product type. Lead times for custom-sized used boxes are typically 1-2 weeks depending on availability and complexity.

Beyond boxes, we carry a full range of packaging accessories to meet your shipping and storage needs. Our inventory includes pallets in both standard and custom sizes, pallet caps and dividers, stretch wrap, packing paper, bubble wrap, and edge protectors. We also stock gaylord liners in various thicknesses for moisture-sensitive applications. Buying accessories alongside your box order simplifies logistics and often qualifies for bundled pricing discounts.

We buy virtually all types of used corrugated containers, including gaylords, standard shipping boxes, specialty containers, die-cut boxes, and pallets. We also purchase cardboard bales, loose cardboard in bulk, and mixed paper grades. If you have a container made primarily of corrugated cardboard or wood, chances are we are interested. The best way to find out is to send us photos or a description of your inventory and we will provide a quote within 24 hours.

Pricing depends on several factors including the type, size, condition, and quantity of boxes you are selling. Current market rates for recycled fiber and used containers also play a role, as does the logistics cost of pickup. We assess your inventory either through photos, a site visit, or a sample shipment, then provide a competitive offer that reflects fair market value. Our goal is to build long-term supplier relationships, so we price aggressively to earn your repeat business.

Yes, we offer pickup services throughout the greater New Haven area using our own fleet, and we can arrange freight pickups nationwide for larger quantities. Local pickups are often free for loads above a certain threshold, typically one pallet or more. For smaller loads or remote locations, a pickup fee may apply, but we always disclose this upfront in your quote. We handle all the logistics so you do not have to worry about arranging transportation yourself.

Payment is processed after pickup and verification of the material. For new sellers, payment is typically issued within 7-14 business days via check or ACH transfer. Established accounts with a track record can qualify for faster payment terms, including net-7 and even same-week payment in some cases. We are transparent about our payment timeline and will always confirm expected payment dates when we provide your quote.

While there is no strict minimum, we generally find that pickups become cost-effective for both parties starting at around one pallet or 50 standard-sized boxes. For smaller quantities in the New Haven area, you are welcome to drop off boxes at our facility during business hours and receive payment on the spot. If you are a business that generates a steady stream of used boxes, even small quantities can be worthwhile when combined into a scheduled pickup arrangement.

Yes, we buy boxes in all conditions. Boxes that are too damaged for resale still have significant value as recyclable material. Wet, torn, crushed, or heavily printed boxes are accepted and priced based on their recyclable fiber content rather than resale value. We would rather you sell your damaged boxes to us for proper recycling than see them go to a landfill. The only materials we cannot accept are those contaminated with hazardous substances, food waste, or excessive moisture that has caused mold growth.

Absolutely. Standing purchase agreements are ideal for businesses that generate a consistent flow of used boxes and want predictable pricing and scheduling. We will work with you to establish a contract that defines the types of material, estimated volumes, pickup frequency, and pricing structure. These agreements typically lock in favorable rates and guarantee that we will pick up your material on the agreed schedule. Most of our largest suppliers operate under standing agreements, and they appreciate the simplicity and reliability.

Yes, we purchase used boxes from individuals as well as businesses. If you have accumulated boxes from a move, online shopping, or any other source, you are welcome to bring them to our facility at 113 Wallace St, New Haven, CT for immediate evaluation and payment. For individuals with larger quantities, such as those cleaning out a warehouse or storage unit, we can arrange a pickup. The process is the same as for businesses: we inspect the material, make an offer, and pay promptly upon acceptance.

Boxes that cannot be resold are baled using an industrial baler and sent to certified recycling mills within our network. At the mill, they are pulped and processed into new paper products such as linerboard, medium, and paperboard, creating a truly circular lifecycle. We guarantee zero landfill disposal for all material we handle, meaning every box either gets a second life as a container or is recycled into new product. This commitment is backed by our chain-of-custody documentation and third-party auditing.

Absolutely. Scheduled recycling pickups are one of our core services. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pickup frequencies, and we can adjust the schedule seasonally to match your waste generation patterns. We provide collection containers, including cages, gaylords, or roll-off containers depending on your volume, and handle all logistics from pickup through processing. Many of our clients find that a regular recycling program actually generates revenue that offsets or exceeds the service cost.

Yes, we provide comprehensive documentation for every recycling engagement. This includes chain-of-custody records tracing your material from pickup through final processing, volume reports summarizing the weight and type of material recycled, and sustainability certificates quantifying the environmental benefit. These documents are essential for businesses with ESG reporting requirements, sustainability goals, or regulatory compliance needs. We can also provide custom reports formatted to meet your specific corporate reporting templates.

While we accept the vast majority of paper and corrugated products, there are some materials we cannot process. These include wax-coated cardboard, cardboard contaminated with hazardous chemicals or biohazardous materials, and items with excessive food waste or grease saturation such as heavily soiled pizza boxes. We also cannot recycle Styrofoam, plastic-coated paperboard that has not been separated, or material that has developed mold due to prolonged moisture exposure. If you are unsure whether your material qualifies, send us photos and we will advise you promptly.

Our primary focus is corrugated cardboard and paper products, but we can coordinate recycling for other materials through our partner network. This includes plastic stretch wrap, shrink film, wooden pallets, and mixed paper grades like office paper and newsprint. For materials outside our direct expertise, such as metals, glass, or electronics, we can refer you to trusted recycling partners in your area. Our goal is to be a single point of contact for your packaging waste, even if that means connecting you with specialists for certain material streams.

We maintain certifications and partnerships that demonstrate our commitment to responsible recycling practices. Our processes align with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative chain-of-custody standards, and we work exclusively with recycling mills that hold relevant environmental certifications. We are also a member of the Fibre Box Association and participate in industry best-practice programs for material recovery. Our facility undergoes periodic audits to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations governing waste handling and recycling operations.

Recycling corrugated cardboard is not perfectly carbon-neutral when you account for transportation and processing energy, but it is dramatically better than the alternatives. Recycling one ton of cardboard saves approximately 9 cubic yards of landfill space, 46 gallons of oil, and 17 trees. The energy required to process recycled fiber into new products is roughly 75% less than manufacturing from virgin pulp. When combined with our optimized logistics routes and partnerships with energy-efficient mills, the overall carbon footprint of recycling through our program is a fraction of what landfilling or virgin production would generate.

We deliver locally throughout the greater New Haven, CT area using our own fleet of trucks, which gives us full control over scheduling and handling. For orders outside our local delivery zone, we partner with national freight carriers to reach any address in the continental United States. We have shipped to all 48 contiguous states and can arrange deliveries to commercial addresses, loading docks, and residential locations with advance notice. Alaska and Hawaii shipments can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Shipping costs depend on the order size, total weight, dimensions, and destination. Local deliveries within the greater New Haven area use flat-rate pricing tiers based on the number of pallets or volume of the load. Nationwide freight is quoted based on distance, weight, and carrier rates at the time of shipment. We always provide shipping costs upfront as part of your quote so there are no surprises at checkout. For large or recurring orders, we often negotiate favorable carrier rates that we pass along to you.

Yes, you are welcome to pick up orders directly from our facility at 113 Wallace St, New Haven, CT 06511. Customer pickups are available Monday through Friday during business hours, and we ask that you schedule your pickup at least 24 hours in advance so we can have your order staged and ready at the loading dock. We have a forklift on site to assist with loading palletized orders into your vehicle or trailer. Picking up your order eliminates shipping costs entirely, which many local customers find advantageous.

Yes, we offer expedited shipping options for customers who need their orders faster than our standard timeline. Locally, we can often arrange same-day or next-day delivery depending on fleet availability and the time of your request. For nationwide orders, we partner with carriers that offer guaranteed two-day and three-day delivery windows at a premium rate. Expedited shipping costs are quoted on a per-order basis and depend on the destination, weight, and urgency. Contact us before placing your order if you need an expedited timeline so we can confirm availability and pricing.

Yes, all shipped orders include tracking information. For local deliveries made with our own fleet, we provide an estimated delivery window and a direct contact number for the driver so you can coordinate timing. For freight shipments via our carrier partners, you will receive a tracking number and a link to the carrier portal as soon as the shipment is dispatched. We also proactively notify you of any delays or changes to the estimated delivery date. If you ever have trouble locating your shipment, our customer service team can pull real-time status updates for you.

Although we pack and palletize orders carefully to minimize transit damage, shipping incidents can occasionally occur. If your order arrives with damage beyond what is expected for the grade you purchased, document the condition with photographs and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. We will file a freight claim on your behalf if the damage occurred in transit and arrange a replacement shipment or credit at no additional cost to you. It is helpful to note any visible damage on the carrier delivery receipt at the time of receipt, as this strengthens the claim process.

Due to the size and weight of most box orders, we are unable to ship to PO boxes. Our shipments require either a commercial address with a loading dock or a residential address where the carrier can make a ground-level delivery. If you only have a PO box, we recommend providing an alternate physical address, such as a workplace or a freight receiving facility. For very small orders that can be shipped via parcel carriers like UPS or FedEx, PO box delivery may be possible on a case-by-case basis.

We stand behind our grading system and take quality discrepancies seriously. If boxes arrive in a condition lower than the grade you ordered, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos of the affected boxes. We will arrange a replacement shipment of the correct grade or issue a full credit to your account, whichever you prefer. There is no hassle and no restocking fee for quality-related claims. Our quality control team also reviews every claim to improve our inspection and grading processes going forward.

Some used boxes are suitable for food-adjacent use, such as outer shipping cartons for packaged food products, depending on their history and condition. However, for direct food contact applications, we recommend new boxes or specifically certified food-grade containers that meet FDA guidelines. If you need food-grade packaging, let us know and we can source options that comply with the relevant safety standards. We always disclose the known history of our used boxes to help you make an informed decision about suitability for your specific application.

Our inspection process includes screening for odors, contamination, and residues. Grade A and Grade B boxes are guaranteed to be clean, odor-free, and free of sticky residues or staining. Grade C boxes may have some markings, tape residue, or minor cosmetic issues but will not have strong odors or hazardous contamination. If a box does not pass our smell and cleanliness check, it is downgraded or routed to recycling rather than resale. We take this seriously because we know that your customers and employees will interact with these boxes.

Our preparation process varies by grade and condition. All boxes undergo a visual inspection where we remove old labels, loose tape, and debris. Grade A boxes are selected from stock that requires minimal cleaning, typically just a wipe-down and label removal. Grade B boxes may have old labels scraped or steamed off and minor surface cleaning. We do not use chemical washes or water-based cleaning, as moisture can compromise corrugated board integrity. Instead, our process relies on dry cleaning methods, mechanical debris removal, and careful hand inspection to ensure every box meets its stated grade.

Yes, you can specify the exact grade you need when placing your order. Every product on our site lists the available grades and their respective pricing, so you can choose the option that best balances quality and cost for your application. If you need all Grade A boxes for customer-facing shipments, we will fulfill your order exclusively from our top-tier inventory. Some customers even mix grades within a single order, using Grade A for outbound shipping and Grade C for internal storage, to optimize their overall spend.

The grading system reflects both cosmetic condition and structural integrity. Grade A boxes have full original strength with no soft spots, punctures, or compromised flutes, and they look clean and professional. Grade B boxes retain at least 85-90% of their original structural strength and may show light creasing or minor flute compression, but they perform reliably for most shipping and storage applications. Grade C boxes may have noticeable flute compression, corner wear, or minor punctures that have been taped, reducing their stacking strength by up to 25-30% compared to new. We can provide burst-strength test results for any grade upon request.

Yes, we offer a satisfaction guarantee on every order. If you are not satisfied with the quality, condition, or suitability of the boxes you receive, contact us within 48 hours of delivery and we will make it right. This may include sending replacement boxes of a higher grade, issuing a credit or refund, or working with you to find an alternative product that better meets your needs. Our business is built on repeat customers, and we would rather absorb a short-term cost than lose your long-term trust. We have maintained a customer satisfaction rate above 98% by honoring this commitment consistently.

Our pricing is based on the box type, size, condition grade, and order quantity. Every product page on our website displays the current per-unit or per-bundle price so you can compare options transparently. For larger or custom orders, we provide personalized quotes that reflect your specific requirements and volume. Pricing is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions for corrugated materials, and we strive to keep our rates the lowest in the industry for comparable quality.

Yes, we offer tiered volume discounts that reward larger orders. Discounts typically start at pallet quantities and increase at half-truckload and full-truckload volumes. The exact discount structure varies by product type, but most customers see savings of 10-20% at pallet quantities and up to 30% or more for full truckloads. If you are planning a large purchase or want to consolidate multiple product types into a single order for better pricing, contact our sales team for a custom volume quote.

We accept a variety of payment methods to make purchasing convenient. For online and phone orders, we accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. We also accept ACH bank transfers, company checks, and wire transfers for larger transactions. Established accounts can apply for net-30 payment terms, which we discuss in more detail under our credit terms policy. All payments are processed securely, and we provide invoices and receipts for your accounting records.

Yes, we offer net-30 credit terms to qualified business customers. To apply, we require a brief credit application that includes your business information and trade references. Approval typically takes 2-3 business days, and once approved, you can place orders and receive invoices with a 30-day payment window. For customers with strong credit histories and consistent order volumes, we may extend net-45 or net-60 terms on a case-by-case basis. Credit terms make it easier to manage cash flow, especially for businesses that resell the boxes to their own customers.

We are confident that our pricing is among the most competitive in the used box industry, and we are willing to back that up. If you receive a lower quote from a comparable supplier for the same product type, grade, and quantity, share the quote with us and we will do our best to match or beat it. The competing quote must be from a legitimate, verifiable supplier and for a genuinely equivalent product. We review price-match requests on a case-by-case basis and respond within one business day. Our goal is to ensure you never have to sacrifice quality for price.

Used box pricing can fluctuate based on supply and demand cycles in the corrugated materials market. Prices tend to be lower in the first and third quarters when supply is abundant, and slightly higher during peak shipping seasons in Q4 when demand increases. However, these fluctuations are generally modest compared to new box pricing, which is more sensitive to raw pulp and paper commodity swings. Customers with standing orders or long-term contracts are often shielded from seasonal spikes through locked-in pricing agreements. We communicate any significant price changes to our customers in advance.

Reusing a single corrugated box instead of manufacturing a new one saves an estimated 3-5 pounds of CO2 equivalent emissions, depending on the box size and the energy mix of the original manufacturing facility. Over its lifetime, a box that is reused two or three times before being recycled can prevent 10-15 pounds of carbon emissions compared to using a new box each time. These savings come from avoided manufacturing energy, reduced raw material extraction, and lower transportation emissions. We provide detailed carbon savings estimates on your order invoices so you can quantify the environmental benefit of every purchase.

We are committed to operating at the highest environmental standards and maintain several relevant certifications and partnerships. Our operations align with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative chain-of-custody standards, and we are members of the Fibre Box Association and several regional sustainability councils. Our recycling partners hold ISO 14001 environmental management certifications, ensuring that material we send downstream is processed responsibly. We are also actively pursuing additional certifications to further validate our environmental commitment and make it easier for our customers to meet their own sustainability requirements.

Yes, we provide environmental impact reports for every customer engagement, and they can be customized to match your corporate reporting framework. Standard reports include the total weight of material diverted from landfill, the estimated carbon savings from reuse and recycling, and the equivalent environmental benefits expressed in trees saved, gallons of oil conserved, and cubic yards of landfill space preserved. These reports are generated quarterly or annually depending on your preference and are formatted to integrate easily with ESG disclosures, sustainability reports, and regulatory filings.

Yes, we participate in verified carbon offset programs to address the emissions that our operations do generate, including fleet fuel consumption and facility energy use. We purchase offsets from certified projects that focus on reforestation, methane capture, and renewable energy development. While offsets are not a substitute for direct emissions reduction, which is our primary focus, they allow us to offer a carbon-neutral service option for customers who require it. We can provide carbon offset certificates and documentation for your records upon request.

Reuse is significantly better for the environment than recycling, though both are far superior to landfilling. Reusing a box requires virtually no processing energy: it just needs inspection, possible cleaning, and transportation to its next user. Recycling, by contrast, involves baling, transporting to a mill, pulping, de-inking, reforming, and drying, all of which consume substantial energy and water. Industry estimates suggest that reuse saves 70-80% more energy than recycling the same material. That is why our business model prioritizes reuse first and recycles only those boxes that have reached the end of their functional life.

We maintain a strict zero-waste-to-landfill commitment for all material that passes through our facility. Every box we handle is either resold for reuse or recycled into new paper products, with no exceptions. Ancillary materials like plastic banding, stretch wrap, and wooden pallets are also sorted and sent to appropriate recycling or recovery streams. We track our diversion rate monthly and have maintained a 99.8% or higher diversion rate for the past three years. This commitment is not just a marketing statement: it is an operational standard that our team measures, reports, and is held accountable to.

We can source or fabricate a wide range of custom sizes to meet your specific packaging requirements. For corrugated boxes, custom dimensions are available in virtually any length, width, and height combination, subject to material availability and structural constraints. Gaylords and specialty containers can also be customized in terms of wall height, base dimensions, and flap configuration. If you need an unusual size that is not listed in our standard inventory, our custom orders team will work with you to determine feasibility and provide a quote within 48 hours.

Minimum order quantities for custom sizes vary depending on the product type and the degree of customization required. For custom-cut corrugated boxes, the typical minimum is 100-200 units, which ensures that the setup and cutting process is cost-effective. For custom gaylords, the minimum may be as low as 25-50 units depending on the modification. If you need fewer than the standard minimum, contact us anyway, as we can sometimes accommodate smaller runs or find a close match in our existing inventory that reduces the custom work needed.

Lead times for custom orders depend on the complexity of the request and current inventory availability. Simple modifications like cutting a standard box to a shorter height can typically be turned around in 3-5 business days. Custom sizes that require sourcing specific base stock or fabricating from scratch generally take 1-2 weeks. For large custom orders involving printed or branded boxes, lead times may extend to 2-4 weeks to allow for print setup and production. We always confirm the estimated lead time in your quote so you can plan accordingly.

Yes, we offer printing and branding services for customers who want their logo, messaging, or handling instructions on their boxes. We can apply single-color and multi-color flexographic printing to new or refurbished boxes, and we also offer sticker and label application as a more cost-effective alternative for smaller runs. Printing on used boxes is available for Grade A and some Grade B stock where the surface condition supports clean ink adhesion. Our design team can help you prepare print-ready artwork if needed, and we provide printed proofs for approval before production begins.

Yes, our packaging specialists offer complimentary design consultation to help you find the right box configuration for your product. This includes recommending the optimal box size to minimize dimensional weight shipping charges, selecting the right flute type and wall construction for your weight and fragility requirements, and advising on interior packaging accessories like dividers, inserts, and padding. We can also review your current packaging setup and suggest ways to reduce costs, improve protection, or increase sustainability through material substitution or right-sizing. Schedule a consultation by contacting our team.

Absolutely. We strongly encourage sampling before committing to a full custom order, and we build this step into our standard custom-order workflow. Once we have agreed on the specifications, we will produce a small sample run, typically 3-5 units, for you to evaluate fit, strength, and appearance with your actual product. Sample charges vary depending on the complexity of the custom work but are generally modest and are often credited toward your full production order. This sampling step helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures that the final product meets your expectations exactly.