Hunting For Used Boxes
Of course the cheapest way to obtain moving boxes is to scavenge from local merchants. Liquor stores, copy centers, and grocery stores. The scavenging should be started early in the moving process to ensure you have sufficient boxes come packing time. Ultimately boxes which will unnecessarily clutter your living space for weeks prior to their being needed.
Let us save you some time, most retail establishments recycle all packaging products per weight basis for reimbursement. Unfortunately the hallmark of a scavenged box move is often a hodgepodge of different-sized boxes often without lids. You will often find a stack of broken-down (folded up) boxes near dumpsters. Were you really considering placing your valuables into a box that came from a dumpster?
One of the more annoying aspects of scavenged boxes is the messy and time consuming process of assembling them, reinforcing them and most likely throwing out unsuitable boxes. Boxes for moving should be clean and sturdy. Those that are ripped or starting to come apart will only get worse during the course of the move.
To give you an idea we did the research for you.
- 2 Evenings: 7 hrs
- Gas and a vehicle required to carry them home: $10.00
- 3 Department stores, 3 Grocery stores, 3 Drug stores, 2 Liquor stores: 6 boxes
- Repairing, re building and re taping flattened and weakened boxes: 4 hrs and $20.00 in packing tape
= A BIG HASSLE
Buying New Boxes $$$$$$$$$$$
Though scavenging boxes will save money, many people find the convenience of new boxes worth the price. Orderly stacks of new boxes are more reliable, easy to estimate, and keep organized.
Be prepared to spend an evening assembling them. Cardboard boxes have to be assembled, they get crushed and wet, and fill up our landfills.
Be prepared to spend some money. A properly rated moving box ranges from $3.75 - $9.75 per box depending on the cu feet. This quickly adds up.
To give you an idea 9 boxes purchased from a moving supply store totaling 36 cubic feet of packing space cost $39.84. IT'S YOUR MOVE offers rental crates for as low as .16 cents per day that's $3.00 per Month.
9 boxes
$39.84 (need 27 more) = A BIG WASTE OF MONEY
Renting Our Crates and Totes

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