Used Plastic Pallets – Are they right for you?

This article will address the debate of why used pallets are an option, but typically not the best. In the purchasing process of buying plastic pallets, many come to the conflict of deciding between used plastic pallets or new. This is due to the idea that used pallets are cheaper. To many peoples disbelief; if the pallet has intention of being used for its given life span, in the long run a new pallet is cheaper while measuring cost against age. A longer lasting pallet will cover the price over a longer stretch of time.

Pros & Cons

Pros of buying and using a used plastic pallet:

The main factor that draws buyers in to purchase a used plastic pallet is none other than price. Usually the price is lower for certain models if you buy the product used. For example, typically pallets that are 44×56 and rackable 40×48 are cheaper if bought used.

However, not all models are in line with that idea. Our NM7 pallet is priced so aggressively, any savings a customer may encounter from buying a used NM7 will be trivial and is far outweighed by the benefits of buying it new (since it’s basically the same price new or used). Meaning, the value of buying new outweighs buying used significantly on certain pallets. Outside of minimal savings, there are not many pros to purchasing used plastic pallets.

Cons of buying and using a used plastic pallet:

Used plastic pallets have a few risky aspects buyers should pay attention to, these ideas could save the product being shipped and the company image of the product. First on the list is the possibility of untrustable sellers.

At times companies are willing to sell their used pallets to buyers who plan to sell them again. These second hand buyers may offer a good deal but they can sometimes be untrustworthy. It goes without saying that buying from non-qualified sellers can be tempting due to price, do not fall for it.

Another disadvantage of buying used is the uncertainty if condition. Because the pallets have been used, how is someone able to identify the quality of a given pallet without seeing it with their own eyes once they get shipped and have already been paid for? The risk is not worth the reward in this case.

Quality of pallets is a major factor in the shipping and representation of your product. Company image goes right along with the idea of pallet quality. You do not want to be shipping potentially damaged pallets to a customer. A customer always wants to see a pallet that looks reliable, the kind of pallet one can be confident with.

A used pallet with bad quality, due to age and use, arriving at a warehouse can damage the brand and company image in the eyes of the customer. It could possibly even deter future sales with customers!

Regarding the actual used pallet order process, it is hard to get a uniform order all around. First, used pallet orders can come in all different types of colors; making it hard to sort and organize. Also, they can sometimes come in odd numbers due to available quantity. The kind of used pallet you want may not be in stock or there are not enough for you, there is little to no way to ensure availability with used pallets. Those two factors can cause uncertainty in the ordered product, is it really worth the few dollar savings to have an unreliable all around product?

There was one time in the past where a used pallet buyer thought he/she was getting a good deal with purchasing used plastic pallets. Ends up the seller was reselling old USPS pallets. Leading to legal trouble and the seller actually went to jail. This process was very inconvenient for the buyer which could have been troubleshooted by purchasing new, safe plastic pallets.

Used pallet sellers cannot always be trusted as stated before. Some used pallets may look good in pictures or even in person but you can never really tell the true quality of the pallet until it is put to use. What many buyers do not realize is that where the used pallet is stored is a major factor in quality.

Typically used pallets are put outside because of the new being kept inside. This does not only expose the to different weather conditions that could degrade the pallet itself, it also becomes exposed to UV rays. UV rays can harm the durability and structure of a pallet that has been left unprotected outside.

After reading this article you may be thinking there is nothing to prevent or come back from a used pallet order. That is wrong, there are a few things you can look for to make a used pallet order successful. First is to try and use credit card, this will allow for the option of chargeback is the purchase goes south. Along with this idea of payment, if the dealer asks for prepayment you should stop and say to yourself, “can I trust this?”. Used pallets are already a big enough gamble, you need to have the option of a refund or return in the works. Be careful when dealing with used pallets, always have a backup plan.

Takeaway!

Yes, used plastic pallets are an option. Are they the best and most reliable option? Absolutely not.

Share your Comments!

If you have dealt with used pallets, what was your experience like? Please share any comments you think of, we would love to hear from you!

Need assistance on your plastic pallet purchasing?

Our Plastic Pallet Experts are happy to help you find the right plastic pallet and send you a quote that includes shipping costs. Please contact to find the perfect pallet at the best price.

About Robin Kiefer

Robin Spencer Kiefer connects customers with solutions and products. Robin is the Digital Marketing Manager of One Way Solutions.