The four numbers in every quote.
- Unit price. The cost per gaylord (or per RSC, or per pad) at our dock. This is the apples-to-apples number you compare against new-box quotes.
- Freight. The actual cost to drive the load from our yard to your dock, calculated against the route we already drive. We never bury freight inside the unit price.
- Handling. A small fee for grade inspection, re-tape (if applicable), and outbound staging. Usually a few cents per box.
- Diversion line. The tonnage you’re preventing from being landfilled, expressed in metric tons and CO₂e avoided. This is informational, not a charge — your sustainability team will want it for reporting.
Real-world ranges.
| Spec | Grade A | Grade B | Grade C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40"×48"×40" doublewall | $10–$13 | $7–$9 | $5–$6 |
| 48"×48"×40" doublewall | $12–$15 | $8–$10 | $5–$7 |
| 40"×48"×40" triplewall | $15–$18 | $11–$13 | $8–$10 |
| 30"×30"×30" doublewall | $6–$8 | $4–$5 | $3–$4 |
Freight pricing.
Front-Range freight for a full pallet (48 folded gaylords) runs $35–$80 depending on distance. A full trailer (about 30 pallets) runs $400–$900 across our standard lanes. We always quote freight separately so you can compare against your own carrier if you want to.
Volume discounts.
Orders over 500 units get an automatic 5% unit discount. Over 1,000 units, 8%. Over 2,500 units, 12%. These are real, not negotiating chips.
Closed-loop accounts.
Customers in our closed-loop programs pay a per-rotation fee instead of a per-unit price. Per-rotation pricing typically nets out 50–65% cheaper than buying new on a per-trip basis.
What we don’t charge.
- No fuel surcharges that aren’t spelled out on the invoice.
- No minimum-order penalty for repeat customers.
- No restocking fee on the rare returns (we eat that ourselves).
- No setup fees, account fees, membership fees or onboarding fees.
Why our pricing is more transparent than most.
Most box brokers operate on a single bundled number. They quote you one price, you compare against the new-box price you got from a converter, and one of the two wins on a head-to-head basis. The problem is that the bundled number hides where the cost actually comes from. Was the freight 30% of the total or 50%? Is the handling fee a real cost or padding? Are you paying for boxes you’ll never receive? You can’t tell. We break the quote into four explicit line items so you can do the comparison apples-to-apples and so you understand exactly what you’re buying.
How we set the unit price.
The unit price for reclaimed inventory is set by three things: what we paid for the boxes when we picked them up (the buy-back price to the original seller), how much value the box has lost from grading and re-tape, and what the market is willing to pay for that grade in our region. We mark up the spread between buy and sell, which is the entire economic engine of the company. The unit price is generally stable from quarter to quarter because the markets we operate in (used corrugated and OCC bales) don’t move quickly.
How we set the freight.
Freight is calculated by taking the actual cost of running the truck (driver wages, fuel, insurance, depreciation), dividing it across the trailer’s cube capacity, and multiplying by the cube your shipment occupies. Pickups and deliveries that fit on our existing milk runs price lower because the truck was driving that route anyway. Dedicated trips price higher because the truck is committed entirely to your load. The freight number on your quote is the actual cost — we don’t mark it up separately from the unit price.
How we set the handling fee.
The handling fee covers grading, re-tape if needed, outbound staging, and the WMS overhead for tracking the units. It is typically a few cents per box and rarely the dominant line item. We charge it explicitly because it’s a real cost and because hiding it inside the unit price would obscure the unit-price comparison.
How we calculate the diversion line.
For each shipment we calculate the tonnage of corrugated being re-circulated, multiply by the EPA WARM CO₂e factor (currently 4.99 metric tons per short ton), and report the resulting CO₂e avoidance on the invoice and on a separate diversion certificate. This line item is informational, not a charge. Your sustainability team will want it for ESG reporting.
Pricing FAQ.
How long are quotes valid?
14 days from the date sent. Beyond that we’ll requote, and the price is usually identical because the underlying market doesn’t move quickly.
Do you offer net-30 or net-60 terms?
Net-15 is standard for established customers. Longer terms are negotiable for large accounts with credit approval.
What about contract pricing for ongoing supply?
Yes — 12-month bulk supply contracts lock in unit pricing for the term and include a freight-adjustment mechanism tied to diesel prices. We typically write these for accounts buying 1,000+ units per month.
Can I pay with a credit card?
Yes, with a small processing fee. ACH and check are preferred.
Will the price change between quote and invoice?
Only if the actual order is materially different from the quoted order (different quantity, different freight zone, different grade). We don’t change pricing inside the 14-day quote window.