Not many cabinet dealers know about buying cabinets by the container load. However, you should know about it because there are many benefits to buying full container loads of cabinets.
Tell Me About It
Ocean freight has changed a lot since the 1950s, thanks to the introduction of shipping containers. Shipping containers are standard sizes, and they are stackable to make the most of available space on ships, docks and trucks.
Fun fact: shipping containers are known by different names: container, freight container, intermodal container, ISO container, hi-cube container, box, conex box and sea can.
Simply defined, a shipping container is a steel box that can be used over and over again to safely and efficiently move products within an “intermodal freight transport system”. And we use the term “intermodal” to explain that there are two (or more) different modes of transportation used to convey goods. For our purposes, we use shipping and trucking to get cabinets from the manufacturer in Indonesia to your warehouse.
What Exactly is a Container Load?
From here on in this article, we will refer to a container load as FCL, which stands for Full Container Load. Full Container Load, as the name implies, is the standard form of shipping freight for those who have a large amount of goods to send.
A FCL is an ocean shipment; this term is used specifically when shipping goods in which the cargo takes up the full container. A FCL consists of a 20 by 40 feet long container. You can also get a 40 by 40 foot container, however, the most popular container sizes are the 20 foot lengths. And our container load program uses 20 foot containers.
Advantages of Buying Full Container Loads of RTA Kitchen Cabinets
Now that you know what a FCL is, what are the advantages of buying cabinets by the container load.
1. Great Net Benefit
The number one advantage to buying full container loads is that it provides the greatest net benefit. In other words, the more product you buy, the more savings you realize.
This only works if you have the necessary resources:
- Financial
- Sales
- Distribution
- Warehouse space
2. Reduced Damage | Safe Shipment
Transportation of breakable or easily damaged goods (like wood cabinet parts that can chip, dent and splinter) requires special care and handling. As a result, shippers consider FCL freight to be the best option because only you and your supplier touch the goods, thus lowering the risk of damage.
FCL shipments are loaded into a container by your supplier (the cabinet manufacturer), the container is sealed and the container is shipped to you, still sealed (assuming Customs doesn’t interrupt the shipment). This greatly reduces the chances of goods being damaged while in transit.
3. Secure Shipment
Shipping via container reduces the risk of loss. No one can break into that container and make away with pallets of cabinet parts. Although anyone who watches tv knows crooks have plenty of wily ways to either get into the container or abscond with the entire container. But we’re going to act like that doesn’t apply here.
4. Lower Freight Rates
Another advantage to buying RTA cabinets by the shipping container load is the lower freight rates. A container lets you buy in bulk quantities and ship them in a much more cost-effective method than individually boxed shipments.
5. Increased Efficiency
A large container ship can carry over 200,000 containers in a single year, and around 8,000 on a single voyage. It would take hundreds of aircraft and fleets of trucks to get close to moving the same amount of freight.
6. Environmentally Friendly
FCL shipping is an environmentally friendly method of transportation. It produces less exhaust gas emissions than rail freight, road freight or air freight.
RightShip, a world leader in environmental, social and governance-focused maritime practices, has developed an online “GHG Emissions Rating”. It’s a way for the shipping industry to compare a ship’s CO2 emissions to similar sized vessels. The use of higher-rated ships can deliver significantly lower CO2 emissions.
7. Easier Tracking
Innovations in technology have made it possible for shippers to easily track their freight shipments in real-time. This helps the shipper to keep track of the goods, and also helps them in estimating the time that it will take from the point of shipment to its destination.
8. Goods will arrive Together
Another advantage of a full container load of RTA kitchen cabinets is that all the products will go in a single container. Thus, the transfer process is made faster and the unpacking a lot easier.
Disadvantages of Buying Full Container Loads of RTA Kitchen Cabinets
1. Transit Time
The major disadvantage of buying full container loads of RTA cabinets is the time it takes for your shipment to reach your destination. It can take a container ship between 60 to 90 days for the cargo to arrive.
However, if planned strategically and the shipping time is factored in, buying full container loads of cabinets has many more advantages than disadvantages.
Bob Aungst Cabinet Sales Container Load Program
The Bob Aungst Cabinet Sales Container Load Program is here to help you with your container purchases. Bob will discuss pricing for individual projects, stocking orders and container discounts thru US Cabinet Depot.
Contact Bob Aungst.