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Therefore, where and how to buy boxes cheaply and ensuring that they do not get crushed during transport are significant issues to anyone who is moving. One question that arises is whether it makes sense to buy boxes in bundles or buy individually.
Buying in Bundles
There are certain advantages and disadvantages in buying moving boxes in bundles, they are:
Advantages
- Lower unit price: The price per box works out cheaper if bought bundled. For instance, a bundle of 15 medium-sized (18x18x16”) boxes costs $43.50 at AllboxesDirect, Farmingdale, NY, which works out to $2.90 per box. But the same boxes if bought individually costs $3.35, 15.5% more per box.
- Low risk of shortage: If you have bought your boxes in bundles, you probably will not run out of boxes at the last minute which can be particularly annoying. You might miss the moving company’s deadline for moving and have to pay more for the delay. This risk is minimized if you have bought your boxes in bundles.
Disadvantages
- Excess: You might end up with more boxes than you need. Even though there are avenues for reselling boxes, you are unlikely to have the time to sell them off because you are moving and it makes no sense to carry empty boxes to your new location. Besides, your unused new boxes will not fetch the market price so you end up losing money.
- Social irresponsibility: It is a social responsibility to ensure that all products made at a cost to nature must be recycled. Buying more boxes than necessary only to destroy the excess is socially irresponsible since moving boxes are made of cardboard for which trees have been felled.
Buying Individually
Buying moving boxes individually has its advantages and disadvantages. They are:
Advantages
- Price: Even though the unit price of boxes is more individually than bundle prices, the advantage of the per unit basis is that you save money overall. Suppose you need only eight medium-sized boxes (18x18x16”) and buy individually at the rate of $3.35 per box: all you are spending is $26.80. If you were to buy a bundle of 15 boxes which the company sells for $43.50, you stand to lose $16.70. Thus, it makes sense to buy boxes individually if you do not need all the boxes that come in the bundle.
- Social responsibility: By buying individually, you are ensuring you do not buy more boxes than you need. Since you will not have time to resell the extra boxes and it makes no sense transporting empty boxes to your new location, your unwanted boxes are likely to be wasted, thereby preventing them from being recycled.
Disadvantages
- Shortage: You might find that you have bought fewer boxes than you need. This will be a terrible inconvenience during last-minute packing.
- Price: Last-minute box shortages will force you to buy new boxes quickly. If you end up buying the same, or nearly the same, number of boxes that could have come bundled you will surely end up spending more than the bundled price of the boxes.
Options
If you have moved before you will know how many boxes of each type you need. Of course, you have to take into account any new items that you may have bought. This knowledge is your most reliable guide as to whether you should now get your boxes in bulk or individually.
If this is your first move or you do not know how many boxes you will need, it is best to get a representative of the moving company to advise you. Ask the company if they will provide any free boxes and how many of each type. You will then know how many new boxes you need and be able to decide whether you should buy them individually or in bundles.
The rule of thumb is: if you need only a few boxes, buy them individually. If you need many, buy them in bundles.
Necessity
Moving boxes are little things that matter a great deal. Even though they may account for a small percentage of your total moving cost, the amount of money they cost can be quite hefty. Moving boxes are made of cardboard, which is made at a cost to nature so they should be recycled.
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