# How could I inspect a storage container in Lake Tahoe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326 "2018-06-18T17:31:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/21 "2018-06-19T14:40:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Ugh, now we don’t get to know what’s in the “storage container”! > > You owe us one. Next time you buy a container full of mystery goods you gotta post about what you found 🙂 Well, it was supposed to be empty. My wife was afraid it would show up full of drugs. I couldn’t understand why that would be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/22 "2018-06-19T17:14:29Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well, it was supposed to be empty. My wife was afraid it would show up full of drugs. I couldn’t understand why that would be a problem. It’s the hookers that accompany it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/23 "2018-06-19T17:26:05Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Consider calling the Sheriff’s office in the vicinity where the container is being sold. Let them know you suspect a scam and ask what they would recommend. Curious as to why you’d recommend calling PD where this object might or might not be vs. calling local PD? ETA: It’s now been identified as a scam, meaning there’s no storage container there (at least one for sale by the Craigslist OP). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/24 "2018-06-19T19:56:47Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > It’s the hookers that accompany it. 😃 Still not understanding the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/25 "2018-06-19T21:00:35Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There should be a tag on that container with an ID number that I could check somehow, not sure how, but it might reveal if this container is owned by the seller or somewhere else. What I’m worried about the most is taking possession of this thing and finding out that it’s stolen or there’s a lien on it or something like that. Sounds like you are passing on the deal, and that’s probably best, but just for future reference shipping containers are neither titled nor registered. That means there is no central way to trace the current ownership, nor any way to put a lien on a specific container. The only way to ID a specific box would be by the unit number applied by the shipper - and those are easily removed or painted over. Around here, 20 footers are going for about $2,000 - and that’s not a one tripper and delivery is extra. 40’s are about $100 more, there seems to be a glut of them in the market right now. So sayeth Doctor Jackson, who used to buy and sell semi-trailers and storage containers back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/26 "2018-06-19T21:14:56Z")
Of course it was a scam from the get-go. I have a dozen storage containers, all 8x40’s with the exception of 2) 8x20’s. Price today in N.TX is around $3k for the 40’s, around low to mid 2k for 20’s, and these are not even one-trippers. You’ll need another 1-2k for those. Best prices are around ports, the closer you’re to one, the lower the price, then paying $2.00+ a mile to your destination. Had this been legit, it would have easily sold the very first day locally. There is no need to ship it a long distance. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/27 "2018-06-19T22:30:11Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Of course it was a scam from the get-go. I have a dozen storage containers, all 8x40’s with the exception of 2) 8x20’s. Price today in N.TX is around $3k for the 40’s, around low to mid 2k for 20’s, and these are not even one-trippers. You’ll need another 1-2k for those. Best prices are around ports, the closer you’re to one, the lower the price, then paying $2.00+ a mile to your destination. > > Had this been legit, it would have easily sold the very first day locally. There is no need to ship it a long distance. Sure, as soon as I got news they were still available it had to be a scam. Wouldn’t take me 5 minutes to move those units at that price. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/28 "2018-06-19T22:32:28Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Sounds like you are passing on the deal, and that’s probably best, but just for future reference shipping containers are neither titled nor registered. That means there is no central way to trace the current ownership, nor any way to put a lien on a specific container. The only way to ID a specific box would be by the unit number applied by the shipper - and those are easily removed or painted over. Good to know. > [@](#): > > Around here, 20 footers are going for about $2,000 - and that’s not a one tripper and delivery is extra. 40’s are about $100 more, there seems to be a glut of them in the market right now. Same thing in these parts. They want 20 footers for home storage, nobody wants a 40 footer in their yard (except me). They can’t give away the 40s, the extra $100 is just to convince themselves that additional 20 feet is worth something. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/29 "2018-06-19T23:19:42Z")
In TX, the 40’s have a fairly good demand, but your’e right 20’s easier to fit in most peoples yard, so they go for it and command a hefty price. But 40’s typically go about 800-$1,000 more in my area for the used ones, one-trippers an even bigger spread. Certainly more popular with people that have the room in rural areas. Farmers really like them, and also claim an ag exemption. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/30 "2018-06-19T23:52:57Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > In TX, the 40’s have a fairly good demand, but your’e right 20’s easier to fit in most peoples yard, so they go for it and command a hefty price. But 40’s typically go about 800-$1,000 more in my area for the used ones, one-trippers an even bigger spread. Certainly more popular with people that have the room in rural areas. Farmers really like them, and also claim an ag exemption. This is Rhode Island. You can’t fit that many 40 footers in the state. You might be able to fit more Rhode Islands in Texas than 40 foot containers in Rhode Island. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/31 "2018-06-19T23:54:36Z")
And… BIG NEWS! If I don’t complete the payment process in the next 24 hours the phony Google payment agreement will automatically terminate!! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/32 "2018-06-20T00:06:27Z")
Did you send email to the seller to let them know that you were sending your agent to inspect the container? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/33 "2018-06-20T00:07:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Did you send email to the seller to let them know that you were sending your agent to inspect the container? No more contact from me. I’ll see if the authorities do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/34 "2018-06-20T04:22:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You might be able to fit more Rhode Islands in Texas than 40 foot containers in Rhode Island. Interesting story problem. Turns out it’s close: Texas could hold 252 Rhode Islands (land areas only). Rhode Island could hold 72,052,421 40-foot shipping containers. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/35 "2018-06-20T05:02:15Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Interesting story problem. Turns out it’s close: > > Texas could hold 252 Rhode Islands (land areas only). > > Rhode Island could hold 72,052,421 40-foot shipping containers. 252 Rhode Islands!? Hell, Texas ain’t nowhere near as big as they think. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/36 "2018-06-20T05:18:35Z")
Man, I just scored a fuckin’ deal on a 40’ container! Right down the fuckin’ road! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/37 "2018-06-20T13:19:42Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Man, I just scored a fuckin’ deal on a 40’ container! Congratulations, I guess. I prefer a nice hotel room for that… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/38 "2018-06-20T13:54:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Man, I just scored a fuckin’ deal on a 40’ container! Right down the fuckin’ road! > > 😉 I just cashed your money order. Ignore that guy with the shotgun, he’s just some crazy guy that thinks he owns the container. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/39 "2018-06-21T20:07:25Z")
FYI for reference - shipping containers do have a serial # which often (but not always) is painted on, but is also available impressed on one of the interior posts. While #s can be changed on the outside, the internal would be difficult to remove. I’ve had insurance cases where we had to confirm current responsible party & used this info. I work for a container leasing company which also sells older boxes, so it comes up more than you might think. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326/40 "2018-06-21T20:32:15Z")
> [@Sassy](#): > > FYI for reference - shipping containers do have a serial # which often (but not always) is painted on, but is also available impressed on one of the interior posts. While #s can be changed on the outside, the internal would be difficult to remove. I’ve had insurance cases where we had to confirm current responsible party & used this info. I work for a container leasing company which also sells older boxes, so it comes up more than you might think. You got any good deals on a 40 footer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-inspect-a-storage-container-in-lake-tahoe/816326.md?page=3)