As I was planning my blog posts for the coming year, nothing seemed more important to my point of view than how to save my customers money. Focusing on pallet cost per use rolled out my first blog, soon to be followed by hidden costs of "cheap" pallets.

Then the world changed.

​And so did the dining room conversation about the supply chain. As panic buying set in and supply side production was interrupted, what heretofore had been an isolated hurricane or tornado induced event became reality for grocery shelves across the country.

Here several months later, although shelves have for the most part gotten back to normal, the supply chain will never be the same.

Pandemic Shines Light on Safety

The Consumer Brands Association (formally the GMA) reports a dramatic shift towards ensuring the safety of people, always at the top of the list, but now fueled even more by the events of the pandemic.

So how does this drill down to pallets?

As the light on worker safety and consumer protection shines brighter than ever, the single most ubiquitous tool in the supply chain needs to be part of the solution. And that means investing in quality unit load platforms that can safely and reliably move the products we rely on every day.

Our essential workers will be protected from the costly dangers of broken, inferior pallets, and the consumers who rely on them will be protected from the cross contamination that unsanitary pallets can foster.

Have questions about how cheap pallets can impact essential worker and consumer health and safety? Post them here or call a pallet professional. 

Post by: Hartson Poland, Business Development - Plastic

Supply and demand for used plastic pallets is already, by nature, organized chaos. Add in the recent global pandemic and the market is being thrown one curve ball after another.

First, inventory was scooped up by early panic buying. Then, trade restrictions forced import and export activity to plunge. As world economies responded to change, some industries came to a screeching halt while others ramped up to around-the-clock manufacturing. These unprecedented disruptions strained certain segments of the used pallet market.

​Early in my career, I was introduced to the CEO of the company that had just hired me to help make plastic pallets. "Mr. Leo" as he was affectionately called, shook my hand and welcomed me to the team. To help me get my head around what I had just gotten myself into, Mr. Leo said, "Our pallets cost a lot of money. But remember. They are the cheapest product out there!"

If you've been shopping around for used pallet containers for sale, you probably know by now that these plastic containers come in two flavors: used and refurbished. Is there a difference? Yes. Which one should you choose? That depends...

Choosing between used or refurbished often comes down to 1) your application's tolerance for condition and function; 2) how many and how soon you need them; and 3) how much you want to spend.

​When your company wins an award, it's easy to get swept up in the excitement. I mean, who doesn't like to win? It is especially satisfying when you didn't even know you were competing for the trophy. But, it's also a time to take stock of how you got here and where you're going.

Trying to decide which type or grade of plastic your pallet should be made of? With a variety to choose from, choices can be overwhelming. I hope this post helps you to make the best decision.