Frequently Asked Questions

Portland Boxes is a referral service. We take quote requests from people and businesses in Portland, Oregon and the metro area and pass them to partner suppliers. Partner suppliers set prices and terms and handle pickup and delivery.

No. We do not hold inventory or run a warehouse. Any boxes you buy come from a partner supplier, and any boxes you sell go to a partner supplier.

Use the form on this site. It is the only contact route for Portland Boxes, and there is no location to visit.

A partner supplier follows up using the contact details in your form. It will usually want to confirm box details, location, and timing.

Not always. Availability depends on partner suppliers, your location, and what you need. Being flexible on size or grade can make a match easier.

Used boxes are commonly described on an A to D scale. Grade A is like new with minimal wear, B shows light use, C has moderate wear and visible printing or labels, and D is heavily worn and best suited to padding or short-term storage. Definitions can differ, so ask the supplier how it grades.

Any minimum is set by the partner supplier and can depend on the box and how it would be delivered. Put your quantity in the form, even if it is small, and the supplier can tell you what it can do.

Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers. It depends on size, grade, quantity, location, and what the supplier has available at the time. We do not publish prices.

Ask the partner supplier who follows up. Whether you can see samples or inspect boxes is up to that supplier.

You can ask. Tape, dividers, pallets, and stretch wrap may be available from a partner supplier. Mention what you need in the message field.

That depends on the weight, how the box is stacked, and how it will travel. Our size guide explains ECT, Mullen ratings, and wall types. Ask the supplier for the rated capacity of any box you are considering.

It is up to the partner supplier. Clean, dry corrugated boxes and gaylords in common sizes are usually the easiest to place. Boxes that are wet, damaged, or contaminated are generally a poor fit for resale.

Any offer comes from a partner supplier and depends on type, size, condition, and quantity. Describe your boxes in the form and the supplier can tell you whether it wants them and what it can offer.

Pickup is available through partner suppliers. Tell us your location and quantity, and how the boxes are stored, and the supplier can say what it can arrange.

Remove loose packing material, flatten the boxes, and stack them by size if you can. Keep them clean and dry. Then check with the supplier in case it has its own requirements.

Corrugated cardboard is widely recycled. It is pulped and turned into new paper products. A partner supplier can tell you what it can take, or you can check what your local hauler collects.

Tell us your typical cardboard volume and how often it builds up. A partner supplier can tell you what it can arrange for your location.

That is set by the partner supplier and depends on volume, location, and collection. Ask for a quote through the form.

Tape and labels are generally not a problem for recycling, but rules vary. Grease and food soiling are a bigger concern. Check with your local hauler or the supplier.

We take requests from Portland, Oregon and the metro area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, Oregon City, Milwaukie, West Linn, Clackamas, Wilsonville, and Sherwood. Availability depends on partner suppliers.

Delivery is available through partner suppliers. Mention your dock, or any access limits at your site, in the form and confirm the details with the supplier.

Boxes usually move flat, either bundled or on pallets, and are assembled where they are used. The supplier can tell you how your order would arrive.

Delivery pricing comes from the partner supplier as part of your quote. It depends on your location, the order, and the supplier.

Timing depends on the partner supplier and what it has available. Include your deadline in the form, and confirm timing with the supplier who follows up.

Partner suppliers set their own prices. Size, grade, quantity, location, and current availability are the usual factors. Portland Boxes does not set or publish prices.

Any pricing for larger orders is up to the partner supplier. Tell us your full quantity so the quote reflects it.

Payment is arranged between you and the partner supplier. Portland Boxes does not take payment for boxes. Ask about terms when the supplier follows up.

No. It is a free, no-obligation quote request.

Reusing a box avoids making a new one for that shipment. How much that matters depends on the box, how far it travels, and what it replaces, so we do not quote a single figure.

Reuse keeps the box in its existing form, while recycling involves collecting, pulping, and remaking the material. A good rule of thumb is to reuse a sound box first, then recycle it when it can no longer do the job.

No. Partner suppliers handle the boxes, so we do not publish impact figures. If you need information for a report, ask the partner supplier what it can provide.

Yes. Include dimensions, wall type, and quantity in the form. A partner supplier can say whether it can source that size; availability varies.

Ask a partner supplier; availability varies. Printing is generally done on new boxes, and the supplier can tell you what it can do.

Ask a partner supplier; availability varies. Describe your product and how it needs to be separated.

If you expect to need boxes again, say so in your request. Any repeat arrangement is between you and the partner supplier.

Used boxes are not a good choice for direct contact with food, as you cannot always know what they held before. If a box will touch food, ask about new boxes and check current regulations for your product.

You can ask. Custom sizes may be available through a partner supplier, and availability varies. Include your exact dimensions and quantity in the form.

Keep them flat, dry, and off the floor, away from direct moisture. Damp weakens corrugated board, and heavy stacking can crush the bottom layers.

You can ask to be considered through the form. Choose Other for the service and tell us what your business handles and where. See our partners page for more.

Nonprofits are welcome to send a request like anyone else. Mention your organization in the message, and any pricing is up to the partner supplier.