Get the Right Pallets for Every Shipment

I had a call with a client the other day who asked for a quote on 48x40 A-grade recycled pallets. Standard request. I gave him the price, and he was BEYOND thrilled. Now, don’t get me wrong - I’ve had clients get excited over saving as little as $.25 per pallet. But this guy’s reaction was next level. I found myself wondering, “Where’s he been buying his pallets before this?” So, I asked him. His answer? Uline. Now, if you’ve never heard of Uline, they’re a massive national distributor of shipping and industrial supplies. Think of them as the Amazon of shipping materials - boxes, tape, shrink wrap, you name it. They also sell pallets. After the call, curiosity got the better of me. I hopped on Uline’s website to check their pricing for 48x40 A-grade pallets, and what I found made my jaw hit the floor. Uline’s Pallet Prices: A 300% Markup Brace yourself. Uline is (at the time of writing this) charging $29 each for a standard recycled 48x40 A-grade pallet. And that’s if you’re buying at least 10. If you buy 50 or more, the price drops… but only to $27. $27 to $29 for a recycled pallet . For those of you unfamiliar with pallet pricing, let me put this in perspective. Here in Central Florida, those same A-grade pallets are going for around $7.00. That’s right - $7, not $27 or $29. So Uline is slapping a 300% markup on the exact same product . And I don’t even think that includes shipping. Why Pay for Convenience? Look, I get it. Uline is convenient. You can go online, click a few buttons, and have your order on the way. But here’s the thing: convenience doesn’t equal smart buying. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Fortune 500 company with cash to burn or a small warehouse just trying to keep costs down - there’s ZERO reason to pay that kind of markup for pallets. I don’t care who you are. Financially, it just doesn’t make sense. These aren’t custom-built pallets tailored to your specific needs. They aren’t made from some super-premium wood grown in the mystical forests of Narnia. They’re standard, recycled A-grade pallets - the kind you can get from any local pallet yard at a fraction of Uline’s price. So Why Are People Buying Pallets from Uline? Maybe people just don’t know better. Maybe they’ve been buying all their shipping supplies from Uline for years and figure, “Why not pallets too?” Or maybe it’s that allure of convenience. But convenience can be a wallet-killer. Paying $27 to $29 for a $7 pallet is highway robbery. That’s like walking into a grocery store and willingly paying $50 for a loaf of bread because it was conveniently located near the checkout line. Do Your Homework When Buying Pallets Here’s my advice: Do your research. Seriously. Don’t just throw money away because it’s convenient. Google a pallet yard in your area. Make a couple of phone calls. Compare prices. I promise you, with just a little effort you’ll find local suppliers offering much more reasonable prices. You’ll save yourself a ton of money, and you’ll be supporting local businesses while you’re at it. And if you’re in Central Florida, I can guarantee you’re not going to pay anywhere near what Uline is charging for a recycled A-grade pallet. Whether you choose to buy from me or someone else, just know you’ve got options - much better options. Make the Smart Call Bottom line: Uline’s markup is insane, and there’s no good reason to pay it. Whether you’re a small business looking to cut costs or a larger operation trying to maximize efficiency, don’t fall for the convenience trap. Check your options. Do your research. Make a smarter purchase. And hey, if you have any questions about buying pallets - or about the pallet industry in general - get in touch. Give me a call or shoot me an email. I’m here to help you make the right decision for your business. Let’s stop overpaying for something as basic as pallets, ok? Ready to save yourself from Uline’s outrageous markup? Let’s get you the right pallets for the right price. Contact me at The Pallet Pro: (407) 205-7527 or info@orlandopallets.com .

Just because a pallet works for one business doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for yours. Thinking all pallets are the same is like saying all shoes are the same. Sure, they all do the basic job, but you wouldn't wear flip-flops to run a marathon, would you? I’m here to tell you that if you don’t know the details of how you’re using your pallets, you might be throwing money down the drain - or worse, screwing up your operations.