Used plastic pallet inventory, sorted

Why no inventory list

An inventory list for used pallets goes out of date the day it is published, and a list that claims stock we cannot show would be a made-up number. So the site publishes no stock counts. What it publishes is the sort: the footprints and grades a lot is described in, so you can ask for the lot you need.

The sorted ledger

Footprints run down the side and grades across the top. Each cell is a request for that footprint and grade, not a promise that a lot of it is waiting.

What goes into a written lot

Each lot is described by an inspector's walk-around: deck, corners, runners and fork pockets, then marks and ratings. The same description format is used every time, so a buyer comparing two lots is comparing like with like.

• Footprint and height
• Open or closed deck
• Entry sides
• Resin and colour
• Count by style
• Welds, swaps and marks

Why there is no list of pallets here

A published stock list goes stale as fast as a lot moves, and a used lot is never quite the same twice. This site does not carry a live inventory, so it does not print one. What it publishes instead is the method: the footprints, the grades and the questions a buyer should ask. The reply to a request describes a lot in writing, which is the closest thing to inventory this desk can honestly offer.

If a page elsewhere shows a count or a price for pallets and says they are in stock, compare its photographs with the wear a grade describes. A listing that cannot say what the runners and corners look like has not been walked around.

What a matched lot description holds

When a lot is matched, the written description names the footprint in inches and millimetres, the number of pallets, the grade, the makers present, how many pieces were repaired, any marks, and the ratings where a plate survives. It says what the desk could not confirm. Compare that with a typical listing: a headline, a photograph and a quantity. The difference is the walk-around.

Keeping your own inventory

If you buy regularly, keep a simple register of what arrived: date, footprint, grade, count and the lot description. When a later lot arrives you can compare it with the last, spot drift in quality, and answer an auditor or an insurer quickly. A register also shows how many pallets leave the building and never return.

Questions to put to any seller

• Where did these pallets work, and what did they carry?
• How were they sorted, and who walked the lot?
• Are any welded, riveted or fitted with replacement parts?
• Can the maker's plate be photographed on several pallets?
• Will the description be sent in writing before payment is discussed?

Planning around the seasons

• Cold months bring brittle resin, so handle gently and avoid sharp drops.
• Warm months soften decks, so shorten stacks and keep loads in shade.
• Harvest, holiday and promotion peaks use pallets faster, so order earlier.
• Wet seasons add weight in the ribs, so allow a drying day before indoor use.
• Plan returns and exports for the weeks when dock space is free.

Words used on this page

Euro pallet

800 x 1200 mm footprint.

Fork pocket

Opening in the pallet where the forks go.

Closed deck

Solid top deck with no gaps; keeps small items from falling through.

Runners

Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.

Welding repair

Plastic is hard to glue, so cracked parts are normally welded.

What the sources say

• That Nelson model is under 5 in tall, which the page says suits air freight, and works with automation and most roller conveyors. nelsoncompany.com
• The 800 x 1200 mm Euro footprint is the second most popular plastic pallet size worldwide. blog.containerexchanger.com
• HDPE is the most common resin in plastic pallets; PP is more rigid and the page recommends it for unsupported racking. nelsoncompany.com
• About 500 million pallets are made each year as of 2020, with about 2 billion in use in the US. en.wikipedia.org

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