While it might be tempting to simply purchase off-the-shelf shipping cases for your equipment and supplies, there are many reasons why it’s smarter to consider ordering a custom shipping case. Off-the-shelf cases might have a slightly lower price tag, but they also present the following problems.
1. Substandard Materials
When you purchase an off-the-shelf case, you really have no idea what type of materials were used. Order a custom shipping case from Bel-Air Cases and you ensure that your case is built using the highest quality materials possible. We build our cases using high-density polyethylene, which is one of the most durable and impact-resistant materials on earth. We also use aluminum for all of our case valances, as this also is a highly durable material that can absorb impacts and handle the typical jostling and rough handling associated with frequent transport and shipping.
While these off-the-shelf cases might have a lower price tag, if they don’t offer the same level of protection as our Bel-Air Cases, you may end up repairing or replacing equipment that becomes damaged during transport. We all know that the transportation industry is tough on luggage and cases, and our custom shipping cases offer an exceptional level of protection.
2. Substandard Interiors
Off-the-shelf cases often come with no interior foam or, if they do, it’s a cheap type of pluck and pick foam that we would never use. Each custom shipping case from Bel-Air includes a custom foam interior. In some cases, this might be a simple foam insert but for many cases, this includes a highly custom foam insert that cushions and protects each piece of your equipment precisely.
We never use pick and pluck foam, which is essentially just a large chunk of cheap foam. Consumers have to do the actual work of cutting into the foam to create cavities to hold various pieces of equipment. Not only is this hardly a custom solution, this type of foam breaks down quickly and, before you know it, you’ll need to purchase a new foam insert for your case. Additionally, after you’ve cut up the foam, you are left with a ton of excess foam. Why pay for foam that simply ends up in a trash bin? A custom foam interior ensures an ultimate level of protection and you won’t be paying for a bunch of wasted foam.
3. A Not-So-Perfect Fit
With an off-the-shelf case, you may end up paying for a larger case than you really need, simply because that’s the best fit. A custom shipping case can be designed to your exact specifications and this can result in a much lighter and smaller case that stills offer a high level of protection. Transporting a smaller, lighter case can reduce your shipping costs, which definitely saves you money in the long run.
4. Zero Extras
When you opt for off-the-shelf cases, you get what you get. With a custom shipping case, you can customize virtually every inch of your case. At Bel-Air Cases, we offer a variety of stock colors and can provide custom color matching with a specific minimum order. We can add a molded-in logo or custom decals, and we can customize the valance and the hardware. If you need wheels or handles, we have a wide variety of options, as well as pressure relief valves, locking mechanisms, sealed case options and much more. No matter what you want, the team at Bel-Air Cases is equal to the task.
5. A Short Life
Off-the-shelf cases tend to have a short life span, which means you may end up replacing your case long before what’s inside the case has worn out. Our Bel-Air Cases are meant to last a lifetime and we stand by our manufacturing. While we have no written warranty (we’ve never needed one), we stand by our cases throughout their lifetime. If a case component breaks, we’ll fix it. Additionally, we usually can repair most case defects for no charge. The transit industry is rough on packages, so while we cannot guarantee that your cases will never be damaged, we can assure that we are happy to repair the damages for as long as your own your custom shipping case.
Whether you need one custom shipping case or 100, we are ready to help, and our prices are surprisingly affordable. While you won’t find us selling any cheap $40 or $50 cases, we also don’t sell many $900 cases either. Depending on the size and type of case and the size of your order, you typically can expect to pay around $120 up to about $500 per case.
Ready to get started? Just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form, give us a call or send us an email. We’ve been creating quality custom cases for more than 50 years, and we look forward to designing a custom shipping case, an expo case, a carrying case or whatever type of case you might need.