Online trade in containers is growing – and so is the number of untrustworthy sellers. The scheme is almost always the same: a professional-looking shop, a price well below market, insistence on advance payment by bank transfer – and once the money has arrived, nobody gets in touch anymore. This page shows how you can recognise an untrustworthy seller and which checks let you buy a shipping container safely.
How to recognise an untrustworthy container shop
No single sign is proof – but the more of them apply, the greater the risk:
- Price far below market. A used 20 ft container for a few hundred euros including delivery is unrealistic. You can find realistic prices at How much does a shipping container cost.
- Missing or incomplete Impressum. No commercial register entry (HRB), no VAT ID, only a contact form, a free e-mail address or a foreign address with no connection to Germany.
- Advance payment only, no other payment method. No invoice showing VAT and no option to pay on invoice.
- Stolen photos and text. Product images and descriptions that also appear with other sellers in a reverse image search.
- Fake reviews. Many five-star reviews without details, all within the same period, no independent profile (Google, ProvenExpert, Trustpilot).
- Pressure and urgency. “Today only”, “last container”, pushing for immediate bank transfer.
- Newly registered domain. A Whois or domain age lookup shows an address that is only a few weeks old.
Checks before you transfer the money
| Check | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Is the legal notice (Impressum) complete? | Company name, address, commercial register (HRB) number, VAT ID, phone number – verify the HRB number in the Unternehmensregister (German company register) . |
| Reachability | Call the phone number. Does someone answer who can provide information? Or are you only referred to e-mail? |
| Depot | Ask for the depot's address. Check the address on a map (industrial area, container yard – not a residential house or a mailbox). |
| Payment | Request an invoice showing VAT. If possible, do not pay the full amount in advance to a private account or abroad. |
| Reviews | Search for independent profiles (Google Business Profile, ProvenExpert). Pay attention to specific, varied customer reviews. |
| Contract documents | Are there clear AGB (terms and conditions), a withdrawal/return policy within the legally permitted scope, and a named contact person? |
Safe payment when buying a container
A container is a major investment – treat the payment accordingly. Advance payment is common for deliveries. It should go to a business account of the company named in the Impressum against a proper invoice, and ideally in instalments (deposit when ordering, the remainder on delivery). Be cautious with instant bank transfers without buyer protection, payments to private accounts, to countries outside the EU, or by voucher or crypto payment – in case of fraud, the money is practically impossible to recover.
What to do if you have been defrauded
- Contact your bank immediately and try to recall the transfer – with a quick response this is sometimes still possible.
- File a criminal complaint with the police (online or at a police station), including all documents: shop URL, screenshots, correspondence, proof of transfer.
- Contact the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) – they keep lists of known fake shops and advise on further steps.
- Report the shop, so that other buyers are warned.
Why Coin Container is a safe partner
- Registered company: Coin Container Inspiration GmbH, HRB 180174 Hamburg, VAT ID DE360770017.
- Prequalified company listed in the official directory of prequalified companies – proof of trustworthiness from public procurement.
- A real depot at Weidestraße 122B, 22083 Hamburg – company headquarters and depot; the address is given in the Impressum.
- Invoice with VAT shown, a clear contact person, advice by phone at +49 40 561 236 56.
- Independent reviews on ProvenExpert and in the Google Business Profile.
- Transparent prices including delivery, so that quotes remain comparable.
More about us: About us. The most common mistakes when buying – including those unrelated to fraud: Costly mistakes when buying a container.
Buy safely with Coin
Tell us which container you need and where it should be delivered – you will receive a transparent quote with a price including transport and a dedicated contact person. Request a quote · Overview: Buy a container · buy used shipping containers
Frequently asked questions
How can I recognise a disreputable container shop?
A price far below market, a missing or incomplete Impressum, advance payment only, stolen photos and fake reviews. No single feature is proof, but the more of them occur together, the greater the risk.
Should I be able to view the container beforehand?
Yes. A genuine dealer has a depot and lets you view the container, or at least the stock. "The container is at the port and cannot be shown" is a warning sign.
What makes reviews suspicious?
Many five-star reviews without details, all posted in the same period. Check independent platforms: our reviews and Certificates.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 7. November 2026 · Redaktion: Coin Container Team, Hamburg