Hinged Lids or Removable Lids? The Best Moving Tote Is the One That's Rented
I recently asked a group of tote-rental business owners a simple question: Why do so many companies use moving totes with hinged lids?
I currently use totes with removable lids. They work well for my business, and I like that the totes themselves can be waterproof and “unhinged.” There are no hinges to damage or wear out.
Of course, removable lids create a different problem: they can get separated from the totes or lost.
That led to a useful conversation about something every tote-rental operator eventually has to decide.
The case for hinged lids
Hinged lids stay attached to the tote. The customer doesn't have to keep track of a separate piece, and the rental company doesn't have to count loose lids at pickup.
That can make deliveries, returns and inventory management simpler.
Customers may also find hinged lids convenient. Open the tote, load it and close the two attached lid panels. There is nothing extra to store while packing.
The tradeoff is that hinges add another potential failure point. Depending on the tote's design and how it is handled, a damaged hinge or lid may put the entire tote out of service.
Some hinged-lid totes may also allow water through the seam where the two sides meet. That doesn't mean every hinged tote leaks, but weather resistance is something operators should consider when choosing inventory.
The case for removable lids
A separate lid can create a tighter covering, depending on the tote design. If a lid is damaged, you may be able to replace it without replacing the entire tote.
Removable lids can also make empty totes easier to clean, inspect or stack.
But the downside is right there in the name: the lid is removable.
Customers can misplace lids. Lids can be left behind during pickup, mixed with another order or damaged separately from the tote. Operators need a reliable way to count and manage both pieces.
Your totes are part of your brand
One business owner offered another reason for choosing a particular style: she didn't want her business to look like everyone else's.
That point deserves consideration. Tote color, shape, lid style, labels and branding all affect how customers remember a company. A distinctive tote can make a business more recognizable in local photographs, social posts and customer referrals.
The practical choice still needs to work. Looking different isn't much help if the tote is hard to deliver, clean or replace. But equipment doesn't have to be identical across every rental company.
Don't let the decision stop the business
One of the best comments in the conversation came from James Buxton:
“Use what works for you and own it. Let's not get paralysis by analysis.”
That may be the most useful advice for someone starting a tote-rental business.
Research matters. You should compare tote durability, replacement cost, availability, stacking, cleaning, water resistance and customer convenience. But there probably isn't one tote design that is best for every operator.
Your delivery vehicle, storage space, local weather and customers may lead you to a different answer than another company.
Make an informed decision and get started. Then pay attention to what happens in the real world.
Are customers losing lids? Are hinges breaking? Are the totes easy to clean? Do they stack efficiently? Can you purchase replacements when you need them?
You can change direction as you learn. As James also pointed out, it's okay to pivot.
I use removable lids right now, but I'm keeping an open mind about other designs. My favorite type of tote is still the same:
A tote that is already rented out.