Where to buy shipping containers?

Hi, We have been looking at building a home using shipping containers for a while. We currently have an architect working on some plans for us.
We have done some searches for 40ft high cubes and have found the pricing to be around $3500 and up.
Wondering if anyone out there knows of any cheaper places to buy containers in Qld.
Thanks in advance.

I dont think you will find cheaper than that. Are they wind and water tight?

I know quite a few years back 20 footers that werent even wind and water tight would sell for about $1700. If what you have found is wind and water tight i would grab a few before they all sell. I am assuming thats what you would have asked for due to building a house out of them?

Here is a list of a few companies you might contact

Price and Speed
Royal Wolf Trading (pretty sure thats what they call themselves now)

Also try contacting some of the container parks in your area as they could tell you who has sale units in their yard. It would save you calling all the shipping lines.

Some shipping lines you could try -
Mediterranean Shipping Company
Hapag Lloyd
Maersk
APL
ANL
China Shipping

Here's some of the places I've contacted for quotes:

http://www.portcontainerservices.com.au/

http://www.containeroptions.com.au/index.htm

http://www.royalwolf.com.au/storage-containers/2nd-hand-used-shipping-containers/

http://www.containersfirst.com.au/

http://www.kookaburracontainers.com.au/

http://containersales.com.au/

http://tigercontainers.rtrk.com.au/

http://www.bettastorage.com.au/contact.html

http://www.scfgroup.com.au/Home

From all of my quotes the best price so far has come from Port Container Services: (Recent quote 40' HC $3070 + GST = $3377 including delivery)

You may also be able to negotiate a better price if ordering 3 or 4 containers.

I am searching in NSW and unfortunately cannot tell you if these companies all trade in QLD.

I'm planning a container house so would be interested in following your build!! Hope you start a build thread!