Find answers for customers, realtors, storage partners, and Toters below. Contact hello@emeraldtote.com or (541) 348-8683 for help.
Questions and answers
What is Emerald Tote?
Emerald Tote is a reusable moving tote rental service based in Eugene, Oregon. We deliver clean, sturdy plastic moving totes to your door, you use them to pack and move, and we pick them up when you are done. No cardboard. No tape. No waste.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding Willamette Valley communities. Salem is available on a case-by-case basis — contact us before booking at hello@emeraldtote.com or (541) 348-8683 to confirm availability in your area.
Are you currently accepting reservations?
Yes. We are currently accepting reservations in Eugene and surrounding Willamette Valley communities. Choose your package and preferred move dates during booking.
How can I reach you?
Email us at hello@emeraldtote.com or call (541) 348-8683.
How do I book my move?
Click Book Now in the top navigation, choose your package based on your home size, pick a delivery date, and pay securely. The whole booking takes a few minutes. We confirm your reservation by email within 24 hours.
Do you help with the actual move?
No — we deliver the totes to your door and pick them up when you are done. The packing, loading, and transporting your belongings is up to you. That is why we recommend choosing a delivery date a few days before your move so you have plenty of time to pack at your own pace.
Where do you deliver the totes?
Right to your door, or wherever is most convenient on your property. Driveways, garages, porches, apartment lobbies, and storage units all work. Just let us know during booking if there are stairs, an elevator, or any access notes.
How long is the rental period?
Every standard package includes a 10-day rental — plenty of time for the average move. Promotional packages may have different rental periods; check the current pricing page. Need more time? Extensions are available for a small daily fee, and you can add them right from your customer dashboard.
How does pickup work?
We will plan to pick up the empty totes on the last day of your rental. Done early? Just let us know and we will come sooner. We prefer that an adult be home — unless the totes have been left somewhere secure that we agreed on in advance. We would rather not leave a stack of totes unattended and tempt the porch pirates.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours before your delivery date for a full refund. Within 48 hours, we charge a small restocking fee since totes are already cleaned and staged for your delivery.
How big are the totes?
Each tote is 27 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 12 inches tall, with a 100 pound weight capacity. They stack and nest perfectly — a full order of 30 totes takes up about the same floor space as three individual totes.
What fits inside a tote?
Books, kitchenware, clothing, electronics, decor, files, and almost everything you would normally pack in a small or medium cardboard box. For oversized items like lamps, large frames, or bulky bedding, you may still want a few specialty boxes or moving blankets.
Are the totes cleaned between rentals?
Yes. Every tote is washed and sanitized between each rental. We inspect them for damage at the same time and retire any that no longer meet our standard.
How do I keep track of what is in each tote?
We recommend blue painter's tape — it sticks well, peels off cleanly, and you can write on it with a marker. Dry-erase markers also work great directly on the tote lid. We are also testing removable label stickers for a future rental. Please avoid putting anything non-removable on the totes — stickers, packing tape, or permanent marker on the body.
What happens if a tote is damaged or lost?
Normal wear and tear is on us — that is why we use commercial-grade plastic. We do not place any pre-authorized hold on your card at booking. Upon pickup, we complete an inspection and reserve the right to charge for any tote that is lost or damaged beyond normal use. The replacement fee is $20 per tote.
Are the totes stackable on a dolly?
Yes. The locking lids and uniform footprint mean a stack of totes rolls cleanly on any standard hand truck or appliance dolly. Most movers tell us they can move twice as fast compared to cardboard.
What is included in the price?
Every package includes free local delivery, free pickup, the totes themselves, and basic dollies and labels where included in your tier. You only pay for extras like extensions, additional totes, or specialty add-ons.
How many totes do I need?
Our standard packages include 20 totes for a Studio, 30 for 1 Bedroom, 50 for 2 Bedrooms, 75 for 3 Bedrooms, and 100 for 4 Bedrooms or more. Check the current pricing page for package details and promotions.
Is there a delivery or pickup fee?
Delivery and pickup are free within our standard Eugene service area. Outside the standard zone, a small mileage fee may apply, which is shown clearly during booking before you pay.
How much does it cost to extend my rental?
Extensions are billed at a flat per-day rate per package and can be added in your customer dashboard. The exact daily rate is shown on the pricing page and at checkout so there are no surprises.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes. Look for our launch promotions, repeat customer credits, and partner discounts available through participating realtors, storage facilities, and community organizations.
How many cardboard boxes does each tote replace?
Each Emerald Tote replaces roughly 5 to 7 cardboard boxes per move, and each tote is reused 300 or more times across its life. That means a single tote can keep more than 1,500 cardboard boxes out of the waste stream over its lifetime.
How wasteful is a normal move?
The average household move generates 30 to 50 cardboard boxes, and most of them end up in the landfill or recycling stream within days. Reusable totes cut that waste to essentially zero per move.
Where are the totes made?
Our totes are commercial-grade recyclable plastic and are made by suppliers that specialize in long-life reusable shipping containers. At the end of their useful life they are recycled into new plastic products, not landfilled.
What about the carbon footprint of delivery?
We cluster deliveries and pickups by neighborhood and time window to keep routes efficient. Even with that delivery footprint, the lifecycle math comes out far ahead of single-use cardboard, and we are working toward an electric vehicle fleet as we scale.
What is the Realtor Membership program?
It is a paid monthly membership for licensed real estate professionals in the Willamette Valley. Members receive gift credits each month they can use to send fully prepaid Emerald Tote rentals to their clients as a closing gift, delivered to the client's door and picked up when they are done.
Is this a referral program?
No. There are no kickbacks, referral fees, or revenue share. It is a client appreciation tool: a practical, eco-friendly closing gift you give to your clients with your branding on the experience.
How much does it cost?
Plans start at $199 per month for the Starter tier and scale up based on how many client gifts you want to send each month. Full plan details and what is included are on the Realtor Partners page.
Can I brand the gift experience?
Yes. Members get a co-branded landing page, branded email confirmations, and a personal note attached to each gift. Higher tiers also unlock co-branded marketing assets you can share on social media or in your listings.
Can I track which clients used their gift?
Yes. Your Realtor Portal dashboard shows every gift sent, who redeemed it, when their move is scheduled, and how they rated the experience. It is a clean way to see the impact of your client appreciation spend.
How do I apply?
Visit the Realtor Partners page and submit a short application. We review applications within 1 to 2 business days to confirm licensing and good standing, then onboard you to your portal.
What is the Storage Facility Partner program?
We partner with mini storage and self-storage facilities to offer Emerald Tote rentals as a value-added service to their customers. Your facility becomes a convenient staging and pickup point, drives new rentals, and differentiates from the storage facility down the street.
What does it cost the facility?
Nothing. Partner facilities pay no setup fee or monthly fee. We provide the totes, manage the bookings, handle the customer relationship, and supply co-branded marketing materials.
How much operational lift is required from my staff?
Almost none. Staff do not need to handle bookings or payments. Most partners simply mention Emerald Tote at move-in and display our co-branded materials. We handle everything else.
Is there an exclusive territory?
Early partner facilities in each market receive preferred status and exclusive co-marketing support. First movers in a market lock in the best terms.
What is a Toter?
A Toter is an independent contractor who handles deliveries and pickups in their local market. You set your own schedule, accept the routes that fit your availability, and use your own vehicle.
What kind of vehicle do I need?
A cargo van, pickup truck, or SUV with cargo space is enough. No special equipment needed. Totes nest tightly so you can fit a full route load in a standard vehicle.
How does pay work?
You earn per delivery and per pickup completed. Routes are clustered geographically so your time is respected. Peak demand windows like move-in weekends, month-end, and university move-out season offer the best opportunities.
How do I apply?
Visit the Become a Toter page, fill out the short application, and we will reach out to schedule a quick onboarding call. Background check and proof of vehicle insurance are required.
Can businesses use Emerald Tote?
Yes. We work with offices for floor-plan reconfigurations, remodels, floor-to-floor moves, full relocations, and individual employee desk moves. Custom quotes are available for larger volume or longer rental periods.
Can I use totes for events?
Absolutely. Weddings, fundraisers, galas, parties, pop-up shops, school events, and community fundraisers are all great use cases. Totes with locking lids beat cardboard, loose bags, or fragile plastic bins for hauling event supplies.
How do I get a business or event quote?
Email hello@emeraldtote.com with the rough volume, dates, and use case. We respond with a custom quote, usually within one business day.