BBB issues warning for business with purported Springfield address

The Better Business Bureau issued a consumer warning for a business with a purported Springfield address.

A California man reported losing $3,879 attempting to buy a shipping container from Direct Sea Box, which lists its address on its website as 3551 E. Turner St., according to a BBB news release. The address is the location for the Springfield Underground warehouse, and security at Springfield Underground reported to the BBB that there's no business operating there under the Direct Sea Box name.

Direct Sea Box's website lists a variety of shipping containers for sale for commercial or residential purposes. A phone number listed on the website is not valid, and there are no records on file with the Missouri secretary of state's office for Direct Sea Box.

The Grass Valley, California, man, who is not identified in the BBB release, did not receive the shipping container he purchased and has been unable to reach anyone at Direct Sea Box after the sale.

“BBB is receiving a lot of reports from people losing money in storage container transactions,” said Pamela Hernandez, BBB Springfield regional director, in the release. “If you’re in the market for a storage container, you really have to do your research so that you don’t lose any of your hard-earned money.”