What is a raw credential bale?

A raw credential bale is donated clothing pulled directly from nonprofit bins or donation routes, compressed into a roughly 800–1,100 lb block wrapped in wire or strapping. Raw means nothing has been done to it — no sorting, no picking, no culling, no grading.

What is the minimum order for raw credential bales?

Our minimum order is 5,000 lbs — typically five to six bales. We aggregate your order with other buyers to fill a full truckload before shipping.

Do you sort or grade the bales?

No. Every bale we ship is 100% raw and untouched. We don't pull cream, we don't separate fiber, we don't run anything across a grading line.

Where do you source your credential bales?

Southern California — nonprofits and donation routes we have direct relationships with. SoCal-sourced credentials are a credibility marker in this industry.

Do you ship nationwide?

Yes. We arrange LTL or FTL freight to 48 states. Most fractional orders ship LTL on pallets.

How Ordering Raw Credential Bales Works: From Request to Receiving Dock

Step 1: Submit Your Order Request

Everything starts with an order request. You'll provide your contact info, the allocation size you want (5,000 lbs minimum), your delivery address, and whether you have forklift access and a loading dock. That's it.

A rep reviews your request and follows up within one business day with a firm all-in quote — product price plus freight to your door. No surprise fees, no back-and-forth. Submit a request here.

Step 2: Confirm Your Allocation and Pricing

Once you've reviewed and confirmed the quote, your allocation is locked in. Pricing is tiered by weight — the more you order, the lower your per-pound rate. See the full breakdown on our pricing table.

·5,000 lbs: $0.82/lb — entry level, 5–6 bales
·10,000 lbs: $0.74/lb — most popular allocation
·20,000 lbs: $0.66/lb — high volume
·40,000 lbs: $0.58/lb — full truckload

Freight is quoted separately based on your ZIP and access type. The rep will give you a firm all-in number — product + freight — before you commit.

Step 3: We Execute the Pull

Once your order is confirmed, we pull your allocation from our SoCal sourcing network. Every bale is 100% raw credentials — untouched and ungraded, exactly as it came off the donation route. Nothing is extracted or sorted before it reaches you.

Pull timing depends on your order size and the current run schedule. Your rep will give you a firm ship window at confirmation.

Step 4: Your Bales Ship LTL to Your Dock

Your allocation is palletized, strapped, and shrink-wrapped for LTL freight. We book the carrier and handle the freight logistics. You get a tracking number and an estimated delivery window.

·Standard delivery: LTL freight to 48 states
·Dock delivery: standard, no accessorial
·No dock: liftgate delivery available — note this on your request
·Each bale weighs 800–1,100 lbs — forklift or pallet jack required at delivery

Step 5: Receive and Process

When your bales arrive, inspect the strapping and packaging before signing the bill of lading. Any freight damage should be noted on the BOL at delivery — this is your protection. Once accepted, you're ready to process.

First-time buyers: we recommend sorting into three rough piles — cream/premium, standard resale, and fiber/filler — before diving into individual piece evaluation. This gives you a fast read on the bale quality and helps you plan your sorting labor.

Questions along the way? Reach your rep directly at info@rawbales.com or call (714) 928-7774.