Is it worth keeping the boxes?

[spider]

I hate the boxes...first you gotta worry about finding space to display all your collectibles which is fine.But the worst part of this hobby is finding room in your house to store all those damn boxes. I think i'm going to get rid of mine pretty soon, i don't think i'll ever sell my collection!

[ame]https://youtu.be/d5F4ysl7z8Q[/ame]
[ame]https://youtu.be/MBaPtHvHwjI[/ame]

 

[Centurion]

Part of my "need" to collect figures is also the nice box they come packaged in. For those deciding whether to keep or trash them, I'm sure you could find something else that you can throw away to make room for the boxes.

 

[Solidus]

Most of the time the boxes will just end up in storage anyway. I think Devil_666 wrote the best suggestion - sell the boxes on Ebay for $10 a piece (at least) and make some money. It's a shame just throwing them away when there are collectors who'll pay for the boxes.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

I keep both boxes

 

[Eli26]

There is a time where collecting boxes turns into hording, and when these things become a fire hazard.

 

[a-dev]

I keep them because you just don't know for a fact that you'll never sell something. Right now I'm contemplating selling things that I previously would not have thought I would so....

They are a pain in the arse and I can't use my attic right now so they're making a mess of the flat but that won't always be so.

 

[bg188]

I keep them because you just don't know for a fact that you'll never sell something. Right now I'm contemplating selling things that I previously would not have thought I would so....

They are a pain in the arse and I can't use my attic right now so they're making a mess of the flat but that won't always be so.

Me too. I've sold figures that I said I'd never sell so this is why I keep all my boxes.

 

[Darth Cruel]

There is a time where collecting boxes turns into hording, and when these things become a fire hazard.

Any collecting is hoarding. The negative aspect of that habit is generally applied the hoarding of items of no value that, in turn, create hardships on people close to the hoarder.

These boxes absolutely have a value. Maybe not to all. But to many they make a huge difference in the value of a collectible item.

Further, I like to keep the brown shippers not just to have for themselves, but to protect the product boxes while minimizing necessary storage space.

 

[a-dev]

Not like throwing out just the shipping boxes is going to make much difference in space anyway. Presumably if you've kept them you've got the actual toy boxes inside them

 

[UltraMarknus]

I couldn't imagine trashing the boxes. Like a-dev said, you never know if/when you would ever sell off an item. Not having the box would really kill value on a HT figure. It's really part of the whole presentation. If it was a $10 Wal Mart action figure...yeah...toss it. $200+ Hot Toy...keep it. If space is too tight...ya, toss em up on eBay and see what happens. Selling some boxes may raise money to buy another figure...with box.

 

[ifrack]

Keep the boxes and shippers on those figures you plan to sale someday. I tossed all my cheaper figure boxes due to space. All my HT figure boxes are keepers due to the value of the figures. Most buyers want the boxes and mailers if you have them.

 

[barleymow64]

There are two issues here:

1/ The outers, or case boxes that the figures come in. These are generally of poor quality and very little value as their primary job is to protect the figure inside. The only reason I would consider storing one of these is for the product/case/batch details etc on the box. The box itself is unlikely to have any value at all. And should you ever move and need packing boxes the removal company usually supplies these or pop down to your local supermarket and pick a few up!

2/ The second issue is the inners, that is the display box the figure is in or on. If you are a MOC or MIB collector then you will obviously keep these but if you like to display your figures then you can either trash them or keep them. Personally I would keep them.

Why?

Because at some point you may want to sell them, as already pointed out, or you may have to move. Another reason is that you may wish to "retire" the figure, or give it a rest from display and then you will need to store it safely...so it's original box would be ideal to use for this.

A few posters have mentioned selling them on eBay, well to be honest I can't see anyone paying $10 for a box, plus shipping etc, and don't forget you will have to pay the sellers fees even if it DOSEN'T sell, but if you are selling the figure then you will likely get a better price if you have the original packing to go with it.

 

[Solidus]

There are two issues here:

1/ The outers, or case boxes that the figures come in. These are generally of poor quality and very little value as their primary job is to protect the figure inside. The only reason I would consider storing one of these is for the product/case/batch details etc on the box. The box itself is unlikely to have any value at all. And should you ever move and need packing boxes the removal company usually supplies these or pop down to your local supermarket and pick a few up!

2/ The second issue is the inners, that is the display box the figure is in or on. If you are a MOC or MIB collector then you will obviously keep these but if you like to display your figures then you can either trash them or keep them. Personally I would keep them.

Why?

Because at some point you may want to sell them, as already pointed out, or you may have to move. Another reason is that you may wish to "retire" the figure, or give it a rest from display and then you will need to store it safely...so it's original box would be ideal to use for this.

A few posters have mentioned selling them on eBay, well to be honest I can't see anyone paying $10 for a box, plus shipping etc, and don't forget you will have to pay the sellers fees even if it DOSEN'T sell, but if you are selling the figure then you will likely get a better price if you have the original packing to go with it.

Oh, the boxes do sell, just check the listings on Ebay. There are lots of people who buy their figures loose (or discarded their old boxes), but want the "complete" package (so to speak). Also, keeping the original packaging to have a better secondary market price, is a moot point for this discussion. The OP said that he was running out of space, so from what he described, I assume that he was considering to throw away his boxes. Given his situation, I suggested that it was better to just sell the boxes and make a small profit. $10 per box is a fantastic price, as most sellers seem to charge significantly more.

Just to note, I don't completely disagree with you. If someone can afford the space, the boxes are definite keepers!

 

[barleymow64]

Sorry Solidus...

I think we are probably both in agreement with each other here, as it is the inner boxes (that is the display boxes) that are being sold on eBay from what I can see, not the empty cases (outers) which is what I meant.

Also the ones selling are mostly vintage boxes, which proves that these are worth keeping for a few years.

But also bear in mind 20-40 yrs ago people DIDN'T save the boxes or even keep the figures MOC, and they weren't generally mass produced to the extent they are now, therefore these are a lot rarer than today's boxes and MOC figures.

 

[a-dev]

Guys, assure me of what I already suspect. No ones gonna pay me over $21 dollars (on the shipping alone) for an empty Hot Toys box. At least no one here on SSF would. Am I right? Because I've worked out that it would cost me 16.60euros to ship an empty box to the US which according to my converter is $21. And thats the cheapest barebones shipping I'm offered. So add whatever the decided cost of the actual box would be onto that......just not worth it for either party is it?

 

[cokebabies]

Guys, assure me of what I already suspect. No ones gonna pay me over $21 dollars (on the shipping alone) for an empty Hot Toys box. Am I right? Because I've worked out that it would cost me 16.60euros to ship an empty box to the US which according to my converter is $21. And thats the cheapest barebones shipping I'm offered. So add whatever the decided cost of the actual box would be onto that......just not worth it for either party is it?

I don't think you can ever really answer that on your own, I've been shocked by what some people are willing to pay for shipping. I guess it also depends on the box, and rarity thereof. But I will assume, nope.


I'm going to be selling my BRJ box on eBay, since I no longer have the figure, but am assuming it will be bought within the US, for the reason you just said.

 

[a-dev]

I don't think you can ever really answer that on your own, I've been shocked by what some people are willing to pay for shipping. I guess it also depends on the box, and rarity thereof. But I will assume, nope.


I'm going to be selling my BRJ box on eBay, since I no longer have the figure, but am assuming it will be bought within the US, for the reason you just said.

I've just sold a HT Dutch loose leaving me with the box so I've been trying to work out if its worth selling by itself or throwing away. Right now I'm thinking the latter. Its slightly damaged anyway.

 

[cokebabies]

I've just sold a HT Dutch loose leaving me with the box so I've been trying to work out if its worth selling by itself or throwing away. Right now I'm thinking the latter. Its slightly damaged anyway.

Well I'd think if you made the actual price of the box low, it'd get a buyer. Like $5 for the box, $20 to ship. But then you wonder if it's worth the hassle of packaging up and going to the PO.

 

[cokebabies]

a-dev, I think you should just make a fixed price BIN sale, with a "Best Offer" option. As long as you make it clear what the price could be to ship, it can't hurt. Stick it up there for a month, I'm sure you'll get something. And if somehow it doesn't sell, you'll be out what, a dollar?

I just listed a BRJ box for $25 & $5 shipping less than an hour ago, and someone already BINed it.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I am running out of room in my storage with all the empty boxes. Is it worth just dumping them? Is there any value to just the box?

I'm running out of space too, i'm fine for figure boxes as they're small but it's statue boxes that are piling up.

I don't wanna get rid of them incase i need to sell the statues in which case you need the cut styrofoam, but i'm thinking i may have to get a storage space