Keeping the packaging - a condition???

[LeadFarmer]

Perhaps I need to see a doctor for this, but I have to keep the packaging for any items of value that I buy, just incase I need to return them (or sell them one day).

I've got all kinds of boxes in the loft for items I bought years ago, Gaggia coffee machine, MacBook etc, and I've now added the box for the Makita sliding double bevelled compound saw I've just bough (though I've had to flat pack it to get it in theret!!! Every now and again I do throw some away.

Wife goes mad about it, she throws packaging away soon as she's unboxed stuff, but I've always found it easier to get refunds if the packaging is intact.

Is there a name for this condition?

[randlemarcus]

This is what box rooms are for, and I have had easier and faster sales because I do it, and much easier house moves because of it. Granted, the box room needs the occasional prune to get rid of boxes for things that went a while ago

[Roofless Toothless]

The worst 'I've got a Makita sliding double bevelled compound saw' post I've ever seen.

I know exactly where you're coning from, though. I always feel like I'm going out on a limb if I ditch the packaging straight away. I wonder what the law actually says about unpackaged returns?

[Spare tyre]

My parents have done this, they have boxes for stuff they got 50 years ago and chucked out 40 years ago.

We actually sold some of the boxes on eBay

I stuff all new boxes in my loft, then when I’m up there I see if any are now no longer needed and Chuck em

I also now flatten boxes and keep them in utility room, very handy

[LeadFarmer]

Roofless Toothless said:

The worst 'I've got a Makita sliding double bevelled compound saw' post I've ever seen.

Well I had to get the full title in, I don't want PH'ers thinking its only single bevel

My latest dilemma comes from receiving a pizza oven yesterday. The box is large, and was packaged in an outer box. Do I keep both????

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 30th March 12:19

[Mr Pointy]

Yep, i'm exactly the same. I realised I might have a bit of a problem when i discovered the box for a £10 set of kitchen scales that have been in use for 5 years, safely stored away in the loft.

[joshleb]

I'm a ditcher, unlike my partner, she wants to keep them "just in case"

We get enough boxes and packages arriving that we can pack it up in something different if needs be.

She wanted to keep the TV box, we're not planning on moving house for another 5 years at least, we can sort that out then!

[Mr Pointy]

joshleb said:

I'm a ditcher, unlike my partner, she wants to keep them "just in case"

We get enough boxes and packages arriving that we can pack it up in something different if needs be.

She wanted to keep the TV box, we're not planning on moving house for another 5 years at least, we can sort that out then!

NOOO! flatscreen boxes are vital to keep, & the polystyrene packaging that goes in them. And the little plastic bags for the remote & the three-pronged plastic thing that fits on the plug.

I told you I had a problem. Saving Ziplock bags is another one.

[wibble cb]

I keep them for the guarantee period, then they are disposed of

[anonymous-user]

I absolutely hate keeping any excess clutter, rubbish, or packaging in our house. I run a tight (and uncluttered) ship
I'll cheerfully rip open the packaging on brand new MacBook Pro or something else expensive, and chuck the box straight in the bin.

The only thing I keep the boxes and packaging from is watches. This is purely a value thing. They are worth more if the box and even the outer card packaging is retained. This is fine as a pile of watch boxes takes up very little room in the back of a wardrobe.

I have never experienced a single issue with returning something in packaging that wasn't original.

Citizens Advice say there is no need to keep packaging. Any company who insists on an item being returned to them in 'original packaging' would be classed as demanding an 'unfair contract' and it wouldn't stand up.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed...

[Clifford Chambers]

The correct thing to do is layer your recycling bin, a bit like a lasagne. Saves the ear splitting crashing sound of beer bottles.

[sicarumba]

I keep the boxes for everything we buy and store them in the loft, then every year during the Christmas break I go up and dispose of the box for anything which as gone beyond its warranty period. I think I read somewhere if you return an item after 30 days it no longer has to be in the box, though it's obviously easier to return things in the post in their original packaging however long it's been. Once it is no longer in my interest to post it somewhere the box goes.

[LeadFarmer]

I might organise my empty boxes so that they fit inside each other.
Or would that be regarded as OCD?

[grumbledoak]

LeadFarmer said:

I might organise my empty boxes so that they fit inside each other.
Or would that be regarded as OCD?

Pragmatic when running out of space.

I do try to throw the boxes when things go out of warranty.

[bristolbaron]

LeadFarmer said:

My latest dilemma comes from receiving a pizza yesterday.

This is a step too far.

[B'stard Child]

Spare tyre said:

My parents have done this, they have boxes for stuff they got 50 years ago and chucked out 40 years ago.

We actually sold some of the boxes on eBay

I stuff all new boxes in my loft, then when I’m up there I see if any are now no longer needed and Chuck em

All packaging goes up into the loft

Once a year I go up into the loft - anything that no longer exists has the packaging broken down and the recycling bin for the week is very well "lasagna'd"

I will however admit that there are a few boxes full of random stuff and a couple of flat packed wardrobes that were put up there when we moved in that I really should clear out and chuck................

We moved in 31 years ago

[bristolracer]

My method of disposal

1 the item itself
2 two years later the box which has been unearthed in the loft
3 a further 5 years later the manual appears

Manual for a beta max video anyone?

[Jasandjules]

Sadly we have several boxes in the loft over the garage...

[K50 DEL]

OP I think I have your condition in spades.
I keep every box for everything I buy and have always done so.

A few weeks ago I sold a laptop that I purchased 5 houses and 12 years ago. The box was sitting in the roofspace in my garage complete with all the plastic bags, tie wraps and everything else that came with said machine.

In my understairs cupboard are the boxes for the smaller things I buy (kitchen scales from my first house in 2005) binoculars from 1992 etc.

Sometimes it works to my favour, i recently sold an airband scanner, bought new from Tandy in about 1993. In my cupboard was the box, manual, plastic bag and original purchase receipt. I'm fairly sure it sold for a better price because of this.

I must admit I don't get the fascination with throwing packaging away - it's much more convenient on resale if you have the correct box and as a potential buyer I would view such a transaction in the same way as most on here would view buying a car with / without service history - it just shows a better level of thought and care to me!

As I said at the start, I think I have the same issue OP lol

[Uggers]

If I kept the packaging for everything bought over the last 3 years I think I'd need a double garage just for flat-packed boxes alone. I take a bootful up to the roof of the Shogun most months.

If anything needs returning plenty of boxed goods come in every month to be repurposed. Or to sell on I use Gumtree and sell items 10% less than what they go on ebay. They collect that day and I save the PayPal fees/packaging faff.