How long do you keep cardboard boxes/packaging?
Discussion
Just been out to the garage and realise it’s looking very much like a miniature amazon warehouse. Full of various packaging and cardboard boxes, mainly for stuff received running up to Christmas, plus the new TV and soundbar, but I also noticed a few older ones which must have been kicking around a couple of years now.
Most are there because I haven’t got round to folding them down and stuffing into the recycling or taking to the tip, but another reason is Mrs ZS “doesn’t want to throw them away too soon in case there’s a problem or we need to return something”.
I take the view that as long as it works and you’re happy with it, then there’s no point holding on to the box, whereas she still wants to keep the box for her MacBook (1 year old) and the Sonos One (18 months). Not going to waste too much time arguing about those as they don’t take up much space in the garage, but hope to convince her that now we’ve had the new tv a month there’s no need to hang on to the box as I really don’t want that in there any longer! (Either that or I’ll just throw it out without telling her)
Anyway, how long does anyone else hold on to cardboard boxes or packaging?
Most are there because I haven’t got round to folding them down and stuffing into the recycling or taking to the tip, but another reason is Mrs ZS “doesn’t want to throw them away too soon in case there’s a problem or we need to return something”.
I take the view that as long as it works and you’re happy with it, then there’s no point holding on to the box, whereas she still wants to keep the box for her MacBook (1 year old) and the Sonos One (18 months). Not going to waste too much time arguing about those as they don’t take up much space in the garage, but hope to convince her that now we’ve had the new tv a month there’s no need to hang on to the box as I really don’t want that in there any longer! (Either that or I’ll just throw it out without telling her)
Anyway, how long does anyone else hold on to cardboard boxes or packaging?
I tend to get shot straightaway, I can't see the point in keeping them, however I've just remembered that there is a box on top of one of the kitchen cabinets for a Pure digital radio that was chucked out years ago; I see it every so often and think "that needs to go", however as it's wedged at the back in a corner and needs a chair to get up there and a few things in front of it moving, to gain access, so "I'll do it later", I'd do it now but the recycling is almost full so that'll be another week! I think there is a Sonos one up there too, that needs to go as well.
The wife likes to keep boxes, she tends to put them in the shed and I tend to break them down for the recycling a week or so later.
The wife likes to keep boxes, she tends to put them in the shed and I tend to break them down for the recycling a week or so later.
Occasional clearout does it. Large TV boxes are flattened and used under cars when servicing. Small electronics boxes seem to hang around for yrs, long past redundancy (along with cables and wires SCART anybody?) Wife likes to keep shoes in original boxes, she has quite a collection.
Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 31st December 10:23
Cross posting with "you know you are old when..." :
Ths best ting about mom´s new -first- washing machine bought in the late 60s was the BIG box it was delivered in,
it fulfilled many kid´s play fantasies, served as space capsule ( with LEGO light ), western fort, medieval castle, etc etc.
Ths best ting about mom´s new -first- washing machine bought in the late 60s was the BIG box it was delivered in,
it fulfilled many kid´s play fantasies, served as space capsule ( with LEGO light ), western fort, medieval castle, etc etc.
My loft is littered with empty boxes for tv’s, computers, printers, watches, games consoles and all manner of random electronic goods - many of which we don’t even have any more 
It’s also a place for other people to keep stuff that they didn’t have room for themselves in days gone by - writing this makes me think that I need to have a bit of a clear out and give those people the opportunity to reclaim their belongings, otherwise the charity shop is going to have a good start to the year.......
It’s also a place for other people to keep stuff that they didn’t have room for themselves in days gone by - writing this makes me think that I need to have a bit of a clear out and give those people the opportunity to reclaim their belongings, otherwise the charity shop is going to have a good start to the year.......
I keep it far too long - not surprisingly given my hoarding nature. I blame my parents, who always told me that keeping the boxes for my model railway stuff would help it to be valuable in "years to come". Ironically most of the boxes for that stuff isn't in much good condition now, but the box for my digital camera bought in around 2001, that's a different matter. Or my first camera, a Kodak Instamatic, that's in the wardrobe as well. I use old shoe boxes to keep books in, so that doesn't count, does it?
I try and get rid of most of them fairly quickly, most of the stuff it doesn't really make a difference to the value, and bigger items like TVs and printers we tend to keep until they die anyway.
I try and keep the boxes for my camera kit in case I sell a lens or something, that's one area where people seem to place a lot of value on the packaging when buying used.
It's more the packaging that stuff comes in I tend to keep - thinking it will be useful when I come to sell something. Then I realise I've got a wardrobe or loft full of scruffy old boxes and bubblewrap so I bin it all. Then next week I sell something and can't find a suitable box to put it in...
I try and keep the boxes for my camera kit in case I sell a lens or something, that's one area where people seem to place a lot of value on the packaging when buying used.
It's more the packaging that stuff comes in I tend to keep - thinking it will be useful when I come to sell something. Then I realise I've got a wardrobe or loft full of scruffy old boxes and bubblewrap so I bin it all. Then next week I sell something and can't find a suitable box to put it in...
I buy and sell fountain pens, and recycle the packaging, usually the polystyrene bits.
I bought a pen from America and was surpised that the pen was surrounded in its box by pop corn instead of the usual polystyrene.
I kept the popcorn for re use. Some three years later I sold a pen to a doctor in Birmingham and re used the pop corn.
The doctor thanked me for the quality of the pen and said that he had passed the pop corn for his children to eat, they found it a bit dry but still enjoyed it.
I bought a pen from America and was surpised that the pen was surrounded in its box by pop corn instead of the usual polystyrene.
I kept the popcorn for re use. Some three years later I sold a pen to a doctor in Birmingham and re used the pop corn.
The doctor thanked me for the quality of the pen and said that he had passed the pop corn for his children to eat, they found it a bit dry but still enjoyed it.
talksthetorque said:
Worst I’ve got a new tv and soundbar post.
Keep the MacBook box. Be worth more when she flogs it to upgrade.
Haha, yeah, probably should be in the 'Council' thread as it's probably a little large for our living room Keep the MacBook box. Be worth more when she flogs it to upgrade.
Will hold on to the MacBook box, we have old iPhone boxes somewhere as like you say they are worth a little more when selling on.
I had some furniture delivered before Christmas and the amount of packaging was huge with it. Had to break the polysterene into smaller pieces and bin bag (about 10 bags) and the I just ended up burning the cardboard outside (luckily I'm not that close to any neighbours to annoy!). In fact this is how I deal with large amounts of boxes etc at the minute - a 5 min fire
I usually keep the packaging for things that have resale value. For me thats mostly cameras, lenses and apple computer equipment.
I also keep shoe boxes.
I don't keep boxes for anything else and the packaging used for shipping I throw out unless I think I might need it for something in the near future..
I also keep shoe boxes.
I don't keep boxes for anything else and the packaging used for shipping I throw out unless I think I might need it for something in the near future..
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