keeping the boxes

[Macruran]

About a third of the way in to the real frenzied phase of buying, I started to keep the boxes. Now I have a ton of empty PM boxes. Should I keep on keeping them, or toss them? It seems kind of loony.

I also kept a lot of the DS bags.

I need help.

[basilsdad]

The artwork on the boxes is quite nice and I am grateful to those who have shared the artwork on the earlier boxes as I wasn't collecting back then.  The boxes come in handy if you are planning on selling the items at a future date.  I'm afraid I am of the school can't wait  to rip open the box and play with what is inside.     I don't have the room to store them anyway.   

Joe

[Salamander]

I am unable to throw away the boxes, despite my husband really wishing that I would. So I have a large cardboard box that is full of flattened Playmobil boxes. I don't know if I'll ever have any use for them, but if I do, I'll be glad I kept them!

DS bags? Nah, I toss those! 

[skypurr]

I tend to flatten the boxes and store them in the loft  because although I have no plans to sell my collection I can't rule out the fact that one day I may have to for one reason or another.

Also, one day they may be worth something ...

A few years ago I sold my sons' Harry Potter Lego sets and couldn't find all the boxes at the time.  When they did turn up I sold 9 small empty boxes and got £30 for them!   

[Pynedor]

I try to put them inside of each other to reduce the room. The DS bags can easily be put into other boxes. I don't have all that many boxes, but I'd say keep them as long as they don't take up a huge amount of room.

[cheng]

I kept flattened boxes for years but finally dumped them...there's no primary market for playmo here...not to mention second hand market....so likewise for boxes...I kept them out of passion....bags...I tend not to throw but ya....too much now...I think I will, Salamander

[Tiermann]

I keep only the boxes with the old photo dioramas on them, for special items that I know will be rare, and convenient sizes for storing things. The rest go in the recycle bin. With those exceptions I don't think the box adds much to the resale price if its all been out and used anyway. Mint sealed boxes are different of course.

[Macruran]

omg...flatten them...why did that not occur to me...

[Birdie]

I do the same as Tiermann: I only keep some big boxes to store Playmobil in, and I have kept some old boxes that have the pictures of diorama's on the back, just for myself really.

I try not to think about sale value too much, as I'm pretty sure I won't want to sell my PM in the years to come. At any rate, used Playmobil sells well without the box too.

My collection is taking up enough space as it is, so I try to minimize the damage. Sorting helps too (as opposed to keeping items of a set together).

[GrahamB]

I think some people who buy secondhand sets to give as presents (e.g. at Christmas) do want the boxes- I was asked several times last year when selling sets just before Christmas, if the set came with a box.
I like to have boxes for sets I have built up from secondhand sources, but I drew the line at a 3627 box which went for 30 Euros recently!
I do keep some boxes, flattened. They are useful for the children to check they haven't lost too many pieces!