Hoarding Apple Boxes

[bluewooster]

This is an odd topic and I wasn't certain which thread to place it in....

I've been doing a deep clean of my house and have decided I need to finally reckon with the many, many boxes from the Apple products I've accumulated since 2009 (starting with my first Apple purchase - the iPhone 3GS). What is odd is that I have boxes for products that I long ago gave away, sold, or even discarded - yet I have trouble throwing away the boxes! It really makes little sense!

I suppose it just speaks to how well the packaging has been thought out - there is no doubt that the dopamine rush of opening one of these boxes is part of the appeal of buying a new Apple device so maybe that is why it seems wrong to simply toss them in the recycling?

My wife finally told me I need to throw them away.....and I've hidden them in the garage for now - it's a bit sad!

Anyone else have a strange attachment to this fancy cardboard?

 

[coffeemilktea]

To be fair, they are incredibly nice boxes.

 

[S.B.G]

I don't.

I keep the boxes to higher valued Apple products in the event that I decide to sell them later. That way the new owner can get everything, including the box. Plus it helps make it a little easier for packaging for shipping too.

Otherwise, after a month or so ensuring that I won't likely be returning the product, I get rid of boxes. I don't like cluttering my home with too much stuff.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This is an odd topic and I wasn't certain which thread to place it in....

I've been doing a deep clean of my house and have decided I need to finally reckon with the many, many boxes from the Apple products I've accumulated since 2009 (starting with my first Apple purchase - the iPhone 3GS). What is odd is that I have boxes for products that I long ago gave away, sold, or even discarded - yet I have trouble throwing away the boxes! It really makes little sense!

I suppose it just speaks to how well the packaging has been thought out - there is no doubt that the dopamine rush of opening one of these boxes is part of the appeal of buying a new Apple device so maybe that is why it seems wrong to simply toss them in the recycling?

My wife finally told me I need to throw them away.....and I've hidden them in the garage for now - it's a bit sad!

Anyone else have a strange attachment to this fancy cardboard?

I have a few kicking around. Lots at work, but not enough for this.

 

[tranceking26]

I have kept the boxes for everything I still own. I should have a 6s box somewhere!

 

[NewOldStock]

Assumption is I think for some people is if you still have the original box you must really take care of your stuff if you are selling.
Dunno..🤷‍♂️

 

[eyoungren]

This is an odd topic and I wasn't certain which thread to place it in....

I've been doing a deep clean of my house and have decided I need to finally reckon with the many, many boxes from the Apple products I've accumulated since 2009 (starting with my first Apple purchase - the iPhone 3GS). What is odd is that I have boxes for products that I long ago gave away, sold, or even discarded - yet I have trouble throwing away the boxes! It really makes little sense!

I suppose it just speaks to how well the packaging has been thought out - there is no doubt that the dopamine rush of opening one of these boxes is part of the appeal of buying a new Apple device so maybe that is why it seems wrong to simply toss them in the recycling?

My wife finally told me I need to throw them away.....and I've hidden them in the garage for now - it's a bit sad!

Anyone else have a strange attachment to this fancy cardboard?

Every box I have in the garage is for something I still have. My real problem is manuals. There are manuals in my garage from items I got in my early 20s. I'll be 54 in September. Other stuff I can more easily justify, like the box of continuous feed laser paper I got when I was 15 and have not finished using yet. And the desk I got then too (I still use it).

But I'm choosy about the boxes I keep. If I don't think I can find a use for it and it's not a good looking box (artwork, design, etc) I toss it. Other boxes I have to keep, like the one for the femtocell that T-Mobile lent me. It has to be returned in it's box whenever I leave the carrier or it's a ~$400 charge.

 

[Bandoholic]

As an Apple Watch band collector, I definitely keep all the boxes, but I also keep boxes for phones iPad laptops. It’s not necessarily for reselling the item, it’s just my habit.

 

[eyoungren]

Assumption is I think for some people is if you still have the original box you must really take care of your stuff if you are selling.
Dunno..🤷‍♂️

When my son turned 15 we needed to give him a phone so we could be in contact with him. I was able to pick up a iPhone 4s 8GB for him from a friend here on MR. But I knew, he would appreciate the whole thing. Spent a few bucks tracking down original earpods, a manual, the period correct 4s box (the 8GB came later), the 30 pin cable and the Apple stickers. Had it all assembled in the box (iPhone wiped and with his new SIM card in it) and wrapped up for him on his birthday.

That was fun, tracking all that stuff down.

 

[Apples_BigMac]

I love this thread!

My wife gives me a hard time for this, but I keep almost all my Apple boxes. Kind of nostalgic for me. I will occasionally see those boxes in my closet and think about the time I got that device. Fun to remember the road to get to where I am now.

 

[MisterSavage]

You can bury me with my Apple boxes.

 

[Lioness~]

I safe my boxes too, but not longer then the product that was in it.
Always good to sell or trade in the products with the box it came with, for ease and security.

 

[ThrowerGB]

Yes, several similar comments so far. I keep boxes for the items I still have. That way I have an effective way of packing if/when I get rid of them.
I recently moved and got rid of some old boxes I thought I didn't need. I really regretted that when I had to pack my current gear in the car.

 

[Pierre535]

I keep boxes for current models and when I upgrade I throw out the old box. Funny thing, my wife keeps and uses boxes, like a hair blow drier she’s had for over 10 years, still keeps it in the box when not in use. Ditto for perfumes, all kept in original boxes. Me, I hoard manuals and instructions. Left the Microsoft world over 10 years ago and still have win XP CD’s and Office.

 

[Minghold]

Anyone else have a strange attachment to this fancy cardboard?

"Trapazoid" (2012-2020) iMac boxes are worth a non-zero amount, especially if the styrofoam is still inside.

 

[winxmac]

and I've hidden them in the garage for now

Photos please...

 

[avro707]

Anyone else have a strange attachment to this fancy cardboard?

The only ones I keep are the Mac Pro boxes because they are very useful for transporting these huge machines.

The odd one out is the 6,1 Mac Pro with its tiny little black box. I have the original box for my 5,1 here as well and all the original stuff it came with. Also the original screen too in the original box that came with.

 

[bluewooster]

Photos please...

I’m afraid it isn’t very photo worthy - two large garbage bags full of apple boxes!

 

[EclecticGent]

I thought I was the only one…

Thanks for this thread! I have been trying to explain to my wife why I love the Apple boxes so much— it’s the memories or something!

 

[Gregg2]

I have several boxes, but haven't kept every box along the way. They just sit in the closet. I dust them off (along with the shelves) and admire them, then forget about them. It's one of the few true collections I have.

 

[ignatius345]

I think there are a couple scenarios where it makes sense to keep the boxes:

1. For something bigger like an iMac or one of their monitors, it's very good to have the box in case you have to take it in for service. Same applies if think you'll be moving soon. Sure, you can always figure out a way to safely pack it, but it's way cleaner and easier to just pop it into a box tailor made to protect the device.

2. If you're planning on selling your device on eBay or something, inclusion of the box signals "I take care of my stuff" to the buyer, I think.

And if you really want, I think you *can* actually get a little money on eBay for a clean Apple product box for some things. I'm not sure why people want them, but I assume it's for reasons 1 and 2 above (or maybe for scams?)

All that said, I recycled an iPhone box the other day and somehow I felt a bunch of resistance to doing it, I think because the box is so nice -- and I think because when I open it I still get a little residual high from the sense memory of opening a shiny brand new iPhone.

 

[chrisdazzo]

Wish I had more, but here's a particularly special one.