Camera and Lens Boxes (Page 2): I used to keep them. Then one day I looked at it all gathering dust in my garage whilst simultaneously signaling my wife about a growing inventory of...

HT

I used to keep them. Then one day I looked at it all gathering dust in my garage whilst simultaneously signaling my wife about a growing inventory of toys! I also suspect the boxes were being appraised by the local vermin as a potential home and I thought, “what the”...

Disposed of it all. Haven’t thought about it since. Even those stupid, gaint aluminium cases the big Nikon super-primes come in; gone and good riddance.

Off topic, but for the price of those super-primes, why don’t they come in useful (waterproof, backpack style) cases and Arca-Swiss compatible feet?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Tom47 wrote:

What are you suppose to do with the boxes that you receive your cameras and lenses in? I am trying to make a decision either recycle or toss them they take up a lot of space. The companies say to keep them but if you have to send a camera or lens for repair they tell you not to send the orginal box. Most companies tell you to keep the box that is almost anything you buy. Lost in a room full of boxes.

I don't keep for all the gear just for the ones that have good potential for resale if I choose. If you can't find room to store them you may have way too much gear. OTOH if you are not planning to sell in the future just toss them.

kernowp

Duplicated

kernowp

Triplicated!

kernowp

Having the box, receipt etc adds provenance and helps to assure that you are not buying a stolen item. This adds value.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Recently, I have saved them. Do not know why?

tomcat

The reason they don't want you to send the original box is that they don't have a way to keep up with it. When you send in your product for repair, they toss out your box and use a new one to return. The repair facilities don't have room for extra stuff laying around. And your product might get passed between different departments. That's also the same reason they don't want accessories with the return. Only lens caps and camera caps, no batteries or straps or filters or cases or anything that might get left on the repair bench.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Kmgw9v wrote:

...when I die for my kids to discard.

Actually had to undertake that chore this year.
An old recluse, hoarder, never married, didn't have kids or other direct relatives besides myself at a first cousin's level estate had to be liquidated. The house was jam packed with boxes, many with original items inside.
Finally found an old (1998) handwritten will after a couple months of searching before starting anything. It rambled on for several pages of instructions and one said, "...and don't forget the box of gold coins".
Took another couple months to find a shoebox with gold plated coins from the Franklin Mint. Took them to a coin dealer and was paid something like $368 for them.
Turned out the sole recipient of his estate had long predeceased him so here it is eight months later with me finally getting everything through the probate courts - quite an experience in itself.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Tom47 wrote:

What are you suppose to do with the boxes that you receive your cameras and lenses in? I am trying to make a decision either recycle or toss them they take up a lot of space. The companies say to keep them but if you have to send a camera or lens for repair they tell you not to send the orginal box. Most companies tell you to keep the box that is almost anything you buy. Lost in a room full of boxes.

The only practical use I can see for a box is to be able to say, "Box included" when you sell it. That seems to help sales. I have loads of old boxes stored in a larger box in the garage. Why, I don't really know.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

i try to keep them all, they store quite well collapsed and it is surprising just how many you can get in a plastic tub and store the tub somewhere, loft, shed etc.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Tom47 wrote:

What are you suppose to do with the boxes that you receive your cameras and lenses in? I am trying to make a decision either recycle or toss them they take up a lot of space. The companies say to keep them but if you have to send a camera or lens for repair they tell you not to send the orginal box. Most companies tell you to keep the box that is almost anything you buy. Lost in a room full of boxes.

As per other posts, always keep the original packaging for part exchange. If I am buying second hand I always look for good conditon and above + original packaging.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Cameras, lenses, flash equipment, printers, lap tops, monitor. Cartons and boxes carefully opened, emptied and collapsed and stacked together don't take that much room in a loft space.

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

All I know is that Roberts are happy to take my cameras, lenses in the boxes with all papers.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Tom47 wrote:

What are you suppose to do with the boxes that you receive your cameras and lenses in? I am trying to make a decision either recycle or toss them they take up a lot of space. The companies say to keep them but if you have to send a camera or lens for repair they tell you not to send the orginal box. Most companies tell you to keep the box that is almost anything you buy. Lost in a room full of boxes.

You could sell them, someone is always looking for one it seems. Try this site for instance.
I personally find I get extra money for my lenses and camera bodies if I offer the box and all the accessories that came with the lens or camera body. I believe the buyer also appreciates it also.

Kuzano

When buying a used camera, nothing is more exciting and valuable to me than opening the shipping box and seeing the original camera box AND all the original documentation PLUS software disk that came with it. I buy a lot of gear, and resell a lot of it. An original box is a plus, even in the photos of your listings.

I just purchased and Sigma SD15 on the site for a keeper, because of it's dual nature (full spectrum AND infrared-user changeable). I knew it was the right purchase when I saw the original boxes for both the camera and the grip. It shows a significant pride of ownership of the original owner.

Keep the boxes. Due to GAS, these digital camera's change homes quite often. More than you might imagine. The industry fosters heavy change in ownership. The original boxes can help recoup some of your original investment, since value depreciation is the heaviest toll on digital values.

I buy/sell mostly film gear because of the changing market to film use. Original boxes there, are rare, but I've seen a few. Film gear sales are brisk and it's a shame that more boxes to not appear with film gear.

The depreciated value of digital gear is so heavy, that the original packaging makes a large difference in perception of value.