Original boxes - to keep or not to keep? That is the question.

[Otara]

That photo above makes the point IMO - a 70-200mm sure. A 50mm 1.8 or other consumer grade lenses? Not so much unless you have storage space galore. Also unless you can show the lens is in very good condition, it probably wont be much help either.

So it depends on what it is, I still have my 40D box, but I doubt its going to get me much extra given its had a pretty hard life as well as getting on a bit.

Otara

 

[YuengLinger]

If you have space why not?

How could there be any controversy?

Only problem with a couple of my boxes is the missing UPC sticker, which I cut out for the silly mail-in rebate.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I buy and sell lots of lenses and cameras. Having the original box not only adds to the resale value, it sells faster as well.

I always wonder when there is no box if its stolen, or if its a refurb. In some cases, there is a good reason for a used lens not having a box, but not often.

 

[RGF]

I buy and sell lots of lenses and cameras. Having the original box not only adds to the resale value, it sells faster as well.

I always wonder when there is no box if its stolen, or if its a refurb. In some cases, there is a good reason for a used lens not having a box, but not often.

+100

 

[mwh1964]

KEEP

 

[RLPhoto]

I keep them tucked away in storage. Its worth the extra resale value if/when you do upgrade.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I wanted to get some views on the forum about whether there is much benefit in keeping original packaging - mainly with a view to influencing resale value.

For lenses, these are unlikely to get sold, as they have a much longer period from purchase to replacement, but that is generally less true for bodies. As a result, my thinking is that there may be some benefit in keeping the original boxes from bodies, but not from lenses.

Any thoughts?

I keep everything including sale receipt - lenses + bodies, even PS cameras. Resale value is higher when you have all these.

Ditto. I keep boxes for all kinds of things. Stereos, cameras, etc. In general, if it's worth more than $100 and I think I'll be selling it someday, I keep the box protected/covered in the attic.

I look at it this way. When I buy used, (and I buy used a lot), the seller having all the paperwork, packing, box, manuals, etc tells me that they are like me and are hopefully discriminating, responsible and they take good care of their toys. I rarely buy a $1000+ used lens from someone who hasn't saved the box unless it's one hell of a deal. (Most sellers are not good packers either.) OTOH, buying from someone without the box might just indicate that the item sits in a pile of clothes on the floor or on top of a dresser somewhere gathering dust. Who knows? I just know that in my experience with a lot of people over my life, people with personalities that keep boxes typically take better care of their stuff than the people that toss boxes. The box tossing type folks I knew in my youth were the same ones that spent a lot of time pawning their stuff to pay the rent. (No offense intended to anyone.)

Keeping the box indicates the seller planned to sell something? Come on. Everything gets sold someday. There's no question most of my stuff will get sold someday, even if it's at my estate sale. Passing it on to the next owner in good condition with the same box and protection I received it in just makes good sense and it does increase the resale price. At the very least, it sets my boxed item apart/above the competing items that are being sold at the time. It sends the message to the buyer that I take care of my stuff and I want it to be sold with the same care so the next buyer can continue to take good care of it.

So like most folks on this forum, keep the boxes and use them when you are ready to sell to increase the price and likelihood you will sell it.

 

[J.R.]

I wanted to get some views on the forum about whether there is much benefit in keeping original packaging - mainly with a view to influencing resale value.

For lenses, these are unlikely to get sold, as they have a much longer period from purchase to replacement, but that is generally less true for bodies. As a result, my thinking is that there may be some benefit in keeping the original boxes from bodies, but not from lenses.

Any thoughts?

I keep everything including sale receipt - lenses + bodies, even PS cameras. Resale value is higher when you have all these.

Ditto. I keep boxes for all kinds of things. Stereos, cameras, etc. In general, if it's worth more than $100 and I think I'll be selling it someday, I keep the box protected/covered in the attic.

I look at it this way. When I buy used, (and I buy used a lot), the seller having all the paperwork, packing, box, manuals, etc tells me that they are like me and are hopefully discriminating, responsible and they take good care of their toys. I rarely buy a $1000+ used lens from someone who hasn't saved the box unless it's one hell of a deal. (Most sellers are not good packers either.) OTOH, buying from someone without the box might just indicate that the item sits in a pile of clothes on the floor or on top of a dresser somewhere gathering dust. Who knows? I just know that in my experience with a lot of people over my life, people with personalities that keep boxes typically take better care of their stuff than the people that toss boxes. The box tossing type folks I knew in my youth were the same ones that spent a lot of time pawning their stuff to pay the rent. (No offense intended to anyone.)

Keeping the box indicates the seller planned to sell something? Come on. Everything gets sold someday. There's no question most of my stuff will get sold someday, even if it's at my estate sale. Passing it on to the next owner in good condition with the same box and protection I received it in just makes good sense and it does increase the resale price. At the very least, it sets my boxed item apart/above the competing items that are being sold at the time. It sends the message to the buyer that I take care of my stuff and I want it to be sold with the same care so the next buyer can continue to take good care of it.

So like most folks on this forum, keep the boxes and use them when you are ready to sell to increase the price and likelihood you will sell it.

How do you guys keep the boxes? I take out the packing material, collapse them and store them folded down ... I'm not exactly short of space by my wife might just notice

When I'm selling a lens, I usually pack the lens in lots of bubble wrap and use additional packing material to stuff the empty space in the box.

 

[Loswr]

How do you guys keep the boxes? I take out the packing material, collapse them and store them folded down

I just store them intact, with the packing material inside them.

Are you saying you discard the custom-molded sytrofoam inserts, etc.? That would seem to defeat the purpose of keeping the packaging, which comprises more than just the box. If you sold me a lens listing it as original box included, but didn't have the packing material...technically, it wouldn't be deceptive, but I'd not be happy about it.

 

[J.R.]

How do you guys keep the boxes? I take out the packing material, collapse them and store them folded down

I just store them intact, with the packing material inside them.

Are you saying you discard the custom-molded sytrofoam inserts, etc.? That would seem to defeat the purpose of keeping the packaging, which comprises more than just the box. If you sold me a lens listing it as original box included, but didn't have the packing material...technically, it wouldn't be deceptive, but I'd not be happy about it.

I guessed so but as I said in my earlier post, my wife might notice and that's a risk I'm not willing to take

 

[Joe M]

I drive my wife nuts by keeping the boxes along with all original packing material inside for almost everything I buy. I mostly do it for my own benefit. First, if it has to be shipped for warranty reasons, the original packaging is usually better than what I would be able to scrounge up. Second, and it's only a feeling I get about it so far when reselling, is that it does help to have absolutely as much original material as possible. For reselling, I'm talking about camera gear (I don't usually resell my toaster when I'm tired of it nor likely to keep a box for it either). So anything that doesn't have resell in it's future, the packaging gets reused or recycled once warranty expires. And, as I alluded to, I don't keep boxes for low value items. I may waste space keeping packaging but try to keep it to a minimum.
So back to whether original packaging for camera gear helps with resale. Over the last handful of years, I've sold three bodies (40D,2-7D), two flashes (580EXII) and two lenses (17-40L, 17-55 2.8). At the the time I sold all of these, there were other similar ads in my area (up to 100km away). I sold quicker than the others. I'm confident my gear was in better shape but I do feel having the packaging helped. I'm sure some don't mind buying a 7D body with a cap but I think some would prefer to have the packaging too. Does it add value? I feel so but that doesn't make it so. Does it sell quicker? Again, I would say according to my experience that it does.

 

[7enderbender]

Keep mine as well. All boxes and paperwork are packed up in plastic bin in the basement.

I look at it from a buyer's perspective: picking up a mint FD lens in its original packing can be quite thrilling. I've gone so far and bought original catalogs and manuals off ebay for stuff that I own and care about (camera gear, guitar stuff, audio stuff, microscopes, etc). No, I do have a life otherwise. Not to worry.