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Post by surlyj on Apr 1, 2014 2:27:05 GMT -5
I love and hate boxes. I do enjoy nice boxes, but ultimately I don't care about them or need them to have great artwork.
The two things that keep me having a closet totally full of boxes (which my fiancé DESPISES), are resell value, because my interests do shift around and I see my collection as not all permanent, but an enjoyment of my savings, where I can get my money back if I need to or get bored with something, but even more importantly, knowing that I will inevitably move, I need to keep boxes. So many figures have pointy bits and are delicate, particularly expensive gokins and statues and hot toys, that without a box designed to securely hold each particular piece, transporting everything becomes a huge and potentially very dangerous undertaking.
I like looking at a nice box, but I will always prefer the cost be less than having a great box. I marvel at the box when I open something, then it goes in a closet only to be seen if I move or sell the piece, so it's a fleeting enjoyment I don't require. However, even with crappy plain boxes, I will still keep them for the reasons outlined above. Also, there is just that underlying annoying and nagging thing that wants everything to be mint and as it came, and that extends to packaging.
The whole box thing really is the worst part of the collecting addiction. One day I realized I had boxes in 4 different places stacked rather haphazardly, so I took them all out and put them in a pile in a bedroom, and they took up the entire bedroom. When the lady saw that, she nearly blew a gasket. I can argue my way around why the collection itself is important, but I couldn't really justify the boxes so much, except for the transporting thing, which she mildly and resentfully accepted lol.
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Post by ninjahandz on Apr 1, 2014 10:45:00 GMT -5
Well, the boxes in my house eat up a chunk of space 9' wide, 5' deep and 8' tall, about the size of 10 queen mattresses stacked one on top of each other. People look at it and then look at me and say: You need help ASAP! ... I think they are right
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Post by xiombarg on Apr 1, 2014 11:30:11 GMT -5
I have a room dedicated to my collection and hobby materials and I am out of space. Box space is especially a consideration when buying really large figures such as the Hot Toys Ed-209 I have on order, but that is probably the only Hot Toys figure I will ever buy.
Practical issues like this have changed how I collect, but in a good way. I'm to the point now where it's much easier for me to let things go unless I'm genuinely attached to it and/or if I know I will never be able to purchase it again. There are a lot figures that grabbed my interest years ago but now seem rather ordinary, so if only for the sake of making room I let these go.
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Post by surlyj on Apr 1, 2014 19:26:07 GMT -5
^ same here. Still have a ton of stuff, but collection space and box space really forced to me narrow my focus and also not have several incarnations of the same character. Voltron and Grendizer are my only real cheats there, because I can't let go of any versions of either character.
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Post by Deckard on Apr 2, 2014 8:41:39 GMT -5
The beautiful box-art of the past is no longer with us really, now days it's mostly just pictures of the toy/collectible inside, nothing special usually.
But I do still keep the boxes, as it aids re-sale and they are a safe location for accessories.
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Post by Robot Lover/Fighter on Apr 2, 2014 20:05:07 GMT -5
The beautiful box-art of the past is no longer with us really, now days it's mostly just pictures of the toy/collectible inside, nothing special usually. But I do still keep the boxes, as it aids re-sale and they are a safe location for accessories. I agree that the 70`s box art is no more... It`s sad
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Post by ancer on Apr 3, 2014 15:14:06 GMT -5
I like boxes that are especially cool and themed,that look like the vintage boxes with handles like GX-31V and GX-50.BUt I hate storing all of them,god my whole basement storage unit is crammed with boxes.When I collected 1/6 figures I ended up just folding teh boxes and trashing the insides.If it gets too much I may do the same. Id dont plan on selling my toys,so...But the future at this point for those with large collections means just MORE boxes. so Id like a simple brown box with a name on it that I can trash.But then again some guys like GetterShadow are all about boxes and artwork etc.,that doesnt thrill me,Ill get posters for that,and I dont display boxes so..redundant.But others love them.i think when your collection grows large alot of decisions change,like what to do with boxes etc. I agree a plain brown box would be fine by me. Space is a Huge issue for me now because I keep all the boxes for the import figures I buy. I would prefer that the figures came in a plain brown box like the shf exclusives and a simple collapsible plastic or paper tray. The X plus Robby the Robot comes in window-less box. I feel a lot of boxes just have too much wasted space.
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Post by crpdiablos on Apr 3, 2014 22:56:40 GMT -5
Up until recently I have only collected Vintage Godaikins and their different Variants and bootlegs. I am setting up a display with the godaikins in box with cello cover on and box top to the side. I almost always buy based on toy condition first and second the box. If the box can't be displayed I usually won't buy the item,so for these vintage Godaikins the box is almost more important than the toy. Now I am finding these new boxs and al the different hands and pieces that they come with annoy the crap out of me and I want to toss the box but think maybe in 30 yrs my son will be collecting or these may become valuable again so I hang on to the boxes which take up way too much room. The vintage godaikins seem to have been made to display in the box like modern art but these new boxes arent worth displaying. Then I think wait, I collect these because I had a love for Voltron as a child which led me in my early thirties to find out about the whole Godaikin thing which has becoming something even bigger than I can write about in this thread. Now I had a passion for one toy that was connected to these others but will my son or anyone else for that matter be as obsessed with these especially the newer SOC's Godmars Godsigma etc in 30 years. Am I gonna hang on to these for 30 years and find out no one cares and I stored all this excess stuff for nothing. Will these SOC's be worth anything more than they are today in 30 years? I mean what kids are watching 30 year old cartoons. It would be nice to see some new versions of the 10 Godaikins that started it all for me being made alongside these new toys. Then I wouldn't question whether or not I should store the boxes. I definately don't have the room for them. For now I'm keeping them all but I may wisen up and toss the new boxes and keep and display on vintage boxes and a few others.
After rereading this I have come to the conclusion the newer boxes should just be tossed they are made to be displayed. I just can't throw away boxes becuase I might need them one day if I have to sellthe collection. Catch 22 for sure
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Post by Robot Lover/Fighter on Apr 5, 2014 13:23:42 GMT -5
I kinda wish that the packaging is still all styro... It's not earth friendly but back in the older days when we didn't know any better, I remember that if you had a toy that packed in all styro in a big box, then you know its really really special...
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Post by Deckard on Apr 5, 2014 21:26:50 GMT -5
Gotta agree... the flimsy plastic trays that encase our expensive toys these days, often undermine the whole experience for me. And I'm certain that if Styrofoam was just as cost effective as plastic trays, we'd still be seeing it more often. Thankfully it's still used when it's necessary though.
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Post by surlyj on Apr 6, 2014 22:21:06 GMT -5
I wish there was an alternative to both plastic and styro. Plastic is better for the environment than styro, but it's still not great. I can't bring myself to advocate for styro when it is just nothing but toxic. Then again, much of the plastic in toys is awful as well. Humans suck. Toys rule. But humans suck.
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Post by Robot Lover/Fighter on Apr 6, 2014 23:12:28 GMT -5
Ahhh, It's all about the profit margins Surlyj... But, you are right, there must be a cost effective awesome packaging material that must be available somewhere... If there is something earth friendly and awesome(like styro) at the same time, paying a little more (maybe 5-10 dollars more )for the product and packaging should be worth it...
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Post by Deckard on Apr 7, 2014 1:15:03 GMT -5
I hear what you're all saying about the use of environmentally friendly packaging. But when one considers that the average unit of energy produced today is virtually as dirty as it was 20 years ago... You gotta wonder what's happening with the bigger picture.
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Post by tetsuryu on Apr 7, 2014 3:40:17 GMT -5
I wish there was an alternative to both plastic and styro. You mean like cardboard?
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Post by surlyj on Apr 7, 2014 23:37:59 GMT -5
I wish there was an alternative to both plastic and styro. You mean like cardboard? If someone can figure out how to vaccuform cardboard to a figure, great. I was thinking more along the lines of a hardened gelatin that can be molded to hold a figure safely, then melted at a high temperature to dissolve it without emitting noxious gasses like styrofoam.
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Post by Mr. Ginrai on Apr 8, 2014 0:15:28 GMT -5
If someone can figure out how to vaccuform cardboard to a figure, great. I was thinking more along the lines of a hardened gelatin that can be molded to hold a figure safely, then melted at a high temperature to dissolve it without emitting noxious gasses like styrofoam. There's something similar now...packing material that dissolves/disintegrates when it comes into contact with water (it's completely biodegradable). But they haven't made it into anything other than packing peanut shapes and it is pricey.
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Post by tetsuryu on Apr 8, 2014 2:51:47 GMT -5
If someone can figure out how to vaccuform cardboard to a figure, great. Papermache. The same stuff they use for egg cartons. Also if you want biodegradeable packing peanuts, use pop corn. Not even joking.
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Post by ninjahandz on Apr 16, 2014 12:03:45 GMT -5
Na. The salt and butter tends to stick to the figure plus I usually end up eating half of it
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Post by xTIMMYxCOREx on Apr 16, 2014 13:32:50 GMT -5
I am thinking about buying a fishing tackle box to store the extra fist and accessories so I can recycle some of them boxes. I keep the boxes cause they hold the extra bits. It kind of a psychological thing, keeping the box usually means I want to sell l, so no box means the value takes a hit and I am less likely to sell the toy. Tried that. Was too much of a hassle. And made for selling old stuff even harder. Keep the boxes.
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Post by Mr. Ginrai on Apr 16, 2014 15:40:41 GMT -5
I am thinking about buying a fishing tackle box to store the extra fist and accessories so I can recycle some of them boxes. I keep the boxes cause they hold the extra bits. It kind of a psychological thing, keeping the box usually means I want to sell l, so no box means the value takes a hit and I am less likely to sell the toy. Tried that. Was too much of a hassle. And made for selling old stuff even harder. Keep the boxes. Agreed. If you MUST get rid of boxes the best solution is probably ziplock style bags of different sizes, all individually labeled, then you put all of a robot's smaller ziplock into one large master bag. The tackle boxes are really only helpful for excess parts and inventory management for figures I don't have yet (what I use them for now). Otherwise keep the boxes. Your memory will thank you in the long run.
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