Just advice DON'T throw boxes away

[Krawuntzel]

I am always and continuously amazed by the number of people who buy anything photographically related and throw the box away, why.

Does it not occur to people that when / if you come to sell it the buyer wants to see that it has been looked after, and keeping a box shows you care.

Also remember that without a box you will get quite a bit less for an item if you come to part exchange it also retain the manuals, dvd's etc.

I have every piece of packaging for all my gear, and previously when I have sold on ebay to replace gear I know for a fact that I get more when photographed with the original packing.

For me: In the first place - why do you want to sell what you bought? Why not donate it to someone?

Erwin

[csa mt]

"For me: In the first place - why do you want to sell what you bought? Why not donate it to someone?"

Because with my limited income; I cannot afford to donate my equipment. I use the money from my sales to purchase other equipment.

Yes, I do save the original boxes.

[Mike Buckley]

Why not donate it to someone?

That's very generous of you when the gear is expensive. Not everyone can justify donating expensive gear.

[chauncey]

why do you want to sell what you bought? Why not donate it to someone?

I would not hesitate to donate, if I was assured that the value would be appreciated.

Reflecting on that...it would seem reasonable to think that if an item was purchased, more care and
maintenance would be associated to it.

[Mike Buckley]

it would seem reasonable to think that if an item was purchased, more care and
maintenance would be associated to it.

I disagree. Whether the gear is being donated or sold has no predictable bearing on the gear's condition. Very much like whether the box comes with it.

[JR1]

For me: In the first place - why do you want to sell what you bought? Why not donate it to someone?

Erwin

Is this rather n*****e reply for real,, yeah like duh I'm going to give my gear away, LOOK at what I have...........and others

No disrespect but that is ok if what you have is worth little trade in

[chauncey]

Whether the gear is being donated or sold has no predictable bearing on the gear's condition. Very much like whether the box comes with it.

I worded it poorly Mike...if I'm donating, or selling at a reduced price, something I would hope that it
was appreciated.

As a side, I don't disagree with Erwin.

[Mike Buckley]

if I'm donating, or selling at a reduced price, something I would hope that it was appreciated.

Yes, one would certainly hope so!

[Stagecoach]

Is the sequel to this thread going to be?

I am always continuously amazed by the number of people who buy anything photographically related and lose the receipt, why.

[William W]

I'm sorry...I fail to see the linkage between saving empty boxes and caring for gear. Does a mechanic save the boxes his wrenches come in? That gear is merely tools of the trade.

- AND -

I think the point, William, is that the mechanic is not likely to want to sell his wrench at some point in the future if he looks to upgrade.

Both true.

I have always chucked the boxes on opening and testing the gear and then I have usually used the gear ‘til it dies or has no further use to the business, whatsoever, then I either sell it or give it to charity / worthy user.

It depends on one’s purpose for buying stuff.

My cameras, lenses and lighting gear were mainly bought for making a living. Having their boxes neatly stored is not making any money, is a waste of effort and amatorized over the “life” of the camera or lens or light would not gain much, if anything on resale; that is if the old gear were to be sold, the write-down on Company Taxation as a business Capital Item is more valuable than storing boxes in the hope to make a small percentage more on resale.

That said – it is also obvious that there is a difference in the approach by various business people, too: as I understand, Jeremy (the OP) is a Professional Freelance Photographer, so his keeping the boxes for all his gear, with the goal of getting a bit more for the re-sale of it, is just a different business model to mine.

Obviously keeping the ancillary gear, (like CD-ROMS and connecting cords for DSLR’s) is a different matter.

I also agree with Dan (Northerfocus), it is a self-perpetuating phenomenon, driven by instruments like ‘e-bay’.

As if the used car is more valuable because it comes “with complete log books”.

As if the log books cannot be doctored.

It is just all a fanciful packaging of the illusion to make the buyer feel more comfortable in their choice and more easily allows the buyer to abrogate their responsibility to research and interrogate both the goods and also the seller, before committing to the transaction.

And so if I were in the business of selling second hand goods, I would, indeed, keep the all boxes, very neatly.

WW

[Manfred M]

I hope that people take note, you will want to sell one day and you are missing out on a lot of money throwing boxes away

Strangely enough, I have bought a fair bit of used photographic equipment, none of which came with the original box (or for that matter, any box). All of these were very expensive pieces too.

Having a box would not have influenced me in any way. I really don't understand this saving the box stuff as it really has nothing to do with the condition of the equipment.

[NorthernFocus]

Strangely enough, I have bought a fair bit of used photographic equipment, none of which came with the original box...

Interestingly, the truly expensive Nikkor super telephoto prime lenses come in a plain cardboard box.

I will say that now I understand the eBay phenomenon, for cameras and lenses I take the camera, battery, and charger or lens and case out of the box and leave everything else. The manuals are more useful electronically and are available to download. I don't use the straps, and any software is also available electronically. So I just leave them all in the original package and put it in the basement. It is all nonsensical, but I've reached a point in life that I simply recognize mankind's fickle behaviors and adjust.

[Venser]

Having a box would not have influenced me in any way. I really don't understand this saving the box stuff as it really has nothing to do with the condition of the equipment.

I just sold all my Nikon gear, no boxes, and got nothing but top dollar. The buyers didn't care about the missing boxes. They were more interested in the condition and functionality of the lenses, as I would have expected.

[Venser]

I am always and continuously amazed by the number of people who buy anything photographically related and throw the box away, why.

The box often doesn't make it out of the store. I often pull the lens out, put it in the bag, and leave the packaging behind. The store I deal with honours the return policy when I do this, so I see no reason to take along the extraneous crap with me.

So far when I've sold anything (Nikon 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 105 all f/2.8, and some fast f/1.4 primes), no buyer has ever asked about the boxes. I got exactly what I asked for the lenses, so I don't share your sentiment that you get less.

Does it not occur to people that when / if you come to sell it the buyer wants to see that it has been looked after, and keeping a box shows you care.

Does it? I don't see how keeping the box shows you care about your gear. They're not mutually inclusive. It simply shows me you have too much room at home and love to hoard recycling.

[HaseebM]

How are "Refurbished" items sold? One thing I can attest for sure; whenever I sell any electronics like MB, graphic card or exchange couple of lenses and even a Canon 60D camera, the buyer wanted to know if the boxes were available. My guess would be that he is selling those items as "refurbished". Maybe the boxes ain't important to people who know their stuff but there are those who want to buy and perhaps they feel comfortable with a packaged item?

[NorthernFocus]

How are "Refurbished" items sold?...

Interestingly, I've only bought a couple of refurb lenses from the Nikon store. They both came in plain cardboard boxes rather than the retail box. And I know that in the USA Nikon requires that "all original packaging" be returned with warranty items.

[NorthernFocus]

...Does it? I don't see how keeping the box shows you care about your gear. They're not mutually inclusive. It simply shows me you have too much room at home and love to hoard recycling.

I share the sentiment regarding treatment of gear and retention of packaging having no correlation. But I am intrugued to understand the implication behind "hoard recycling".

[PhotomanJohn]

And I know that in the USA Nikon requires that "all original packaging" be returned with warranty items.

I just copied this from the Nikon USA website regarding returning a product for warranty repair:

"IMPORTANT NOTE : Please do not ship in the original display box (It will not be returned). Use a shipping box that provides better protection."

John

[William W]

. . . I am intrugued (sic.) to understand the implication [reasoning/predicate/emotion] behind . . .[whatever the unnecessary the comment happens to be]

I agree.

I think that more recently, creeping in here at CiC - there are assumptions which are then applied as a personal attribution and too many unnecessary, negative personal comments directed at members during the conversation.

But, then again what also on the increase are too many knee-jerk and seemingly aggressive/defensive reactions to simple statements; or personal opinion; or simple questions, too.

One doesn't cancel the other, but both just make the whole, worse.

*

Personally I do not adhere by rote to any politically-correct position.

I do not mind the direction the forum ultimately takes.

But I do care what direction that the CiC membership takes.

One of the main attractions of CiC Forum is that it has much MUCH less angst, than many others and that is one of the main treason that I make my choice to come here.

WW

[davidedric]

Thank you William, or Bill.

Dave