Boxes?

@Bill at the Beach posted:

Hello everyone!  I’m in the process of relocating my downstairs, small, train room to an upstairs room with nearly unlimited space! My downstairs “train closet” is half full of the original boxes of my O scale engines and rolling stock. I understand that, if sold, they are worth more in the original boxes. However. I don’t see me selling anything in the foreseeable future, so, should I keep/transport the boxes or not?  Many thanks. Oh. And if you’re REALLY bored, you can listen to our podcast: On the Track-Myrtle Beach on Spotify or Apple. Thx again!

Just half full?  You're not fooling anyone with that "half full" talk.

I am not a box person but I have them and they take up too much space. I would save the locomotive boxes if you cannot decide.

@Bill at the Beach posted:

Hello everyone!  I’m in the process of relocating my downstairs, small, train room to an upstairs room with nearly unlimited space! My downstairs “train closet” is half full of the original boxes of my O scale engines and rolling stock. I understand that, if sold, they are worth more in the original boxes. However. I don’t see me selling anything in the foreseeable future, so, should I keep/transport the boxes or not?  Many thanks. Oh. And if you’re REALLY bored, you can listen to our podcast: On the Track-Myrtle Beach on Spotify or Apple. Thx again!

Bill if you’re getting more space keep the boxes. I know your problem I also live in Myrtle Beach. If you would contact me through my email which is in my profile I would like to know about your podcast and maybe we could meet up.

Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself to throw the boxes out.  Doing so will definitely decrease the resale value of your trains, and it will make it more difficult to store/ship/move them.  But you already know that.

I keep all my boxes.  I've also had trains that I said I would never sell and I ended up doing so. 

I keep all boxes. The foreseeable future comes sooner than later. I had at least 100 pieces of rolling stock that I did not care to have anymore. I got a couple of tables at a local train show and unloaded every one of them. Of course the price was good. Displayed in the original box was certainly a plus.

Good thoughts. Thanks!

Thanks for our your thoughtful replies. And yes. I WAS trying to convince myself to toss the boxes for space considerations!  However. The majority seems in favor of keeping them. Thanks so much everyone. And. Happy Octoberfest!!!

I keep all my boxes. I am fortunate to have a 6x30 storeroom. All are in plastic containers. Each container has a QR code, so I keep track of the boxes. It comes in handy as I send stuff for auction. I use the Tote Scan app to do this.

About 4 years ago, I realized that I have so much stuff, that I should pare down my collection. I was real happy that I kept my boxes. It really does add to the value.

Peter

Just as I thought!  Thanks so much after overwhelming response to keep them I am planning to do so. Thx!

I agree with Don at minumn I would keep the locomotive boxes. Not for only resale value but if you have to ship or transport the locomotive there is no better then the orginial box. I have all my boxes except some post war stuff in tubs in the loft/ceiling of my shop building.

@Putnam Division posted:

I keep all my boxes. I am fortunate to have a 6x30 storeroom. All are in plastic containers. Each container has a QR code, so I keep track of the boxes. It comes in handy as I send stuff for auction. I use the Tote Scan app to do this.

About 4 years ago, I realized that I have so much stuff, that I should pare down my collection. I was real happy that I kept my boxes. It really does add to the value.

Peter

I do as Peter suggested.......Large plastic storage boxes. I ha a few under my layout, but most in the attic. I have sold some pieces, and the boxes make a significant difference! I kick myself when I come across a piece of rolling stock that I threw the box away early on.

Mike

I no longer have space to keep all the boxes.  I keep locomotive and passenger car set boxes.  I also keep boxes for the expensive stuff like the Rocket Booster Train, and I've kept all the boxes for the Vision Line Ethanol cars and the Vision Line PFE boxcars.  However, plain rolling stock sadly loses their boxes when they come here.

I was drowning in boxes.  After much discussion, my sweetie reminded me that we plan to leave our house feet-first (hopefully not for awhile), and asked if I planned to sell my trains before then (of course not!).  I'm leaving the disposition of my trains either to her, or whoever has the misfortune to find my rotting corpse.  While I understand that a lot of folks don't want to burden their significant other, we agreed about this.   

As a result, I'm thinning the herd of boxes - keeping boxes for rare or valuable items (really very few of these), locomotives (when possible, mostly for transport if needed), or for items I plan to sell (very few of these either).  Giving them away when I can, recycling when I can't.

For most items, I'm willing to take the small hit to the value that the box represents.  Personally, I've never passed on buying an item I wanted just because it didn't have a box, and I've rarely saved more than a few bucks doing so.  (Please note that this applies to modern era boxes, not prewar or postwar.)

If you have the space for boxes, go ahead and keep them, but unless money is no object, don't pay to rent a storage unit for them - IMO, better to spend that money on more trains.  I really like @Putnam Division's use of QR codes, as keeping track of box location is a real challenge.    

I keep all the valuable box's and throw the trains away.

@David Eisinger posted:

I keep all the valuable box's and throw the trains away.

Do you mean like the box for the hopper from the girls train that sold recently for over $2k ($1800 + buyers premium)?  Just the box!