The Energon Pub

Saw this posted at TFW, Figured it was interesting enough to re-post here.

Since these 3rd party Transformers toys cost so much. Do you save the toy boxes or throw them out?

If you save them, do you flatten the boxes or not, to condense storage space. or do you cut out the box art, bio and tech specs and then throw the rest of the box out?

Do you display the box on a shelf next to the 3rd party toy?

Do you sell the empty boxes online?

I throw out almost all of the the Hasbro/Takara boxes but I save all 3rd party boxes.

Most of mine 3rd Party release packages are saved. They take up some space, but there's some really nice art on some of them. I think I may start folding them down and storing them in a bin to save space. That's gonna be part of a very long, tedious "spring cleaning". Damn buying compulsions.

I save instructions and any internal tech specs/bios, but the boxes go. If there's something on the box I'll cut it out, but otherwise it gets put into the recycling bin.

ill share what i do. (or sorta do, cause ive just started doing this and havent implemented it in all my old packages yet)

im an advent comic collector, and noticed recently that the plastic comic sleeve would fit the card backs of most figures (generations, AOE, ect) and theres varying sizes of comic sleeves to choose from.

(only one not pictured is "silver age" which is between the sizes of current and golden)

heres some varied card backs in sleeves. i also keep the instructions and the cardboard panels that were in the bubbles.





as you can see, its a really nice way to keep everything together, as opposed to what i used to do which was having piles of cardback and piles of instructions. you can store them in comic boxes as well, which can also be bought in varying sizes.





what i do for big boxes, is i break them down and throw away the innards much like the bubbles from the card backs. i simply store them in a normal box.





i do this for all domestic (hasbro) figures. however with my takara and 3P packages, i keep all of them intact as the value of them are generally greater than domestic figures. i was actually going to make a thread showcasing my ideas, thanks for bringing this up!

I keep some Hasbro collector-style boxes, however I throw out all 3rd Party boxes.

I quickly checked my 'storage boxes', and I only have two boxes in total: one from MP-16 Rumble and Jaguar, one from the Iron Forge FoC Grimlock add-on. Both of them are for extra bits, though, no sentimental or aesthetic or collecting value - as they are both in shoeboxes under my bed.

The only box I have kept is my Tamashii Spec XS Eva 01 figure, and once again, that's because it comes with so many extra parts that it's easier to keep them in their plastic casing.

Most of the Hasbro TF toy boxes I throw out. When I buy place holders then I'll save the box.

3rd party TF toys, The boxes get saved.

The boxes that get saved and stored are in the same shape I buy them in. Don't flatten boxes.

For carded Hasbro deluxe & legends figures, I rip the sucker open and throw away the packaging (keep the instructions, of course). Normally I double up on Hasbro stuff, so I end up with a MOSC version anyway.

For literally everything else - Takara deluxes (which are more collector friendly), HasTak voyagers/ leaders/ gift packs, 3rd Party, etc. - I keep everything.

As someone who cycles through a decent amount of his collection every year, it really helps to keep everything. They tend to sell for more, and I just find it hard to throw anything away.

RIght now, I only display figures. I have just one bookshelf in a small studio I share with my wife, and that bookshelf is for books first, figures second (and they're not even all TFs - Marvel Legends & Star Wars 6" Black Series have representation, too). However, when we have a house in the suburbs one day, I envision an MP display that incorporates the boxes, and a wall that's mostly carded figures.

Figure packaging has come a long way, and it feels like a shame to toss that aspect of the hobby out with the trash.

Um.... I used to keep everything... Every single box and carded deluxe packaging. I've recently threw out a lot of packaging (month ago) just need more push to throw out others. Like Megs I tend to sell a lot of my older figures when there is something new I want to replace it. (like classics Galvatron to Henkei Galvatron to ManiaKing) or my generation ratchet and Ironhide to their henkei versions. I've cycled through so much place holder figures that stuff I didn't think I will ever replace gets sold too like (classics jetfire to asia exclusive Henkei jetfire to the new leader jetfire) lol see how many times Has/tak/third party makes us replace older figures? Also thought having the packaging will help sell the figure but whatever I gotta get rid of my packages they are taking over my space!

mooncake623 wrote:Um.... I used to keep everything... Every single box and carded deluxe packaging. I've recently threw out a lot of packaging (month ago) just need more push to throw out others. Like Megs I tend to sell a lot of my older figures when there is something new I want to replace it. (like classics Galvatron to Henkei Galvatron to ManiaKing) or my generation ratchet and Ironhide to their henkei versions. I've cycled through so much place holder figures that stuff I didn't think I will ever replace gets sold too like (classics jetfire to asia exclusive Henkei jetfire to the new leader jetfire) lol see how many times Has/tak/third party makes us replace older figures? Also thought having the packaging will help sell the figure but whatever I gotta get rid of my packages they are taking over my space!

I hear ya. I've been contemplating a storage unit to get stuff out of my apt. My wife is a gracious, patient, and wonderful woman, and it feels cruel to take up 2/3s+ of the total closet space in our 400 square foot studio with my toys.

Simply, if the packaging can be resealed I will keep it, if not then it goes in the bin.

For "high-end" figures (Figmas, 3P TFs etc) I'll keep the box, if only so I can store the figure if I need to move. For "toy" figures (any HasTak TF that isn't an MP etc) I'll throw it away. If it's a blister card it's getting thrown away regardless, as even if it is really nice it's most likely going to be ruined by opening it and I am NOT condemning a toy to an eternity inside a plastic prison for the sake of a blister card.

This thread has me seriously contemplating throwing out a lot of my 3rd party boxes and taking my closet back. Even if I ever sell this stuff when I am old, will the box really matter ?

I toss 'em. I used to keep a lot of them, but space is precious and I have to be stop being sentimental about a box.

Rated X wrote:This thread has me seriously contemplating throwing out a lot of my 3rd party boxes and taking my closet back. Even if I ever sell this stuff when I am old, will the box really matter ?

see, thats a tricky question. if i were buying a loose high end hastak item, yeah id want the box. but a loose 3P item, im not really compelled to "absolutely require" the packaging because its not an official product anyways, high end or not.

I kind of have the opposite mentality. I know I open things, so having a box for a used figure is actually a negative. I'd rather a MIB or MISB guy gets that; I prefer to grab something without the box.

Kind of surprised at the 3rd Party box indifference. When I buy a used 3rd Party figure, I tend to treat the presence of the box - and the condition it's in - as a proxy for how well the seller has cared for the figure itself. Now, that might not reflect the reality on the ground, but lacking complete information, that's what I have to go on.

megatronus wrote:Kind of surprised at the 3rd Party box indifference. When I buy a used 3rd Party figure, I tend to treat the presence of the box - and the condition it's in - as a proxy for how well the seller has cared for the figure itself. Now, that might not reflect the reality on the ground, but lacking complete information, that's what I have to go on.

I'm indifferent towards all boxes; I don't discriminate. But you have a handy idea there. Of course I don't usually buy 3rd party second hand ... or anything, really.

I just don't display boxes, so all they really do for me is take up space.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I just don't display boxes, so all they really do for me is take up space.

Yep, pretty much.

With high-end stuff like 3P stuff/MPs/Figmas etc I generally won't buy loose, because A: there's a high chance of damage/missing parts etc, and B: the chance of it being a counterfeit. With a normal TF, though, the cahnces of it being a bootleg are pretty rare and you can usually tell the condition just by seeing the picture (especially as they're rusually a lot more sturdy and less complex than high-end stuff). So I wouldn't be bothered about getting an MISB sample of Energon Strongarm or G2 Swindle for example, as their accessory counts are fairly low and most sellers will give an honest description of the condition of the figure.

I keep all my 3rd party boxes. There is no way for me to throw away the Green Giant's box. For Hasbro/Takara, I only keep the instruction and back card.

paul053 wrote:I keep all my 3rd party boxes. There is no way for me to throw away the Green Giant's box. For Hasbro/Takara, I only keep the instruction and back card.

Gotta admit, while sifting through my many boxes a while ago Green Giant's is one on the "keep" list.

I was very tempted to keep the Feral Rex boxes too; they were so nice. But they're huge. Had to go.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:

paul053 wrote:I keep all my 3rd party boxes. There is no way for me to throw away the Green Giant's box. For Hasbro/Takara, I only keep the instruction and back card.

Gotta admit, while sifting through my many boxes a while ago Green Giant's is one on the "keep" list.

I was very tempted to keep the Feral Rex boxes too; they were so nice. But they're huge. Had to go.

I don't have many 3rd party figures to begin with so I can say this now. But if I have more (or maybe not, who knows), then the answer could be different.

Feral Rex boxes (or MMC's boxes) are not as high quality as the level of Green Giant's. Yeah, they are huge. I really wish they can be smaller and they actually can. MMC just like them big.

shajaki wrote:

Rated X wrote:This thread has me seriously contemplating throwing out a lot of my 3rd party boxes and taking my closet back. Even if I ever sell this stuff when I am old, will the box really matter ?

see, thats a tricky question. if i were buying a loose high end hastak item, yeah id want the box. but a loose 3P item, im not really compelled to "absolutely require" the packaging because its not an official product anyways, high end or not.

Well for me, the value is what ditates me keeping the box. If I was to ever come into bad fortune and liquidate my collection to pay bills, I would think the box would add some value. But I only have so much room. So I would save the box of a potential $150-200 3rd party item vs. a $60-80 Takara item or something even cheaper. Just my take on it. But Im running out of room and I might need to let some of the cheaper stuff go soon. Im thinking of trashing IT, KO FP Trailers, Toyworld, among others. I would not let go of the FP, TFC, or Maketoys, boxes.