Apple Boxes: To Keep or Toss?
I’m in the process of moving, and I am facing a problem that is most likely unique to Mac users. Most of the time
when you purchase a computer it arrives in a large, plain cardboard box with about as much personality as the generic
PC that is inside of it. Apple pays a great attention to the ‘out of box’ experience, so the boxes are, well, very
nice.
That makes me hold on to them, because they are so nice to look at, however, they are just empty boxes. So, dear
readers, should I hold onto them and move them to yet another apartment, or should I break the chain and toss them
away?
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jbot said 12:57PM on 11-08-2005
I might be the only one here who tossed my eMac box to the (recycling) curb the week after I puchased my new machine. Couldn't justify keeping that big box around my space. I will admit that I do have my iPod box kicking around, but the thing's so small that it doesn't take up any room under my desk and it serves to hold all of my iPod documentation.
Reply
Shashwat Parhi said 9:10PM on 8-18-2005
We had purchased 5 iMacs for our school. After 4 years of saving tthe cartons I finally decided to part with them. I found the best use for them was to let children play around with them so I gave it to a teacher for her kids to do whatever they thought best.
Reply
Chris Mcdowell said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I have my Cinema Display Box, iPod Box, Remote Box, Powerbook Box, and my G5 box. Which are all of the computers I have purchased. they have all of the foam, Documents and those foamy bag covers inside. I keep them cause I love my apple's and I hear the resale value is increased by keeping the box's although now that I think about it I will probably never sell my apple gear anyways.
Reply
Jenna said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
Hey! I'm looking to buy/get iPod boxes - preferrably the new ipods. We have a retail store and we want to let people hold the boxes but not steal the iPods. Apple won't give us or sell us old boxes, so it's time to take it to the streets. If anyone is interested in getting rid of boxes, they must be recent and in good shape (excellent condition). Please let me know. You can write me at my company's name (Enterprise Computer) at mac.com. THANKS!
Reply
kimmie said 9:50PM on 6-15-2005
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE A EMPTY IPOD 30GB PHOTO BOX THEY WOULD LIKE TO SELL OR GET RID OF? I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW ONE AND IT WAS CHEAP BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE BOX, BUT IT'S VERY MUCH BRAND NEW, NOT REFURBISHED.
ANYHOW IF I GIVE THIS AS A GIFT FOR FATHER'S DAY IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF I HAD A BOX.
THANKS.
Reply
C.K. Sample, III said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
If you can use them for storage, keep them. Otherwise, just keep your favorite...
Reply
Aaron Jacobs said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I save all of mine, which makes me a bit nerdy I guess. Even more nerdy is the fact that if I see a box for an Apple product I don't have sitting by the trash at work, I take it home.
Reply
Scotty McNulty said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Aaron, do you want mine? ;)
Reply
Jack said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I save mine for warranty/resale use. It's been a pain in the past since the boxes are just so big, but now that I am 100% Mac mini I have no problem keeping that tiny box in my closet.
Reply
Laurie said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Aaron - I feel we're really bonding now. I keep all my boxes too. And in a 500sf NYC apartment occupied by 2 people, many computers and more guitars than pete townsend could break in a lifetime, that's not only nerdy, but a fire hazard. I've also picked up Apple boxes I've seen abandoned on the curb and made them my own.
Reply
Dallas said 1:50PM on 7-20-2005
I like to save them in case I ever decide to resell it (hard to imagine with Apple stuff, but sometimes it happens). People (it seems) prefer to buy stuff that comes in the original packing.
Reply
Sauri said 2:43PM on 6-26-2005
I usually hold mine while i own its ex-content.
Reply
Brian said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I keep mine fo rresale purposes as well. Seems that the price is higher if you can say it will be shipped in original packaging. Also, it's safer for the computer because you know that the box was built to protectit in shipping.
Reply
Kacy said 9:39AM on 6-22-2005
i live in a typical studio apartment in manhattan which to the rest of the country means a tiny apartment. i hold on to my boxes as long as i can. at least until the reality sets in that i really need the space for all my music gear, computers, books, significant other, cat, food, water.....
Reply
whitlock said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Yeah, I keep some of the boxes, but not all. I kept the Mac mini box because it doubles as a carier since it has that handle. Though, with things like an iBook, my roomate made a good judgement call and tossed his box. No point to keep it around.
Reply
Michael said 6:20PM on 6-23-2005
Birds of a feather I guess. I have my 15 GB iPod, iPod shuffle and Mac mini boxes all in my closet. I did manage to recycle the keyboard box though.
It is a bizarre question, part of me says it takes to so long to save up for the Apple ware that it's hard to justify discarding anything ;)
Just switched 6 days ago after 17 yrs of thankless loyalty to Windows. Feels great. ~1.75 yrs after my iPod purchase.
-M
Reply
Leo the 3rd said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Well having a garage with extra storage space above it, I have a good place to store these Apple boxes. I keep them for resale added value.
Reply
dimitris said 2:27PM on 11-17-2005
I keep all of my boxes, whether Apple or not. Just in case the goods it contained need a repair or if I want to sell it.
Reply
Jay said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Movers just relocated us from Tucson to Chicago, and my G5, Cinema Display, Mac Mini, and sundry iPods and Apple peripherals were on a semi trailer for five days. I was very happy to have them in their original packaging. All arrived unscathed, and it's really satisfying to take the stuff back out of that perfect packaging.
There's something geekily cool and slightly fetishistic about it. Like the scene in the movie where the assassin takes his rifle out of the custom case and assembles it.
Reply
Stoermer said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
It may sound pretty far out, but some people on ebay will buy empty Apple boxes of any kind.
Reply