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?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
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.
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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...
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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.
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Scotty McNulty said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Aaron, do you want mine? ;)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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BK said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I just think they're so cool that I have to keep them. I have my ipod boxes stacked in an artistic kinda pile in my basement.
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David Shivers said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Keep em.... I did
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GenesysX said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Surely, the biggest box can hold all of the littler boxes inside it, therefore saving some space. And, Will's idea about keeping any documents about the item taped inside is very good. Thanks, Will.
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GenesysX said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Surely, the biggest box can hold all of the littler boxes inside it, therefore saving some space. And, Will's idea about keeping any documents about the item taped inside is very good. Thanks, Will.
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Asdavis said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Keep em, put all you mac stuff in their original boxxes for the move. Mac boxes are pure art, they'll be worth money eventually. I hope, I have a big investment in the idea.
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Glen Grayson said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I take some of my mac boxes and use them to store things, like Christmas decorations, photos, etc. They are nice, sturdy boxes, and they always bring back good memories of my macs when I go back to them.
Much better than just holding on to empty, nice boxes.
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Kenny said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
Imagine if any of use had kept a box from a Mac Classic. ...and the Mac Classic.
Man that would sell on ebay.
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fontgoddess said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
I think my family still has the box from our first Mac . . . the second one that ever came out. But my mom just trashed my 2G iPod box saying it was a waste of space. I guess it just depends on how well you hide your stuff from yourself.
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munk said 4:16PM on 6-16-2005
proudly put it on the street with the rest of your recycling.. that way thieves will know exactly what cool mac model they are gonna steal from you..
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