I have a shelf of boxes that I just can't throw out...

Takes picture of cardboard box in rubbish bin
Posts picture to feel smug and superior
Snorts a bit because of smug and superior feeling
Pulls box out of bin
Hugs box tight
Never let go of box

For something like that you should keep the box. You'll need it if you ever want to resell it

It's great for reselling. I say this with all my old phones and computers tucked away.

I was about to say this. I created !flipping@lemmy.world to discuss selling on various platforms and I've sold plenty of boxes. One person sent me pics of their many copies of windows 98, 95, etc. boxes, like a disturbing amount.

I can't throw boxes away because I've moved so many times to avoid rising rental costs. I'm packing again right now, and it's really nice to have the little inserts that kind of stabilize the consoles in their boxes

Yeah, the person in the picture seems to either not move often or not resell things. I've moved quite a bit and having the boxes for all my things has helped immensely. Instead of buying new boxes for everything, trying to fit stuff in there, unpacking and throwing away all boxes because "somebody held my hand", I just reuse.
In the past 14 years, ever since becoming an adult, I have had to move 11 different times. I have learned just how useful good boxes are. I can't get rid of them, I'm gonna need them when I move again next year.
Thank you. You just helped me get to the bottom of why I can't let these stupid boxes go. I used to move every year.
Now that I don't move so much, I think I can throw some out.
- It's crazy how strongly the brain tries to protect us from old stresses, without us being consciously aware of it.
  I'm glad you don't need to move every year anymore! It's one of those normalized things that truly shouldn't be. I mean, it's not the avocado toast that's keeping homeownership out of reach, it's the constant moving/application/deposit/etc fees we face so often
I've never repacked a console in its original box, even when I've had it.
Doesn't it have a travelling case? Is that not enough? My SO has a Switch, I have Steam Deck, and those cases survived moving many times.
- I don't travel so I've never needed to buy a travel case for it

Switch 2 box? I just finally mustered up the courage to throw out the Switch 1 box!

Atari Falcon from 1993: $3000

Atari Falcon from 1993, in mint condition box: $4000

Nah thats dumb take. The switch 2 just came out, so if you have any issues within warranty period, you will want to have that box. Wait until after the end of warranty to throw it away.

This post was written by Nintendo.
- why would Nintendo actively tell people to follow up on their warranty?
Tip: you don't need original packaging for warranty. You just need to send it in sturdy packaging.
- Yeah but its way easier just to keep it for a while. Also gives you a place to store any additional parts or papers.

don't throw away boxes, you might need those in 15 years.

But if i threw out the box, where would i keep the manual, warranty card and a few little screws or other bobbins that are always left.

I've got a big zip bag with manuals, and for screws and such I write a post-it note with a description/appliance name and I just tape it to the parts (tape it all together if there's multiple

This is bad advice. Don't throw out the box immediately after opening your product. Rule of thumb; keep the box for as long as the warranty. If it's a large thing, keep the box always in case you want to move.

I’ve never been declined a warranty reimbursement for lack of original packaging. That would be crazy to me.
- I never have from a big brand, but I've run into it with some oddball stuff for sure. Usually electronics
- Keeping the original box makes it easy if you have to mail something, since you don't have to try and find one it fits in.

Flatten it though, ffs

Or rip it up. Means there's less space in the black (recycle) bin
- isn't recycling blue?

If you think of ever reselling it, having the original box is going to fetch a better price.

I'll pay you a high price for that, stranger!
- I haven't even played the game myself, I and I know that guy

Throwing out system boxes is easy after I threw away all of my game cases seven or so years ago. I freed up a lot of space. While throwing ones I really value (Double Dash) was not easy, it was all worth it. The value is in the game for me. I am unencumbered. They all fit nicely in a binder, even the PSP disc's found a way.

Dang, double dash with case is worth like $100
- I had to acknowledge that I was never selling any of these things. It made whatever value they had all grounded to me.

it gets harder to throw away the box after a few times of needing to exchange/return something, but you already threw away the box

I keep my boxes in two cases : the warranty is still valid, or the thing is fragile and has a form that make it hard to find a replacement for (usually large and fragile flat things, like screens).
All the other are waiting to be thrown away, in my garage.

Never speak to me or my emotional support box pile again

In 2007 I threw away about 50 boxes (all in great condition stored by my dad) of SNES/GBC/N64/GBA games and sold the cartridges for pennies.

Don't be me.

You absolute maroon. At least you know better now.
- Bruh, I had Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Silver, Gold, Crystal, Stadium 1/2, Zelda Oot/MM, Conkers Bad Fur Day, Diddy Kong Racing, Donkey Kong 64 etc. in perfect condition. I swear my dad kept them all safe, even the manuals, inlays and everything were intact. When I was like 16 years old I wanted to get rid of all my childhood toys and get into adult stuff.
  It was like around 2010 when retro gaming really took off. I swore to never collect video games again.

Got to keep the TV boxes in case you ever move. TV moving boxes are ridiculously expensive.

When I upgrade to a new console, I put the old console in the original box. If I didn't have that box, the console would just sit loose on a shelf in the back of my closet literally forever!

Now it sits there in the box. This is way better.

A while back I threw out the box for a $1000 item. It immediately broke and I needed the original packaging to return the thing.

So no, the box stays, at least for a year.

But my cat likes them! Also keep some to reuse as storage boxes.

I keep the box in case I want to resell the thing. Makes it easier to transport by just packing it all back up the way it came.

Hell, I keep my Quest 3 in the box just to store it when not using it because it's better than buying some extra stand for it and can fit in a drawer.

Nah, screw that if you have space. Yeah, you can run out off space, but keep things organized and throw out the oldest first. Some assholes will only honor a warranty with original packaging.

You may need to move, and original packaging usually protects better than random boxes.

You might want to gift something older, and original packaging helps.

Reselling with original packaging gets quicker responses and (sometimes) better prices, no matter how good the condition is.

If whatever it is becomes collectible/valuable, original packaging almost always increases price.

Keep that shit at least a year, if you have room at all, even if you have to open the box up and fold it flat.

This is what landlords have done to us...

I agree for everything except Nintendo products.

My biggest regret is tossing all my N64 game boxes. Nintendo fans will literally pay more than MSRP for just the box alone.

I did the same thing. SNES as well. The boxes were just packaging to me at the time, but now I wish I had them.

The resale for a used switch in the box is greater than without.

There's a whole market on eBay for empty apple boxes. You can get over $50 for bacbook pro box, because a used machine will bring in more than that if it comes in the "original" box
- I'm well aware. I have five latest generation ipad boxes at the moment.

I usually hold onto the box of anything I buy brand new for about three months. After that you can get rid of it.

Electronics either work or they don't, there is seldom anything in between.

If your device doesn't fail or develop problems within a month or two, then it will last the warranty period and much longer if you take care of it.

I just hang onto the box for two or three months just to be sure.

The only other reason to hang onto the box is if you plan on reselling the device in a year or two. It's a lot easier to resell for top dollar or a higher price if your device is clean, undamaged, has original manuals and the original box.

I've always thrown out my boxes, but damn am I happy my folks kept my boxes/not for my N64/gameboy/C64. Was a nice surprise to find 20 years later.

Still gutted they threw out the OG apple Mac I'd found though.

My dad sold off his Apple IIe and I’d kill for that damn thing back.
I can’t get Adventure Construction Set working in emulation…

I had a colleague who thought you had to ship something in original packaging if you needed to send something to get it repaired under warranty... He had so many boxes...

Once upon a time some warranties had that stipulation. Or you needed the UPC from the box.

I typically keep my boxes just to be safe. When it becomes too cluttered/have too many boxes, I just throw out the oldest ones

My wife get so annoyed at my boxes

My parents used to feel the same way.

Aren't green bins usually for yard waste and food scraps?

My town uses blue (normally recycling) for trash.
- We have blue for trash and blue with a yellow lid for recycling

When we moved we cleared out our closet of tech boxes. Found a few accessories and whatnot still in there. Consolidated down to just a few boxes to hold accessories and documentation. Now we’re slowly building the collection again, but we’re better than before. (Mostly because having a kid cut our disposable income quite considerably).

Day one I toss the box as soon as I see it turns on, I don't have spare room for boxes

Can't speak for the switch 2 but for my switch I still have the box and use it every time I pack up and stay in an air bnb or something