What would you pay extra for the box

[Bonaparte]

Suppose you can buy a secondhand set with and without the box on ebay/bricklink.

Would you be willing to pay more for the set when it is still in the original box? Howmuch more?

How important is this box for you? And why is it important/not important?

I ask this because I plan to buy some old sets on ebay and there are huge differences in price when a box is included.

Now I'm doubting if it is worth to spend all that extra money to have boxed sets.

[Scouty]

I would try to get it for the whole shabang. Box/Pieces/Instructions. Just makes the experience of having the set all the much better. I would pay extra, but not 20$ more extra for a box. If it was the BSB, maybe, that box is very big.

[xenologer]

I wouldn't pay more for the box.

But I would pay less without it.

...does that *kinda* make sense?

[jamtf]

For someone with so much experience on pirate Lego this question surprises me. A newbie would be asking this sort of questions.

In my opinion a set with a box is always worth more, especially if you plan to build the set according to building instructions and tend to keep the original set together as a collectible item with matching contemporary bricks. The set will always remain its value and is worth looking after.

It would be a different story if you plan to put all bricks and pieces in a big tub to be used as brick fodder for MOC purposes. Then the box does not make any difference and the set will merge with the rest of the bricks. If you plan to buy sets only to make own designs forget about the box and buy he set as cheap as you can.

[Mr Hobbles]

I'm not sure. I do like the whole experiene of popping open a box, pouring out the bags of bricks and the instructions, and looking at the pictures on the back while I build.

I guess it really depends on how much I love the set. However, if I really wanted it with a box I wouldn't pay more than 50% ontop (ie. $75 boxed instead of $50 unboxed).

Instructions on the other hand is a must. And I wont pay extra. What good is a set if you don't know how to build it? Also I'd rather have a paper copy than have to rely on Peeron.

[Athos]

Since I play with and part out my Lego and don't display them, I'm pefectly happy to forego having the box and pay a the lesser price. The boxes usually are pretty worn also, so there really isn't any value to me.

Steve

[Jipay]

Same for me : they take much space, pollute the world and add to the cost of the set. They have an absolute zero value to me.

[Bonaparte]

For someone with so much experience on pirate Lego this question surprises me. A newbie would be asking this sort of questions.

Well, I have decided to buy all the pirate sets I'm still missing and that are worth buying.

So I'll be spend a big part of my Lego budget on this. That's why I started doubting if it is really worth all the extra money to buy all these sets with the boxes included.

Btw, I just won an auction for the Eldorardo Fortress including instructions, box and plastic inlay (67,79 euro - shipping not included).

[Brick Miner]

For someone with so much experience on pirate Lego this question surprises me. A newbie would be asking this sort of questions.

i take this thread as a type of gauge, to see how the population of AFOL feels, this is a good topic ;-) ... not like bonapart was looking for guidance :-D

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for me, the box is everything... for example, i paid about 25 USD for a GOLD CITY JUNCTION 6765 without box, but instructions. that is about all i would pay, maybe 30. however, i also paid 175 USD for a SIMB copy (actually twice, 200 for the second).

i am a collector, not just a builder... i think that is the main difference. the one for 25 was just for parting-out and using in MOCs (in essence, "playing with"). the others are displayed on a shelf, similar to artwork on a wall. to me, the boxart is a great artform all itself... and deserves to be presented and respected in the same fashion the bricks on the inside... especially when that box is well preserved.

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there is the same type of two sided discussion in the comic book industry as well... there is a service that will condition grade a comic, then encase it in a hard plastic "shell". this gives the comic book more liquidity in the secondary market, because of the standardized grading system of the service, and because the comic book is then protected... comic books that have received this service generally realized prices 4 or 5 times that of an upgraded book, even in the same condition.

however, there are a ton of people that are against this process of grading and encasing books. those people argue that comic books are to be read.

this is the same thing here... why pay more for the box, these are toys, they are to be played with... the box is just there to protect the item during shipping, and then to help sell it once on the shelf at the store... basically, its an advertisement ??? well, because there are people who collect, and those people want copies that are a prefect representation of the product... unbeautified by retail price labels and bends or tears.

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however, if you are talking about buying vintage sets that are already opened vs. sets that are already opened but without the box, id say there is little difference. and often the market reflects this, as opened sets with and without box sell for about the same.

- BrickMiner

[gylman]

It depends why you buy Lego.

I build, and I collect. They are two separate activities.

For building, you want the parts, and the box is useless. I got a lot of useful old gray parts by buying old castles with missing parts, no instructions, no box, for a good price. Much cheaper than Bricklink.

Of course if you are a collector, the box is essential. Lego has some of the most beautiful box art of any toy (at least to my Lego-loving eyes). I would rather have a Forestmen box cover picture on my wall art than a Picasso. My home office is full of Lego boxes on all the bookshelves. I rotate them out every once in a while to "change the theme". A bag of Lego just doesn't do it for me.

For the sets that I really love, I would happily pay 20-50$ more for a box, depending on condition and internals. I have paid 30$ for a box only on some occasions, although $5-20 is more typical. One time I bought a 375 set only because it had a good box - I already had the set and instructions. I ended up paying 100$ for the 375, when all I really wanted was the box. I since sold off the knights from that set for more than $100, so it worked out.... but I hadn't planned it that way. I just wanted a good 375 box.

A few months ago I bought 200$ worth of excellent condition boxes on Bricklink, including SES and BSB for $25 each, Airtech for 20$, many others. It was one of the best buys I ever had on bricklink, which generally is not a bargain.

Nothing tops MISB, but some sets its insane to try to get it. So, getting a good condition box is the next best you can do.

[Brick Miner]

I would rather have a Forestmen box cover picture on my wall art than a Picasso. My home office is full of Lego boxes on all the bookshelves. I rotate them out every once in a while to "change the theme".

that is exactly what i am tring to say *y* *y* *y*

LEGOs are a form of new post-modern (contemporary ???) art... the boxart is included in that too... one reason i "do-up" my MOC to look like official LEGO boxart... it completes the "artform" X-D

- BrickMiner

[captaintau]

I prefer the box, purely because it guarantees completeness (at least as much as you can guarantee completeness - see the "Lego quality dropping" thread). The box itsself has no value to me after I've marvelled over it for a while. I agree that the box opening etc is all part of the experience of which building is just one part.

This said, I have bought second hand / no box sets, but only at bargain prices.

[Shine]

No, heck, I'd probably pay a bit extra for them not to include it, just so I don't have to throw the thing out. X-D

[BearHeart]

I'd never pay full price for a previously used LEGO set, no matter how rare. I'd probably be willing to pay between 50 to 75% of the original price.

[Matthieu85]

I agree with those that think the box is an indispensable part of the set.

If I don't have the box i don't feel i really own the set because i could have just gathered the pieces off bricklink or built it up from other sets.

Obviously if you're only after the parts this doesn't apply, but if you want to own a classic set then the box is a must.

[Mofo Jones]

Boxes are a must. Every time I move, my sets get broken down, put into their original boxes and taped up, so I can build them again later.

[EXO-CHAMP]

Personally I don't put a value on the box.

It makes no difference to me. Building instructions are much more important.

[snefroe]

it's hard to put a figure on it, but i would pay extra... but it depends on the condition of the box. In fact, i'll buy a non-complete set if it has a decent box, i can always get the parts on bl. i think it's all about nostalgia; I very often didn't get the old sets that i'm buying now, so i'd like to get the "whole package"

[Bonaparte]

I very often didn't get the old sets that i'm buying now, so i'd like to get the "whole package"

It's the same for me. Now I'm buying all the sets that I couldn't afford during my youth.

Suppose you want to buy the same set multiple times (for example, to build a fleet of ships), would you only collect (and pay extra for) 1 box and buy the others without the box? I know, I have a lot of questions :-D .

[snefroe]

It's the same for me. Now I'm buying all the sets that I couldn't afford during my youth.

Suppose you want to buy the same set multiple times (for example, to build a fleet of ships), would you only collect (and pay extra for) 1 box and buy the others without the box? I know, I have a lot of questions :-D .

well since i still need lots of sets i try not to buy boxed multiples, unless for a great price, but i very often bought a non boxed first and found a boxed version later. so in several cases i have boxed and non boxed version, which is fine, because second hand sets can have damaged or discoloured parts... So you can get one good model out of two... However, it's really difficult to not buy a double when they're available... I think in the end, it's just a question of time before i give in...

then there's the question of MISB sets. Idealy, i'd buy two BSB's, the classic pirate ship, i'd open and build one and leave the other one untouched. Sure, it's impossible to do just that with this pirate classic unless you have lots of money, but i try to follow this line when possible when i buy new sets...

[yellost]

I try to buy them without the boxes when it's on ebay or other. After all, the only thing that interests me is the bricks themselves. And the boxes take way too much space in my room... they're stacked everywhere *sing* ... I already have a hard time storing my lego as it is without having to put up with the boxes as well... In fact, I'm even selling them on BL, that way I can get a little extra to buy more lego yet :-D ... On the other hand, I do think the instructions are very important, though...

[The Shredder]

I'm not a fan of this going on in eBay. The box honestly doesn't matter to me as long as all (or a great deal of them) of the pieces are there and there is an actual container for them. After all...I usually just throw away the box for my sets anyways

[Bonaparte]

I usually just throw away the box for my sets anyways

Please throw them in my direction :-D

I think that most of the parents throw away the boxes of their kids Lego once they are opened.

[jngunsw]

i won't pay more if i can get images of the box from the net.....

as a collector.... we accumulate too many boxes anyway.... i hv barely space for my lego.... let alone the boxes....

Edited May 28, 2007 by Hobbes

[Cabby]

I'd pay more for the box, for sure, following that "whole package" theory mentionned above. I guess it's only because my collection is not that huge for now.

Actually I'm beginning to wonder if I should put small boxes in bigger ones, or maybe flatten them... which means I'm closing in to be short of room to store them.

Time will tell, but i guess the boxes will eventually go. :'-(