Perhaps it's time to ditch the habit of holding onto boxes when buying tech gadgets

After collecting smartphone boxes and various tech items for a long time, I suddenly realized that keeping these boxes is excessive and takes up unnecessary space. Despite the growing number of tech gadgets, the sentimentality associated with keeping boxes seems to increase, making it challenging to let go. Does this sound familiar?

Storing tech boxes: Is it truly worth it?

Surely, the most common reason for hoarding tech boxes is the belief that keeping them will increase the resale value of used devices.

That's our thinking, but whether it actually adds value is uncertain. Those who buy used devices for cost savings may not be willing to pay more for a boxed device. In reality, having the box might only fetch a better price if it comes with all the accessories. Check the second-hand market to see if having the box truly makes a price difference.

Furthermore, as someone experienced in accumulating and reserving a house full of tech boxes, I must confess that keeping smartphone and tech boxes until selling them can be quite challenging. Somehow, the box of the item you want to sell magically disappears just when you need to sell it, and that's a setback. In other cases, poor storage leads to dusty or discolored boxes when opened – not an appealing sight. Perhaps it's because I use a device for an extended period before selling, only parting with it when upgrading, not regularly. However, leaving it for too long means the box may vanish as well.

Moreover, there are cases where keeping the box serves no purpose, as the item is not sold. Broken devices, items given away, or items to be sold becoming too outdated with no demand – like selling plain 6 or 6s models, which don't fetch a good price. Adding the box doesn't increase the value of the device in such cases. These situations make storing box covers worthless and take up a significant amount of space.

Try reducing them, and you won't even notice 

'Letting go might bring a bit of sorrow, but holding onto them makes things cramped.' When cleaning up the room, I suddenly realized that these boxes were quite a hassle. So, I decided to get rid of (almost all) the boxes that I found valueless, mainly the accessory boxes for the old phone (as the current phone was bought secondhand without a box). I probably kept only the box for the because those items were expensive, and discarding the box felt like throwing away my money. I decided to procrastinate a bit more and keep the box for another year to avoid regrets before finally letting it go.

It must be acknowledged that when letting go, there's a considerable feeling of regret – actually quite regrettable. The boxes create a sense of excitement when buying a new tech item: the unboxing experience. However, unboxing is a one-time thing, and once the box has fulfilled its purpose, it's time to bid farewell.

When on the verge of letting go, there's a tinge of regret, but once they are 'gone,' I feel nothing – no regret, no difference. Because, fundamentally, these boxes don't exist in our daily lives, and keeping or discarding them doesn't make much of a difference.

Speaking of getting rid of them, the truth is, I separate the boxes and give them to waste collectors who consider them as recyclables. You can store boxes for recycling purposes, but don't mix them with regular trash. Alternatively, you can utilize these boxes for reuse. If possible, I still prioritize reuse, as long as they don't end up stored, taking up too much space.

So, making smaller boxes is a good move 

There was a time when every brand used to produce extravagant boxes solely for holding smartphones and accessories. It was a bit excessive, environmentally damaging, so manufacturers gradually downsized the box dimensions. Apple even took it a step further by excluding the charger to create a slim box (quite a move). However, compact boxes are genuinely useful. Besides saving space, smaller boxes make it easier for us to bid them farewell.

A Pledge 

Tech gadget boxes serve the purpose of protecting the device during transportation, ensuring it reaches the consumer without any issues. Once you break the seal on these boxes, it means they've excellently fulfilled their duty, and that's when it's time to let them go. No need to cling to them, making the shelf or rack even more crowded.

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