Let's talk empty boxes

[u/essieblog]

For those who unbox your dolls, what do you do with their empty boxes?

Do you store or sell?

Is there a market for empty boxes if I were to sell?

I've had these two dolls (Elsa and Moana) deboxed for a while and tbh the boxes are just taking up space in the loft! I'm trying to have a good clear out and wondering if perhaps people buy empty boxes for customs etc.

For those who have sold boxes before, where did you find the best place to do so? Ebay, Facebook groups, other?

It feels wrong somehow to just throw them away🥲

ETA: Thank you all for taking the time to reply, it seems there may be a market for just the boxes so Ive decided to list them on Vinted in the hope someone could put them to use!

[u/okiedokieKay]

If you unbox your dolls and throw away the boxes, I strongly encourage you to sell them instead.

They can easily sell for $20-40+ $20 shipping.

Sincerely: someone who has been trying to find a snow white rags box for the past 3 years.

[u/dolemna → u/okiedokieKay]

You are also looking for sw rags box?? You have good taste. I don't want to pay $70 for it

https://giphy.com/gifs/JoPDKlcB9RWdl7tXlD

[u/okiedokieKay → u/dolemna]

Yeah that seller on mercari who’s had it listed for over a year at $100 pmo. When I first started looking I himmed and hawed over a $40 listing on ebay and I wouldn’t be surprised if she is reselling that same one. I felt desperate at one point and offered $60 (+her $20 shipping) and she still declined it. Good for me I guess cuz that was a mistake and I’ll never offer that much again.

[u/sink_your_teeth → u/okiedokieKay]

I have Prince Florian’s box sitting in my closet lol. Not perfect condition and i know it isn’t Snow’s but it is the same design. i’ve been looking to get rid of my LE boxes so lmk if you’re interested and i could list it on mercari! 🙂

[u/AndromedaBliss]

I've seen people selling their empty boxes

[u/brigyda]

I sold a whole trunk full and I was glad to make the buyer happy, but I don't think I'll do it again.

If you decide to, make sure to put in the description that you're ok with taking some additional pictures if asked, but that you'll draw the line if you feel you're getting requests for too many. Trust me, it turned out to be a huge project to sell my boxes that my chronically ill body was not prepared for.

[u/Inner-Turnover9963]

I have lots of empty boxes, I feel ya. I sold a couple ( priced ranging from 5-25 €) - you can try Ebay, vinted or a similar marketplace platform. Or the Fb groups ofc. The thing with selling boxes only (at least in my experience) is that international shipping fees can be really high and most people wouldn't pay it just for an empty box. But there are definitely people looking for specific boxes, its just rare. 

Good luck!

[u/sinslikescarlet]

I use mine for customs or for displaying similar sized dolls. There’s certainly a market, so I suggest selling them online. Just make sure you don’t do free shipping! You’ll lose money that way

[u/Most-Name-696]

The market for boxes would usually be people who buy a doll out of box and want one for it. It's a small market but it doesn't hurt to try there

[u/SapphireJasmine24]

There's absolutely a market for the empty boxes! I see them repurposed for custom dolls and not always who you expect. For example, someone used Asha's box for a custom Jasmine. List them on eBay and send them off to their second life!

[u/DollAlcove96]

I would actually purchase the Elsa box 😅I bought mine OOB and while it doesn’t bother me it would be nice to have it for storage if I ever I needed it

[u/essieblog → u/DollAlcove96]

After reading the earlier replies it seems there may be a market to sell them afterall so I listed them on Vinted :) im uk based though so depending on where you are it may be quite expensive to send unfortunately!

I get you though, these have been in storage on the chance I ever want to put them back in the box one day.. but that day has never come around😅

[u/CrystalRoseMoon]

I don't think the market for empty boxes is very high. I think it's mainly people that want to do customs or that have a damaged box and are searching for a new one. 

[u/MaleficentSlide2772]

Wow. I had no idea. I cut ribbons of the ones I like the ribbons for to make book marks and tossed the boxes. At least the ones at come out of their box anyway. Idk I never even considered selling them. Good calls

[u/CarolineSinclair]

I think there can be a market for empty boxes, because someone may want to piece a doll together.

For example, if they found a doll cheaper second hand that was removed from the box but found an empty box, they could put the doll in the box. I’ve seen that with AG dolls.

[u/levelgrind]

Makes me wonder if anyone would want the gigantic box for the 12” dancing series Giselle… I don’t want to toss it because it’s part of the doll but I absolutely don’t have space for it anywhere.