Why Does It Matter If The Box Is Included?

[FL Bass Abducter]

When someone sells a used reel, sellers and buyers always talk about the box/papers/etc being included. WHY? When I get a new reel, it gets put on a rod and is used for fishing. Nothing more. I have never taken a reel and put it back in the box it came in. Somebody please help me make sense of something that doesn't seem to make any sense to me...........

[kickerfish1]

It makes it collectable, adds more value and a sense of completeness. This comes into play more on the high end or rare reels where the collectors are looking for the entire package. No different than say any other collectable piece...

Also some people want the schematics, warranty info, and oil and tools so they can do basic maintenance to the reel.

[.ghoti.]

I've never understood this either. When I get a reel, once I've determined that there is no out of the box warranty issue, the box goes in the trash. I keep all schematics. I also keep any lube that may come with the reel. I figure I can use it for something. The small "tools" that sometimes come with reels are cheap pieces of trash, and also go in file13.

 

I once had a guy interested in buying a reel I had up for sale, and his first question was about "box and papers".

 

I told him sure, I got boxes and papers. What do you want. I can give a cigar box, shoe box, bread box, cereal box, even a tampon box if that's what you want. Papers? I got newspapers, toilet paper, wrapping paper, and I can go buy some rolling papers if necessary. Just let me know what kind of box and papers you think you need. I'll make it happen.

 

Needless to say, he did not buy the reel. Got a little pissy with me about the whole thing, he did.

 

I got a chuckle out of it, and sold the reel to somebody else.

[S Hovanec]

It's an OCD thing.  This is a corner in my buddy's fishing room.  He's a charter captain by the way.

[geo g]

To really get the big money the reel, lure, or rod has to be in perfect to good  condition.  If used the price will drop considerable..  In the box always adds value to whatever it is.  Sometimes the box and instructions will be worth more then the original item.  I found about thirty old lures in the boxes dating back to the early 1900's, when cleaning out my mother in laws house.  Many had never been used at all.  Lots of wooden top water baits.   I'm dying to try them, but I know the value will drop if I do!!!!!   

[buzzed bait]

i would never get bent on not having the box.....  i get mad at the wife unit because she is what i call a box hoarder.  funny enough though i know for a fact i have like 4 or 5 reel boxes in my garage!  i guess for me it's just where i keep the schematics that came with the reel, sure i could use a file or another system, but i guess i just don't think about it.

but it would NEVER impact my decision on whether or not to buy a reel..... even the schematics can be found online in most cases so just the reel in perfect working order would be my only demand.

[5fishlimit]

I personally keep the boxes. For me I take apart my setups in the winter, and store the reels in the boxes. It's an organization thing. It's not a deal breaker if I am buying a reel without the box, but I would pay a slightly higher price if the box and paperwork is included.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

To each his own kinda thing I guess. When I buy a new reel I alway's keep the box and paper work. When I take my reel's off to clean during the winter month's I don't put them back on the rod I put them in the box they came in until I re rig my rod's for the year in Feb. Just an OCD kinda thing for me

[fishballer06]

I keep my boxes because whenever the reel gets retired and I upgrade the newest and greatest thing, it's got a nice place to be store. 

 

I also store all my receipts for rods/reels/trips in those boxes, so that the old lady doesn't find them. 

[Hogsticker]

People are more prone to not buy a reel if the box is not included as pointed out above, so why not keep it? It's just a small box. Plus if I want or need to send it out for maintenance, well then I have the box!

[J Francho]

I put the receipt in the box, and it goes into storage. I do this for anything with a warranty, that I care about.  I routinely purge the boxes in my attic.

[Choporoz]

 so why not keep it? It's just a small box.

About five years ago, I drastically purged most everything I own down to next to nothing.  I have missed almost none of it.  Today I keep nothing I'm not using now, soon, or has a specific, anticipated use.  I've never been happier.  No boxes for me.

[21farms]

i think it's truly one of those things that, if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand. i'm totally OCD about my gear and i'm as much a collector as i am a fisherman. i invariably change the bearings, handles, knobs, spool, etc. and keeping all the stock parts in the original box along with the brakes, papers and OEM oil helps me keep everything organized. the boxes also give me a safe way to long-term store my reels. i've only bought one used reel without the original box (shimano conquest 51) and it still bugs me that i don't have the box for it...i think i like knowing that the guy i bought a used reel from is as OCD as me 

[Fishes in trees]

I understand that having the box makes an item more "complete" and if you're a collector that is how you want it, in a perfect world.  I was at an old fishing tackle swap meet once and there was a guy selling just old boxes of different fishing tackle and related gear.  I thought that was weird.  However, I have seen and done dumber stuff, therefore ever since then I've taken all the lure boxes and packaging, reel boxes, depth finder boxes and so forth and kept them in totes.  I believe that I have 5 or 6 totes full of that old stuff now.  I've got plenty of room in my tackle shed, so storage isn't a problem, maybe when I hit my 80's I"ll bust that stuff out and see what it is worth -  or I'll have material for a bonfire - who knows?

[BassinLou]

Similar to Francho, I keep all revelant information inside all my reel boxes. Besides, I usually gift the reels that I part with instead of selling them, (do not ask why because idk) and seeing a reel in its box is exciting to the receiver of the gift. 

[Fisher-O-men]

I've never understood this either. When I get a reel, once I've determined that there is no out of the box warranty issue, the box goes in the trash. I keep all schematics. I also keep any lube that may come with the reel. I figure I can use it for something. The small "tools" that sometimes come with reels are cheap pieces of trash, and also go in file13.

 

I once had a guy interested in buying a reel I had up for sale, and his first question was about "box and papers".

 

I told him sure, I got boxes and papers. What do you want. I can give a cigar box, shoe box, bread box, cereal box, even a tampon box if that's what you want. Papers? I got newspapers, toilet paper, wrapping paper, and I can go buy some rolling papers if necessary. Just let me know what kind of box and papers you think you need. I'll make it happen.

 

Needless to say, he did not buy the reel. Got a little pissy with me about the whole thing, he did.

 

I got a chuckle out of it, and sold the reel to somebody else.

I got nothing, just thought this was worth reading again!

[TrippyJai]

Having the box, paperwork and tools will help sell a used reel faster and will also add more value to it (about $10).

 

I buy a lot of used reels and I prefer to have everything that came with it, especially the schematics. If I'm buying a reel that I already own, the box doesn't really matter to me, maybe unless it was in NIB, but if I buy a reel I've never used before, I want everything that came with it.

[Choporoz]

I'll (needlessly) add that I never buy something (or even hold on to it) while considering how to retain resale value, except maybe a house.  Even my cars --- I use, store and operate in a manner that gives ME the most value today....like not devoting storage to empty boxes.  I'm so glad that I have whatever the opposite of OCD is called.  If I did have the boxes, they'd be in a crooked pile - not stacked...lol

[ColdSVT]

I still have 75% or my original boxes...my wife thinks its stupid but then again i think her wanting a cat is really really stupid so...

[Dwight Hottle]

I save the boxes to store the paperwork, spare oil, brakes, spare spools & factory tools. I have used the boxes for shipping for reel repair inside of another box. Just helps keep things organized. When I want to sell the reel I have the all the original stuff the reel came with from the factory for the buyer who gives a crap.  

[SirSnookalot]

I keep the boxes for shipping, receipt inside but I do scan it and save to my PC just in case of misplaced or faded out.

[John G]

I have bought older Shimano Bantams without boxes and a 05' Calcutta 100 without a box but no more. Even it was an excellent condition Conquest 50, if it doesn't have the box, I will not buy it.

 

21farms has it right IMHO. If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand!

[Goose52]

If I buy a new reel, I keep the box and as others have said keep the original paperwork, tools, etc. in the box.

 

NOW, if buying a used reel, I LOVE buying them without the box. You can usually get them cheaper that way...like the excellent condition Conquest 50 that I DID buy on eBay that perhaps John passed on. Thanks John !    

 

 

 

 

[Jeff H]

I could never imagine passing up a good deal on a good reel because there is no original box for it!  I do keep mine.

[John G]

If I buy a new reel, I keep the box and as others have said keep the original paperwork, tools, etc. in the box.

 

NOW, if buying a used reel, I LOVE buying them without the box. You can usually get them cheaper that way...like the excellent condition Conquest 50 that I DID buy on eBay that perhaps John passed on. Thanks John !    

Your welcome! LOL