Do I need the boxes for equipment/gadgets nI buy in order claim on warranty/return...

londonTiger

My shed is full of boxes for vaccum cleaners, toasters, pressure washers, pc monitors etc.

I want to reclaim some space from there. Does anyone know if it's possible to return faulty items to stores like amazon, argos etc without their original boxes?

I know that the boxes are handy to have if you have to post it back to the manufacturer or sell used items on ebay. So boxes for minitors, iphones/iPads are worth keeping.

Mr_Toad

You do not need the original packaging to return a faulty item.

londonTiger

thanks. looks like I have a lot of clearing out to do

tyllwyd

I'd throw out the boxes for things that are well used and low value. And sometimes you can flatten the boxes without destroying them - would that help?

Mr_Toad

tyllwyd wrote: »

I'd throw out the boxes for things that are well used and low value. And sometimes you can flatten the boxes without destroying them - would that help?

A mid way solution but in all honesty pretty pointless.

You only need the packaging if, after you have bought something, you decide that you made a mistake and would like to return it for a refund or a different item.

Once you use something the packaging is just waste, any retailer who tries to tell you that a faulty item can only be returned in the original box is lying in a bid to avoid the problem.

Some people like to keep the packaging so they can sell the item later on eBay as "complete with original box", some buyers think it's a nice touch but the box is no guarantee of condition of item or anything else.

googler

For anything that's out of warranty, the only reason to keep the box is that if you do sell it on eBay, having the original box saves you having to go find/buy a box that matches the size of the item you're selling. You've got a matching one ready.

And sometimes the boxes for consumer electronics and the like will have the total weight on them, which saves having to find a set of scales that the box will fit on to determine what correct postage is.

kwikbreaks

Mr_Toad wrote: »

Some people like to keep the packaging so they can sell the item later on eBay as "complete with original box", some buyers think it's a nice touch but the box is no guarantee of condition of item or anything else.

I certainly retain the boxes for things I think I may later sell on eBay because I reckon, rightly or wrongly, that this can help to sell and/or improve the final price. That doesn't really apply to most household items which are going to be used until they break so I recycle the packaging for those as soon as I know they are what I wanted and work.

Lifeforms

Boxes have a life of around 2 months with me. The item in question has should have worked properly by that point, so they're dumped.

I keep my TV box and poly bits for that. I would also keep any monitor box and bits for that. Moving with them loose, or packed wrongly is risky.

Computer units (base units, the actual computer section) can usually get away with being moved when it's wrapped with something soft. to hand duvet, shower curtain (stopping fabric dust getting in, under the duvet) and lots of tape, and being careful with handling. Unless the base unit came in a poly rigid cut out in the box, then I wouldn't keep it.

Do keep laptop boxes till end of warranty due to protective posting of things.

If you are required to return stuff for repair or replacement you can be asked to pack it up suitable, in which case with the 40" tv having kept those bits proved very useful (10 months down the line from purchase). The box is huge yes, but it flat packs easily, and fits behind the covered section of the bed, so you don't even see it. In a shed stuff like that is out of sight anyway.

Mostly anything else can be taken back to store really, likes of kettles, cookers, etc, portable electronics. Or can easily be returned for repair in the likes of other things boxes.

forgotmyname

Loft insulation, But is that toomuch of a fire risk these days?

My grandad used to have tons of boxes in his loft all stacked up. Better and cheaper than insulation back in the day he said.