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Hi,

I have also been checking my wife's Matchbox toys. As you might expect, her toys are in better condition than mine but not the boxes. A number of them have been mended with sellotape. What does this do to the value of the box? My feeling is that it is worse than just keeping the separate bits. Grateful for your views

Thanks.

Most people want good boxes and damaged ones are what they are, the value just like models, decreases the worse the condition.

I have many boxes with sticky tape on the ends and many with detached flaps.
I leave them as I got them and dont apply tape or glue myself.
Value is in the eye of the beholder and sometimes a not so hot box fills the hole and like very rare models, even in poor condition they are a prize in their own right.

Thanks. I had wondered what sort of barrier they would be to selling. I always give good quality photos and an accurate description so that people know exactly what they are getting.

slicc64 wrote:I have many boxes with sticky tape on the ends and many with detached flaps.
I leave them as I got them and dont apply tape or glue myself.
Value is in the eye of the beholder and sometimes a not so hot box fills the hole and like very rare models, even in poor condition they are a prize in their own right.

Check out my thread on repairing box end flaps.

Thanks Tinman. Foud and read your end flap thread, very informative and will give that a go.

Thanks for all of that. I will leave repair work on boxes to any buyers. I am ham-fisted at best with small stuff like this!

One final question on the subject. What is the best way to pack boxes for posting? I have read the 7 tips for eBay and I will be sending stuff out in small boxes. However protecting some of the fragile boxes in transit is an issue. Some of the models rattle around in the boxes so letting them do so thru the post does not seem sensible. Equally flattening the box for transit could be a bit dicey as well. The best I can think is to use bubble wrap both inside and out of the box to give it adequate support and wrap the model separately in bubble wrap.

Any views?

Thanks.

hello again,
i have for years now used loo paper or tissues to wrap the models as it is inexpensive and plentiful around the house [ i have three girls in the house]
i use enough so the model is secure in the box and can't rub it's paint off in transit and not so much that the model is difficult to fit back into the box.

Careful not to use too much wrapping around the model and force the model in over expanding the box. This method gives the box some internal support & some resistance to being squashed.
Also, don't use tissues that are scented or impregnated with aromatics as this may affect the finish of the paint or plastics, just plain white tissues or loo paper.

I then wrap the box in tissue or loo paper and use a tiny bit of sticky tape to hod it.
Then bubble wrap that, into the post pack/box then pad out the interior so the bubble wrapped model is restrained from movement in all directions.

I never over apply sticky tape as this makes the unwrapping more difficult and hazardous for the buyer. if it is too difficult to unwrap then there is the possibility of damage being done by excess force and over zealous actions.

I've never had any issues so it works for me but I'm sure there are other members with alternatives who will comment in due course.

Nothing worse than your model arriving in the mail with a big rub mark through the paint due to careless packaging.

I don't flatten the box unless it is a large order and space saving measures are required but then, only after approval from the buyer. It doesn't bother me but some don't like the boxes flattened out.

Your buyers will appreciate your efforts.
regards,
streve

The safety of the boxes in the post is only as safe & secure as a seller with basic common sense.
numi

Thank you for the additional info. It certainly helps me. Especially the bit about sticky tape as I tend to be paranoid about making certain my parcels are secure and am probably a bit OTT about taping them!

It would be helpful for newbies like myself to matchbox sales to expand Golden Rule 5 of the 7 for eBay to include a few suggestions along the lines of slicc64's. They won't be the only answer but it certainly starts you thinking along the right lines.