In Collecting

I've been doing a lot of searching on ebay and am pondering something.

Is it better to buy from a seller that has the actual box for a console (and pay a lttle bit more) or buy a console out of the box.

Because they have to box does that mean that they took better care of the system, rather than the joe shmoe who threw away the packaging?

Really, it depends on the seller. Better to play it safe, though.

, with a rare cart, it shouldn't matter. A little TLC (yes, it's lame, sue me) should more than make up for a dirty cart of, oh... Little Samson, for example.

it depends on if you want the box or not really. i think most of the people that throw away boxes do it because they take up space, not because they treat their things poorly.

I never really understood the whole "gotta have the box" thing. I know some collectors dig the boxes, but for me they just take up more room. I do like finding boxed stuff out in town to sell on ebay though. I'm still kicking myself for not picking up that pink boxed Hello Kitty Dreamcast for $25.

And of course, if you want to sell the item someday, it's good to keep the box...I saw FF1 sealed going on eBay for $475+ yesterday!

I'd be tempted to sell my boxed one for $500 and buy a bare cart.

I don't think it's a difference in a gamer's attitude when he throws away the box.
If it's a good deal I also buy things without box.

But I have to admit that I like boxes. If possible I try to get stuff with the boxes so that I can become nostalgic about them a few years after.

I wish I kept the boxes for my SNES Games instead of throwing them away.
Its nice to own the boxes, but they take up more room. Having siad that, i'd try to get a boxed game over a loose cart.

As far as systems go, I tend to prefer them without the box. To me, it means the system was played more, and potentially taken better care of during use.

As for games, I always prefer them in box. I'm a completist in that aspect.

Out of the box does imply more use, but use = abuse. boxed almost always ensures a cleaner, better functioning console.

Well, for the majority of the time I'd have to agree. But I have personally bought both boxed and unboxed systems on ebay over my 4 year stint, and I have to say that usually the unboxed ones worked better. Now, this is bitter for me because I no longer have ANY of the systems.

Well i usually buy boxed games but on places like eBay they can get kind of expensive.

I try to get the box if it's not any more expensive

I'm admittedly a sucker for the box. but check ebay because people put up phony stuff like game sysem BOXES rather than the console with the box.

not to mention I collect MOTU figures so The box is a high priority.

That was a problem some years ago when it was in the press for a while.
There were lots of people who put up auctions, wrote a long text to the game or console (or other electronic stuff) and mentioned there that it's only the box.
Many of those got sued, probably that's why you don't hear about such cases that much any more.