Influencers and Resellers Are Turning Empty Boxes Into Big Cash
Doctor Who, One Piece, Pokémon, Star Wars. Empty product boxes from these popular properties have been listed on eBay for $2,500 and up. It’s not too surprising to anyone familiar with modern nerd-dom that even the empty boxes for these perennial collectibles would command high prices. But look what they’re joined by in that elite bracket: a Bottega Stardust Sparkling Rosé bottle and box (listed for $8,105), the box for a 1980s Rolex Explorer 1016 ($3,850), a “rare” Hermes Bolide box from Japan ($3,450), and a Suntory Hibiki bottle and box ($3,000). One big reason for this is that buyers are paying big bucks to acquire the original packaging for an item they want to auction off; selling the collectable with an original box almost always boosts the resale price. For high-priced items—a secondhand Rolex Explorer 1016 sells for between $19,000 and $52,000—spending a couple grand on an original box is a worthwhile investment. It’s not just collectibles either; even for items like a Dyson Airwrap or Nintendo Switch, it can make sound financial sense …
