Technic Set Packaging

[Gee]

I've still got the boxes for 8865 and 8868, but that's only because my Mum used them to store the parts in between me losing interest in my teens and when I had them back a couple of years ago.

The boxes are battered about and really seen better days. Now that I'm getting back into it I have sorted the pieces into plastic boxes/trays and the boxes will get recycled. I am finding it hard to let them go though and that's more down to nostalgia than anything else.

Our knowledge on resource use and recycling has really come on since the late 80s, early 90s and this is why it makes more sense to make the packaging as eco as possible. If someone is adamant on keeping a set stored MISB as a collectors item then it'll make little difference that they're a bit more flimsy; think of how flimsy the packaging on some of the collectible metal cars and trains from the 30s and 40s was, but collectors still kept those mint.

[D3K]

For some reason I really miss the Lego plastic bags of the old days .. I have no idea when they went away from those, but I imagine it's quite long ago... You know; the perforated ones, which felt so special to the touch, and made a unique sound when you shook it, or poured the parts onto the table...

I haven't seen one of those in 20 years

[Rockbrick]

It was usually the "special" parts for that model. Like pneumatic parts, or differentials, or springs or suspension components that were in the transparent tray.

I understand that they can't get the old way back, but can we then at least get smaller boxes with a smooth inner surface (maybe double thick cardboard on the edges like in the 90s, to give the boxes a bit more stability?

We did not have internet back then, now the flipping of the lid and the transparent tray's functions have been replaced by the internet...

[nicjasno]

And set reviews on the internet. :) Which actually, from a collectors point of view makes me buy sets and not open them at all :)

Ofc this isn't realistic, because every set needs to be built and expirienced, only if then torn down and put back into resealable bags and into the box.

[Chilly]

Iv'e got the Dinosar from Control Centre II (8485) part built at the mo, and all the pieces are sorted and stored in the yellow tray, which makes finding the next group of parts so much easier than if they are all in one mess in a cardboard box that has little hiding places where the corners are made.

Bring back the storage trays I say, but find a more eco-friendly material to make them from - pressed cardboard/paper mache? maybe.

[zux]

Regarding too much air inside the boxes, there are some problems to consider.

If the made a box according to every set, they would have a lot more expenses on boxes than now. So they have various sizes of boxes and look into which a set will fit.

Because sets have various sizes in terms of different piece sizes and piece counts, the bare sets are always different in regards of their whole size. So now, when they look for boxing them, they put the pieces into a box and find they bags don't go in easily, so they try the next bigger available box.

Well I quite disagree with you here, I've bought several flagships this year from different years, and boxes seem to be different all the time in any of three directions.

[Balrog]

Well I quite disagree with you here, I've bought several flagships this year from different years, and boxes seem to be different all the time in any of three directions.

Of course they have changed box dimensions over time. To decrease the amount of danish air!

[Lakop]

I remember the old boxes, you could lift the lid and admire the parts. I stored my lego in one of the trays for a few years but lego need to make a profit so it's probably a cost decision to make a straight forward box. I suppose a cardboard tray, with the plastic parts bags in, would not hurt though.

H

[allanp]

On the larger sets they already have the box and a lift up lid, as well as all the correct parts in the correct bags. Would it cost so much more to have a clear lid to show the parts and a very thin plastic tray? Not that I'm all that bothered to be honest. I would rather see better sets and better parts that better packaging. It just seems a bit shoddy compared to the older style.

[Matt The Tuba Guy]

I only have sets since they came in the basic boxes, but I have kept most of the boxes for storage. The flagship size boxes are used for wheels, and the smaller boxes (8109 size) are for some other parts. I have used one for PF, and two more have custom box dividers in them for my axles and pins (excluding the 3 main pin types which are in bags) The extra flap on the flagship boxes can be annoying at times, and the lid corners tend to split along the edge, but I definitely find them useful for storage. I actually have a 8419 box that I started using to sort my axles soon after I got it (probably 2006). It is well worn, and the corner edges have been taped together several times, but I am still using it. The fairly rigid cardboard divider inside it probably helped keep the box in shape though.

[Hrafn]

The current boxes are designed for selling, not for storage at home.

The boxes also serve as in-store advertising; the larger the box, the more impressive the set looks. I'm just speculating here, but it's possible that one factor in Lego's decisions on how big a box to put each set in is the 'billboard' effect. They may want to make customers more aware of (and eager to buy) certain sets, and thus may make those sets' boxes larger than necessary.

Or it could all be pretty much ad-hoc

[S.I]

A couple of years ago they decreased the size of almost all the boxes, to cheapen shipping and to let stores put more boxes on the shelves. I bought sevceral 8069s for the mini LAs and have two box sizes.

[nicjasno]

Smaller boxes are always good.