Keep the Numbered Bags?

HangedSanchez

So its got to the point where I can no longer store all my boxes intact: I'm going to have to fold them flat to make room for more!

Obviously I'm keeping the boxes themselves and the instructions, but is it worth keeping the bags the parts came in? I've kept them so far, but I'm wondering if there is any point in keeping them any longer.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Pitfall69

I used to keep them, but I just started to throwthem out. Too much clutter.

dougts

I can't fathom they add any value at all except to the most hardcore meticulous collector. And most of those would only but sealed sets anyway

Toss 'em

piratemania7

Id say for the noise they make alone it's reason enough to toss em!

Pitfall69

dougts said:

I can't fathom they add any value at all except to the most hardcore meticulous collector. And most of those would only but sealed sets anyway

Toss 'em

piratemania7 said:

Id say for the noise they make alone it's reason enough to toss em!

Absolutely.

red237

They can actually be recycled at the grocery store with the other plastic bags, too :)

Mathias

I personally don't. I just put the parts in ziploc bags and number them should I want to resell.

KiwiLegoMeister

Keep them!
Especially if they are cleanly cut, no non-perpendicular/parallel cuts. And I trust you used only the finest blade when cutting.
Sort them alphanumerically by the absolute gravity of the atomic weight of the compound nuclear particles. (and subset by protons vis-à-vis neutrons)
Just kidding.
But seriously - why keep them in the first place???? (a

dimefield

I only keep them long enough to be certain there aren't any stray pieces stuck in them.. then straight to the recycling bag!

bobabricks

^I also make sure none of the bags are thrown away until the entire set is built.

There are a lot of BrickLinkers that keep them for shipping which saves money.

epyon396

...people actually do this? I consider myself pretty anal/obsessive, but my mind is blown right now.

Nikaliptus

^ Me too (about me, not you that is, lol)!

Like others have said, I keep the bags until I have built the set (or even just the numbered section of the build) to be sure there are no stray pieces I may have missed, but after that, 'see ya later alligator' ('after a while crocodile').

I do keep the 'empty' sticker sheet (yeah I'm one of those weird sticker apply-ers, go figure), and any little boxes that string or capes, etc, might be packaged in, and even the little battery saver tag for the light bricks, but I draw the line at the empty numbered bags...the actual set boxes and instructions are always kept, but that probably goes without saying in this discussion. ;-)

Shib

I don't even keep the boxes...first couple of sets I got post dark ages I kept the boxes under my bed for about a month, then thought, sod it, I'm not selling this stuff in any hurry!

CCC

I reuse bags for bricklink purposes. Boxes too. Open them up, reverse them and tape up the joins. Perfect free shipping boxes for parts.

bobabricks

I only keep boxes for collectable sets or UCS sets or modulars, other than that they go in the recycle bin.

mountebank

Perhaps it might be a good idea to start up a trade thread. For example you've got some empty numbered bags from Pet Shop but are hoping to upgrade to the ones from Fire Brigade.

Although thinking about it, I could imagine EOL empty numbered bags attracting a premium.

seannydem

mountebank said:

Perhaps it might be a good idea to start up a trade thread. For example you've got some empty numbered bags from Pet Shop but are hoping to upgrade to the ones from Fire Brigade.

Although thinking about it, I could imagine EOL empty numbered bags attracting a premium.

Now that is a great idea! To mix it up a bit does anyone want to swap a 1 bag with a 5 bag? And a 4 for a 2? Could back some of the builds a bit more interesting!!

bobabricks

The empty numbered bags would be a good idea if they were actually exclusive but Lego has standard sizes of bags meaning the lego city police station may have the exact same bags as the cafe corner.

KiwiLegoMeister

And all these years I've been buying Lego just to get the unique numbered bags ... damn!

Aanchir

I keep my LEGO packages, but I have never even considered keeping the numbered bags. What's the point? The reason I keep the LEGO packages is mainly for the pictures of the set and other graphics they offer (which, even today, are not always available online). The numbered bags don't offer any such advantage.

HangedSanchez

Well, it appears to be unanimous! Thanks for the input, and to the recycling bin they go...

Pitfall69

If Lego is really concerned about the environment, they should offer a program where you can send in your plastic wrappers and maybe get a small gift in return based on how many wrappers you send :)

piratemania7

Actually, I would have to do some research on this to come up with specific numbers but TLG as an entire entity is aiming to reduce their overall carbon footprint substantially; over a pretty short period of time no less.

Pitfall69

I feel that most people need an incentive to recycle. My friend posted the other day that the company that takes her garbage finally provided a recycle bin. That's ridiculous. I have had mine for 11 years.

oldtodd33

Nobody around here takes plastic recyclable material anymore since the downturn in the economy so we just throw it away.

Pitfall69

^Isn't that crazy?

Shib

Having spent a few days working at a landfill site stopped my enthusiasm for recycling...I still recycle, but I saw a lot of trucks marked as ---------- Recycling LTD dumping what seemed like recyclable materials in landfill. Makes you feel like there's no point if it's just ending up at landfill anyway

bobabricks

@Shib that truck could have been filled with garbage that people threw in recycling bins

Shib

I realise it was probably legit, but it was multiples and obvious plastics and metals. Like i say not stopped recycling but less faith in it.

KiwiLegoMeister

I actively recycle (*I am lucky and still have free kerbside recycle. Most councils now charge extra for that service), because it means I can fit more other crap in my wheelie bin!

Pitfall69

"Kerbside"? Is that an Aussie spelling?

CCC

Pitfall69 said:

"Kerbside"? Is that an Aussie spelling?

No, we British use it too. The edge of the pavement (sidewalk in US) next to the road is a kerb (curb in US).

Bumblepants

Shib said:

Having spent a few days working at a landfill site stopped my enthusiasm for recycling...I still recycle, but I saw a lot of trucks marked as ---------- Recycling LTD dumping what seemed like recyclable materials in landfill. Makes you feel like there's no point if it's just ending up at landfill anyway

I recall reading about somewhere in the NE US (Maine I think) where they had been dumping all the glass bottles from the recycle bins into a landfill because it was more cost effective than bothering to recycle them

minicoopers11

CCC said:

Pitfall69 said:

"Kerbside"? Is that an Aussie spelling?

No, we British use it too. The edge of the pavement (sidewalk in US) next to the road is a kerb (curb in US).

This is one of those different spellings that really frustrate me. Kerb makes so much sense. But, no, we Americans must use curb. I'll start a revolution!

oldtodd33

At least they're pronounced the same only with a different accent.

CCC

minicoopers11 said:

CCC said:

Pitfall69 said:

"Kerbside"? Is that an Aussie spelling?

No, we British use it too. The edge of the pavement (sidewalk in US) next to the road is a kerb (curb in US).

This is one of those different spellings that really frustrate me. Kerb makes so much sense. But, no, we Americans must use curb. I'll start a revolution!

We do use curb, but only as in restraint (as you do too, such as in "Curb Your Enthusiasm"). Of course a kerb is also a restraint, to stop cars going up onto the pavement.

piratemania7

Keeping the bags to me is not like the instructions or even the box. I have always considered the bags to be trash once I have verified everything has been dumped out of them.

I think if you have the perspective that you may one day sell off the set or give it away as a special gift; then sure, go ahead and store the bags inside the box.

But overall tossing them seems to be the best bet.

jdylak

piratemania7 said:

Keeping the bags to me is not like the instructions or even the box. I have always considered the bags to be trash once I have verified everything has been dumped out of them.

I think if you have the perspective that you may one day sell off the set or give it away as a special gift; then sure, go ahead and store the bags inside the box.

But overall tossing them seems to be the best bet.

What's that got to do with "curb"/"kerb"??

piratemania7

jdylak said:

piratemania7 said:

Keeping the bags to me is not like the instructions or even the box. I have always considered the bags to be trash once I have verified everything has been dumped out of them.

I think if you have the perspective that you may one day sell off the set or give it away as a special gift; then sure, go ahead and store the bags inside the box.

But overall tossing them seems to be the best bet.

What's that got to do with "curb"/"kerb"??

What's "curb/kerb" got to do with a thread about throwing out plastic bags begs the better question. : )

oldtodd33

Sorry, I forgot to say I save mine on the big sets like the modulars. I don't know why though, it doesn't add any real value if I decide to sell them.

rocao

I keep everything: boxes, bags, sprues for small pieces. Just like @oldtodd33, I realize that I'm not doing it out of any perceived value, but since I keep the boxes uncollapsed, I just toss them back in. I definitely have a tendency to keep anything and everything LEGO though, including all promotional material, LEGO shop bags, etc. It's mostly out of habit and probably some OCD.