Box problems of late

Has anybody been experiencing box problems with the newer HLs? It seems about every other box has a crease or fold in the top flap. My Whitefish Point box looks like it was kicked around for a while before I got it today. I would have to rate the condition of that box as a 2 out of 5. Is this happening just to me?

Bob

Maybe I've been "lucky", Bob.....so far I haven't had that problem. I just came back from checking out a number of boxes from recent purchases, and everything looks fine.

You're not alone Bob. The Whitefish Point we bought Stephen for Christmas was the same way.

The cause of these problems seems to be the lack of 'locking tabs' - compare today's box with pieces that were shipped a couple of years ago and you'll notice what is missing are the 'cuts' that create locking tabs on the cover.

The result is that the tops don't stay shut.

HL is aware. Not sure if anything is being done about it.

Afew of the late pieces I have gotten had creased tops but nothing damaged I guess I can live with that.Bill O'Brien oseabee

Hi Bob,

I've noticed the same creased tops (Hattaras on the Move, Sisters Island, Whitefish Pt.). The tops don't want to stay closed either. It's like the foam inserts are too large/tall. Oh well, as long as the lighthouses inside are fine.

Donna

Bob, you are far from being alone on this one! I have some boxes that are OK, but others are just like the ones you have. Some look like they were dropped from the top of a tall step ladder to see if the contains remain in one piece! I guess if the Lights remain in mint condition, I can live with a damaged box. I don't display my boxes, so I can live with it!

Yes, I have also received brand new pieces which had the creased top flap and boxes with tops that pop open. The foam seems to fit in the box, yet the top won't close.

Joanne

yes, it's messing up my box display?

Well I see I'm not alone with the NSMB (Not so mint box) problem. Like many of you, I don't collect boxes, yet again I do. My fellow collectors have taught me that a box is a valuable thing when it accompanies the original piece that came with it. If my memory serves me correctly, I'm missing two original boxes plus I have received two other HLs that are not in their original box. (One has the wrong edition # on it and the other is for a different HL).

Someday a particular HL might be worth a little more if the piece is MIB and the box isn't NSMB. I haven't said anything about boxes until I started this thread but I felt I needed to know if anyone else was experiencing the same difficulty as me. Now I know.

That's the word from the East Coast where it's a balmy 32 degrees and we are expecting a little of the frozen white stuff mixed with rain tonight. Hopefully there will be no accumulation.

Bob

I think the boxes may not be the only problem. I think the boxes that the boxes are packed in are no good. Just about all of the H.L.'s boxes that I got this year have been damaged, and to me it looks like they may have been damaged before they were even taken out of the big boxes that they come from overseas in. Either way, not to impressive. must be that Chinese cardboard.

[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 01-27-2001).]

I guess I'm not alone with the NSMB problem. I'm sure HL doesn't send them out that way so somewhere along the line, someone is handling these boxes less than carefully.

Whenever I send anything out, I never put "Fragile" on it. It seems it might encourage package handlers to test the quality of the packing.

Bob

The locking tab is back? The Seguin Island box has a locking tab. Even with the locking tab, the top doesn't stay shut. I removed the styrofoam insert and the same thing happens. The top pops up. On the other hand, the Point Allerton box is in perfect shape, and the top stays closed without a locking tab.

It's really hard to tell, but it appears that the cardboard on the Point Allerton is a little sturdier.

Both boxes are in good shape, no creases or crushed corners as in the past. And, of course, the most important thing, the contents are in perfect condition.



------------------
Tom & Joyce

I really like the tin containers or cans that the Lefton Lost Lights are shipped in. If you haven't seen them yet, you should make an effort to take a look.

Joanne

You know what I would like to see, a uniform size box. I think all boxes should be the same size, unless your dealing with a Hillsboro or Statue of Liberty. It would make storage so much easier if they were the same size. As it is now, I'm losing a lot of closet space only because some boxes are small compared to the large ones, and that causes gaps. Some boxes are rectangle and some are square and that also causes gaps.



[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited 02-05-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 02-07-2001).]

Well kids, ...The first three arrivals of the 2001 HL releases came in undamaged boxes. Things are looking good!

Bob