BUYING THE BOXES
Look in different grocery store chains. From one company to another, they get their groceries from different distribution centers. I have found boxes that should have been only distributed regionally from Michigan, Chicago, Dallas and Baltimore in my local stores here in West hartford, Connecticut.
- Ask the stock clerk if they have any new boxes in the back. Only do this if you know there is a particular box available in your area. Grocery stores always must put older stock on the shelves first and if the box is new it may be waiting in line to get put on the shelf.
- If the cereal box is a regional issue, not a national release, BUY THEM NOW ! You can use the extras to trade for others you need in your collection. If you wait to go to the store later to buy more, they may be gone.
STORING THE BOXES
- THIS IS HOW I STORE THE BOXES FOR MY PERSONAL COLLECTION...
- I carefully open BOTH ends of the box and remove the bag of cereal. (See note at bottom) Some bags are spot glued to the side of the box, so be careful in pulling the two apart. Eat the cereal, feed it to the birds, or better yet; or if you are buying a lot of boxes, donate the cereal to a homeless shelter or food kitchen. It feels good!
- I store most of the empty boxes flat. I put them in larger top loaders (the same holders you put your cards in but larger..14x17 inches). You can buy these top loaders from dealers that advertise in card magazines. (I have listed where I buy mine at the bottom of this page) In quantity you can pay as little as 70 cents.
- For the boxes I want to display, after opening them, I fill the box up with little plastic peanuts usually used for packaging. Then I use a low temperature glue gun to carefully seal the box. Do not use a lot of glue. a few well placed drops will do the job correctly. You can then display the boxes as they are or in those expensive lucite cases advertised in the same magazines as above. They are expensive but they look great.
- I also keep a detailed inventory on my computer of the boxes I have so I know what I need for my collection and what I have extra of to trade with. I also rely on you and other collectors to keep me informed of new boxes in their area.
- I do keep full unopened boxes for the purpose of trading. After a reasonable amount of time, I will open the boxes because sure as you are reading this, bugs, insects or mice WILL get to the cereal.
Many of you have asked where I get the large top loaders. With permission from the company I will list their address and phone number. They have two shipping warehouses, one on each coast so shipping charges will be kept at a minimum.
- METRO ASSOCIATES
- PO BOX 7685
- EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY 07073
- 1-800-343-4423 Please tell them you got their name and number from Steve Wronker on the Internet. Thanks.....
- Lou Lucci of Las Vegas told me a great way to open the cereal boxes WITHOUT tearing any of the box at all. Use a hair dryer on the hottest setting and blow it across the top and bottom flaps. This melts the glue. You can then easily open the flaps to remove the cereal. If you want to keep the box intact and not flat, fill the box with crumpled paper or plastic peanuts and re-heat the glue. When the glue has remelted, reseal the box. NO WORRIES about ruining the box. Thanks Lou....Great Suggestion!
Let me know how you store your collection.