Methods of cereal box storage

Do you keep the boxes intact (unopened w/cereal), or do you empty them of Wheaties and store them flattened? Do you keep the boxes in top-loaders (basically big baseball card plastic sleeves) or do you fill the boxes with packing materials and keep them on a shelf in your den? And what's more valuable...the unopened box or the opened and carefully reconstructed one?

The answers to all these questions can be summed up easily, I think. Do what you think is best! After all, it's your collection. Having searched for the best ways to display and protect my own boxes for the past three years, I have formulated some opinions. Hopefully my past trial and error process can help you.

Keeping the boxes unopened...	vs.	Opening them up...
Box is in its original, pristine state	*	Saves space
Some folks believe they have a higher resale value	*	Easier to mail to others with less chance of damage
Over time, the box will sag from the weight of the cereal.	*	Shipping costs are less when trading a number of boxes
A large collection will eventually require you adding on to the house!	*	Boxes are easily reassembled for display

The debate will go on forever, but I'm in favor of flattening the boxes. I didn't always used to be, but a fire in my apartment complex (and well-meaning, but over-eager firemen) led to about 30 different boxes soggy and falling apart, and a change of heart. I was paying way too much to ship the boxes full to others, and most of the time, no matter how well packed, boxes I received full had dents and dings.

Several companies make large plastic "top loaders" that are available in a variety of sizes. Mind you, they are not cheap, but I think they do a great job of both protecting the boxes and making them attractive for displaying. I am in the process of constructing a cork "trim" along the tops of the walls of my apartment so that I can affix the displayed top loaders to them. When purchased in bulk, the sleeves are a lot cheaper too.

The main reason I empty my boxes now, however, is so that I can donate the unopened bags of cereal to a local food bank here in Columbus, Ohio. If possible, please do the same with your cereal. The volunteers may give you some funny looks the first time you stop by to deliver, but once they see you a few times, they'll be very grateful. After all, which collector can eat all that cereal anyway?