John-
I don't think it's dirty, dishonest, or absurd for the value of a collectable item to be increased with the addition of a box or other packaging. I suspect you're not a collector of old bikes or parts, because if you were, you may understand why someone would trade money for a paper box. One person's junk, is anothers treasure- don't you see? EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT VALUES-
I believe that the intent of the buyer of the old box, is to match up a set of hubs with the correct box. Nothing more, nothing less.
If it costs the guy over $100 to do that, so what? What's the big deal?
My gut feeling is that in 10 years, we will look back on the prices that things are trading for now, and think that this is cheap!
John Barron Minneapolis
John Dunn wrote- Incredible? Yes, but wouldn't absurd be a more apt description, especially if, as someone implied, that this box would be used to bump the "value" of a set of hubs?
John Dunn in Napa Valley