a lot of people consider the obi to be part of the single itself, and many people won't buy used singles if they don't include the obi.
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Products that feature an obi strip have become desirable among collectors from around the world. Because many Japanese consumers discarded the obi once purchased and of course some took great care in preventing damage to the obi. An old record or CD with the obi still attached can fetch premium prices on the second hand/collectors market. As a rule of thumb, a record or CD with the obi strip intact is always worth more than one without one. Whenever a Japanese pressing of a CD by a Western artist is exported to other countries for sale in retail outlets (or offered for sale via online retail outlets) becomes available, the obi can dictate the value of that CD. If it's new/sealed it should have an obi, providing it came with one (some Japanese releases feature an information sticker instead of an obi). A used/second hand CD with the obi still with the CD is usually worth more than any other countries standard domestic pressing.
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from wiki
