I am not really a in the box or bag collector but I like minty figures and I find myself with all these red backs that I want to open but still can't quite bring myself to do it knowing it is going to devalue it so much. I am personally a believer that toys should be played with and enjoyed but still unable to open them up. I am stuck here. If I do open them up is it worth the trouble to keep all the bags, bubbles, trees for carded figures, bagged items, and boxed vehicles? Anyone with 2 cents here would be appreciated. I just paid alot for some of it and having trouble pulling the trigger. Thanks.

Why not use your packaged items for trade bait? You should be able to get several nice loose figures in exchange for each of your sealed ones and the person who ends up with it can preserve the item in its packaged condition.

It's a win-win.

When ever I finally get my room set up I was debating doing the same thing. The stuff I want to open so I can display it, try trading it off for the same thing plus maybe a little extra to someone who wants to keep it in its package.

Like Volleydan said, a win-win for both parties.

When ever I finally get my room set up I was debating doing the same thing. The stuff I want to open so I can display it, try trading it off for the same thing plus maybe a little extra to someone who wants to keep it in its package.

Like Volleydan said, a win-win for both parties.

I dunno, if he's a REALLY picky guy, he might want the fresh-from-bag figures. I've noticed the past year or so that people say they are selling or trading perfect condition figures, and they're not even close. It's like the number of collector's who know what they're doing has drastically dropped and we're left with a lot of morons who are just unloading toys to make a quick buck. I can totally understand being paranoid about getting a great condition figure. (Fortunately for me, I usually collect c-8+ figures just to prevent disappointment.)

i love figures in their packages all new they are always nice to look at but when collecting i always go for loose its cheaper and they can always be displayed, i keep the cards they come on though. the only items i keep moc is 1:64 scale nascars.

Robowang makes a good point....in the end, you have to decide just how picky you plan to be on the condition of your loose figures and whether that level of discernment is worth the loss in value of the sealed items that you own.

To me, "complete and unbroken with no paint wear" is just fine. In fact, I would guess that 80% of my collection is probably no better than a C8 or so to a picky collector.

If you're that selective about the condition of your figures, and you're willing to take that financial hit to ensure that you get what you want....that's your prerogative. Don't ever let anyone tell you how to collect.

I dunno, if he's a REALLY picky guy, he might want the fresh-from-bag figures. I've noticed the past year or so that people say they are selling or trading perfect condition figures, and they're not even close. It's like the number of collector's who know what they're doing has drastically dropped and we're left with a lot of morons who are just unloading toys to make a quick buck. I can totally understand being paranoid about getting a great condition figure. (Fortunately for me, I usually collect c-8+ figures just to prevent disappointment.)

This is really close to what I am really feeling here, especially the moron part. I am an oddball too though, I guess, I like to have one shining example but I also army build so everyone who is an army builder knows you have to settle with cracked elbows and such to build the army. But I like to have that 1 or 2 that are just dead mint. Out of the package is really the only way to go. I am picky and, inevitably, no matter how many questions you ask or pictures you see there will be a let down sometimes. I just don't want to be "that" guy that is always pi$$ing and moaning about every little defect I know how that goes over with all the scammin and such. But if I bid primo, I expect primo. I did try to trade off one of my 87 Payload on here but no takers. Granted, it was for a very specific item so that was probably the deciding factor with that.To add to it, I think I have probably over paid for some of them which makes it even more difficult but that is no ones fault but my own. But your right Dan they are my toys and I will do whatever I want but appreciate everyone chiming in. Here is what I am struggling with though:
http://s793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/spadi420/MIB/

its like volleydan says dont ever let anyone tell you how to collect,. at the end of the day its your collection and if you happy with it then so, who cares what anyone else thinks.

I generally look for things still moc/misb but I am indifferent about the packaging. If I need something for a dio I won't hesitate to open it, but if I don't have a reason to open something I normally won't. There is a little satisfaction in opening them, too, but once opened it takes a little more effort to make sure it remains complete, avoids wear & whatever other concerns might have been avoided if it were unopened.

It's really your call, if you have a reason to open them, go for it. If not, why are you considering it?

I generally look for things still moc/misb but I am indifferent about the packaging. If I need something for a dio I won't hesitate to open it, but if I don't have a reason to open something I normally won't. There is a little satisfaction in opening them, too, but once opened it takes a little more effort to make sure it remains complete, avoids wear & whatever other concerns might have been avoided if it were unopened.

It's really your call, if you have a reason to open them, go for it. If not, why are you considering it?

Really just like you said its the novelty of being the one to open it up. But also to display for my own enjoyment really. I like to have the one(sometimes 2) DEAD mint figure(s) to lead my armys. I opened a mail away Firebat finally after a year of debating I still have one in the package I have had for equally as long that I always intended on displaying as well. Just going to be a matter of what I really want value or fun...I think fun. I have never been very good at delayed gratification anyway.;)

I'd be happy to trade you minty loose for your minty boxed. ;)

I've noticed the past year or so that people say they are selling or trading perfect condition figures, and they're not even close.

It's been going on for years but I guess the problem is getting more and more severe. Frankly speaking in my experience almost all the sellers whom I've bought loose stuff from greatly exaggerated the condition of their items. Them stating a C9 really means at best a C7. :rolleyes:

As someone who has opened and assembled 5 MIB and MISB vehicles, do it if that's what you like to do. I really do enjoy assembling the vehicles and applying the stickers. I should say that I didn't pay an excessive amount of money for any of my, formerly, MIB/MISB vehicles. I don't think I would open a really expensive vehicle. One of them is the Chinese version of the Sky SHARC and the other was a mail-away version of the Sky Hawk, both were cheap.

I open all my vintage boxed items, be it Joe vehicles or Visionaries, Starcom, etc. As long as the contents can't be seen, it's gonna get opened. I do this to verify the contents and pack them in additional baggies so that the parts no longer scratch each other (which is a major problem with large parts) and that the sticker sheet and instructions remain flat.

As someone who has opened and assembled 5 MIB and MISB vehicles, do it if that's what you like to do. I really do enjoy assembling the vehicles and applying the stickers. I should say that I didn't pay an excessive amount of money for any of my, formerly, MIB/MISB vehicles. I don't think I would open a really expensive vehicle. One of them is the Chinese version of the Sky SHARC and the other was a mail-away version of the Sky Hawk, both were cheap.

I opened and assembled my MISB Chinese Sky SHARC as well already. Got it cheap too $12, I think. That was easy to open and fun to assemble.

I prefer to buy things MOC and then open them with a razor, just so I can get the card perfect. So many full cards sold on Ebay have that Gray Cardboard Rip of Doom right across the artwork, so its the only way I can guarantee a flawless card to display behind the mint figure. I DO try to buy full cards when I can to avoid lowering the total number of MOCs left, but 99% of them for sale only show the back. Why do they DO that? Meh.

I prefer to buy things MOC and then open them with a razor, just so I can get the card perfect. So many full cards sold on Ebay have that Gray Cardboard Rip of Doom right across the artwork, so its the only way I can guarantee a flawless card to display behind the mint figure. I DO try to buy full cards when I can to avoid lowering the total number of MOCs left, but 99% of them for sale only show the back. Why do they DO that? Meh.

Definitely know what you mean. I am wanting to preserve them and not lower the count for collectors who really enjoy them IN the package. But dayng it I think I have decided I will just open them when I get the courage. The Hartop and Payloads are the ones I really dread opening the most because naturally, I paid the most for them. I have a couple on the card too. Nothing major. Techno Viper MOC who has micro cracks on both elbows anyway so I don't really feel bad about that its not really mint anymore to me anyway. But I will post pics as I get the stones up to start opening. So do you leave the bubble or just cut it all the way off with the razor? Does it really matter?

I lay the razor flat and slide it around the edge so it leaves a plastic ring. If done right it's practically smooth.

I prefer to buy things MOC and then open them with a razor, just so I can get the card perfect. So many full cards sold on Ebay have that Gray Cardboard Rip of Doom right across the artwork, so its the only way I can guarantee a flawless card to display behind the mint figure. I DO try to buy full cards when I can to avoid lowering the total number of MOCs left, but 99% of them for sale only show the back. Why do they DO that? Meh.

they do that so they dont have to show you the grey tear on the front. :p

as long as it's not a super rare item that is very hard to find MOC MIB open it. Are you going to sell it??? if no then who cares what the value is.

now I was in your shoes for a long time, with some of my MOC vintage star wars figures. I am a loose collector but had a couple figures I got MOC and couldn't bring myself to open them ... but one was a Pop up lightsaber R2 D2 and to find him mint and loose and complete was very hard ... and really cost almost as much if not more than if he was MOC. so after about 10 years ... I opened him up ... and let me tell you .... I enjoy that figure so much more now that he is loose and fills that hole in my set, that I would open him again in a heart beat.

now if you plan on selling or think you might sell in the next (lets say 5 to 10) years ... then keep them in the package ... but if they're in your collection and you have no plans on selling ... do what makes you happy ... and if you collect loose ... free those puppies

I'm not a MOC collector, but I say if they have made it this far packaged then I would leave them that way. I realize toys were meant to be played with, but I don't think I would be able to open them up now after 20+ years

In the end, their ONLY true value is what they mean to you. If having them MISP has meaning for you, thats fine. If being the one to open them holds more, then thats fine too.

Remember, you can't take it with you, so which way would you regret if you were on your way out of this life?

Its a matter of choice all my joes figures and vehicles are open had enough with all the boxed star wars did my head in so none with me are boxed but as a collector its what pleases you at the end of the day

Hey everyone thanks for the great info and opinions. And yes in the end it's really up to me. I have started to open them up. I will post pictures once I get the stones to open them all. I have opened up some of the Special Missions stuff because I don't have any loose yet and I bought some SMB weapons still in the bag cheap so they are next.