F*** NECA packaging!

[ToTheNines]

Little rant, sorry.

I just opened my Green Ranger/Shredder toy and was randomly frustrated by how easy it was compared to a NECA toy. Took me 15 seconds to have everything out AND all the plastic was recyclable.

NECA toys take forever, require tiny scissors and it all just feels like overkill.

That is all.

[IMJ]

The fact that toy companies use those awful, ridiculous little plastic "T Ties" is mind boggling. 1st sign that the hobby went boutique while clown world goes on about how they "protect the toy" when in fact the standard tray is just fine.

But what's more is that they use those things, spend the money and labor on machining to get them inserted and then we go on about "microplastics" killing everyone.

Absolutely the dumbest, most ridiculous part of the hobby - those plastic "t Ties" for the "security" of the toy.

[DonnieLaForge]

Worse, I think they are often on so tight that I could see them damaging/warping the toy. And in fact I think I have experienced this.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by DonnieLaForge

Worse, I think they are often on so tight that I could see them damaging/warping the toy. And in fact I think I have experienced this.

Yup.

Those things are the bane of collecting MIB or new toys. They serve literally no function but some pseudo-intellectual argument about "protecting the toy during transport".

Toy companies should eliminate that **** 100% and just put the toy in the tray.

And it amazes me that the hobby at large is so obtuse that there was an outcry over Hasbro's "windowless packaging" but no one, NO ONE, says a word about those elastic-plastic "tie downs".

[Autbot_Benz]

Can confirm when I was trying to get out my Beetlejuice yesterday. There is no need for those ties. The Tray does a perfect job already.

I mean **** they don’t use the ties for the accessories

[IndigoErth]

Ugh, I hate when the ties are so tight I'm afraid I'll end up scratching the figure just trying to clip it all out.

If there must be ties, I like the green paper (are they paper?) ties Playmates is using on the reg kid toy aisle figures now, they're so much easier in comparison. NACA needs those.

[IMJ]

There is literally no need for the ties at all.

But we are supposed to believe that the plastic windows on MOC toys can't just be recycled, meanwhile they give us little elastic pitchfork-ties as if those aren't already "microplastics waiting to happen" the instant you cut one free.

And again, no one discusses this at large.

[Wes]

I mean I don't like them either, but there's almost certainly a reason for them -- that they discourage theft. They don't stop the swappers who take figures home and then return different figures in the packaging, but there's probably a reason folks are more likely to steal just the accessories rather than the whole figure.

Also I once worked at KB Toys and can confirm that folks would totally steal figures out of packaging. Tying them down doesn't always help, but it probably does some.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Wes

I mean I don't like them either, but there's almost certainly a reason for them -- that they discourage theft. They don't stop the swappers who take figures home and then return different figures in the packaging, but there's probably a reason folks are more likely to steal just the accessories rather than the whole figure.

Also I once worked at KB Toys and can confirm that folks would totally steal figures out of packaging. Tying them down doesn't always help, but it probably does some.

I dunno. I’m no shoplifter, but if I was I think I’d just grab the whole box and casually walk out. Especially in the age of self checkout.

Spending 5 minutes making noise in a corner or a bathroom stall only to end up with a loose figure and leaving behind evidence seems like you’re way more likely to get caught.

[DonnieLaForge]

This reminds me of the time I found two clearance Wanderer turtles at Walmart. There was one where the hand had fallen off and it was somewhere in the package I couldn't see it, or something like that. And the tape was open (or there was no tape, I forget). So I compared the two awhile, decided I wanted the handless one's paint job, but I wanted to make sure nothing was broken about it. Since it wasn't sealed, I opened the tab and pulled the tray out to look at it. Suddenly a swarm of Walmart employees were over my shoulder and an old guy came over to talk to me -- they were trying to "act casual" like he just wanted to small talk or something but I knew they thought I was trying to do something illegal by examining the product I was about to purchase. I gave him small talk back for a bit and then left with it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IMJ

There is literally no need for the ties at all.

But we are supposed to believe that the plastic windows on MOC toys can't just be recycled, meanwhile they give us little elastic pitchfork-ties as if those aren't already "microplastics waiting to happen" the instant you cut one free.

And again, no one discusses this at large.

They can go ahead and do that. I do my part... all of that stuff goes into my firepit and not the ocean since recycling only comes by once every 3 weeks where I live.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

They can go ahead and do that. I do my part... all of that stuff goes into my firepit and not the ocean since recycling only comes by once every 3 weeks where I live.

I mean... That's even worse bro. Burning that plastic....

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IMJ

I mean... That's even worse bro. Burning that plastic....

[IMJ]

Bro just flatten your recyclables and put them in some boxes until your recycling period.

I have to admit, it's easier for me I guess because our recycling happens every week.