To Unbox, Or Not To Unbox?

[Archon_Turtle]

So I have this dilemma...Very soon I will find myself with the entire loose vintage playmates turtles toy line. Every single figure from 88 -97. The problem is...There are a number of figures in my collection that are NOT loose...and are in fact, MIB. Now, these are some of the more expensive figures. All my Turtleflage figures for instance, are boxed. Effectively thousands of dollars of figures in box.

Why is this a problem you ask? Well...I feel the collection will display better if it is all out of the box. I am going to put this stuff behind glass, grouped by year, and a mix of Loose and boxed just wouldn't look as cool as the entire collection loose.

The shame is, that while I am never going to sell this collection, I did pay TOP dollar for some of the rarer boxed figures, because I could never find one loose.

So help me decide guys...Unbox everything and sacrifice hundreds and hundreds of dollars of "worth"? Or keep what I have in the box, in the box?

[Jon]

I dunno... would seem fine to have loose and MOC/MIB stuff displayed together. Since have them that way, and all.

[Canadian Turtle]

I have a lot of trouble unboxing. I like you never plan on selling the figures so their 'worth' doesn't mean as much to me. But there is still something about a figure that was sold on a shelf 20 odd years ago and is still in its package, I think I heard it said on here before, that it has earned the right to stay in there. I feal it would almost be wrong to take it out. THAT said I wouldn't hold it against you as I would rather have loose figs to display as well!

[Patraw]

I have a mix of both loose and MIB/MOC figures in my collection as well. Personally, it doesn't bother me to have them displayed together, but I can see a person wanting consistancy.

If you look at your expensive figures as an investment, it might be better to keep them in their unopened condition. Even if you feel like you'd never sell them now, years down the road, you might change your mind, or find yourself in a tough financial situation where you have no choice. I've always liked to keep some of my toys MOC just because, having them hanging on the walls in rows, I get the happy feeling of having my own little toy store in my home.

[Krueger]

Keep em boxed. They still look great that way. Plus, you'll always have the option of opening them. Once the paper is crumbled, it can't be perfect again. If you can't decide now, there is a chance you'll regret it down the line.

Personally, I will not sell my figures either but I do like the feeling that certain ones are worth a nice chunk of change because they are boxed.

[CudleyCowlick]

DON'T DO IT MAN!

I myself can never see why anyone would pay generally higher prices for vintage MIB/MOC toys, and THEN go ahead and open them, when there are so many loose/complete out there for much cheaper.

The exceptions that I personally make are when the package is just absolutely wrecked to the point of not being displayable, or when I get a double of something, and of course if I REALLY wanted to display a cool toy loose and I just could not find a really nice loose example. These last cases are rare, though.

I also feel that us collectors owe it to future generations to preserve as many examples as we can (be they MOC or loose) in like-new condition. I have no doubt that TMNT collectors will still be around 100 years from now, and maybe even 500 years from now, if indeed the Earth is still rotating and people still have the money and leisure time to pursue collectibles. Look at people who collect ancient pottery and antique books. The comics and toys of the 20th century will certainly hold a place in the future.

If everyone opens up all their MOC toys, future collectors will have nothing but images of this fantastic box art, and a part of TMNT history will be lost.

To me collecting is a duty to preserve just as much as it is a hobby to enjoy.

[Roseangelo]

Keep what you have boxed boxed. If it really bugs you, double up on the figures and buy loose ones. Once you do that, if you can live without the boxed figures, go ahead and sell those.

While most of my collection is loose, I have no problem keeping certain figures boxed if there's good reason to.

[BigApple3AM]

Maybe I'm crazy but I'm going to say... OPEN EM.

If you enjoy it opened, then open it. It'll make you happier and it'll make me happier too because now my boxed stuff is just a little bit more rare ;)

[TMNTGal]

I collect both so when it comes down to choosing what I will open, it all comes down to the condition of the package.

You won't find me opening any packaged item that's in a collectible condition. It's getting harder to find vintage figures with nice flat cards and undamages bubbles so I'll continue to preserve them.

If you need it loose it's out there. Most figures you can find loose/complete or find the accessories for them quite easily through eBay lots. For harder to find figures those accessories are a pain in the butt to find but not impossible.

I always find damaged carded lots on eBay. Those I don't mind opening since there's no value on a heavily damaged card. For the longest time I wanted a set of the Super Turtles loose. Sure enough I found all of them on eBay but with no accessories. After a while I did manage to find some of the accessories but I didn't bother looking anymore. Vaughn had a set on damaged cards. You bet I opened them. Now I can see them on my shelf everyday. :)

You could always trade your carded figure for a loose/complete equivalent plus some cash or other item to make up the value difference.

If you don't want to bother and want to open everything, be sure to keep the backer cards. Keeping the bubble helps but they take up a lot of space.

[DragonDavy1]

I would keep the older ones in the box and get the best one you like loose to display.

I have some of the first figures in there box because I only have one of each but the NECA's I would love to get two set's of each when they are release, one to open and one to have MISB.:tread:

[Leogeddon]

So I have this dilemma...Very soon I will find myself with the entire loose vintage playmates turtles toy line. Every single figure from 88 -97. The problem is...There are a number of figures in my collection that are NOT loose...and are in fact, MIB. Now, these are some of the more expensive figures. All my Turtleflage figures for instance, are boxed. Effectively thousands of dollars of figures in box.

Why is this a problem you ask? Well...I feel the collection will display better if it is all out of the box. I am going to put this stuff behind glass, grouped by year, and a mix of Loose and boxed just wouldn't look as cool as the entire collection loose.

The shame is, that while I am never going to sell this collection, I did pay TOP dollar for some of the rarer boxed figures, because I could never find one loose.

So help me decide guys...Unbox everything and sacrifice hundreds and hundreds of dollars of "worth"? Or keep what I have in the box, in the box?

I feel your pain... I would try my best in getting the same figures unboxed on ebay (if possible) and display them like that. Have a boxed section and a loose section. That's what I did with my originals except I wanted to play with them for a little bit before displaying.. the young boy inside me never left, instead I charge him rent.

[Ninjinister]

The only ones I open these days on the whole, if I don't get doubles, are deluxe sets like vehicle + figures or double packs - with exceptions. I keep everything else carded, even if it looks like crap, until I can get another (which is why I'm looking for a carded Triceraton Warrior from the 2K3 line - the one on my wall with big strips taken out of the design makes me sad). The rarer stuff, I would definitely keep on the card, especially if it's in great shape. Take Shogun Triceraton for instance - he's a hell of a lot easier to find loose than carded (although I have neither), but if you open one, it'll decrease the number of carded and increase the number of loose.

And I just now realized all of my examples have included Triceratons. How did that work out?

[Leogeddon]

The only ones I open these days on the whole, if I don't get doubles, are deluxe sets like vehicle + figures or double packs - with exceptions. I keep everything else carded, even if it looks like crap, until I can get another (which is why I'm looking for a carded Triceraton Warrior from the 2K3 line - the one on my wall with big strips taken out of the design makes me sad). The rarer stuff, I would definitely keep on the card, especially if it's in great shape. Take Shogun Triceraton for instance - he's a hell of a lot easier to find loose than carded (although I have neither), but if you open one, it'll decrease the number of carded and increase the number of loose.

And I just now realized all of my examples have included Triceratons. How did that work out?

Because that's how awesome they are.

[Ninjinister]

Because that's how awesome they are.

Aye, 'tis true.

[dripgutz24]

I keep all of mine MIB because I just hang them all in my computer room on the wall, I have about 350 figures MIB hanging on all 4 walls, it always brings me back to the days I was 7-12 years old walking into a k-mart or target and staring at all the figures they had for sale that I couldn't afford but now I can so its a great feeling to me to keep them in box.

[Canadian Turtle]

Vaughn had a set on damaged cards. You bet I opened them. Now I can see them on my shelf everyday. :)
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What is that? Is it a store or a person? I might just be stupid sorry...

[Ninjinister]

What is that? Is it a store or a person? I might just be stupid sorry...

Call me stupid, but I think she might be talking about this guy. (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/member.php?u=767)

[Canadian Turtle]

Ok cool so it was someone on the drome... I was kinda hoping it was another tmnt store. Speaking of which give me feedback on my post about my potential TMNT trading post site over in the general TMNT talk section. I hope people think its a good idea!

[Hero]

Will you be interchanging the display from time to time, moving the figures around like. You could display some of the packing from behind as a backdrop (assuming these packaged figures are carded and not boxed).

It's up to you about packaging. Once they are out its not going to be the same again and no turning back.

===HERO

[VaughnMichael]

What is that? Is it a store or a person? I might just be stupid sorry...
Boy I must not be posting enough or something sheesh!:P

[TMNTGal]

Ha ha ha ha...