Mint or Played with: To open or not to open?

[cup-mikey-gertha]

When I was still a kid with my siblings and cousins, we had a whole lot of toys, collectible toys and comic books. We are definetely not rich, and even though our parents bought for us good stuff, I must say that part of those treasures were bought by me and my brother with our hard-earned money of doing chores, errands, selling something, etc. within the area. But everytime, we got another toy/toy collectible, we immediately take it out from its packaging and play with it to our hearts content. We had a lot of imagination, frankly. The toys/toy collectibles had a lot of adventures-- from underwater to heavy combat to harsh environment to "monster" hunting. Adventures involved the bathroom, staplers, staple wires, punchers, hot flat iron (yes! the hot flat iron), ropes, pulleys, etc. If it's a comic book, my brother is already very careful with his, but with my comic books, I'll read it over and over again bringing me wherever I go form my room, to the living room, to the dinner table and even at school. Every adventure was lots of fun. Each reading was exciting. We were happy.

Fast forward, our old toys and comics back then? Most of them are "I-don't know-where-the-heck-they-are-where-did-you-last-put-them" state, of it not-- amputees, or burnt or decapidated. My brothers's X-Men and Uncanny Xmen action figures are all scratched. Our Ghostbusters collection is completely lost. Regarding my comic books, my Robin #1 is in a devastatng site while my Robin #2 is missing the cover. You get the picture.

Now that we have our jobs, as much as possible I don't open the packaging anymore for the toy collectibles. I just content myself staring at it (an exception of course for the GUNDAM, hehehe, since you have to assemble and custom paint them is necessary, and the anime "figurines" that are bought from the store glass windows without boxes, even my WWEs our in the packaging still). My brother's new DC, Star Wars, Marvel, X-Files 12-inch figures obviously are kept inside his cabinets and drawers (take note: not displayed) with their boxes, but at least he can take them out of the box since they are not sealed unlike with the TMNT Playmates which you have to tear open to get Mike out. With my comic books now, I make sure that my hands are soap and alcohol clean before I get to touch them.

Og course, with the comics books, it is a must to have them in mint. But how about the toys. I see you most guys here, have taken their TMNT out of the packaging. Shall I do the same with mine ans stop staring at the wall?

I just don't want to look back and have the same scenario happening again. We have cats and small children in the house. Of course, I'll be very carefully playing with them and might even have a home video or two, but is it worth it in sacrifice of the mintiness?

I don't have any plans of selling them.

(For a thought: My brother's behavior with his comic books paid off. He sold his old entire collection back then to help pay for his tuition. I asked him once before if it is worth selling them, and he replied, "If I hadn't, I will not be a lawyer right now." yup, he was taking Law then and a full practicing lawyer currently. If his comic books were not in mint, he can't sell them in that price. I'm just saying.)



Any insights?

[A little *too* Raph]

I think its just a matter of personal preference. I keep mine carded, I just like the look of them in the original packaging. If you dont intend to ever sell them and want to display them, I'd say go ahead and open them up.

[Archon_Turtle]

This is a heavily discussed topic round these parts. You'll get various answers from both camps, but no answer to this question is really incorrect.

I believe the point it comes down to is...would you sell? If the answer is yes, then keep them MOC. If the answer is no, then do whichever will make you happier.

I am the kind of collector that would sooner go into debt if I "really needed money" then sell my collection. So a ton of my stuff isn't MOC...much of the packaging removed by my own hand

[cup-mikey-gertha]

Thanks for the reply, guys. I am now tempted to see the twin translucent Ninja Tech nunchakus ins action. Just having little second thoughts.

[Samhain]

do whatever makes you happy.

[Ninjinister]

I collect them in both forms. I have shelves of loose, and walls of carded. Both have a different aesthetic appeal to me.

[VaughnMichael]

I've got a little of both but the majority of my collection now is out of the box and displayed.

[OA]

Go with your gut. If something truly bothers you, then maybe consider getting 2 of a figure: 1 to open, 1 to keep sealed. A bit more expensive but maybe easier to swallow.

[Lil G]

well, it depends. if it is a rare figure, or will sell good in like 10-20 years, buy one to open and buy one to save to sell. like me for instance, my mom is getting me a tmnt neca four pack for christmas. i know those will sell very good in like 10-20 years so for my birthday money i am going to buy another four pack to sell when i get older. but hey, i always rip em open to play with. i dont get toys no more unless they have good detail, articulation(dont know how to spell it), and is made by a good company. thats why i am going to get all the neca figures for christmas and my birthday. if anybody got any loose climbing hands, suriken, or extra acceccories(dont know how to spell that either!) and would give them away (for free) for like tmnt wanted toys i would happily trade. ok, back to topic now!

[turkishproverb]

Ooh a fellow gundam fan. Cool. Do you guys get the U.C. Plushies there? We don't.

Anyway, I vote open. Its not worth having a figure it its a prisoner and still young. Older ones like vintage star wars figures that are MIP have a life sentance.

[Spitfire]

I personally keep all my toys MOC now. I just find it easier to store them. If I do want to open them I buy an extra. I can use up wall space to hang them as opposed to shelf space which is limited.

Some stuff I couldn't help opening like the giant TMNT, Bebop, and Rocksteady. I also have others I opened before I decided to collect only in package.

If you still play with toys open the suckers. Turtles toys aren't really worth anything. There's only a few from the old line that are rare and sell for a lot on Ebay now. Most of them you can find for a good price if you shop around.

The new figures are all pretty plentiful. The only rare ones are the UK Exclusives and Quarry. Karai and some others used to be rare till they re-released them all. Anyways I wouldn't worry about it, enjoy them while you have them in whatever form you want to. If you never plan on selling them and want to play with them don't rob yourself of that pleasure. If you really want to just buy another boxed version to keep or find an already opened one on Ebay and have that to mess around with.

[FLAduranie]

I go through stages. One day I'll collect only MOC and the next it's tear them open and play.

[cup-mikey-gertha]

I don't have plans of selling them, really. I still haven't opened Fast Forward, yet. MOC still.

Originally Posted by turkishproverb

Ooh a fellow gundam fan. Cool. Do you guys get the U.C. Plushies there? We don't.

Where you from? Universal Century plush toys? They don't have it in the stores here... and come to think of it even in the conventions here. Hmmm...

[Patraw]

I keep some toys MOC (mostly my McFarlane Toys Spawn figures), and some loose. I don't really have any rules, one way or the other, for what I open and what I don't--if I want to take it out and mess around with it, I do.

[BoggleKng]

Just like football, you need a good mix of run and pass.. as Madden says...

I like a little of both.. There seem to be good finds in both areas, mib and loose.

[Lil G]

Originally Posted by BoggleKng

Just like football, you need a good mix of run and pass.. as Madden says...

I like a little of both.. There seem to be good finds in both areas, mib and loose.

gotta agree with you there buddy. also, welcome to the technodrome!

[Candy Kappa]

as much as I want to I can't control myself to keep figures in the box. I have to open them!

[cup-mikey-gertha]

Yes, the temptation is great.

Anyway, welcome again to the forums, Kiwamu-san.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by smile_seta

Yes, the temptation is great.

Anyway, welcome again to the forums, Kiwamu-san.

thanks I'll be more active now that the holidays are over

[cup-mikey-gertha]

Just checking the poll results. So rip 'em open wins so far.