To open, or not to open, that is the question
 

so i have been always talking to fellow collectors about if they open their collectibles or leave mint in packaging.

i have shit loads of action figures and i leave them mint in packaging but find it a pain in the ass to display them. the other day i saw pics of two rooms of people i know who open their collectibles and have a mean set up which blew me away. . . i am torn right now because i hate opening up my collectibles but seeing how nice they had their stuff set up is making me think twice. . .

we all know leaving them in packaging is a better pay off in the long run as far as value go, but i've seen loose figures go for a lot also which always make me wonder how much would have they gone if they were mint in the packaging.

what do you guys do in regards to your collection?
do you leave figures mint in boxes/blister cards or do you guys say to the hell with it and open them to display them?

thats why i buy doubles :) ... i use to be a moc guy still em from time to time but most of the figures i buy now i open.. i want to make a sic set up too but i need to move alot of stuff around the room and blah blah blah ... it will be done soon tho ;)

I think there is thread like this already. Basically your responses are- "Leave them in the package!" (MOC Collectors like me) and "Free them from the plastic prisons! Toys are meant to be played with!" (loose collectors)

Whatever makes you happy bub

Well, toys are a terrible financial investment to start with. Very few toys ever go on to be worth anything in the long run. And most of those that do takes several decades to gain any true financial value.
Most of the popular lines for collectors, like MU, DCUC, Star Wars, and Transformers never gain any significant value. Those that do, tend to be rare exceptions (Like the occasional Botcon, Foreign, or SDCC exclusive). Or tend to be significant characters. (Beast Wars Transformers had a very limited cast in the show. Show characters tend to be the more valuable in the line, while all the rest, MiB or not, all tend to be very reasonable second hand market prices.)
Plus, I know a lot of collectors like myself who would prefer to buy an opened, but very well cared for older figure, than one in box. If I'd gotten a G1 TF mint in box... well... I wouldn't have the heart to open it. But my nature is I couldn't let it sit there either. So I have no desire to buy it.
Anything newer would end up getting ripped open.

So I say barring a few exceptions you may want to research first, chances are by opening and displaying your collection, you're not going to devalue it by much, if at all.

For my personal opinion, I couldn't care less about the second hand value of what my toys are worth. That brings me no relevence, comfort, or enjoyment. Looking at display of my own toys that looks just the same as a store display, with them all in their packages only makes me sad.
I say free them from their confines, and enjoy them for what they are ment to be!

There have been a ton o threads on this same topic, OP.

see? :)

Wheres the like button :)

It's a simple matter of what you collect: toys or toy packages.

I have all of the packages of the ones I've opened too :)

^This.

Maybe open some of the less valuable ones and see how that goes. If you are good with it then open more and go from there. If not it wouldn't cost much to get those figures back MOC

dude, i went through it all, buying doubles, dont open packages for resale value, buy them and store them away for a bunch of years, but ive come to the conclusion that you only live once. and were here for a short time, enjoy your figs.most of us are collectors because we love these things but when you start trying to make a profit if you think about it your not making enough to justify not opening you figs.At least most of us arent. be a collector. enjoy the smell of the plastic as youopen them them.put them on a shelf or simply just to look at them dispalyed. you only live once. and chances are that when you check out of this world youll leave them behind for someone else to not appreciate them like you wouldve. OPEN THE FRIGGIN PACKAGES ALREADY DUDE!

p.s....save the package after you open it in case someone wants to buy it off you for a butt-load of coin,dude.

I struggle with this daily. I recently opened a Joe renegades Cobra Commander & an Iron Man Mark VI, then I found an old McFarlane Dr. Evil to open. So I got my fix for now. But my MU's taunt me continuously...

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...0/P5120477.jpg

/taunt.

What gets me most is that damn Task Master. Sticks out like a sore thumb. If I had him, he'd be open... I'm so leaning towards liberating them. I feel an anxiety attack coming on...

ok show off,I bet you didnt open malgus. :P

I caved a little. Hulk was already open and those are the only ML I have, so it wasn't so painful.. Kinda disappointed in Fantomex, he doesn't want to stand on his own..

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_1082.jpg

Dheezy, buy a stand for that beaut

I'll have to do that...

As far as opening my MU. I'm going to sleep on it. I know in the grand scheme of things It's really petty. But it feels like a life altering decision lol. As a MOSC collector for the last 15 years. It goes against everything I know and believe in.

Also, since I've opened Fanto & Iron Man. I find myself critiquing them and being disappointed with certain things. Never had that issue before. As long as the package was nice and the figures looked good, that was all I cared about.

Like many of said there is multiple threads of this, pretty sure I started 1 or 2 of them myself lol.

MOC or MISB collectors have 2 advantages they will have the highest resale value if they choose or need to sell. They also get the full package litterally displayed. It adds to the overall figure, as for most of us we go to a retail store, and reach for the toy off a peg, the packaging and figure dry our eyes and wallets to want it.

Loose figures retain value, in the cae of rare toys in general condition is everything, but if it's rare it will always be rare. As an item is no longer mass produced the value rises as the supply can not meet the general demand. If demand is great enough market value prices can skyrocket, in the case of g1 transoformers, starwars, hotwheels, etc. I think being able to open and free your figure from his plastic prison is an awesome and rewarding feeling. You get to remove the plastic shackles tieing them down, and you get to hear the crinkle of the plastic shell packaging buckle under your power of ripping the figure to life, put them in a badass dramatic pose then plase them on your shelf/in display case. You can store a lot more figures loose easier then moc, as less room for packaging. Some collectors will hang on to the entire packaging and repackage the figure for display or resale, some keep the backings, most throw the crap away. I have like 2 small sandwhich bags full of manuals and file cards and such for mu,spiderman,thor,cap etc. I'd say if you like the look of it moc, know your limitations for price and room for display, if you want to open them, consider buying doubles or just open them then worry about a proper display. Posing your figures and using the multiple weapons, poa, and admiring the paint and detail work up close is amazing and part of the reason we collect action figures. Also hard to customize a figure if you leave it MOC.

Oh I did, going hunting up Island tomorrow. I may find moar!

RELEASE them all from their Plastic Prisons.

pics or it didnt happen. :D

(many, but not all) MOC collectors suffer from this supposed theory that their collections will be worth a ton some day. this is hogwash. yes, if you collected in the 80's etc and kept all your stock in tact, your collection is priceless...

but in this day and age, you are playing yourselves. your collections will only be worth what someone is willing to pay for them, not what the vintage market entails. MOC MU Vision will not end up in the same conversation as MOC '85 Snake Eyes w Timber.

night and day.

This.