When I'm at the store, browsing for Tformers (or any toy, for that matter), I inspect the toy through the plastic bubble, checking for scratches, and missing paint apps, and missing parts. In the case of Tformers, after I've opened and transformed the toy, I check to see if it has mold defects or missing paint apps, etc. I am really picky about this. The most recent example was with my ROTF Sideswipe. He has 4 horns on his head. The one right above his left eye was slightly misshapen, sagging down toward the back. This annoyed me so much that I went and bought a 2nd Sideswipe, swapped the heads, and returned it. Now, you might be wondering why I didn't just return the one with the sloppy head; but that one had minimal scratches in car mode, so I wanted to keep all of that.
I don't really pay much attention to these types of things. I mean, if it's a glaring defect, I'll switch it out, but scratches don't bother me as much as they do most people.
I am very much like you Red4, I'm picky and will look at several figures. Sometimes I just won't buy them if they are all scratched up. I don't return them though if they have a minor issue in the alt mode.
I look and make sure there are no glaring problems. I have purchased a second to part swap and return the defective one on occasion. I do it that way in case the new one has a different problem, I only have to do one return not 2.
I closely examine each and every one of a figure at the store before buying. I'm obsessive compulsive, so I can't leave the store otherwise. What a pain...
I try to pick the one with nicest paint job and minimum visual flaws. There are occasions that I need to buy a second one and do parts swap too, if the issue is severe (like a ratchet doesn't click or some parts are broken that can't be fixed easily). This happens a lot in TF toys, as they are lower price range toys that can't have very tight QC. This kind of pick & choose or parts swapping doesn't happen often in my other collections. But with Hasbro, I kind of need to sometimes. Returning the faulty one entirely doesn't always mean your 2nd one will be good to go. That already happened with my Leader Megatron. Had a very loose hip peg, so hastily exchanged for another one. Turned out the 2nd one has a looser ratchet in some place else, while my 1st one all joints clicks perfectly even...should have done my part swap first, then return the bad one.
I give any figs i buy a good look over at the store for glaring defects, minor paint issues don't bug me too much, but missing pieces do as do major paint app issues
If there's tons of the same figure and I have time, I'll examine closely just for any major scratches, etc. Otherwise, a little thing here and there won't really bother me. I've had pretty good luck on my purchases.
I'm generally pretty picky, so I'll compare several toys in the store to find the best one. For toys that I particularly like, I'll buy two, one to open and one to keep MISB. If I have a second MISB, it is theoretically perfect (ignorance is bliss), so I can tolerate more flaws in the one that I've opened.
I have this weird thing where if I see a figure I want, I grab it as quick as I can...like in the 2 seconds it takes for me to spot it and grab it, they'll instantly dissappear off the shleves. It isn't till I'm home, taking it out of the packaging, that I start to notice scratches and what-not. But usually I get my stuff mail-order so it's not even an issue, I'm just happy to have it.
That's me as well... I went through 12, yes, 12 Leader Primes near midnight when they were released to find one that did not have an already scratched-up faceplate, for example. If I am paying $50 for a Transformer, you can bet your @$$ it is going to be perfect, or I will not buy it. Let someone else pay full price for already scratched/damaged goods; it won't be me, I assure you.
Living in a country where many transformers don't even get a mainstream release, I don't have that luxury. Most of my TFs are online purchases, so there's little choice in what you get. That being said I've never sent a purchase back (sorely tempted once).
I inspected my Sideswipe before purchase (which was easy considering that there were only 2 avaliable.) I picked the one with the least marks in alt mode.)
Eh, I'm kind of in the middle. I've never had to return anything (though I've been collecting for only a year and a half), and the only terrible QC issues I've had were the incredibly floppy first-release Animated figures and Universe Prowl whose paint can scratch quite easily. I fixed most of the Animated figures, and I just don't mess with Prowl that much.
I usually inspect, and I always grab the figures at the back of the pegs. I was in target yesterday, and a mom was trying to get her son a figure, and she was knocking all the front one's down in the process.
As long as there are no mold defects or huge glaring pait app mistakes, I'm ok with what comes in the package. Most are stored in large bins after their freedom so there are always small scuffs here and there.
