Hey everyone

New collector here, just started collecting within the last week and recently acquired my first few figures. As a previous toy collector I've had my share of opening figures and keeping other collections sealed. I'm not 100% where I fall currently on the Transformers line. I know this varies from collector to collector, but I was curious to see if other collectors open figures or keep 'em sealed.

 

I like to enjoy my figures and their engineering. If it is special enough or old enough, I will keep it in its box when I'm not messing with it, but I don't collect for resale value.

 

I open pretty much all new figures. Vintage I'll leave sealed, if the box is still sealed and in decent shape. I bought a few G2 jets that I intended to open, until I saw how nice the cards were in person.

 

I always open.

The way I see it, if for whatever reason I lose interest in them, I could always sell them. Even open they're probably worth something. And even then I'd probably just donate them or something.

I also like the idea of when I'm older, having kids of my own who'll play with my toys  

 

Great poll! This has been debated for a long time across many collecting hobbies. Personally I fall somewhere in the middle, if it's a really well engineered and somewhat complex figure I will open it and if I can swing it I will try to get doubles so one can stay in the package but that's not always an option with particularly high price points.

 

Open

 

Unless it's a double, open it, transform it, pose it, display it.

 

Open. Transformers are meant to be played with. They aren't static action figures or maquettes which there are no point in opening because they don't do anything. (I know some fans collect that kind of stuff, I don't. When the Jlu line came out, I tried my hand at collecting, but I picked up a Wonderwoman, opened it, she could only moved her arms up and down, and I was hit with a sudden wave of "wow, I just wasted my money." Even on disappointing transformers, it at least takes a little while before I feel like that. And with the good ones I never feel like that. I still regularly fiddle with my Powermaster Optimus Prime set because moving him through his various modes is just so damn fun and satisfying.)

 

until i have the full set I want, i prefer to leave a majority of them sealed. Though I have caved in on a few in the past and of course any loose figures i pick up because said figure is priced beyond what I want to pay when sealed.

 

If your collecting is really focused you can do both. I have a MISB and Loose collection of TFPrime and I have a Masterpiece collection that is Loose with a few additional MISB for my favorite characters. Anything else that is just for fun or spur of the moment is loose to mess around with.

As long as you're having fun, it doesn't matter if you open them or not.

 

Open.

I totally understand the lure of keeping MISB figures (esp on the older boxes which had some beautiful box art), but I like posing them, setting up displays, and modding them. So I always open.

 

Open. I just don't see the point of keeping them sealed.

 

Open them up and give them FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM!*






*Optimus Prime style with some temp slavery on the side, like carrying things or something.

edit
Sort of off topic, but what about opening it but making sure the box/card back is in good enough condition to put it back in, there's no unwritten rule about that, right?

 

I open a lot now. But some I will keep factory sealed. Not meant for reselling, but I have no intention of openning vintage stuff especially if I have loose examples. They are like works of art that can be admired/appreciated without opening and playing with them.

 

I open EVERYTHING. Vintage collectors, I'm the guy you hate.

 

The only reasons not to open are if you are a toy " investor " and reselling later or you can't contemplate having and/or playing with toys as an adult. You can keep the boxes and cards too if you like the art and packaging, that is no reason not to open them. If you really just like the look in package just print a photo out and hang it on your wall.

I actually think about that myself for some toys, I am happy to look at a picture but don't need to physically own it. Some day I might be a pictures of toys collector, lol!

 

Uhhhhh....no.

I have MISB that I will not be reselling and like them the way they are and have loose copies to "play" with.

 

I tend to open them about 99% of the time.

 

Toys were meant to be played with.