How anal are you guys about box condition?

[Blasteroid]

So I recently ordered all of the blood splattered TWD pops. Well a good amount of them arrived today and 4 of them have box damage. Its not like the boxes are completely crushed, but there is noticeable damage on the sides and backs which slightly warped the boxes. Is minimal damage something that would greatly reduce any value they might have?

I guess what I'm getting at is, should I just learn to accept this if I order pops online? I thought about asking to get them replaced, but they might arrive again damaged and I can't keep sending them back. Are all of your guys pops in mint boxes, or am I just being too OCD? It's not really noticeable when I have them all stacked on my display, so it probably doesn't matter too much haha.

Also, what are some good sites that are known for packing securely? I ordered from various ebayers, so that might've been my problem right there. Thanks for any help or suggestions!

[Psyke]

i don't buy pops for "value" so i don't tend to care

If i wanted to invest in something to sell back and forth at a later date i think the stock-market might be a better choice :P

And as for opinions on it? i store them all out of the box!

Also Gemini collectibles packaging is amazing

[shogunjlips]

Fugitive boxes arrive in mint condition.

[Blasteroid]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not about the value either. But who knows if a time comes when I might sell them. Some of them will probably be rare by that point. Sorry I don't wanna come off like I collect these solely for the money haha. It's just I'd love nothing more than to have all of my pops in pristine condition sitting on my shelf!

[gyrofx]

I display mine in box. I tend to dislike creases on boxes but a minor one is ok. It bugs me if there are creases on exclusive boxes but at least I know I can just replace the box with a new one and transfer the stickers over with a hair dryer.

Gemini has good quality shipping. I had y b/w captain america box came in dented but the pop was safe and sound amazingly. Generally, I've never had a problem with them.

Fugitive is also a very good box packer.

Toymatrix seems to have packed the reverse flashes very well with bubble wraps and peanuts.

Popcultcha is a hit or miss but their customer support is 2nd to none and you'll get a replacement box or replacement pop if either are damaged.

The other various places are relatively new and I think all comic shops with new exclusives are starting to pack the pops well because most pop collectors are pretty anal.

I don't now about toywiz or those entertainment earth stores since i've never ordered from them before.

Ebay is good if they seller have been selling many pops but hit or miss when they don't have a track record.

Amazon is a huge gamble, unless it's sold directly from a well know retailer like gemini through amazon. I had a hulk shipped to me all saran wrapped and crushed by the force of the wrap from amazon warehouse.

[G_O_Rilla]

I always try to pick up instore son I get the best boxes!

If its just warped (no creases) you can take the insert and pop and and fold the cardboard and stick it in a heavy book.

I've never had problems with ee, fugitive, and as always gemini

[Blasteroid]

Can you explain how to do this "hair dryer method"? Haha. That's actually a great idea. Also is there a way to order replacement boxes?

[gyrofx]

Can you explain how to do this "hair dryer method"? Haha. That's actually a great idea.

well, basically, you hold the dryer at a distance, on medium heat. Make sure it's not too close or too hot. Hold it there for a while and soon the sticky glue from the original box will soften from the heat. You can use a thin blade like an exacto to peel back the sticker and it should come off with ease from the adhesive being softened. Just don't over heat the sticker and you should be fine.

[glowfunkofreak]

As long as they are in JarkBark condition I'm great ...

[jake1977jr]

So I recently ordered all of the blood splattered TWD pops. Well a good amount of them arrived today and 4 of them have box damage.

I'm curious,which 4 were the ones damaged?

[Geescube]

Depends on the collector...in regards to value. If the damage is severe enough it definitely warrants a diminished value. I display in box and personally would prefer non-crushed boxes. Slight damage is pretty hard to avoid. Like a small crease here and there I would probably be ok with depending on the specific location of the damage. If the damage is isolated to the back of the box or the bottom of the box I'd more than likely be just fine.

Its hard to find pristine boxes anymore though. Regardless if you are buying in store or online. I mean B and N and HT are both notorious for having less than perfect boxes in store. Not to mention HT is known for slapping huge % off stickers on the cardboard front of sale pop boxes.

Your best bet to avoid box damage is to visit stores in person and hand pick stuff . I do feel for you though, seeing that these places are selling collectibles they should all know how to properly secure the items before shipment.

However, some good online sites to order from IN MY EXPERIENCE are: ABCTOY4ME.com, Plunderrun.com, Entertainmentearth.com, geminicollectibles.net and Popcultcha.com<---- my experience with these guys was ok due to the fact that I was able to message them and ask for triple bubble wrap.

[kevintree]

I'm very picky about my boxes ]:

[haydenstorm]

The more I collect the more anal I become. I've ordered a few replacement boxes from scottysnacktime. I've also made my wife wait while I look over every box in hottopic to find the best one.

[Blasteroid]

So I recently ordered all of the blood splattered TWD pops. Well a good amount of them arrived today and 4 of them have box damage.

I'm curious,which 4 were the ones damaged?

Daryl, Bicycle Girl, Tank Zombie, and Michonne. All exclusives. Still waiting on my Bloody Glenn to arrive. fingers crossed! I think the worse part is that since these are exclusives, I paid more for them than the usual pop. I expect them to be perfect.

Obviously kind of hard to notice in pictures, but here they are.. and feel free to tell me if I'm being ridiculous haha

[Geescube]

I dont think those are super horrible at all, but yes it is displeasing for sure. The worst IMO is the zombie girl. That crease, but luckily its in the back. As far as the other boxes it doesnt appear to be actual damage to me. More like poor construction from the get go.

[MadLove]

I don't even keep boxes unless they have a fancy sticker on them. You can find some on sale too where the figure is totally fine but the box is destroyed-I've gotten a bung for cheap that way.

[Reverend]

You have to love people that collect boxes! Who care about what's inside it, it all about the box

[SnackDaddy]

JuicemanRJ!!! Pickiest person when it comes to boxes and stickers!!! Lmao!!!

[whytam]

one of my friend is very very picky about his boxes. like if theres like a scratch on it or a dent in a corner he would be upset. thats why when i order things online i wouldnt order for him, cuz i can't make any promises.

in my opinion, i think unless you plan to resell them, box doesnt need to be perfect. it's a nice thing to keep/display, but we are probably the only ones that would be able to know the difference anyway haha!

[Jasper Avenue]

Don't care at all. They arrive, get taken out of the box and the boxes get tossed in the basement

[BigM]

I do care to a limit. I have some that aren't in perfect condition but I usually try to pick them in person also. You can always buy pop protectors from fugitive toys (I think) if you want to protect your boxes.

[Squird]

A couple years ago, I bought a Monkey Assassin Pop set and kept it in the box. Funny thing happened over time. The monkey's got the vinyl sweats (where a chemical that keeps the vinyl soft leeches out). The sweat reacted with the plastic inserts and discolored. Washing them in Dawn and leaving them out of the box and the color returned to normal.

I took Glow Boo Berry out of his box because he was starting to sweat, too.

If you leave Pop (or any vinyl) in the plastic inside the box, you run this risk. If your favorite Pop turns yellow, the condition of the box ain't going to matter much.

Something to think about.

[dmartin]

A couple years ago, I bought a Monkey Assassin Pop set and kept it in the box. Funny thing happened over time. The monkey's got the vinyl sweats (where a chemical that keeps the vinyl soft leeches out). The sweat reacted with the plastic inserts and discolored. Washing them in Dawn and leaving them out of the box and the color returned to normal.

I took Glow Boo Berry out of his box because he was starting to sweat, too.

If you leave Pop (or any vinyl) in the plastic inside the box, you run this risk. If your favorite Pop turns yellow, the condition of the box ain't going to matter much.

Something to think about.

Really..even in a temp controlled environment away from direct sunlight etc?

[Squird]

Yup.

Monkeys were in my office. So is Boo. I've had to air out some Spastiks as well.

[dmartin]

Yikes...how long did that take to happen

[Squird]

Boo came out the year before last, so almost two years. About the same for the Monkeys. Spastiks is hard to say, I don't know how long I've had them.

Point is, I don't think it is a good idea to leave plastic toys in their plastic packaging for an extended period of time. You could wind up damaging your investment without ever touching it. Ironic.

[Geescube]

^ i think im going to have a heart attack. I imagine that the "sweats" would completely destroy an artist signature as well .

[Squird]

It's nature's way of reminding you these are temporal things.

If you display out of box the sweats are not as troublesome. I had a Muttpop figure that was real sweaty when I opened the box. But it ceased to be an issue once I wiped him down and let him breathe. Since that incident, I unbox all of the vinyl toys I collect for a while after I get them.

[Geescube]

Pains me to say it...but i may have to unbox a few now. This is the second time ive read about "vinyl sweats." Darn things. Thx for the info Stephe.

[TheVinylDead]

A couple years ago, I bought a Monkey Assassin Pop set and kept it in the box. Funny thing happened over time. The monkey's got the vinyl sweats (where a chemical that keeps the vinyl soft leeches out). The sweat reacted with the plastic inserts and discolored. Washing them in Dawn and leaving them out of the box and the color returned to normal.

I took Glow Boo Berry out of his box because he was starting to sweat, too.

If you leave Pop (or any vinyl) in the plastic inside the box, you run this risk. If your favorite Pop turns yellow, the condition of the box ain't going to matter much.

Something to think about.

No wonder my Captain America was wet when I took him out of the box.
I just thought he was going through puberty

[Eurocoin]

I open my toys, so box condition does not matter to me at all as long as the toy itself is in a good shape.

[tjbhab]

For exclusives and limited edition I am very picky. If they are regular editions then I will accept minor minor creases but they have to something that only I notice . If I show my wife and kids and they dont see it then I am usually fine about it.

[PWN3R]

Does anyone store their boxes flat? If so, how do you handle the clam shells? I'd imagine mixing them up would be easy.