JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Saga Collection '06 => Topic started by: roron corobb on May 21, 2006, 01:59 AM
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How rare does an item have to be before you think twice of opening it? I'm an opener, but I was wondering if others have the problems I have when it comes to rare items and to open or not to open. Would you have a problem opening a Toy Fair Darth Vader? Or those UGH versions, etc? Would price you pay for the item affect you decision? Thanks
roron corobb
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Stuff like TF Vader and the UGHs I wouldn't open. I also didn't open the chrome figures that TRU and Hasbro did a couple years back, since they really didn't have any use loose. The UGHs are kind of a neat little thing that really lose their luster loose, so I've kept those carded.
When it comes to the Target premium figures, I buy two. I have two each of the first Clone and Demise of Grievous so I can have it both ways.
Rarity doesn't much matter to me. I opened the Sio Bibble wave even though I knew they were hard to find, just as I did when I got my hands on TC-14, R2-B1, and Commtech R2. I just opened a ML Logan variant a couple weeks ago, even though the series 11 variants haven't been seen much.
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I really try to have one of each loose and carded. I have the silver exclusive figures, the target exclusives, the UGH, and many others loose. The Toy Fair vader was an exception. I had two at one point, and really wanted to open one, but they were getting $200.00 each online. I had to choose between a set of gentle giant busts or a loose silver vader figure- I sold vader to get the busts. No regrets so far...
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I kind of go along with what Ben said (in reference to the silver con figures being "useless" when opened). If it's a figure that is in the films in the form it was released as a figure, it gets opened. If it's an EU (in terms of source, such as the Clone repaints) figure, it gets opened.
The only figures I haven't opened in my collection are:
-Celebration III Darth Vader (due to the packaging)
-Lava Reflection Darth Vader (horrible sculpt and more of a novelty)
-Lava Reflection Darth Vader on Mustafar (novelty)
-Lava Reflection Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar (novelty)
-Titanium Series Vintage Finish Boba Fett (novelty)
-Titanium Series Silver Slave I (novelty)
-TSC UGH Scorch (novelty)
-TSC UGH Boba Fett (novelty)
I think that the list above, as you can tell, are based on novelty more than anything else. What use for a loose Lava Reflection Vader would I possibly have in displays? The UGH figures are nothing more than regular figures with a fancy stand when you open them, and one opened Titanium Fett is enough.
That said, you should have seen the looks on people's faces when they've seen Sio Bibble, R2 with Holo Leia, TC-14, R2-B1, etc sitting out loose. "YOU OPENED THEM? WHY?" :P
So, um, long story short:
-Regular figure that was in the films? OPEN
-Commemorative figure that is superfluous? CARDED
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I'm an opener. The one and only item I've never opened is my C3 Vader. But I think I won't be opening my GL in stormie disguise figure either.
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I always open my stuff, so the more rare something is, the more pleasure I get from tearing it out of the package.
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The only things I havent opened are things I want to keep as is for the most part, I don't plan to play with these things or let my kid have them. Some are just for the novelty of it.
C3 Vader, C2 Jorg Sacul, ep2 sneak preview Clone, Jango and Zam and ep3 sneak preview Grevious, plus the 500th Vader. Plus two silver chrome figs R2 and clone trooper.
I never got the lava figs vader, anakin or obi-wan due to their lameness factor (imho). But I ever got the GL family collection I'd probably keep it un opened.
but to each their own.
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Open them all, let God sort them out.
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If it's especially valuable, I think twice- and then I probably trade it off for a couple loose figures I'd rather have :)
I would never, ever consider opening a vintage figure. VOTC and VTSC on the other hand are so getting opened unless it's C3POS.
UGH figures... if it's a figure I really want, I'd open it- like if I found a UGH Fett- unless I could get a better deal via trading. I don't really respect hte UGH campaign that much, it seems like money-grubbing against collectors, plus I wouldn't mind having a silver stand or two in my display.
EU figures, while rare, I'd probably open unless I already have a loose one (I wouldn't be opening a Thrawn at this point) and have no real use for another (Luke might get opened).
Basically, if it's valuable and I don't need it, I won't open it... and if it's in certain categories (Vintage, crazy rare items, etc.) I still wouldn't open it, but every figure I own is currently opened now (though, the most valuable are probably VTSC Han, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Captain Piett- I don't have anything that's really "rare.").
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Perceived value is what it comes down to. Having said that, and since I am an opener on 99.9% of figures, I always ask myself this question: name me one Star Wars figure out of the basic line that would
a) pay for one of my children's entire college
b) allow me to retire
c) allow me to buy one luxury item like a boat, fancy car, etc that you normally couldn't like a Porsche etc.
Bottom line, there isn't, so I really don't worry about it. Since I am an opener, the only way I keep something carded is IF I for some weird reason end up with mutiples, I will open one and keep one carded for future trade bait. When I do that it is on those figures that are hard to find, or that were in great demand. Bottom line, I open because I like to display my figures. IF I was in this to really collect and make money, I would be collecting on the high end, I would not be buying 3 3/4 inch Hasbro figures. I would probably be trying to buy movie prompts and items used in the movie. Then again, if I could do that, I probably would have the money to do whatever I wanted anyway.
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Ive struggled with opening my shocktroopers for a while. Soon. Very Soon.
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I'm the world's most impatient opener. If I really dig a figure, there have been times I've opened them in the car. I think it's been that way since I was 4. ;)
Being that way taught me a few lessons over there years. When SOTE first shipped, I found Jedi Luke and promptly ripped him open, even though he had an ugly brown tunic. Oops.
I think I started collecting carded more out of paranoia than anything else in the early days of the modern line, and now I try to hold off opening any figure if I don't have my standard 1 carded/1 opener on-hand, especially if I have suspicions about the figure's future availability. For example I wouldn't have opened Bly or Gree if I had only 1 of them, and knew fully they were the last figures in the year's line.
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I always open things in the car. always.
seriously, I do.
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I'm a carded/boxed collector and I really only set vehicles free from their prison - I always loved the vehicles more so than the figs (TF fan speaking). Aside from the Hoth wave that I won from JD - I really had no joy in opening the packaging and setting them free. It just felt so wrong for some reason. Though I'm really enjoying Veers & Vader for what it's worth.
I've got pretty much every carded figure and boxed vehicle since 95 and the money I waste on storage every month is starting to really ware on me.
I'm not keeping everything carded and boxed for value (at least I hope not) I've just always had a thing about boxes and what not since I was a kid - empty Nike/Addias shoe boxes - game system boxes. I think it ended there with my box obsession until I got back into SW.
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I'm leaning towards openng everything now except for exclusives.
For all the boxes that house my carded collection, it could all be cut in half if they were loose. Plus I love the fresh smell of plastic. :p
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It depends...
My TF Vader stays carded because, to me, that item is only interested carded because it is only interesting with value behind it... Without value, it's a Vader with silver paint all over it... if I wanted that, which is basically worthless, I'd spray paint one. :) Carded is all that keeps the piece "interesting" to me, even without wanting to sell it.
For me, a complete silver carded figure set looks interesting... As dull as it is, the complete set is a kind of weird centerpiece to a loose collection.
If someone's uncommon and I happen to have an EXTRA, I'll keep that extra carded, but let's just say for argument's sake I had two Cody's... One's gonna get opened irregardless of how "rare" or valuable he was at any given time. The one I need gets opened, the other sits.
UGH I don't open but then again I don't find them much either... if I do, I buy them to help out friends who've helped me. If I found an UGH Cody and didn't own Cody, I'd offer the UGH to someone for a non-UGH one or some other similar swap to help someone out...
In my collection, the only carded stuff is kept so because it's interesting that way. A loose Lava Vader is dull... A carded Lava Vader w/my ticket from the morning and stuff, that's still sort of dull but it's at least got some "value" to it that makes it a little less dull. Plus it with the other '05 exclusives look good. Those kinds of things NEED some "friends" on the wall carded to make them look good. It's why I think everyone wants to find taped VTSC figures, so they can have a set to open but keep the packaging to hang with the purdy VOTC packaging... Then it looks more interesting.
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It depends...
My TF Vader stays carded because, to me, that item is only interested carded because it is only interesting with value behind it... Without value, it's a Vader with silver paint all over it... if I wanted that, which is basically worthless, I'd spray paint one. :) Carded is all that keeps the piece "interesting" to me, even without wanting to sell it.
I would have to agree. I have never sold one piece of SW item nor do I ever plan to. For me, it's not about "how much am I going to get for this someday?" It's all about having one carded or boxed to admire like fine art, and one or more to open to appreciate the product.
My plan is to give it all to my future children someday. I hope they learn to appreciate the collection but who knows if they will be into Star Wars. They might not appreciate it at all so they can keep it or sell it if they wish.
The bottom line for me is "Collect it for the love of it!".
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I feel the same way as many of the others who have already posted here. It really depends. For the most part, I open everything. Every so often, I leave some things carded. For example, I often try to pick up an extra of each Han that is released to leave carded, as well as some of the Chewies. There are also some other figures that I've picked up extras of, that are carded right now. I might end up opening them, but for now they're boxed up for no reason in particular. I have extras of figures like Cody, Gree, a TPM Anakin, a few of the commtech figures, etc. I used to have a few more, but just started ripping them open over the past couple years to save on space. As a general rule, with the exception of keeping an extra Han or Chewie (or in some cases, the VOTC/VTSC figures) - as well as anything "special" or "commemorative", I open them up. I have a holo Emperor (OTC), holo Yoda (ROTS), and figures like that which are still carded. But I did open up the original Target clone I found. I personally don't have the C3 or Silver Vaders, but those are good examples of figures that could be left carded too.
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I dont think I open ;D
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Thanks guys for the insight into your worlds. How would you do with something a little less rare and value wise like the E1 accessories sets wave 2 (Hyperdrive Repair, Podracer Fuel Station, etc), or any of the other hard to find normal items from the various lines?
roron corobb
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Open them all, let God sort them out.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
:)
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Thanks guys for the insight into your worlds. How would you do with something a little less rare and value wise like the E1 accessories sets wave 2 (Hyperdrive Repair, Podracer Fuel Station, etc), or any of the other hard to find normal items from the various lines?
roron corobb
I'd love to open those sets... if I had them! If you open them and regret it, you can sell them to me. :)
:)
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i
Open them all, let God sort them out.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
:)
I just opened my Eopie and Qui gon set I got from ebay, been selling my customs on ebay to pay for the hobby. Does not matter to me, if I buy that means I need to open it and slap it with the rest of my collection!
Read my side bar qoute.......Open your toys! Words to live by!