I, personally, don't and never will, understand MISB collecting. I mean sure, It'll go higher on eBay after a while of not being in stores, but for actual collectors, It's like going to the store everyday, and just sitting in the toy isle. I can vaguely understand action figure (not really) but transformers need to be transformed. The toy's no fun in It's package. MISB collecting is like hanging pictures of toys on a wall. I can't go a half-an-hour without Transforming the toy/s I'm playing with. And to make sure It never happens, I save the clear plastic for future needs (you'll see) collect the twisty-ties (same reason) and cut things out of the box (like symbols and pictures). Make use of it all. Maybe some MISB collectors (SOME!) just don't want everything to go to waste. Or some sort of conservative B.S. :lol

But aren't you like really young? MISB collecting is usually the habit of us older fans whom already enjoyed playing with the TFs as kids, but now collect for the sake of nostalgia. I'd imagine it would be harder for younger people to understand concept of owning a toy you never intend to play with.

 

Also, never say never. 20 years from now you'll be hunting for that MISB TF you fondly remembered from your youth!

i'm 24 and am just now starting to understand the misb thing... sorta. it does look really nice, but man i just can't help but open my stuff up and play with it. unfortunately maturity has taken it's tole and my idea of playing is more posing and transforming than actually playing, but still. thanks to the new really nice packaging i've started keeping my boxes, and making sure they're in good shape. if you saw me picking through joes you'd think i was an misb collector because i'll grab the best card i can find, and if the card is trashed i'll pass on it. i really like displaying my joe cards. not there yet with transformers, although i do display my reissue boxes (when i can) because they're super nice. i'd also display any g1 packaging i happened to find, but i'm not going to go paying $50 + just for the box.

Hey, I'm 14 and can understand buying something and not opening it. I just chose not to. I'm gonna have to side with Nakashima here, they just aren't any fun in their packaging.

*Still doesn't understand the point of owning Transformers if you can't Transform them*

 

:pfx

*Still doesn't understand the point of owning Transformers if you can't Transform them*

 

:pfx

 

:pfx

I wish Hasbro would follow suit with carded figures to give collectors the option of displaying toys on card. It's such a simple thing to do.

I'd bet shoplifting is more of an issue in the US, which is why the idea of easily opened cards probably never gained any traction here.

 

(Heh, I feel like I've said this before in response to a similar post you've made.)

I buy vintage G1 figures MISB for the nostalgia. Playing with them so much as a kid obviously left them in less than pristine condition, so now it's nice to have the sealed, pristine pieces again. They bring back good memories. I also like knowing that the weapons bags are still taped shut, that the instruction booklet has no creases, that the advertisements aren't torn, that sort of stuff.

 

This may sound corny, but I also view them not just as toys, but as art. You gotta admit, the box art (especially the back battle scenes) on the old figures is pretty sweet. It's pop-art to me. Hell, if a Campbell's soup can can be considered art, these certainly can too.

 

I also like the hunt, as someone else referenced. It's fun to search out the best piece you can for the price you want. And I take the added step of sending them to AFA, and I like to guage what my opinion of a piece is vs. their opinion. And I don't care what anyone says, those cases they put them in really make them look good.

 

And everything is for sale (except my Ultra Magni). If the price of what I think something is worth is met, I'll totally sell it. I won't be happy about it, but I'll get over it. And I can always get it again later, if I really want it.

I'm probably considered a very weird collector.

 

See... I take them out of their packages and play with them... But I keep the boxes and the cards.

 

But I gut them. I don't keep the plastic parts unless they are part of the outer box. now this makes storage a pain in the ass, and I have no clue if they are worth more with a partially complete box, but hey.

 

It all started with my Zoids collection, which made absolutely no sense not to break down. Since then I've been keeping packaging, although I can't really find any good containers to store them in anymore!

 

 

 

Then again, today I had my first pangs of "OMG do I just display it MISB?" Eventually I broke down and opened it, but I am keeping ALL its packaging material. Not only does it look good packed away, but it also will protect it quite well come the next move...

 

 

See, now, for me, for the first time EVER, I've kept my Encore stuff MISB, and I like it..And I'm ok with it, as I already have 100% complete/mint original Gen-1 versions opened and already in display. But the urge to open them and apply stickers really does get at me at times.

 

Of late, and I have no idea why, but I also keep boxes..It started with my busts and statues, and just moved on to the foreign stuff I bought, and now, well, not everything..If it's mass retail released here in the states, I don't keep it..But, yeah, keeping boxes now, and keep them in good shape. I have no intention of selling them.. I just like the pretty boxes. Although, it filled up my room and most of my basement to the point I had to move out of my bedroom and into another room..Now it's just a display room.

But it's pretty:)