To Open or Not to Open - A New Collector's Dilemma

I personally open all my figures, mainly due to the fact they're all mine and I more than likely will never sell them on. Also, I've not got space for them all to stay in their boxes.

I'd suggest you do what feels right, I like looking at my figures more than boxes. :P

I don't see the point in buying figures and just keeping them hidden away in their boxes. You should enjoy them and let them brighten up your desk/shelf/whatever. If the only reason you're buying them is for the sake of collecting, then you'd probably be better off starting a stamp collection, it would take up less space. :)

They can't complete their destiny if you don't open them! Tis like food that goes uneaten, help them by opening them! lol

In all seriousness, it's up to you...I personally open them cause it does feel a little funny to have items made for display that'll never be displayed. Unless of course you're a collector who's conscious of resell values, if this is not the case I'd open 'em. :D

You just mentioned the reason why you stopped collecting comics. I think you gonna start feeling the same way with figures if you don't take them out and display them (That and they take up a lot more space then comics). You will definitely feel a sense of satisfaction when you take them out. :)

I always open my figures and display them in display cases (a few outside that I dust regularly). I keep the boxes(mainly because of moving) and keep all my figures out of sunlight and massive heat.

Too each their own though. If you like the look in the box then keep them in there. ^^;

Most people open them, and they don't see the point of leaving them in their boxes unless they plan to sell it. That's basically what most of the comments above are saying.

For me though, I open most of mine but I keep a few in their boxes. Wait, so why do I open most but keep some in the box? It's because the box looks pretty nice and you can consider it apart of the design. Plus, they are stackable, so I don't need to buy a mini shelf just to have 2 figures on top pf eachother.

For you, just do what you want. It's kind of pointless to ask for suggestions about these things because often they don't help. People usually tell you to do it your way anyways. There is no right way to do it.

If you don't open them then whats the point? Why not just save a picture of the figure? It's cheaper.

I only recently keep PVC's in their boxes, until I get a case because dust makes me rage.

It a personal preference.. I open mines and display them. Most of them are behind display cases for less dust action. Only problem I have is the empty boxes stacking up in my closet lol.

If you can't choose.. do some pros and cons,take into consideration of your display area.

I'm also in the "open them" camp. If you are only buying them for their potential resale value, more an investment than because you like the figure, I guess keeping them in the box makes sense. If you actually like the figures then open the box. If you have the room to save the box for possible resale later, that's great. I trash my boxes since space is an issue for me and I don't want to sell them.

It goes without saying that figure collecting is not a cheap hobby. So why spend all that money and keep the figures hidden away in those plastic bags? Are you planning to resell them later as some form of investment?

I usually open figures if they have packaging that I can open without destroying it (with the exception of my WoW figures). The figures that I have that are unopened usually get hung up by my desk at the office.

PVCs are packaged so they can be taken out of their boxes without destroying anything. Take 'em out. Save the boxes if you think you might ever resell them. Or don't. The reselling thing can be a painful experience but that's at an individual's discretion.

Most people that doesn't open boxes have their reasons.

1. You might be into reselling them later on.
2. You do not have enough display space (yet).
3. You are worried about dust so you are keeping them in boxes until you purchase a display case.
4. Your room/place is hot during summer, and you put them in boxes in fear of bending.

"You can't have your cake and eat it too..." LIES! BUY TWO CAKES!

In a perfect world that really would be the solution, buy two, open one. keep the other pristine and unopened for investment. In the real world very few of us can realistically do that. For myself as a rule i don't buy anything i don't want on display, so its more of the question "do i care enough(or does it matter) to get more then one?"

For you typical 1/8 or 1/7 type completed figure i generally don't buy two. Besides being expensive, opened figures of that type hold value comparatively well, as long as you take good care of them,a keep the original packaging . which isn't that hard to do.

Pose-able figures like fimgas i would be more inclined to buy a second to keep in its box. On the whole they tend to be less expensive, and It's fair to say they see a lot more "action" (breaks, scratches, falls, lost parts) then static display figures. Another reason i might buy multiple pose-ables is if you want to display more then one pose simultaneously. myself i have 4 figma Dead Master's on order.

so i guess the moral of the story is, If you really care about keeping them in boxes, buy more then one, and punch compromise in the nads.

I remember taking a pole asking a similar question "should I open them?" and the results showed more people insisting me on opening them. And in the end, I did.
So why wait?

No offense to anybody, but to me I find that unless its for the reasons listed above, (whether it be resale, temperature, display purposes)

I wouldn't see any reason to not opening them!
To me it seems like buying a car and not driving it.

Honestly it's up to you~ I prefer to open mine, since I don't like the look of the box and figure together. I find it pointless if you don't open it but that's just my own stupid opinion^^"

Some people like to keep it in boxes, so it can stay in mint condition, or for re sale later.

In the end, it's up to you. Whether you wanna display your lovely figures or not

Simple, you're going to send me the Scarlet Witch, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix to me. Then you don't have to ever worry about opening them.

if ur not thinking of selling them in the future. then i suggest oyu take them out of the box and display them nyah :3

although if ur kinda lazy on cleaning. find a dust-proof clear plastic display case like the ones i use nyah :3

Nice haul.

I open mine, I just keep as much packaging as possible (sans some annoying plastic in-between cast-off parts.) There are very few figures I've kept unopened, mainly lack of space and rarity.

I recommend opening the boxes. Figures look a lot nicer when they are displayed on a shelf or in a glass case.

Take 'em out and display 'em!!!..('specially if they're nendos, figmas, shinkis or anything else poseable) If you're gonna keep 'em in a box, you shoulda bought 2 of everything!! If dust and such is your worries, put 'em in a Detolf cabinet or someplace out of the elements...Mainly, Have Fun With Them!!

O.o

So what I'm getting from a lot of you is that unless I'm planning on reselling, the best thing to do is take it out. Well, I might consider keeping the SDCC White Phoenix as that might be handy for some extra cash just in case. Maybe in the future, I might consider setting some aside for the same reason.

Other than that, I guess I'll have to find some space and a glass cabinet/case to display the figures. I really do hate how my place collects lots of dust and a protective case will keep it from any harsh conditions(i.e. friends and company who like to touch stuff when they visit)

Thanks! Oh, and it seems that I've been approved :D Yay, I can post publicly now.

Ahh, open em and give em some good fresh air~! Figures are meant for display and not to be placed inside its box forever! You can't see a figures full dimensions when kept in a box!! No fun that way~ However, I know people keep figures inside their boxes just to preserve the value of the figure. But still, figures should be displayed so you can appreciate its full value~ <3 Just make sure to keep them in a nice display case so no dust can attack it ( or to protect it from spilt coffee~)!!

Keeping them in the box for too long can make the paint fade away. Take them out, let them feel the fresh air and remember to regularly clean the dust. Anyway, the boxes take a lot of spaces :3

for me, I take them out of the box when I first buy it, then put it back in the box and store it in a bookshelf with door~ I, personally have no room to display them in or out of the box. especially growing at a rate of two box every month. my place gets dusty quite easily is also another reason. Plus....They are collectibles, even thou I have no intention of ever selling them. It still hurts to know that the figure you paid....say $80, really has a resale value of $40 without the box.