MIB and MISB, big difference?

[SkyWarp91]

Do you think there's a big difference between toys that are kept MIB (mint in box, so it means you have opened and played with it, but kept the toy and box in good condition) vs MISB/MOSC (mint in sealed box/mint on sealed card) in terms of value?

Like have there been any examples of toys that's values have dropped heaps because of the MIB/MISB difference?

I'm a MIB collector myself and though I don't see myself selling my TF anytime soon, I actually like to keep the boxes though it's space-costing

[Verno]

I don't think a toy that has been opened and played with can be described as mint. As such, I've always been wary of the term MIB when describing an opened toy.

To me, MIB is a toy that hasn't been opened or played with but the tape has come loose on the box.

But everyone has a different take.

[kaiden]

I don't think a toy that has been opened and played with can be described as mint. As such, I've always been wary of the term MIB when describing an opened toy.

To me, MIB is a toy that hasn't been opened or played with but the tape has come loose on the box.

But everyone has a different take.

I also consider MIB to be unsealed & untouched. Sometimes its required to see if anything inside is damaged/missing because with some boxed items you cant see the contents, but you dont want the value to drop by touching them.

[GoktimusPrime]

Objectively speaking, MIB is Mint In Box - a toy that is in mint condition that is inside its box. The may or may not have been handled since packaging, but that's not a prerequisite of MIB. It's a descriptor of its condition, not its handling history.

MISB = Mint In Sealed Box, so by its very nature of being sealed it would most likely never have been handled since packaging. The difference between MIB and MISB? Some bits of sticky tape. I guess MISB can fetch higher prices because it's kind of a guarantee that the toy hasn't been handled, whereas MIB doesn't necessarily imply that per se.

[Vector Prime]

Do you think there's a big difference between toys that are kept MIB (mint in box, so it means you have opened and played with it, but kept the toy and box in good condition) vs MISB/MOSC (mint in sealed box/mint on sealed card) in terms of value?

Yes. It's the same as the price difference between anything that is new vs used.

I personally would pay a premium to have that extra piece of sticky tape, but that's just me.

MIB and loose (with the exception of vintage stuff like G1) should have no price difference and are the same in my eyes (provided both figures are of equal condition).

[Omega Supreme]

I personally would pay a premium to have that extra piece of sticky tape, but that's just me.

Sticky tape rocks!

MIB and loose (with the exception of vintage stuff like G1) should have no price difference and are the same in my eyes (provided both figures are of equal condition).

I do agree however I think that things like instructions/tech specs/backing cards/etc are worth a few bucks extra when selling a loose figure.

[5FDP]

There is a HUGE difference in the value between toys that are MIB vs MISB (with MISB obviously fetching higher prices on the second-hand market).

For example, a MIB G1 Optimus Prime should sell for approx. $400 whereas a MISB G1 Optimus Prime could sell for as high as $2000. I've seen this on many occasions.

It is for this reason AFA (back in the day) only dealt with MISB toys as they were considered 'premium' pieces and highly sought after by the serious collection e.g. people with money to burn.

[GoktimusPrime]

I personally would pay a premium to have that extra piece of sticky tape, but that's just me.

lawl

MIB and loose (with the exception of vintage stuff like G1) should have no price difference and are the same in my eyes (provided both figures are of equal condition).

Okay, but it depends on the context of the MIB doesn't it? For example, if a toy has been opened, and someone took it out to inspect the condition of the toy, say to make sure there's no paint defects or missing parts etc, then puts it back in - but has never transformed it or played with it, then surely that toy is in Mint Condition. Imagine say if you bought a piece of jewellery or a collectable Swarovski crystal statue; they're displayed loose, and when you buy them they let you inspect it - and often staff members will handle it with gloves on, but you can touch it... then they pack it carefully in the box and sell it. Now before purchasing that item of jewellery or crystal, you have no idea how many times other people have asked to look at that piece, handled it, then decided not to buy it. But it's never been used before - the jewellery may have been briefly worn, but not extensively, and the crystal would never have been displayed outside of a store.

Or let's say you buy a brand new car... you're not the first one to drive it, unless you purchase it straight off the assembly line. Odds are a lot of people have already taken it for a test drive before you. But until that car is sold and leaves the car yard, it's still considered new; the moment you pay for it and drive it out, it's a used car.

So surely if a Transformer toy that has never really been used, but has been handled - and is still in the same condition as it was before it was taken out of packaging - then it is still in mint condition. The term "mint" was coined (sic) by money collectors because of course, coins are minted; and a coin that is still in the same condition as it was after minting is said to be in mint condition. Thus a toy that is still in the same condition as it was at manufacture is said to be in mint condition. If you haven't worn the toy out, damaged it, scratched it etc, then it's in mint condition. If you transform it reeeaaally carefully back and forth, it could still be in mint condition; this is up to the person inspecting the toy.

Remember that collectors also use the term Loose Mint (LM) and we have LMIB (Loose Mint In Box). So it is absolutely possible for a toy to be loose and mint. We also have a different term called NM (Near Mint) or even NMIB (Near Mint In Box); and that would be if the toy has some minor flaw that degrades it from being considered to be Mint.

As I said before, I guess a lot of collectors are willing to pay extra for a MISB toy because being sealed is like a "guarantee" that the toy is in Mint Condition. But I think it's mostly a psychological thing (maybe a male thing?) - we like to be the first to climb that mountain.

And tbh, I have that mentality to some degree too. I like to be the first to open my toy. It's like a collector's privilege. For me, collecting toys MISB or MOSC isn't much of a problem, because I pretty much collect toys while they're current in stores. I like buying minty sealed toys, then enjoy the feeling of liberating them with my "Transformers Liberation Kit" (some of you have seen it - it's my little metal case with a box cutter and pair of tin snips ). When I buy a toy that's already been opened I'm like... oh... it's pre-liberated. Right. I don't mind buying loose toys, but I much prefer the feeling of buying new ones.

[5FDP]

Remember that collectors also use the term Loose Mint (LM) and we have LMIB (Loose Mint In Box). So it is absolutely possible for a toy to be loose and mint. We also have a different term called NM (Near Mint) or even NMIB (Near Mint In Box); and that would be if the toy has some minor flaw that degrades it from being considered to be Mint.

It all comes down to the individual because there is no consistent and / or defined grading standard. I know quite a few valuers who would not grade loose as mint. The 'ultimate' definition of mint is 'uncirculated' e.g. straight from the manufacturer and never seen / touched a retail store shelf.

[GoktimusPrime]

Too true. That's why they say that "C10" or perfect mint, is really something that exists in theory rather than reality. And yeah, it's all highly subjective.

But when I buy a toy, I don't think about the grading scale. I just look at it and if it's not broken or anything, then I'll buy it an open it. If there's a defect after that, I'll return it to the store for an exchange or refund (depending on how serious the defect is; these days with minor QC issues abounding everywhere I don't bother to bring everything back if there's a smudge here or there...)