What would you do if you recieved a valuable MISB G1 Transformer

[GoktimusPrime]

I think part of the reason why Transformers can be often among the harder toys to find sealed is that it's primary appeal is its ability to transform. One cannot really marvel at the engineering and design of the toy without physically transforming it; simply looking at the photos of the robot and alt mode(s) just shows you the toy at point A and point B, but doesn't really show you how it got there. That's something that's more appreciated by actually experiencing it first hand by transforming the toy yourself.

I don't mean to say this as a criticism to sealed collectors, but I'm just saying that I think this may be a significant contributing factor as to why sealed Transformers (especially G1 TFs) are harder to find on the secondary market than some other toys, like say sealed Star Wars figure. You're not missing out on as much from keeping a 70s/80s Star Wars figure sealed compared to keeping a Transformer sealed. The main play pattern of Transformers is the transformation, or as Hasbro calls it "puzzle play" that so captures the imagination and fascination of children. So some kids who might be inclined to keep their Star Wars toys sealed, may be less likely to make the same decision for Transformers.

So I reckon that's what makes sealed Transformers a far greater rarity in the aftermarket compared to some other toy lines. Among the sealed collectors here, how many of you started sealed collecting right from the beginning as children, or is it something you decided to do later as adults? I personally never knew any kids who kept their toys sealed when I was a kid in the 80s. At most, I knew a few rare individuals who kept the boxes of a few select favourite toys. Like a mate of mine who loves Trypticon; got this toy as a kid and has kept it in box ... until last year when his mother tried to throw it out (that's right, she threw out a complete loose in box Trypticon! And the box got damaged by rain and weather by time he got home and salvaged it out of the bin! Needless to say he was NOT happy! )

[Jetfire in the sky]

I think part of the reason why Transformers can be often among the harder toys to find sealed is that it's primary appeal is its ability to transform. One cannot really marvel at the engineering and design of the toy without physically transforming it; simply looking at the photos of the robot and alt mode(s) just shows you the toy at point A and point B, but doesn't really show you how it got there. That's something that's more appreciated by actually experiencing it first hand by transforming the toy yourself.

I don't mean to say this as a criticism to sealed collectors, but I'm just saying that I think this may be a significant contributing factor as to why sealed Transformers (especially G1 TFs) are harder to find on the secondary market than some other toys, like say sealed Star Wars figure. You're not missing out on as much from keeping a 70s/80s Star Wars figure sealed compared to keeping a Transformer sealed. The main play pattern of Transformers is the transformation, or as Hasbro calls it "puzzle play" that so captures the imagination and fascination of children. So some kids who might be inclined to keep their Star Wars toys sealed, may be less likely to make the same decision for Transformers.

So I reckon that's what makes sealed Transformers a far greater rarity in the aftermarket compared to some other toy lines. Among the sealed collectors here, how many of you started sealed collecting right from the beginning as children, or is it something you decided to do later as adults? I personally never knew any kids who kept their toys sealed when I was a kid in the 80s. At most, I knew a few rare individuals who kept the boxes of a few select favourite toys. Like a mate of mine who loves Trypticon; got this toy as a kid and has kept it in box ... until last year when his mother tried to throw it out (that's right, she threw out a complete loose in box Trypticon! And the box got damaged by rain and weather by time he got home and salvaged it out of the bin! Needless to say he was NOT happy! )

I agree with all these points and would have had a stroke if my Mum ever touched one of my Transformers boxes, luckily she lives 3000kms away

[lancalot]

When i was a kid...the figure couldn't get out of the box fast enough !!..was already in my hands by the time i get home and the box pieces in car Even now every single one of my figure i transform at least once before it goes to storage , as i don't have enough room to display them all

[GoktimusPrime]

When i was a kid...the figure couldn't get out of the box fast enough !!(

Still like this now.

[Wheelie]

If I was a kid, it would already be open.

Now I enjoy them whether they are in a box or not (not that I have any in a box), but because there are so many open specimens available, I would definetly keep it misb.

[Skullcruncher]

Back in the day I would have ripped it open and played with it. Now with the phenomenon that is transformers I would sell it right now and put the money towards some other transformers I were after. Unless say its one I wanted then I would case it up ASAP.

[High_Q]

So I reckon that's what makes sealed Transformers a far greater rarity in the aftermarket compared to some other toy lines. Among the sealed collectors here, how many of you started sealed collecting right from the beginning as children, or is it something you decided to do later as adults?

Some of my childhood early 80s Japanese toys are still in their original boxes even though I played with them. It is convenient to keep Japanese toys in their boxes since many came with foam trays. My Hasbro G1s are all loose since I discarded the non-reusable clamshell trays that even the boxed toys were packaged in. Ceased buying toys with the end of Masterforce.

When I started collecting again with Classics and Animated, it wasn't so much the toys' transformation that appealed, but the aesthetics of the toy (especially the alt mode), the artwork on the packaging, and the nostalgia of simpler times which a sealed toy evokes. (How can a kid forget walking into a new TRU store, and seeing rows upon rows of new TFs.) In rare instances where I'm curious about a toy's engineering, I'd buy doubles, one to keep sealed, another loose.

[crankcase76]

This is how fast i'd open it....

[janda the red]

as a misb collector... i voted to keep it sealed.

if i want to marvel at a toys engineering, yada yada.... i buy a loose example too! :P

my wife threatens that if i ever piss her off, she'll let our son loose in my toy room with a box cutter.... g1 stuff first! just the thought makes me cringe. lol

[Sinnertwin]

my wife threatens that if i ever piss her off, she'll let our son loose in my toy room with a box cutter.... g1 stuff first! just the thought makes me cringe. lol

I know what you mean. I get the "behave, or i'll let the boys loose" ( her 3 cousins, aged 6 & under) comment along with a raised eyebrow