The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: amenoo on March 15, 2012, 02:27:09 PM

Title: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: amenoo on March 15, 2012, 02:27:09 PM

So how do you guys feel about unboxing older ponies (mostly G1 and G2)?
 
I know there is a thread about if you HAVE unboxed a G1 pony, but I wanted to know what you think about others unboxing older ponies.






I just recently purchased my childhood favourite pony MOC (G2) and I don't know if I should unbox her or let her be. I bought her MOC because she is one of the only ponies where I want the accessories included, I don't usually care for accessories. I really love my ponies loose so i can display them together, but I don't know if I should unbox my recently purchased beauty...

Title: Re: Hoe do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Juri on March 15, 2012, 02:31:54 PM

I think it is very much a personal choice... with my favourite G1 girl I have both MIB and loose versions..the non boxed girl is pretty mint.

Depends on how rare the pony is, what state the box is in and what your preference is I say :)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: LuvlyMelody on March 15, 2012, 02:36:09 PM

Seems like Personal preference. I say that if you know its the pony that you'll keep till the very end, open it! If you plan on holding onto it for a while and then selling it off eventually in case of an emergency or some sort, keep it boxed.

Title: Re: Hoe do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: babystarz on March 15, 2012, 02:37:47 PM

Hehe, I know who you're talking about  :P


For me, it depends on several factors:


1. Which pony it is, and the relative value (G1's being the most valuable)
2. The condition of the box/card
3. My future plans for the pony (i.e. will I keep it forever, or will I eventually sell?)


If you would be happier being able to touch and play with the pony, and you plan to keep her, then go right ahead and un-box. It's your pony and you should get the most enjoyment out of her that you can. Keep in mind that the value of MOC G2's might appreciate in the future (and it might not, it's impossible to know), so if you do think you might sell, then you may be better off not un-boxing if future profit is a concern for you. On the other hand, there seem to be a lot more MOC G2-G4 than G1 because people were already seriously collecting when those generations came out, so there's no shortage and that will impact the value negatively.


Personally, if I know I will be tempted to un-box a pony that I feel I shouldn't because the pony is rare MOC, I buy a duplicate loose pony :P It's more expensive, sure, but I've regretted some (not all) un-boxing I've done in the past and this gives me the best of both worlds.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Chi on March 15, 2012, 02:38:37 PM

I know a friend who just bought a Posey MOC just to decard her. Mainly because she wants one to have all her original accessories and wants to experience decarding a pony that she keeps for the rest of her life. I think it's nice, and if I found a good deal on a pony that had a damaged card but wasn't damaged herself, I'd open it! It's not like I plan to ever resell my ponies...And eeee ponies with their original tail ribbons! <3  :)

But if it was something like MOC Mimic...Then that's a whole different story!


However, I do plan to buy a MOC G2 Sky Skimmer and keep her on card..Mainly because she's a childhood pony but also brings back some weird memories... *shrug*

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: amenoo on March 15, 2012, 02:42:04 PM

Quote from: babystarz on March 15, 2012, 02:37:47 PM

Hehe, I know who you're talking about  :P

hehe she's my Childhood sweetheart and she is so gorgeous Mint *O* and with her accessories<3

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: bladed on March 15, 2012, 02:56:09 PM

I do admit, If I got a good conditioned MOC pony, I'd open her. But only one. If their packaging is falling apart, I'll open it. I'd actually take all of them out, but keep their packaging in good condition.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: hathorcat on March 15, 2012, 03:12:33 PM

This is always a hot topic whenever it comes up.

Personally I always come down on the "its a personal decision"...if it is your pony you are certainly entitled to debox it...just dont expect a lot of love from a lot of people on it! Lol...

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: partypony566 on March 15, 2012, 03:16:18 PM

G2s: fair game... G1s: please no :yikes: I will trade with you if you like, but please think before opening, as g1s moc are going to be pretty much non existant soon ;)

Obviously your pony, your choice....

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: toralei on March 15, 2012, 03:17:34 PM

I think I would sell a MOC if I came across one to someone who would appreciate it and get a minty pony that was loose with the money from that.... I love combing hair and taking pictures/setting up little scenes with my ponies... There are different types of collectors and I think that someone else would cherish it more than me


now i feel like i'm rambling off topic  :P

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Sora on March 15, 2012, 03:25:28 PM

Like some others have said, all down to personal choice.

I personally would never be able to debox any G1 or uncommon G2 unless the box was falling apart - I don't see the 'joy' of touching a pony out of box first regardless, heh ^^'

Plus, I'm in the minority that most ponies look better in box than out. But of course, like I said, a personal choice and all a matter of opinion :)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Icicle on March 15, 2012, 03:26:49 PM

Quote from: Flitter on March 15, 2012, 02:38:37 PM

I know a friend who just bought a Posey MOC just to decard her. Mainly because she wants one to have all her original accessories and wants to experience decarding a pony that she keeps for the rest of her life. I think it's nice, and if I found a good deal on a pony that had a damaged card but wasn't damaged herself, I'd open it! It's not like I plan to ever resell my ponies...And eeee ponies with their original tail ribbons! <3  :)

Oh look, that's me you're talking about~

Yeah, I found a MOC Posey (that should arrive tomorrow actually, eeee) and I do play on decarding her. Main reasons for doing so are I genuinely want Posey + all of her accessories for display.. I don't plan on ever selling her. And well, from the image on the auction her bubble looked very yellowed (can barely tell her hair is pink) and there's either a cut or a crease to part of the card itself.. and if there's gonna be problems with the card.. might as well open her! (Though I do plan on framing the card/sticker(not peeled off the backing of course!) when I can).

I also have a policy of freeing all toys from plastic prisons (unless it is something exceedingly rare like a MOC Mimic or a MOC really rare Nirvana with the card/box in AMAZING condition).. as I love to display them on a shelf and play with them, brush them, take pictures of them, so it certainly up to whoever buys the thing.


Edit: I should also point out it's not like I paid a fortune for her. Probably about as much as I find loose ones, with problems + the shipping.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Baby Sugarberry on March 15, 2012, 03:30:04 PM

I generally unbox/decard G1 stuff I buy *holds up flame shield*
Before you all incinerate me, it's usually Pony Wear, and preferably with trashed bubbles/worn or damaged cards.  I just like having all the pieces.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: TokiBear on March 15, 2012, 03:33:34 PM

I think it's definitely a personal choice... There is only one, well two, that I want MOC/MIB and that is SS Wind Whistler and NSS Wind Whistler.  I have enough of her loose that I wouldn't feel the need to free them because they would be perfect for my army as is.  Now, if it was someone I didn't have... say... MOC Fizzy... I would promptly find someone else to take her off my hands before I gave in to the urge to free her because I can't hardly stand to see them in their packaging.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: mlpfan on March 15, 2012, 03:42:04 PM

remember that the most expensive things that are collectible are MIB! if you remove her from the box you remove alot of value both now and future, but if you dont care about that and just want her to play  with or sit on a shelf then go ahead and unbox her, it is all up to you

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: ashes on March 15, 2012, 04:22:19 PM

I think it's a personal decision.  I think many would do it for bad/damaged packaging - especially water damage. 

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: hokuspokus on March 15, 2012, 04:24:00 PM

Opions differ so much on this subject. I can see why people do not like to hear about opening MOC pony's, but i can also understand why one would un-MOC it ;)


I did both. I opened some MOC argies and it felt góóóód.  :nod:  But yea, the value gets much lower offcourse. I don't regret doing it, though.


I have some other ponies who are still in their plastics (isn't that a fun expression?!  :shifty: ). I made the choice not to open them, don't really know why. I like the idea of hanging the cards on the wall like they did in stores. That's pretty much why i keep some MOC, now. I want my own little pony store when i have my own house one day :)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 15, 2012, 05:05:35 PM

I think it's foolish.   I have heard " . . . and I will never sell her so it doesn't matter" so many times, but there are SO few collectors left from when I started collecting.  The fact is, most of us will not collect ponies forever.   The interest fades, people do indeed sell off their collections, and, oh look, instead of an amazing piece of pony nostalgia that brings back memories of rows of brand new ponies on pegs at TRU or K-Mart, there is a pony + backcard + accessories who is just like scads of mint ponies opened in the 80s.

Sure, it's personal choice.  But an unwise personal choice, IMO, and a personal choice I have seen many people come to regret when the bills come due.

(This is in reference to G1 ponies . . . With G3 ponies the box design doesn't actually keep out dust--there are gaps at the top--and the boxes are all samey-wamey clip-arty, so I doubt it makes much of a difference.   I don't know enough about G2 ponies to comment on them.)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: PonySeeker128 on March 15, 2012, 05:23:41 PM

I never plan on opening a g1 MOC/MIB and that's primarily because if I ever get a chance to have the money to buy one I would be buying it just for that.. to still be in the original packaging. There's something very appealing to me about stuff being mint in original packaging and its been that way even outside of ponies. I think the reason why I like the idea of g1s still in their box is because of their age.. to think of something that's been around for that long, let alone a toy and managed passing through all those childrens hands without being opened amazes me and fascinates me at the same time. And with so few left... I think I might start drooling lol. To each their own though, I do understand the urge to open things.. I have about 35 g3s still in their boxes staring me in the face! And those aren't even that old!

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: ZettaMomo on March 15, 2012, 05:37:53 PM

I would only open the the pony if the card or box was in very poor condition.
The thing is I don't think I would ever buy a MOC/MIB G1/G2 pony just for the sake that I like to be able to have mine out to brush and all that fun stuff.  :lol:


I think it comes down to a personal choice and kind of depends on how rare the pony is.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Radiance on March 15, 2012, 05:54:57 PM

I'd keep her in her box for a while and go on the hunt for her loose, then start searching for her accessories. They're out there, you just may have to hunt for them for a while! Then you'll have the best of both worlds :). That being said, she's your pony. You paid your hard earned $$ for her and if you want to open her up, go for it! Anyone who'd give you grief for that is not someone worth paying attention to, IMO.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: MissSleepless on March 15, 2012, 05:55:37 PM

I deliberately try not to buy MOC/MIB. I would contantly be on the fence on whether to open them or not, I probably wouldn't but it'd drive me mad. And how beat up does a box or card have to be to deem in no longer valuable? So many factors!

So it's safer for me to buy loose.  I also take great delight in restoring played with toys. My house is like a toy retirement home. So for those mint in box girls to just come swishing in ...well that'd be unfair. ;)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Taxel on March 15, 2012, 06:13:49 PM

I would only open a G1 in a box/on a card if their packaging was damaged or was damaging them. I'm not going to judge someone for opening a MIB/MOC G1 unless like they bait it or otherwise destroy/harm it or the packaging was in amazing condition. I'm not gonna yell at them but I will cry behind the screen.

However, bagged ponies? Open them all!!! In my opinion, bags are hideous and keeping bagged ponies is dumb. Boxes and cards have beautiful art and the ponies are kept in one position (unless the box/card is damaged), while in bags they roll around and make a mess of their hair. I opened a G1 November Chrysanthemum. She's amazing and I loved the experience, and I will treasure her forever (yes, even if I stop collecting there are a few ponies I WILL keep forever). However her hair is a mess from being in a bag for 30 years and her card thing left marks on her (as in it damaged her).

As for G2s I feel pretty much the same. I want to buy a G2 Sundance/Sunsparkle I don't have and open her. :D Obviously I'll try and look for one with a bad bubble, but if its cheap I'm not gonna care.

Slight edit OL1

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: MoonStars on March 15, 2012, 06:40:08 PM

Even if I could afford one, I would try not to purchase MOC/B G1 pony at all--other than a clearly bad box where she'd need to be removed anyway-- because I know there are those who would love to have it stay mint in box and who would derive great pleasure from that. If that was the only way I could get a desired pony, though, finances aside, I'd probably offer it up for trade for a loose mint one w/ accessories and fair compensation for value difference of MIB vs loose (and would probably keep her MIB for quite a while while trying to find a match)


  That being said, I feel *really* strongly about this: YOUR PONY, YOUR CHOICE! And if anyone wants to give you grief about it,well, IMHO  that's just... wrong.  :P  *Sips beer from Ming Vase* (JK!!! lol)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: PinkRosedust on March 15, 2012, 07:01:29 PM

I don't generally like seeing them deboxed. I don't collect MOCs but others do, so I think it's sad to, in a sense, deprive those collectors of what they really like. I think it's kinder to find the pony you want in mint condition but loose - which may take years for some, but is usually possible. And generally cheaper too. And if you want accessories too, well...doesn't the thrill of hunting for them just make it that much more fun? =D

That said, several years ago I did open a few G2s. They weren't that old at the time, and I didn't feel too bad about it then (I had some reservations but did eventually make up my mind to do it with a few), and honestly, I am glad I did it...but I don't know if I could do it now. I still have a few MOC G2s hanging around and I am unsure what I want to do with them.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Oneleo1 on March 15, 2012, 07:41:39 PM

G1 and G2 ponies I personally will not decard. I would rather sell them and get a loose one that is NM :)

G3 and newer I have no issues deboxing decarding because they are much more common than the G1 and G2 ponies :)

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: reanna-mator on March 15, 2012, 07:55:14 PM

Toys are meant to be played with! I'd unbox her but keep the packaging as intact as possible.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: BlackCurtains on March 15, 2012, 08:18:19 PM

I'd only do it if the package was damaged.

I love my MOC Raincurl and wouldn't dream of opening her - her curls are perfect! The card does have a Goldilocks offer sticker on it though that I really want to scrap off :P It's crooked and in the way! I (probably) wouldn't actually do that but it really annoys me >_<

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: kittybethy on March 15, 2012, 09:22:49 PM

I agree it is a personal choice. If the card is in bad condition, I would say free the pony.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: amenoo on March 15, 2012, 11:40:18 PM

Hm Well ,my box is definitely in almost perfect condition... And She cost me less MIB than the loose one I've seen yet...

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Scraleos on March 16, 2012, 12:05:24 AM

I'd never debox unless the bubble was in horrid condition. Then again, if it was a pony I didn't own, I'd be tempted. I don't think I could ever afford a MOC anyway! It's like with these Final Fantasy IX figures I bought; cost me an absolute ton of money to buy them MOC, and I opened them, because I wanted to feel them and put them on display. I later bought another set to keep MOC though.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: little.fox on March 16, 2012, 04:14:57 AM

I love MOCs and it makes me sad when people decard them, but what can you do? I don't really see the point tho, why not sell it for good money and let the MOC collectors have what they crave, while you get a loose minty pony to enjoy? Everyone wins.

However if the card/bubble is in bad nick I don't see the point of keeping pony in there just for the sake of it, I must admit.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Elisto on March 16, 2012, 04:58:32 AM

No, I wouldn't (except as others have said, if the condition is bad/the damaging the pony). Certainly not G1s, but I'm not sure about G2s (assuming I were even interested in one). Probably not though. There's only a limited number of MOC/MIB ponies once a line ends, certainly much less than loose ones, so once you destroy that, that's one less in existence, and I don't like counting on other people to no open them in order for them to keep existing. My feeling is if I want a loose pony with accessories (which I do more than boxed ponies), I buy a loose pony with accessories. There are plenty of those out there. Sure, everyone can do what they want with what they buy and all that, but none of us are going to have them for all eternity, and personally, I'd rather not contribute to destroying something harder to come by, even if it means not easily getting all the parts. Sure, they're toys, but they're collectables to me, so I want to preserve what I have.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: little.fox on March 16, 2012, 05:08:06 AM

Quote from: Elisto on March 16, 2012, 04:58:32 AM

There's only a limited number of MOC/MIB ponies once a line ends, certainly much less than loose ones, so once you destroy that, that's one less in existence .... and personally, I'd rather not contribute to destroying something harder to come by, even if it means not easily getting all the parts. Sure, they're toys, but they're collectables to me, so I want to preserve what I have.

Well said!

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Elisto on March 16, 2012, 05:22:38 AM

Thanks, although I feel I should say I think I have a different attitude about collecting that a lot of other collectors. As much as I want more ponies for myself, for me, the excitement is not just in having them, but in finding them. So while I do really like accessories, I don't have many because I don't want to buy ponies and accessories that are already coming from someone's collection and have already been "found". I'll buy baits from other collectors to "rescue" them, or accessories to replace lost childhood ones, but that's about it.

So I do get that if your goal is to have complete collections (however you define complete) separate from the discovery part, you may have a very different perspective on what to do with a pony than I do.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Sandi on March 16, 2012, 08:44:58 AM

I would never unbox/decard a G1 pony unless the box/card was in terrible condition. I am planning on decarding a common G2 pony though. I've been trying to sell her for a long time, but nobody seems to want her. I want her, but not MOC. I have deboxed many G3s and all my G4s.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Lancer on March 16, 2012, 12:33:15 PM

G2s?  Well, I did unbox one about a year ago, but I'd had her for years and had always intended to do so.  I just didn't bother until I had somewhere to display her...and she was going "sticky" in her packaging anyway, as a lot of G2s tend to do.

G1s?  Never!  I couldn't do it!  I know it's up to the individual but it always strikes me as a bit sad as there are so few MIB G1s around. :(  I'm not a MIB collector though, and I certainly wouldn't attack someone for de-boxing a G1.

Title: Re: How do you feel about unboxing older ponies?
Post by: Princess-Sparkles on March 17, 2012, 08:18:46 PM

I personally would never open a G1, and I don't see the point in it unless the packaging is actually damaging the pony... I have seen plenty of ponies mint pretty much with all the accessories and they were nice and cheap. There's only a limited number of MOC/MIB ponies left. It just makes me sad personally. I think if you have a MOC and you want a mint loose with accessories a trade would be more recommended that way everyone wins. :)