The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: thecakeissisley on April 13, 2015, 02:31:47 AM
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I'm making this thread because I feel like the majority of collectors would cringe at the idea of taking a vintage toy out of their packaging, however, I think that I would not be able to resist the temptation. Of course if the pony is more rare and expensive, then I'd keep it as an 'investment' and display it in the package. Other than that, what better feeling than to get a, let's say, so soft pony and feel the perfectly soft, brand new, untouched flocking, or take a BNG pony out of their packaging and make the brand new mint hair "grow" by yourself? I'd totally take out ponies that have fragile parts that otherwise would have been lost (flutter wings, flocking, etc.) simply because I love to brush and pet and gently play with my ponies and not just look at them :)
If you got a MOC/MIB pony that you couldn't find at a store anymore, would you open it?
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I Think i will leave it as a moc or mib. but it depends on which pony it is but im like 99% sure i will not open it :)
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Yes. Some MOC G2 ponies are still abundant in numbers. I've only decarded one G1, but she nearly fell off the card herself. Yellowed bubble and a big chunk of bubble missing... However in most cases, I'll probably leave them moc/mip/ whatever.
In the end it's all the owner's choice ;)
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I have doubles of many Moc G2s I have had the intention to open some, their cards are not in mint condition anymore or their bubbles are crushed , but so far I have not open any of them, on the other hand I had been forced to open a couple recently due to the unfortunate plasticizer leak on them, had to clean them up and then I put them back in their bubble I did not resealed their bubble because I might have to clean them again later on.
I have resealed G2s that came to me open ,since I did not have that particular pony MOC and that I probably already have it loose.
so I'm more into keeping them MOC and preserve them in their bubble unopened if possible .
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I decarded a late G3 Ponyville set, it didn't seem like that particular set would be a crime to debox. I would be much more hesitant to debox and early G3 and anything from before that though.
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Absolutely. I eagerly await the day I get to open my first G1 pony. I have never seen a brand new one in person.
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Yep! Although I'm speaking about G1s-- since I don't care about G2s/G3s. I wouldn't open those since I have no attachments and they are better for someone else.
Quite honestly, when I did open my G1 I had my doubts due to the opinions here. I thought I'd feel guilty and miserable. But you know what... for *me*, it was an extremely enjoyable experience, and quite memorable. It was like being transported through time, and enjoying the magic of opening a pony.
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well interesting topic ;) as a MOC/ MIB collector I would say NO! :lol: because of course I am only looking at ponies in MOC or MIB condition (ok I admit I have also some ponies in loose condition ;)) .
In fact, if the person really does not take care of having it loose, it is better to let the ponies in MOC / MIB condition to the persons who are really interested emotionnally like me for example.
However you can not force people who have the pony to not open it :huh: but I would advice them to find one loose if they really want to touch it ^.^ On the other hand I can also understand people who open their MOC when the bubble can no longer hold the pony or the pony begins to have serious difficulty (sweat) inside it.
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I don't think I would be able to resist the temptation either. That's why I don't go after them. If I ever found one in the wild I would sell it and buy a loose one.
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I would never open a G1 pony unless being on card was harming it, like if there was mold growing inside the bubble or something.
Right when I started collecting, but before I had internet access (in the mid-90s) my sister found three of the Baby Rainbow ponies at a surplus store, and I did open them. Now . . . they are no longer mint. Near mint, yes. But not mint. They've been knocked off shelves a couple times and one of them has developed weird mottling on her symbol. Their hair never quite looked as good after the first time I ran a brush through it.
I really regret opening them. When they were MOC, they were special ponies that took me back to the nostalgia of seeing rows and rows of ponies. Now they are just "nice." I have ponies I collected loose who look better.
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Assuming the packaging/pony isn't badly damaged then, NO! I'm on MOC collector (G1 and G2) and the artwork, the feel, and the look of the packaging brings back waves of nostalgia. The excitement of opening a pony is so short lived that it isn't worth it to me.
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While I have never done it I can understand why a loose collector would want to debox certain ponies. Some, like So Softs and Perfume Puffs and Flutters/Wingers, are difficult to find in perfect condition (So Softs with pristine flocking or Perfume Puffs with hair that isn't a matted clump or Flutters/Wingers with intact wings). And sometimes certain accessories are hard to find so a pony that still has them is irresistible. Of course the prices keep MIP G1/G2s out of my hands anyways.
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I think I would still leave the pony intact-ed if it was a G1 even if she had mold or ect. I think people should try to preserve history even if it means that toy would never be opened. I would say the same for G2s. I used to want to open every pony I encountered. Yet I still managed to keep my September G3 Aster pony in her box. I have no idea maybe im just getting more patient. I love opening new ponies from boxes still. I already have the ponies that are on card loose so I have no intention opening them. (which does it for me.)
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I think it depends on the pony that's inside. If it was a pony that I had in my childhood and I no longer do. I think if I found one of those in the wild I would totally decard it/take it out of the box. But I would never buy/order something in MIB/MOC state in order to open it.
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Yes, however I don't buy them cuz they are expeeeensive and I want to be a good little pony collector and leave the MiBs for their respective crowds. :silly:Though if I found a G3 cheap of one I really wanted I'd snag that because they're not as old as G1s.
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Because it's still fairly easy to find G3's MIB, I would probably buy a duplicate of one that I already have, that way I have 1 loose and 1 MIB. I would never open a G1 or G2 if it was MIB or MOC though.
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Assuming the packaging/pony isn't badly damaged then, NO! I'm on MOC collector (G1 and G2) and the artwork, the feel, and the look of the packaging brings back waves of nostalgia. The excitement of opening a pony is so short lived that it isn't worth it to me.
Exactly! And I get the same rush when I open a big box of ponies from ebay, which is probably a cheaper habit to maintain. ^^
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I would if the box/card is yucky or unattractive due to the elements. Otherwise, probably not.
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I agree with Aadra310 too although even if the pony/packaging was badly damaged I would still not remove the pony...
Babydoll~
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I won't debox them. I have 4 with box G1's that I've attempted to put back together as original as possible. I just can't bring myself to opening them up and freeing them.
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I only opened one box of a G2 MOC (Snowball), because I just wanted to open one and I think she looks so adorable on her skies. I should have chosen a more common one did I think afterwards, but I don't regret it. If I find her again MOC, I would buy here again. All other MOC's are staying intact from now on.
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I'd probably see if there was someone who wanted the MOC/IB pony and if they'd like to trade it for a loose one; that way everybody wins. I'm not really a fan of MOC ponies personally because of the space they take up, and deboxing things just feels like a dull formality to me (because I am a heartless fiend!!!) but I can see why other people enjoy them.
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well interesting topic ;) as a MOC/ MIB collector I would say NO! :lol: because of course I am only looking at ponies in MOC or MIB condition (ok I admit I have also some ponies in loose condition ;)) .
In fact, if the person really does not take care of having it loose, it is better to let the ponies in MOC / MIB condition to the persons who are really interested emotionnally like me for example.
However you can not force people who have the pony to not open it :huh: but I would advice them to find one loose if they really want to touch it ^.^ On the other hand I can also understand people who open their MOC when the bubble can no longer hold the pony or the pony begins to have serious difficulty (sweat) inside it.
I think this put it nicely.
I remember having this conversation in the Jem comm some years ago, because people were taking really rare fashions out of package so they had an extra display one or some such thing (because the Flipside Fashions are 2 fashions in 1 and some pieces need two to display both at once).
My take on this is that...although it's true that once you buy a pony, it's yours, and you can do with it as you like...there's a deeper something at work for me in all of this and that is the sense of community.
To me collectors ought to help each other out first and foremost. And, while I could not stop someone from deboxing a G1 pony, and we've all done it in our childhoods...what if that was the last ever MOC of that pony? What if someone in that pony community had been looking for ten, twenty years for that exact pony MOC because it had some deep personal meaning to them...and yet now no more exist, because someone deboxed it?
I realise this is an emotive issue of personal choice versus other people's views - but I think that with many G1 ponies it's a valid concern. I remember just ten years ago, there were a lot more MIP ponies on ebay. Fifteen years ago, you couldn't give away MOC Watercolour sea babies...but I haven't seen any WC baby ponies on ebay in a while, and, honestly, I think the goal of collecting MOC ponies that mean something to someone is now much harder and more expensive because of supply vs demand.
I do speak a little from a personal point of view, because there are a couple of MIP ponies which it would mean the world to me to own. So, I am not objective. But I think...if something I did took something away from someone else in the community, somehow, I would be...uneasy with it? And I feel that deboxing a MOC pony from G1 now takes something away from someone else who might have wanted that pony for years and now will never have it.
Even if there are others of that pony still in existence, if ten people debox ten of them, then the prices on the others go up. This might be good for people selling, but it's not good for people buying. That situation pushes certain ponies out of price ranges, and makes it even harder to attain that "grail." A lot of people talk about their "grail" ponies - but you don't see people customising Nirvana ponies. MOC ponies for the older years and certain sets are as rare or rarer than some of those Nirvana, and just as important to some people.
I realise people will disagree, but I'm a sentimental person, and that's just the way I feel.
I will open G4 ponies, now, because they are still in production. Any G3 I have in box still now they're not in production I will keep or sell that way. Ditto G2. I think it's an individual decision for a collector to make - but I couldn't do it.
As for the condition of the card - my Watercolor Misty and my Wind Whistler fell off their cards because of poor packaging (but neither had been expensive) so those I have mint, complete with their cards and bubbles...but I have Cherry Treats who is half on her UK card and half obviously not...and I have left her as she is. She doesn't need to come out any further...it's the memory of the pony on the card I like, because MOC ponies for me are memories of my childhood :)
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Although I'd be severely tempted, I wouldn't debox a G1 unless the packaging was damaged or yellowed. I collect loose, so since it's harder to find MIB/MOC G1, I leave those for other collectors. I've seen a lot of MIB/MOC G2 floating around, but I'd still leave those for people who DO collect packaged ponies.
I'd have no problem deboxing a G3, but would still not go out of my way to buy anything other than loose ponies.
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It would be really hard for me to resist the temptation with a G1 pony. I'd probably trade or sell it immediately because if it were in my house for more than a day or two without being listed for sale you can bet I'd take it out.
I dunno about G2. I guess I'd go on a case by case basis going by rarity of said pony or how much it costs and how much it would sell for.
I always debox G3s. Whenever I get a MIB one she is removed immediately with no hesitation! G3 is new enough that I feel no guilt about it. I just enjoy having my ponies out of the box because I like brushing them and photographing them. I can see why people like them, but personally MIB ponies are just not for me.
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I deboxed a MOC Greek Moonstone, of course I'll decard a pony. Pft silly question.
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I should probably add that I paid $30 for her, this was when G1 MOC Greek ponies were EVERYWHERE. I had bought 5 Greeks, and sold/traded 4 of them off. Moonstone is my fave pony ever, also all she was doing was collecting dust and her card had been ruined anyway. Just hanging on my wall, now she is on my shelf with my childhood Moonstone.
~Jenn
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Never, and I dislike people who open g1s especially. Idg people like that, sorry. Unless it's really falling off or damaged anyway. I have some really barely hanging on and crumpled up MOC ponies and they are still in there although it's still at the point where it seems like it doesn't matter if you take them out. But since they're all the same set and I have a few of them I just leave them in.
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I'd think about it if the pony had mold/plasticizer leakage, or if the card was heavily damaged - but otherwise, I'd prefer to sell a MIB/MOC G1/2 and buy a nice loose one. I'd consider deboxing a G3 if it was one I really liked, though.
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Never, and I dislike people who open g1s especially. Idg people like that, sorry. Unless it's really falling off or damaged anyway.
It's kind of not nice to dislike people. ):
As I mentioned, for me, opening my boxed g1 was literally a magical moment for me. From this thread, I see a lot of people get that from looking at a boxed pony. But for me, it was opening it-- and I remember it vividly. Which is funny cuz my memory is so bad I can't tell you what I ate for lunch yesterday. The memory of opening it still makes me full of joy, even though it was 6 years ago. And there is the bonus of knowing I'm the only one who has touched the pony. Just like my few remaining childhood ponies. I'm not sure why thats so wrong.
Is it really so negative for people to enjoy their ponies?
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Never, and I dislike people who open g1s especially. Idg people like that, sorry. Unless it's really falling off or damaged anyway.
It's kind of not nice to dislike people. ):
As I mentioned, for me, opening my boxed g1 was literally a magical moment for me. From this thread, I see a lot of people get that from looking at a boxed pony. But for me, it was opening it-- and I remember it vividly. Which is funny cuz my memory is so bad I can't tell you what I ate for lunch yesterday. The memory of opening it still makes me full of joy, even though it was 6 years ago. And there is the bonus of knowing I'm the only one who has touched the pony. Just like my few remaining childhood ponies. I'm not sure why thats so wrong.
Is it really so negative for people to enjoy their ponies?
The only thing I collect lately is MOC and occasionally merchandise so you can probably see why I feel strongly about it. I keep my mouth shut anyway, if it's not mine I have no say, but it's the same as you, I can feel however I want to about it. Not like I remember anyone specifically who does it.
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Mmmm. I still have dreams occasionally about finding a MOC G1 at a Toys R Us or a KB Toys (wow remember those?) and eagerly but carefully tearing it open to smell that new pony smell and brush that soft hair for the first time.... sighhhhh. I doubt I ever will, but we can keep dreaming, eh?
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For me this is a layered, complex issue. It has questions of morality, history (and / or my lack thereof) and of my investment in the community and my loyalty to it. (A very good point brought up by Taffeta.)
I know I owned G1 ponies. I know some of them were new. I didn't know who they were (couldn't remember) until my mother and I searched Dream Valley one afternoon and she pointed out which she remembered buying. If that is how I was in childhood, and that is the amount of memory I have left, than obviously opening MIB g1 ponies does not hold power for me.
What would I do if I found a g1 in the wild? I would store it in the best conditions possible to preserve its quality. Then I would carefully research who within the communities I'm involved in (here and the TP) to see who was looking for that pony. I probably wouldn't be trying to get lots of money, either. (Since in our game of 'what if' I found this for a small sum). Rather, I would probably try to find a way to give someone the surprise of their life. Uniting people with "that thing they've always wanted" is a very powerful feeling and the reaction most people have to it is a much bigger rush than unboxing a g1 would be.
I won't lie: there is part of me that would kinda, sorta like to do it now that I'm really into MLP. (I was never deeply invested in a kid.) But it's a one way door. Once the pony is out of the box, it can never be the same again. MIB ponies (and other vintage toys) are very symbolic of the childhoods we use them to remember--once they're gone, they're gone.
I feel the same way about g2, minus any interest in unboxing. I do not have the connection to them that I have formed to g1. It would be a waste of an MIB for me to do that. I'd try to do the same thing I described above if I found one in the wild.
G3 is where the water gets a bit murky for me. On one hand, I understand that they aren't being made anymore. On the other hand, when I can get (for example) 5 for $25 they don't feel like they have the same 'forbidden' sense about them when it comes to unboxing. That said, though, I've thought of getting a few of my favorites MIB while they are still relatively inexpensive since my room is set up in a way that makes displaying MIB stuff easier than open stuff sometimes.
The only two older ponies I actually want MIB someday are Princess Serena and Princess Aquamarine. (I realize they are the same pony, just with different backstory and accessories) But before I even begin to contemplate the most utterly tiny inkling of a thought of buying one of those, I want a really nice Princess Serena that I can actually hold, brush, etc. and all of her accessories (including Aquamarine's dragon). That way I know there is absolutely no reason under the sun that I would ever consider opening those MIBs once I buy them.
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I believe that everyone is entitled to do whatever they wish with their own collections. With that being said, I would never debox/decard a G1 pony (I don't actively collect other gens). It would be so crazy for me to spend $50 - $100+ on something that's MIP just to have that feeling for what, like 5 seconds? I have plenty of loose ponies to play with, I don't need to destroy the value of my MIP ponies by removing them.
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As a MOC collector I would never debox a pony. Like many others I have a few in my collection whose bubbles are barely hanging on but I won't remove them. it is very true that there is a limited number of G1 MOC ponies left and it would be a shame if they were all gone. I also believe that everyone is free to do with their ponies as they wish including deboxing them but if it were me I would pass them on to other collectors and look for good condition versions elsewhere. I also collect loose ponies and am super picky about condition. Right now there seem to be several collectors selling their collections and at least two bought the majority of their collections MOC and deboxed them. While I wouldn't do this myself I have benefited from adding several mint ponies to my collection. Again, I'm not advocating deboxing ponies, rather if you look hard enough you may find a pony that someone else has already decarded or one that has been lightly played with leaving the MOCs to find homes with those that will love and treasure them in their original state.
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As a MOC collector I would never debox a pony. Like many others I have a few in my collection whose bubbles are barely hanging on but I won't remove them. it is very true that there is a limited number of G1 MOC ponies left and it would be a shame if they were all gone. I also believe that everyone is free to do with their ponies as they wish including deboxing them but if it were me I would pass them on to other collectors and look for good condition versions elsewhere. I also collect loose ponies and am super picky about condition. Right now there seem to be several collectors selling their collections and at least two bought the majority of their collections MOC and deboxed them. While I wouldn't do this myself I have benefited from adding several mint ponies to my collection. Again, I'm not advocating deboxing ponies, rather if you look hard enough you may find a pony that someone else has already decarded or one that has been lightly played with leaving the MOCs to find homes with those that will love and treasure them in their original state.
Noo :( :cry:
I had someone buy something from me once and decarded it and I'm still angry that I didn't ask what their intentions were before selling it. If I knew they were going to I would not have sold it to them. :\ I just assumed based on their moc collection that they wouldn't, never thought I was sending it over to be ripped open.
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I think it becomes more of an issue the more tine passes and the further we get from when thoae ponies were out. But I am with ponycake. It isn't about dislike for me, but a lack of consideration for other collectors and what *their* dreams are. We all outbid each other on ebay, and that's fair and open, and once we own it it is our choice. But if I posted here that I had cut all the hair off my yellow italian Minty and painted her blue, there woukd be a lot if uproar. She is my pony and I have the right to wreck her, and she didn't cost me much, but imo if I disliked her that much I would sell her.
To me opening MOC is the same. Someone else may love that item for what it is, and by opening it you take that opportunity from them just for 5 seconds of fun.
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Well said, Taffeta. (Both posts.)
We had a post a while back from a G4 fan who gave a Quarterback with great hair a mohawk so he would look more manly when her kids played with him, and the replies were definitely not "It's so great that you're doing what you want with your own pony!", lol. Maybe cutting the hair gave her and her kids pleasure, but it also permanently altered the state of the pony.
Opening a MOC is also a permanent alteration. A MOC is more than the sum of its parts, the bubble and card and pony. It's something new and rare and wonderful. It beat the odds and stayed hidden in a box or a closet for 20+ years and is now a little piece of history. It seems a real shame to me that something can survive so long MOC only to be decarded in the end.
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If I got a G1 or G2 mint in box, I wouldn't ever open them, but with G3's I'm more lenient. That may make some cringe, but I spent my own money on them... They are mine, and I have no intention of even attempting to sell them, so...
Jazz Matazz and Wave Catcher were my firsts, and they don't even come in a nice display box... They came in a wrapper not much unlike the ones McDonald's toys come in. I couldn't even see them, and I think that's what gave me the reasoning to open them instead of keep them 'MIB'. My Juniper Jade is still MIB, though... I want her out, but I still have something keeping her MIB.
Either way (and I've only opened one that actually came in a box) I keep the box!
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I think it becomes more of an issue the more tine passes and the further we get from when thoae ponies were out. But I am with ponycake. It isn't about dislike for me, but a lack of consideration for other collectors and what *their* dreams are.
To me opening MOC is the same. Someone else may love that item for what it is, and by opening it you take that opportunity from them just for 5 seconds of fun.
My dream was to open up my favorite flutter pony who I no longer had from childhood. We all have dreams and I dont believe on is more important than the other.
The excitement for me lasted more than 5 seconds. Its been 6 years and every time I see her I'm filled with joy as its still clear as day how I felt. (My memory is miserable, I can't remember details of yesterday).
Edit: I am just giving my experience from the other side. I those who pays tons of money for MiB/moc probably doesn't open it half heartedly. Maybe some do. But I dont think it's fair to judge so harshly.
I also don't think it should be done without careful consideration.
BTW, no one wanted the box from my flutter even tho I was offering it for free :/ that did upset me
Also my coworker has a bunch of MiB ponies at her moms place (including a flutter). Her mom didn't let her open them "in case they would be worth money". So there are still some hidden ones out there, not in collectors hands. Not many. But they still are out there.
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As a MOC collector I would never debox a pony. Like many others I have a few in my collection whose bubbles are barely hanging on but I won't remove them. it is very true that there is a limited number of G1 MOC ponies left and it would be a shame if they were all gone. I also believe that everyone is free to do with their ponies as they wish including deboxing them but if it were me I would pass them on to other collectors and look for good condition versions elsewhere. I also collect loose ponies and am super picky about condition. Right now there seem to be several collectors selling their collections and at least two bought the majority of their collections MOC and deboxed them. While I wouldn't do this myself I have benefited from adding several mint ponies to my collection. Again, I'm not advocating deboxing ponies, rather if you look hard enough you may find a pony that someone else has already decarded or one that has been lightly played with leaving the MOCs to find homes with those that will love and treasure them in their original state.
Noo :( :cry:
I had someone buy something from me once and decarded it and I'm still angry that I didn't ask what their intentions were before selling it. If I knew they were going to I would not have sold it to them. :\ I just assumed based on their moc collection that they wouldn't, never thought I was sending it over to be ripped open.
Yes it really upset me to see all of those ponies on ebay complete with back card, comb and ribbon knowing that they were MOC not too long ago. A few of them I have been searching for MOC for years and I would have paid a big price to have them. It's a shame all of that history is lost. And I completely agree with you that if I sold a MOC pony and found out it had been decarded later I would be livid!
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I've opened up G3 ponies- but their boxes were all beat up anyway. I'd leave G1 & G2 ponies alone though. If I want a loose one I'll get one, but there are so few still moc that I'd hate to open one, especially if some other collector might enjoy it more moc. But it's your choice and I admit, the temptation to open a G1 is great! Which is why I sold or gifted mine away!
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Yes it really upset me to see all of those ponies on ebay complete with back card, comb and ribbon knowing that they were MOC not too long ago. A few of them I have been searching for MOC for years and I would have paid a big price to have them. It's a shame all of that history is lost. And I completely agree with you that if I sold a MOC pony and found out it had been decarded later I would be livid!
I found some of the sold auctions. I am actually really angry seeing it. Why. Why? She sold them for so much less than she could have gotten MOC. See I would actually dislike this collector if I knew who they were, they did so many!!! I still get why people want to do it but it just causes this reaction in me anyway, it makes me so upset. It's like someone else said, it's as if someone has your favorite rare pony and they're destroying it for their enjoyment. I take pleasure in the MOC aspect of pony collecting, it's almost all I do buy anymore. Again I get why they do it but it still really upsets me anyway. :shrug:
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Yes it really upset me to see all of those ponies on ebay complete with back card, comb and ribbon knowing that they were MOC not too long ago. A few of them I have been searching for MOC for years and I would have paid a big price to have them. It's a shame all of that history is lost. And I completely agree with you that if I sold a MOC pony and found out it had been decarded later I would be livid!
Almost all of my G1 ponies are complete with backcards, stickers, ribbons, and other accessories. If I were to sell them, you might think I opened up a bunch of MOC's, but I didn't. I constantly scour pony forums, eBay, etc. trying to complete my loose ponies. I've found that if I'm patient enough, what I'm looking for will turn up eventually. I have a huge case of backcards and drawers full of accessories, which have all been acquired piece by piece over many years. My point is, unless someone comes right out and says that they're selling ponies they've opened, I don't think it's fair to accuse them of something that they might not be guilty of.
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Yes it really upset me to see all of those ponies on ebay complete with back card, comb and ribbon knowing that they were MOC not too long ago. A few of them I have been searching for MOC for years and I would have paid a big price to have them. It's a shame all of that history is lost. And I completely agree with you that if I sold a MOC pony and found out it had been decarded later I would be livid!
Almost all of my G1 ponies are complete with backcards, stickers, ribbons, and other accessories. If I were to sell them, you might think I opened up a bunch of MOC's, but I didn't. I constantly scour pony forums, eBay, etc. trying to complete my loose ponies. I've found that if I'm patient enough, what I'm looking for will turn up eventually. I have a huge case of backcards and drawers full of accessories, which have all been acquired piece by piece over many years. My point is, unless someone comes right out and says that they're selling ponies they've opened, I don't think it's fair to accuse them of something that they might not be guilty of.
She did actually, the auctions say 'when I decarded her' on a lot of them. lol
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She did actually, the auctions say 'when I decarded her' on a lot of them. lol
Okay, fair enough... :) I admit I do like to buy from those people who decard ponies, and I have several in my collection. I'm thrilled with all of the backcards I've been seeing on eBay lately... I've really been cleaning up. :D But I don't decard anything myself.
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She did actually, the auctions say 'when I decarded her' on a lot of them. lol
Okay, fair enough... :) I admit I do like to buy from those people who decard ponies, and I have several in my collection. I'm thrilled with all of the backcards I've been seeing on eBay lately... I've really been cleaning up. :D But I don't decard anything myself.
She did actually, the auctions say 'when I decarded her' on a lot of them. lol
Okay, fair enough... :) I admit I do like to buy from those people who decard ponies, and I have several in my collection. I'm thrilled with all of the backcards I've been seeing on eBay lately... I've really been cleaning up. :D But I don't decard anything myself.
Yes I am specifically talking about the seller who said she bought MOCs to open and sold all of them with their accessories. I also put the majority of my loose ponies together piece by piece but I personally would not buy a MOC to open. I would save them for MOC collectors….which I also happen to be. :)
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I've opened two G3s, but it was a Minty and a Butterscotch, so nothing too rare. I would open a G1 if there was a chance the packaging could end up harming the pony (like mold or something), but otherwise no. I don't collect G1s in their packaging and wouldn't have one unless it fell into my lap, so I'm pretty indifferent either way.
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My dream was to open up my favorite flutter pony who I no longer had from childhood. We all have dreams and I dont believe on is more important than the other.
The thing is, deboxing a pony does that exact thing. We all choose to follow our dreams but I think it doesn't hurt to consider the bigger picture when doing so. I completely agree that you have as much right to fulfil your wishes and dreams as much as anyone else. But if that wish or dream takes something permanently away from another collector so that they may never ever attain THEIR dream...I think that is a case of considering one dream more important than another. It's not a direct criticism at you or any individual who has done this or considers doing this in the future. It is an overall broad viewpoint for the collectable and the community as a whole entity. I don't think anyone deboxes a pony with any spite in mind, nor any disrespect for other collectors. I think that they just haven't stopped and thought about all the implications for either the community or the collectable as a whole.
I don't think criticising it is harsh. I think that taking away the right to someone else having their dream is harsher and I think only by pointing out that bigger picture will people stop and think about whether it is a good idea or not to take that pony out of package.
I collect UK ponies MOC. By that I mean ponies on UK card. It is already MUCH harder to get them than it used to be, and I am not a rich person. I have a few I bought at retail from an end of line store - but most of mine have been either trades, or ebay, or buying from sellers direct in the community. Every single UK packaged pony I get is a piece of my childhood, but there are some of my childhood ponies which are true grails to me for very specific reasons.
I already know that some are out of my price bracket, because just normal conditions make them really rare (Sunburst, for example, the pony I had when my sister was born). But, I'll give you a more realistic example of context.
Rainbow Magic (Ringlet) is one of the ponies I would really love to get MOC (UK card). In her case, it has to be English, too, because of the story. I had her as a kid when my mum was very ill in hospital, and I chose her because her story said she could grant wishes and I wanted to wish mum better. I remember it so well I can even tell you the date I bought her - 14th December, 1990.
I have never seen this pony on UK card on sale since I began collecting online in 97/8, but I am sure she still exists out there somewhere. What terrifies me about Rainbow Magic is that, to get mint ringlets, the Rainbow Curl Pony set is a high risk set for being decarded.
That kind of hunt for perfection in loose pony hair may mean I never will find Rainbow Magic MOC. I don't know whether my wish for her MOC is more or less important than the wish of someone to have a pony with mint ringlets, and I don't think that is the point. The point is that their hunt for perfection may take away my chance of obtaining something that has a deep personal meaning to me, even if I spend the rest of my life hunting for it.
Everyone has reasons for their own hunts or grails. I think NOT discussing, and NOT taking them on board them when making big decisions about permanently altering ponies, is the real harsh element in this discussion. Speaking out about how it makes us feel is not criticism - it's just honesty. Especially when you've seen the number of MIP dry up slowly, and the prices rise slowly over the past 10 or more years.
MIP ponies will continue to get rarer as people keep them longer, even without deboxing. It's a natural symptom of the passage of time.
To put the flutter in context, it has taken me almost 15 years to find MY childhood flutter in a box that is almost the same as the one she had (just a difference in language). It still isn't exactly the same, because it's not in English, but it's as close as I will ever probably get. I can remember very clearly at the age of 5, choosing her in Carrefour with my Dad's help, and spending my birthday money on her. I can remember being excited about having her, sticking her sticker on Dream Castle, and the day I cried when her wings broke.
It doesn't matter if someone down the street from you has a few in package. It's not about those few or that one person. It's about everyone, and someone else having a bunch doesn't justify deboxing a pony in my opinion. There are always going to be more collectors looking than there are ponies available with MOC G1. If it wasn't the case, prices wouldn't be going up. When I bought Medley and Glory, they cost $30 each. So did Big Top and Toppy, and Nibbles and Dibbles. That should give some context of the kind of difference in price then and now. I have no idea how much of that has been impacted on by deboxing, but I suspect it's not been completely disconnected.
Taking just one more pony out of circulation puts the price up for EVERYONE, and that is another prohibitive factor in people attaining their grails. It's a complex issue, but also one with serious ramifications. That's why I think, if possible, it ought to be avoided.
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My dream was to open up my favorite flutter pony who I no longer had from childhood. We all have dreams and I dont believe on is more important than the other.
The thing is, deboxing a pony does that exact thing. We all choose to follow our dreams but I think it doesn't hurt to consider the bigger picture when doing so. I completely agree that you have as much right to fulfil your wishes and dreams as much as anyone else. But if that wish or dream takes something permanently away from another collector so that they may never ever attain THEIR dream...I think that is a case of considering one dream more important than another. It's not a direct criticism at you or any individual who has done this or considers doing this in the future. It is an overall broad viewpoint for the collectable and the community as a whole entity. I don't think anyone deboxes a pony with any spite in mind, nor any disrespect for other collectors. I think that they just haven't stopped and thought about all the implications for either the community or the collectable as a whole.
These threads make me feel extremely sad because all I wanted was the experience. Is not like I go destroying mib ponies. I opened one and I have an amazing experience because of it.
My flutter is one off the biggest highlights of my collection. She means so.much more to me than if I had purchased a minty one. If I had gotten a minty one, I wouldn't care for it. It wasn't purely about being mint.
I don't think just anyone should open g1s. But I don't think people should feel guilty either if it is the right choice for them.
Also, I mentioned my friends MiB collection because I find it exciting there are definitely still MiB ponies that aren't in the community yet.
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My dream was to open up my favorite flutter pony who I no longer had from childhood. We all have dreams and I dont believe on is more important than the other.
The thing is, deboxing a pony does that exact thing. We all choose to follow our dreams but I think it doesn't hurt to consider the bigger picture when doing so. I completely agree that you have as much right to fulfil your wishes and dreams as much as anyone else. But if that wish or dream takes something permanently away from another collector so that they may never ever attain THEIR dream...I think that is a case of considering one dream more important than another. It's not a direct criticism at you or any individual who has done this or considers doing this in the future. It is an overall broad viewpoint for the collectable and the community as a whole entity. I don't think anyone deboxes a pony with any spite in mind, nor any disrespect for other collectors. I think that they just haven't stopped and thought about all the implications for either the community or the collectable as a whole.
These threads make me feel extremely sad because all I wanted was the experience. Is not like I go destroying mib ponies. I opened one and I have an amazing experience because of it.
My flutter is one off the biggest highlights of my collection. She means so.much more to me than if I had purchased a minty one. If I had gotten a minty one, I wouldn't care for it. It wasn't purely about being mint.
I don't think just anyone should open g1s. But I don't think people should feel guilty either if it is the right choice for them.
Also, I mentioned my friends MiB collection because I find it exciting there are definitely still MiB ponies that aren't in the community yet.
If that's what you want to do do it. If it means a lot to you then that's what matters. I'm torn on the 'ethics' of it and don't really agree that people need to think of the community (I dunno, can't decide) but I just acknowledge my feelings on the matter. lol. It's funny that you're talking about a Flutter though because I have only a few left that are really hard for me to find. I haven't seen them come up for sale yet.
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My dream was to open up my favorite flutter pony who I no longer had from childhood. We all have dreams and I dont believe on is more important than the other.
The thing is, deboxing a pony does that exact thing. We all choose to follow our dreams but I think it doesn't hurt to consider the bigger picture when doing so. I completely agree that you have as much right to fulfil your wishes and dreams as much as anyone else. But if that wish or dream takes something permanently away from another collector so that they may never ever attain THEIR dream...I think that is a case of considering one dream more important than another. It's not a direct criticism at you or any individual who has done this or considers doing this in the future. It is an overall broad viewpoint for the collectable and the community as a whole entity. I don't think anyone deboxes a pony with any spite in mind, nor any disrespect for other collectors. I think that they just haven't stopped and thought about all the implications for either the community or the collectable as a whole.
These threads make me feel extremely sad because all I wanted was the experience. Is not like I go destroying mib ponies. I opened one and I have an amazing experience because of it.
My flutter is one off the biggest highlights of my collection. She means so.much more to me than if I had purchased a minty one. If I had gotten a minty one, I wouldn't care for it. It wasn't purely about being mint.
I don't think just anyone should open g1s. But I don't think people should feel guilty either if it is the right choice for them.
Also, I mentioned my friends MiB collection because I find it exciting there are definitely still MiB ponies that aren't in the community yet.
If that's what you want to do do it. If it means a lot to you then that's what matters. I'm torn on the 'ethics' of it and don't really agree that people need to think of the community
If they don't, then there isn't really a community, is there? :)
And BanditPony, I know how you feel, but from the flip, the fact that people debox ponies upsets me and always has. It used to happen a lot more, admitted. People have made videos of doing it and put them on YT. But, because I had this fight in the Jem community too, it's always been something that bothered me.
The consequence in the Jem community is far far more serious, IMO, since the fashions either no longer exist MIP or are automatically being priced at $500+ instead of $150 where they were BEFORE this outbreak. Ultimately I agree with you, that you have the right to your dream and experience, and I wouldn't take that away. I'm just saying in a bigger picture sense, it has consequences. And if everyone thought the same way about it, it would have a much bigger impact. So I'm not attacking YOU for the decision you made for your pony, nor do I begrudge you your feelings on the subject. If you love that flutter, the chances are you wouldn't be like the ebay seller, who deboxed then sold. That pony means something to you, you are keeping it forever either way, so it isn't quite the same. We all deboxed ponies as kids. We're all equally guilty in that measure of taking ponies from circulation - but we all love those ponies for the years we played with them - so it isn't about that.
My point is that, in my view, rampant deboxing has serious overall ramifications for the price and availability of the collectable. And I don't want to see the same issues in MLP as exist in Jem, where the ONLY people who can afford the rarest flipside fashions are the ones who caused the problem in the first place, by deboxing whole fashions just for an extra pair of gloves...
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I would not seek out MOC ponies necessarily to decard, and a lot of them if they came into my hands I could see passing on to a MOC collector. However there are certain ponies where like Banditpony I would decard them because it is something that I have dreamed of doing.
Yes I see how my doing that takes "the dream" away from a MOC collector, which might be unfair to them, but at the same time it would be unfair for them to take the dream of opening certain ponies away from me.
Pretty much the only ponies that have left my collection since childhood were ones that were given as gifts to friends or a couple of extras that Hannah and I had to sell last December to help our family have a Christmas.
I love all my ponies, they are all special to me, but the ones that I've either opened personally or received as a gift are a lot more special to me.
I think in the end it is a personal choice where every varied collector probably feels very strongly about their opinions. To each there own, I see both sides of the story, but in the end the only choice that will really matter to me is my own.
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I've deboxed g3s and I probably will with the few g2s I want complete with accessories, but only for the accessories. I'd never dream of decarding a g1.
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*eyes Good Weather* If I don't find her loose and complete one day...its gonna happen :P Speaking as a complete and loose collector there is nothing more frustrating than a pony and her accessories you simply cannot find loose but you own and have seen repeated versions of MIB :P
I buy MOC/MIB and always have - I then buy loose...and sell or trade on the MOC/MIB versions. Its the process that allowed me to get a lot of my collection. There are a lot of ponies I have found cheaper and easier on their cards and in their boxes than when I have put all the individual items together.
However in the main, other than 3 Argie babies who were stained beyond imagining from the backcard ink, and a Thundercloud who tumbled off his card through poor packaging, I havent opened any G1s and I dont think I could ever bring myself to.
But...I truly feel if you purchase a pony its your pony and you may do what you wish with it. What is one persons joy is anothers upset and vice versa. Its not about me agreeing or disagreeing about what someone does with it; its not even about me judging someone for doing it. Its personal property - its their call. I dont believe we own ponies for the sake of the community although it is a kind of lovely idea. If I spend the $$ for it, then it belongs to me; I dont have any right to judge any one else for what they choose to do with their personal property.
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I would not seek out MOC ponies necessarily to decard, and a lot of them if they came into my hands I could see passing on to a MOC collector. However there are certain ponies where like Banditpony I would decard them because it is something that I have dreamed of doing.
Yes I see how my doing that takes "the dream" away from a MOC collector, which might be unfair to them, but at the same time it would be unfair for them to take the dream of opening certain ponies away from me.
Pretty much the only ponies that have left my collection since childhood were ones that were given as gifts to friends or a couple of extras that Hannah and I had to sell last December to help our family have a Christmas.
I love all my ponies, they are all special to me, but the ones that I've either opened personally or received as a gift are a lot more special to me.
I think in the end it is a personal choice where every varied collector probably feels very strongly about their opinions. To each there own, I see both sides of the story, but in the end the only choice that will really matter to me is my own.
Sis put it a lot better than I could.
Reading through these posts it seems like an attack on anyone who opens their ponies even though I know that is not the intention. Opening a pony does not destroy it. I also don't find collections of boxed ponies nearly as appealing to the eye. Ponies were meant to opened. To have their hair brushed and have light kisses on the nose. I would never look down on someone for opening something that belongs to them... I think it's kind of cruel to expect people to put the community first by not enjoying their ponies..? For many of us our love for ponies came long before we knew what a community even was.
A year or so ago I got a MOC g2 Silver Swirl and decarded her immediately. I got her with the intentions of opening her. However that was because no matter how much I searched I could not find one for sale even without accessories but I was thrilled to have her complete. I still intend to buy at least one G1 to open because I never got to experience a brand new G1 pony. I'll probably get a lot of flack for this but hey if I buy it it's mine to do as I please. Granted if I ever found an unopened Mimic or Rapunzel then no, I wouldn't open them. They'd be sold/traded to someone who really wants them, even if they want to open them. I also think it's very unfair to refuse to sell to someone because they want to open it..???
It's just that a lot of reactions here seem like the question was would you ever toss a pony into a bonfire?
In the end it's all about the happiness the pony brings to the individual. We shouldn't have to abide by expectations like this?? I don't intend to ever give up my collection so what should it matter? I refuse to make my choices based off the fact that someday I might not be here and it will be sold off and deemed 'worthless' because I opened them.
Sorry for getting so riled up over this. Just how I feel. :huh:
Edit: I wanted to add a quick apology in case I seemed like I was attacking those against decarding right after suggesting they were doing the same. ^^; But I still feel the same on the subject.
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I would not seek out MOC ponies necessarily to decard, and a lot of them if they came into my hands I could see passing on to a MOC collector. However there are certain ponies where like Banditpony I would decard them because it is something that I have dreamed of doing.
Yes I see how my doing that takes "the dream" away from a MOC collector, which might be unfair to them, but at the same time it would be unfair for them to take the dream of opening certain ponies away from me.
Pretty much the only ponies that have left my collection since childhood were ones that were given as gifts to friends or a couple of extras that Hannah and I had to sell last December to help our family have a Christmas.
I love all my ponies, they are all special to me, but the ones that I've either opened personally or received as a gift are a lot more special to me.
I think in the end it is a personal choice where every varied collector probably feels very strongly about their opinions. To each there own, I see both sides of the story, but in the end the only choice that will really matter to me is my own.
Sis put it a lot better than I could.
Reading through these posts it seems like an attack on anyone who opens their ponies even though I know that is not the intention. Opening a pony does not destroy it. I also don't find collections of boxed ponies nearly as appealing to the eye. Ponies were meant to opened. To have their hair brushed and have light kisses on the nose. I would never look down on someone for opening something that belongs to them... I think it's kind of cruel to expect people to put the community first by not enjoying their ponies..? For many of us our love for ponies came long before we knew what a community even was.
A year or so ago I got a MOC g2 Silver Swirl and decarded her immediately. I got her with the intentions of opening her. However that was because no matter how much I searched I could not find one for sale even without accessories but I was thrilled to have her complete. I still intend to buy at least one G1 to open because I never got to experience a brand new G1 pony. I'll probably get a lot of flack for this but hey if I buy it it's mine to do as I please. Granted if I ever found an unopened Mimic or Rapunzel then no, I wouldn't open them. They'd be sold/traded to someone who really wants them, even if they want to open them. I also think it's very unfair to refuse to sell to someone because they want to open it..???
It's just that a lot of reactions here seem like the question was would you ever toss a pony into a bonfire?
In the end it's all about the happiness the pony brings to the individual. We shouldn't have to abide by expectations like this?? I don't intend to ever give up my collection so what should it matter? I refuse to make my choices based off the fact that someday I might not be here and it will be sold off and deemed 'worthless' because I opened them.
Sorry for getting so riled up over this. Just how I feel. :huh:
I don't think it's an attack on anyone who wants to open ponies it's just that decarding is an issue many feel passionate about. These posts pop up every so often and the reactions are pretty much always the same. As I acknowledged, I do feel that people have the right to do what they want with their ponies but it doesn't mean that I have to agree with it or support them in doing it. And because I don't agree with decarding I would not agree to sell to someone who made this intention clear. You may think that's unfair but I think it's unfair to have a pony who has survived intact for 30+ years to be taken off its card and made just like every other loose version. It's just the way I feel. Even though there are disagreements this is what I like about the collecting community in general. We all have a different idea of what collecting is for us and have a place to freely express it. In the end I will never decard, you may every now and then and someone else may do it every time. We're all still collectors in the community. :)
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In the end it's all about the happiness the pony brings to the individual. We shouldn't have to abide by expectations like this?? I don't intend to ever give up my collection so what should it matter? I refuse to make my choices based off the fact that someday I might not be here and it will be sold off and deemed 'worthless' because I opened them.
:like:
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I'm immensely grateful to the MOC collectors out there, who have these ponies we can refer back to, to see the back cards and accessories and history. But I'm not one of them, and so I generally avoid MOC ponies.
But I have opened a few G1s, because the pony was getting damaged on the card (either ink from the card staining them or mildew and mold). I don't personally see the point of keeping a pony on the card if the pony is getting damaged. They're not MOC at that point, they're just OC.
Like Hathorcat I've been sorely tempted at times to buy a MIB to get those pesky accessories, but I'm not going to do it. I'll just glare at the MIB pictures.
Elf
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I don't really care about the "value" of ponies, in a money sense. I didn't pay a lot for most of my ponies; if I had to buy them now, I wouldn't be able to, because prices for a lot of the ones I got in trade are now a lot higher. I don't collect MOC because they are worth anything, financially. They are worth something to me emotionally, because they are markers of memories and I think that is true for a portion of MOC collectors out there. I choose which MOC I buy based on how much it's worth to me emotionally, not how much it's worth financially. I think a lot of people see MOC collecting as "detached" in some way, not engaged with the pony - but it's the complete opposite. Especially for idiots like me, who trashed most of their early childhood cards.
I think it's sad when a pony gets deboxed. There are hundreds of ponies out there, loose, and some of them are in lovely condition. I don't think it's about what pony is or isn't rare, because ponies that were not rare 10 years ago MOC are rare now because of deboxers. I remember when Argentinian ponies were really common moc, and they could barely sell them for like, $20. Now, you don't see so many. But you do see a lot of loose ones in mint condition that have come off cards. I know some fell off, some were on damaged cards, and I'm not criticising that - but it's just a fact of trade. It isn't just about boxed ponies. It spreads right into Nirvana pricing as well. The collectors coming in and starting off now, too, might not get stuff that those of us here longer had the opportunity to get some several years back. That's a fact of timescale, but I think that it is relevant to consider that because even if it is about bringing individual joy to a pony, part of collecting is sharing that joy with the community and helping that community. The collection I have is thanks to being online in the 1990s, not because I'm especially rich or smart at finding good deals. That is becoming an increasingly necessary skill with prices going really through the roof. We can't stop that happening, but we can try, as a community, to limit the damage. I am pretty sure most people are not in it for the money side, either.
I really don't take it personally if someone outbids me on ebay on something I really wanted, because I can't say that that person didn't want it as much or more than me. But I can't understand someone outbidding me on a MOC on ebay just to debox it, when there are 10 loose ones there selling for a lower price. I see a difference in that. I know other people won't, but it's just the way this issue is and will always be.
One thing I must quibble with, though. About choosing who to sell to and it not being fair. If the pony is yours to do with as you like, then its fine for a seller not to sell it to someone because they'll debox it. Because, at that point, it is the SELLER's pony. And, as such, the owner of the pony can do WHAT THEY LIKE with it, including deciding who they sell it to.
If that seller chooses to sell it to someone who will keep it MOC, that is not unfair, it is their right as the owner. If you have the right to debox, you also have the right not to sell to a deboxer. And if people should not be criticised for deboxing, they should also not be criticised for trying to preserve that pony mint in package.
Emotive logic works both ways.
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I don't think I could ever alter a G1 or G2 pony's condition - whether its within or without packing. G1 was decades ago and survived mainly as a children's toy, and G2s whilst existing at the same time as the early collector's market, are overall less common for not being produced in the US. We'll always need MOC G1/G2s for accessory identification purposes as they weren't sold online and didn't have lovely promo and stock images produced and distributed like we have now.
G3s however seem to be a dime a dozen MOC/MIB/MIP. They were released at the right time for maximum adult collection purposes, and the only ones that are truly rare were late in the line, special event releases or non-US releases. Their cheap plentiful nature and the fact that they're incredibly well-documented makes me think it's not that bad to release a few from the packaging. Maybe in another decade or so my opinion will change, but the fact that there are so many MIB collections of G3s and they get sold and traded all the time for relatively cheap prices makes their preservation seem less important or even unnecessary.
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Reading through these posts it seems like an attack on anyone who opens their ponies even though I know that is not the intention. Opening a pony does not destroy it. I also don't find collections of boxed ponies nearly as appealing to the eye.
Opening a pony so old does destroy it in my eyes. That's your opinion. You take it from something rare and turn it into another common loose pony. And I find collections of boxed ponies much more appealing to the eye. :)
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A year or so ago I came into the possession of a G1 MIB MGR Flower Bouquet. Someone gave her to me. I want to collect the MGRs, as one of the two ponies I kept from my childhood is an MGR, but I didn't see her as part of my collection in that box. She didn't "match" my loose MGR like that! I considered opening her for quite some time, then decided to just sell her and maybe find another nice, loose Flower Bouquet sometime.
MIB/MOC ponies are extremely cool to see and I'm glad there are collectors out there who keep them that way. But MIB/MOC collecting is not for me. So, no, I don't think I'd debox a G1 or G2, I'd sell the pony and try to buy a loose version of it.
I still only have my childhood MGR... :/
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I wouldn't debox them period.I would be too nervous since its more an investment at that point (not to say deboxed ones aren't) but minty ones are getting rarer and rarer. Plus, if its one with a mechanism or gimmick, I'm gonna play with it. :lol: I have mint in box toys but sometimes its just nice to hold them like you did as a child or even an adult for that matter.
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I've been debating just such a question lately - I have a G1 pony in terrible packaging (to the point where the damage is leaking through the card and damaging the pony too!!), and I've been hesitating to open her ever since I got her, simply because she's a G1! :P G3s I feel no qualms about - if it's a G3 and I need it, it's probably gonna get opened, excluding super-rare G3s of course! So many people have nabbed them as 'collectibles', I think we won't be at any risk of running out of MIB G3s anytime soon!
If it's your pony and your money - you can do whatever you want with it. Plain and simple! But if you come to other collectors looking for approval or kudos, you are unlikely to get it, especially if it's a super-rare MIB you just deboxed! :P So debox with care, or keep it to yourself if you can't deal with the resultant grumbling! (I mean, ideally we should all just say 'hey, capitalism, deal with it!', but this isn't an ideal world, and people will argue about everything!) Personally, I do feel a certain amount of 'concern for the community' should come into play - do you REALLY need to debox that MIP Rapunzel? - but ultimately, it's your money and your toy. The community didn't pay for that MIP; you did!
I also wanna add: Do not permanently alter anything if you are have collected for less than a year. I only say this because I've seen new collectors get excited and do something ("I'm gonna cut my mint G1 pony's hair cuz I love mohawks!") that they later regretted once they became more "seasoned" collectors. If you want to open that MIB G1, great! You wanna buy all of the Mountain Boys and max out your credit card, go for it! But maybe wait 6 months to make sure you wanna do it, you know?
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I've been debating just such a question lately - I have a G1 pony in terrible packaging (to the point where the damage is leaking through the card and damaging the pony too!!), and I've been hesitating to open her ever since I got her, simply because she's a G1! :P
It's up to you, of course, but imo if *I* had a pony with packaging that was that badly damaged, I'd free the pony. Is risking damage to the pony really worth keeping them in the package? (Plus they're not really "mint" in package in that case anyway, lol) I do see your point, though :P.
I also wanna add: Do not permanently alter anything if you are have collected for less than a year. I only say this because I've seen new collectors get excited and do something ("I'm gonna cut my mint G1 pony's hair cuz I love mohawks!") that they later regretted once they became more "seasoned" collectors. If you want to open that MIB G1, great! You wanna buy all of the Mountain Boys and max out your credit card, go for it! But maybe wait 6 months to make sure you wanna do it, you know?
:like: You hit the nail right on the head. :)
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I love opening my G4's and dolls, it's fun and exciting so I can see the appeal of opening a G1 MOC. I bought some G3's 10 years ago in store and saved them MIB all those years with the intention of giving them to future children so yes I let my daughter debox them and play with them even though they were no longer in production. I don't collect G2's at all and if I found one MOC in the wild I would sell her to a collector in the community.
As for G1's, I only have 1 MOC G1 and she is an Argie that I bought 20 years ago on ebay when they were going for $20. Oh how I wish I had bought more, lol! I would love to have MOC's but they are out of my price range. I would never open a MOC G1 unless they were in danger of being damaged by mold or ink or whatever. I think they are very special and so HTF MOC plus expensive to collect, I would not feel good about decarding. I do believe everyone has the right to do what they want with their ponies but like someone else mentioned, it upsets a lot of collectors so don't expect people to be ok with it. I think it's great you got to have a special experience opening your pony BanditPony, and that makes her meaningful to you. It's a sensitive subject but in your case of it being only 1 pony and for a personal, meaningful experience, that doesn't upset me. I would however be absolutely devastated if I sold a MOC and the buyer decarded it. So in that scenario, yes I absolutely would be picky about who I sell to. I do overall prefer MOC ponies to stay MOC. Once they are decarded you can never go back and it takes away one more MOC from the community. I do think community is important because the ponies circulate through each of us and we are all helping each other with our collections. :)
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I wouldn't open an older pony. If I found a need to have the pony loose I would preferably trade or sell the MIB to get a mint loose one to replace it.
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I love opening my G4's and dolls, it's fun and exciting so I can see the appeal of opening a G1 MOC. I bought some G3's 10 years ago in store and saved them MIB all those years with the intention of giving them to future children so yes I let my daughter debox them and play with them even though they were no longer in production. I don't collect G2's at all and if I found one MOC in the wild I would sell her to a collector in the community.
As for G1's, I only have 1 MOC G1 and she is an Argie that I bought 20 years ago on ebay when they were going for $20. Oh how I wish I had bought more, lol! I would love to have MOC's but they are out of my price range. I would never open a MOC G1 unless they were in danger of being damaged by mold or ink or whatever. I think they are very special and so HTF MOC plus expensive to collect, I would not feel good about decarding. I do believe everyone has the right to do what they want with their ponies but like someone else mentioned, it upsets a lot of collectors so don't expect people to be ok with it. I think it's great you got to have a special experience opening your pony BanditPony, and that makes her meaningful to you. It's a sensitive subject but in your case of it being only 1 pony and for a personal, meaningful experience, that doesn't upset me. I would however be absolutely devastated if I sold a MOC and the buyer decarded it. So in that scenario, yes I absolutely would be picky about who I sell to. I do overall prefer MOC ponies to stay MOC. Once they are decarded you can never go back and it takes away one more MOC from the community. I do think community is important because the ponies circulate through each of us and we are all helping each other with our collections. :)
Totally agree with all that! It is a tricky subject- and Snapdragon's so right, it's one of those decisions that shouldn't be made in a hurry. I remember years ago I was very tempted to open MIBs, but now I feel no need to at all. Time really can change the way you feel about things.
If I still felt the urge to de-box things, I would try and satisfy that craving another way-- by opening current or recent toys (be it a later gen, or another collection like monster high.) There's a lovely seller on Etsy who makes Pony Boxes (can't think of her name off the top of my head), and she does the most beautiful packaging - she types out the original back card stories and prints them out illustrated with the pictures from the original cards. There are beautiful, creative ways to re-package ponies that can give, while obviously not exactly the same, a similar feeling of joy and wonder to de-carding.
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You wanna buy all of the Mountain Boys and max out your credit card, go for it! But maybe wait 6 months to make sure you wanna do it, you know?
:drool:
On topic, I agree with Tropical_Sunset, I'd never open a G1. Although I can't say i wouldn't have just few ponies MIB one day, but they would have to be doubles for display purposes. ALthough that isn't likely to happen because I'd never be able to decide who the 'just a few' would be. With ponies, it's never just a few :lol:
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G1: No! Unless the packaging is damaging the pony (ink stains or mold). Even then, I might have to trade/sell it on to someone else to decard, because I don't think I could bring myself to do it.
G2: No. I don't have much interest in G2, so I would leave them for people who do.
G3: Yes. Unless it is rare/hard to find. I even have several really common ones I bought (at KB Toys, lol) when they were released, but I still can't take them out of the packages.
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I wouldn't open a G1 or G2 pony, but I would open a G3 pony. I don't really think it's that bad if a person bought a MOC G1 and decided to open it because it's their pony, they can do what they want with it. :)
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I would never open a G1 or G2 unless the pony was being actively harmed by the packaging (mildew, etc). I would be terribly tempted though! I have a MOC G1 that I've been eyeing for years. She's a common pony, and the card is in pretty rough shape. Plus I found her at a thrift store, so it's not like I would've wasted a ton of money if I opened her. But in the end I always get a hold of myself. :P I'd like to claim it's out of MLP solidarity, but don't think it's my community conscience at work. She's not rare enough to be saved for posterity, and I can't imagine a MOC collector wanting to buy her. It's more like an anthropomorphized respect that she clung to her card all through the years, even though she must have gone through heck, so who am I to part her from it? But if it was a replacement for a favorite childhood pony, like Glory, I don't know that I would be able to resist the temptation to open her, so I resist the temptation to even buy her MOC in the first place! Someday I'll find a lovely minty loose Glory, and I'll be glad I didn't ruin a MOC to get her. :)
G3s are totally fair game though! :biggrin: I think the only G3s that have been spared in my deboxing frenzy are the art ponies, since they display so nicely in their boxes anyway. Oh, and the birthstone ponies because I didn't want to deal with their tinsel. The G3 release had both the benefit of a mature collecting community and the ubiquity of the internet to ensure plenty of MIB survivors even 10+ years later. Of course, if everyone thinks the same way, then maybe they'll be scarce in another 10 years. ;) Even then, I still won't regret having opened most of my G3 collection because all those awkward boxes were a nightmare! I don't know how MIB collectors do it! :lol:
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Just wanted to chime and and say that if I saw any pony being damaged by it's packaging, I would remove it instantly. Poor pony!
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I'd probably debox a G3, but I'd definitely leave G1s in their packages.
Unless its a special pony like Mimic or Ice Crystal. Then I'd have to free them.
(Of course that's a joke) :lol: :silly:
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I think there's something different at stake when you're talking about a package actively damaging a pony. I can understand why people then take the decision to decard, because - for example, if the issue is damp - it's easier to dry out the pony and the card separately and then save both, rather than lose everything.
I also totally agree with the more than 1 year rule. I think if you have a collecting mentality, you're going to go through collectables that you love forever and some you get then think, nope, and sell them on. You want to know that when you sell them on, you can get back some of that investment.
Some of my ponies I got from a carboot sale here, and they are in their boxes, and all their accessories are still on the card, but eh ponies themselves have been removed. I still keep them in their boxes because of how it looks, but in those situations, they're already opened and it's up to the new owner in my opinion.
I also had a lot of ponies when I was about 14 which came on cards from a clearance store. They were Christmas and birthday gifts, or I bought them myself. Sister had some too. We did not know about online collecting, or MIP, or anything like that. We had almost all of the 1993 and 1994 UK pony releases during those years, and ALL of them got opened.
It was only when I discovered online that I understood about all of this kind of thing. I don't say I regret what we did then, because we didn't know. But I think, once you do know, and you have all the information available to you, it's something that has to be seriously thought about. It's fine to say, it's my pony, and it's my choice - that's absolutely true. But when you join a site like the Arena, you choose to become part of a community. And when you do that, then, simply, the community is also an important consideration. I don't think that, if you are willing to post here and share your pony info, your life and your interests with people here, then it's right to consider the overall community impact of how you choose to treat that collectible, since it does affect everyone in the long term.
I think Banditpony's story is an exception, and it ought to be an exception, not the rule.
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Just something to add - I work in an art museum. I'm interested in collections management just as I'm interested in all aspects of museum life. In museums, collections management includes ethical considerations with the aim of preserving or conserving different examples of items for future generations to admire and understand. Because we are all private collectors here, it's the rule of 'your money, your choice' what you do with it. Honestly, I don't like the idea of MOC G1s being decarded anymore than I like an art thief cutting a painting out of a frame, whoever owns the damn thing. But if a private collector wants to buy something they can do what they like with it. How I wish there was pony stuff in a museum so there would always be MOC ponies to look at! I need to go back to the V&A Museum of Childhood and ask them about ponies. London meetup anybody?
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
I hardly feel that should be the case hun. This is a very kind community and if I ran into you on the street I'd have no issues with you decarding. I'd just be happy to have a new pony friend.
My two cents on the issue has been pretty well covered by others. Don't decard a G1 unless under special circumstances but in the long run it's your pony :)
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
I hardly feel that should be the case hun. This is a very kind community and if I ran into you on the street I'd have no issues with you decarding. I'd just be happy to have a new pony friend.
My two cents on the issue has been pretty well covered by others. Don't decard a G1 unless under special circumstances but in the long run it's your pony :)
My comment mostly stems from ponycake saying she dislikes people who decard/debox-- and she happens to be in my area. I'm sure she didn't exactly mean *me* , but still ^^; I just... eh... I feel like I should hide. I might of upset other people who didn't even post.
V edit to say, thank you kissthethunder :) I appreciate those words.
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
I hardly feel that should be the case hun. This is a very kind community and if I ran into you on the street I'd have no issues with you decarding. I'd just be happy to have a new pony friend.
My two cents on the issue has been pretty well covered by others. Don't decard a G1 unless under special circumstances but in the long run it's your pony :)
My comment mostly stems from ponycake saying she dislikes people who decard/debox-- and she happens to be in my area. I'm sure she didn't exactly mean *me* , but still ^^; I just... eh... I feel like I should hide. I might of upset other people who didn't even post.
Don't want to get off topic or start anything here, but don't worry at all about what others think. Decarding a pony says very little about who you are as a person, if anything at all. If it's taboo, dont worry, there's been topics and threads on this subject in the past and there are plenty of collectors who do like to decard their G1's, so don't worry, you're not alone.
Besides, you already said where you stand on the matter, I think you brought something great to the table that needed to be heard :)
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
Don't feel that way! As it has already been said, I think your story is really an exception to the rule. MOST people report the euphoria of opening a pony doesn't really last very long and wish they hadn't done it for all the reasons stated in this thread. I think everybody needs to follow the advice given and wait at least 6 months to a year and see if opening is still something they want to do or if another action (like swap boxes!) would satisfy that desire.
I also want to add that justifying opening because "I'm never going to get rid of my ponies" (just a general quote not aimed at any specific member) is not necessarily a good idea. I've been collecting for 20 years and for most of that time I said I would NEVER part with my ponies. But, things change. I'd give up my ponies in a heartbeat to pay a vet bill or make room for a new baby or any other number of things that might come along in life. Because, in reality, these are just little lumps of lovely plastic and we all really should have something more important. If not right this second, then someday! Just some food for thought!
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My comment mostly stems from ponycake saying she dislikes people who decard/debox-- and she happens to be in my area. I'm sure she didn't exactly mean *me* , but still ^^; I just... eh... I feel like I should hide. I might of upset other people who didn't even post.
V edit to say, thank you kissthethunder :) I appreciate those words.
Does it help I live in Virginia now? Kidding. (I do live in Virginia now though, moved state about a month ago but NE Ohio has been my forever home til then). Seriously my first comment was said without reading any commentary and just expressing my dislike of decarding carelessly, I didn't think the words through they just came out. I tried to show that I didn't really mean it that extreme in future posts of mine saying that eh whatever if someone wants to do it enough that's fine and feel free, but people who rip a lot off their cards, yeah, I would possibly actually mildly dislike them unless I liked them already (but I would also keep my mouth shut about it and also I don't care enough to remember who they are, I didn't go find out who that Ebay decarder was on here or if they are on here, and tbh I'd probably even talk to them in a friendly manner if the opportunity arose). I can be intense online sometimes with how I state things but I'm actually a super nice person and am extremely nice to everyone I meet and even go out of my way to help anyone who needs anything, if that matters. Rambling. TLDR is I didn't really mean it and shouldn't have said it like that. Also I actually really like the Ohio members on here just because I love my state and it's like yay state buddies.
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It's fine to say, it's my pony, and it's my choice - that's absolutely true. But when you join a site like the Arena, you choose to become part of a community. And when you do that, then, simply, the community is also an important consideration. I don't think that, if you are willing to post here and share your pony info, your life and your interests with people here, then it's right to consider the overall community impact of how you choose to treat that collectible, since it does affect everyone in the long term.
This is really well-put, Taffeta. Being part of a community means you get to enjoy the warm fuzzies and fun but it also means there are some responsibilities.
I'm glad banditpony shared the story of deboxing that special pony -- I think it's important for MIB/MOC collectors to see that not all deboxing is equal and it's not always done for the quick "high."
I am not a MIB/MOC collector for anything I collect, because for me the joy is in handling and manipulating the toys I collect.
What I really take away from threads like this is how special the MLP community is for the passion and thought that folks put into their collections and yes, the actual community that exists. Honestly, I'm so glad I dipped my toes into pony collecting because it exposed me to all of you!
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I like the look of MOC/MIB so I wouldn't decard a MOC/MIB pony unless there was mold or something else that was damaging the pony inside. It's one of my pony dreams to own a MOC G1 or MOC Ponywear. I even keep my G4s MOC/MIB
Ponyfan
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I don't collect moc but I wouldnt open G1s or G2s unless I had to (card damageing the pony due to mold, warping, etc) I may open g3s depending on what it was.
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I wouldn't debox a G1 because I think they look pretty in their cards and they bring back waves of memories for me. But as long as someone knows the value of what they have, I don't mind if someone deboxes their own pony.
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As I mentioned, my story was shared to show the flipside. Although, thinking about it, I should of kept my mouth shut. I just wanted to share it to people who might be considering it... or to say that it could kinda be positive in a way. (Yes, I get it, most people don't agree with this last statement).
Although, funny thing is that I am right along hard core collectors in believing things shouldn't be deboxed/decarded. I just think there are minor exceptions to the rule.
Although now I feel disliked. So if I run into any collectors into my area-- I feel like I shouldn't be able to say I'm from the forum due to my story. Oh well, I guess.
I hardly feel that should be the case hun. This is a very kind community and if I ran into you on the street I'd have no issues with you decarding. I'd just be happy to have a new pony friend.
My two cents on the issue has been pretty well covered by others. Don't decard a G1 unless under special circumstances but in the long run it's your pony :)
My comment mostly stems from ponycake saying she dislikes people who decard/debox-- and she happens to be in my area. I'm sure she didn't exactly mean *me* , but still ^^; I just... eh... I feel like I should hide. I might of upset other people who didn't even post.
V edit to say, thank you kissthethunder :) I appreciate those words.
I think this is a case of disliking something that someone may have done because you don't agree with it yourself, rather than hating the PERSON themselves. There's a distinct difference to me. I don't hate anyone on this thread for taking ponies off cards. There are real reasons to hate people in the world, and taking a pony out of it's package ranks quite low in the grand scheme of things.
But, I think what was meant to be conveyed was that the action of decarding was something that some of us strongly dislike and disagree with.
I wouldn't sell a G1 MOC pony to someone who would take it out of package. But that doesn't mean I hate them, blacklist them, consider them a bad person, etc. I just would rather sell my MOC to someone who would love it as it is. I would still happily trade with someone who preferred loose ponies. We're not drawing lines in the sand. It's just, for me, about considering all the long term perameters and ramifications of taking out the few precious relics of the 1980s/90s pony line that we still have available to us.
I think deboxing is less common now than it was when I first came online, but the prices are more and the availabiliy of ponies is also less. The one has directly impacted the other and after being online for what, 17 years, it's easy to see that trend and that development. It's fine to look at the here and now, but, if we were all deboxing stuff, in 10 years that'd be it for mip MLP. And that is a MAJOR issue in terms of accessory info as well as nostalgia and collecting, since information websites come and go. Also, I really don't like going onto ebay and seeing that even more common ponies mip now are being priced way above what they should be by certain sellers who seem to have developed a stock monopoly.
17 years ago the community was a big consideration because it was small. I don't think it should be any less so for its new and expanded size. The supply/demand ratio has changed, that's all - if anything, we ought to be more aware, not less, about the impact of our individual choices on the collectible we all love as a whole.
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G1 G2- no unless the packaging was already destroyed,
G3 probably since they have such little value. Although come to think of it, I had a pile of them that I didn't want anymore, and gave them to the thrift store rather than de-boxing. I figured someone would get a thrill out of them (not worth it to me to sell $4 ponies)
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I want to say I am really enjoying hearing the variety of thoughts and opinions on this subject and am glad that it's being discussed maturely :)
Yay pony people!
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Yes. I would never be able to leave a pony--or any toy--in its packaging.
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Interesting thread. :)
The discussion of "you payed for it, do what you want with it" versus "we have a responsibility to the collecting community" is one I've pondered before.
While I generally like to respect people's choices, for me it's not about the fact that they paid for something. We live in a world where some people can afford a lot more than others. I think those people have a duty alongside their privilege, particularly when it comes to issues of history and culture. For example, people who own heritage buildings in the UK are expected to maintain them for the benefit of us all.
I think we in the community all agree that MLP are of cultural and historical significance. As such I do feel that people who can afford MOCs should consider that they have the privilege and the accompanying duty to maintain those ponies to the best of their ability. For someone to buy loads of MOC ponies to decard simply "because they can afford to" is an example of privileged selfishness and irresponsibility. -_-
Now, if one person saves up for ages to afford a single MOC to decard ... I certainly feel more sympathetic to their reasons ... but I do feel like anyone who can afford a MOC should feel the same responsibility. I managed to buy a MOC Glory she's lovely but her bubble is yellow and cracked and boy have I fantasized about opening her. But I won't, not because I think it will devalue her, but because I feel like she is a little bit of history.
The only other MOC I have owned is G2 SilverGlow, initially I kept her MOC. I did end up decarding her because she was degrading in the box, becoming sticky and sweaty and the card was getting damaged too. And I think the ponies themselves should always be priority (but that's partly because I anthropomorphise them a little!). So if I felt like Glory was getting damaged by her packaging I might have to decide to decard her, but that's something I would avoid if possible.
Many of the G3s I think are not so bad because they can be removed from their boxes without damaging the packaging whatsoever.
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Interesting thread. :)
The discussion of "you payed for it, do what you want with it" versus "we have a responsibility to the collecting community" is one I've pondered before.
While I generally like to respect people's choices, for me it's not about the fact that they paid for something. We live in a world where some people can afford a lot more than others. I think those people have a duty alongside their privilege, particularly when it comes to issues of history and culture. For example, people who own heritage buildings in the UK are expected to maintain them for the benefit of us all.
I think we in the community all agree that MLP are of cultural and historical significance. As such I do feel that people who can afford MOCs should consider that they have the privilege and the accompanying duty to maintain those ponies to the best of their ability. For someone to buy loads of MOC ponies to decard simply "because they can afford to" is an example of privileged selfishness and irresponsibility. -_-
I do agree with all you have written but I have to write you something ;) please do not take offence but I just wanted to precise about the persons who can afford MOC.
Yes it is true it is a privilege but you wrote things like all MOC collectors are super rich. I am not offended by your comment ;) but I just took my example and I think I am not alone.
I am not super rich, I am mother of 2 children and do not work at the moment :huh: However I really prefer to buy ponies than going shopping, going to the manucure, going to the restaurant, going to theaters etc etc because I just decided that I love more ponies than taking care of myself :lol: I really more enjoy them!!!
And Why MOC specially? just because I have never ever seen other MOC when I was a child, I received Tickle for Xmas and not other ponies then. When I start collecting to find an other Tickle I discover all the ponies!!! And I saw some of them in their original packaging, WHAT A DISCOVER!!! :shocked: :shocked:
I am seriously emotionally attached to the MOC MIB Ponies , it is like i go back to the past ;) so I made a very important decision and I prefer to put the little money I can have to MOC.
I really hope my english is ok and that you can understand my point of view . I repeat: I was not feeling offended but I just wanted to precise this, not all MOC collectors are rich, I think we took the decision to go on this way and assume it by not doing something else in our lives ;o) And I hope my opinion does not offend you too :lol:
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Bibinettepony, I'm not saying that all MOC collectors are rich. ;) What I'm saying that even those of us (me included!) who can only afford to own one or two MOC are privileged, as there are some people who will never own a MOC, no matter how much they save. So we are still lucky to own any MOC and we still have some responsibility for maintaining them.
There was a comment earlier in the thread about a seller who bought many MOCs, decarded them all and then sold them. To me this is an example of someone who us British would say has "more money than sense" and someone who wasn't thinking about the cultural importance of those MOC when they bought them simply to decard. :huh:
I hope that makes more sense.
p.s. I'm like you, the only things I spend any money one are ponies and my dogs! I even cut my own hair, because why would I waste ££ on that when I can buy more ponies! :lol:
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:hug: :hug: Whippycorn, I am ok with what you say (like I previously said :lol: ) but I just wanted to make the point clear. Maybe some persons can misread and think that MOC collector are super rich, that's why I wanted to add my view ;) and personal experience. :blush:
But you're definitively right saying that unhappily even with saving for long time some pony collectors can not afford a MOC :huh:. And I agree for respect for them, MOC Collectors should respect MOC ponies and take really good care of them. ;)
PS: I also cut my own hair :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Interesting thread. :)
The discussion of "you payed for it, do what you want with it" versus "we have a responsibility to the collecting community" is one I've pondered before.
While I generally like to respect people's choices, for me it's not about the fact that they paid for something. We live in a world where some people can afford a lot more than others. I think those people have a duty alongside their privilege, particularly when it comes to issues of history and culture. For example, people who own heritage buildings in the UK are expected to maintain them for the benefit of us all.
I think we in the community all agree that MLP are of cultural and historical significance. As such I do feel that people who can afford MOCs should consider that they have the privilege and the accompanying duty to maintain those ponies to the best of their ability. For someone to buy loads of MOC ponies to decard simply "because they can afford to" is an example of privileged selfishness and irresponsibility. -_-
Now, if one person saves up for ages to afford a single MOC to decard ... I certainly feel more sympathetic to their reasons ... but I do feel like anyone who can afford a MOC should feel the same responsibility. I managed to buy a MOC Glory she's lovely but her bubble is yellow and cracked and boy have I fantasized about opening her. But I won't, not because I think it will devalue her, but because I feel like she is a little bit of history.
The only other MOC I have owned is G2 SilverGlow, initially I kept her MOC. I did end up decarding her because she was degrading in the box, becoming sticky and sweaty and the card was getting damaged too. And I think the ponies themselves should always be priority (but that's partly because I anthropomorphise them a little!). So if I felt like Glory was getting damaged by her packaging I might have to decide to decard her, but that's something I would avoid if possible.
Many of the G3s I think are not so bad because they can be removed from their boxes without damaging the packaging whatsoever.
Very well said :) I totally agree with this line of thinking :)
I hope we all get on the same page here for the sake of preservation of our beloved ponies.
I have bought g2 mocs that are open already and I have re sealed them :) some glue to the bubble and voila ,they are back to Moc Status for my collection :)
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I wouldn't open a G1 MOC/MIB unless the packaging was really bad or at risk of damaging the pony/playset/accessory. I deliberately don't buy MOC though because I prefer to have everything loose so I can play with them.
I feel the same about G2.
I deboxed all my G3's to save space (and so I can play with them). However I just deboxed a Winter Minty I found at a flea market and now I regret it because she was so pretty in the packaging. So I probably won't debox these any more since we're getting pretty far out from their release now.
I debox all my G4's. I suppose once they aren't being released anymore I'll stop doing that.
I haven't read all the posts, but it sounds like there's a debate about whether or not people should debox G1's. I figure if you want to debox them it's no one else's business, although I wish people wouldn't.
Someday when I have every MLP doll, playset, and accessory ever made from every country then I'll start buying MOC/MIB. So it won't be for awhile. ;)
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I'd love to open a So Soft pony. The tactile temptation would be too much!
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I'd love to open a So Soft pony. The tactile temptation would be too much!
I feel my fingers starting to tingle when I think of being able to decard a so soft... :dribble: But I think the short joy of it would not be worth it. Shortly it would just become another mint condition SS pony. :P
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Definitely. The G1 to G3 ponies are so beautiful, and gorgeously designed, that it would a crime not to have them out on full display.
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I'd love to open a So Soft pony. The tactile temptation would be too much!
I feel my fingers starting to tingle when I think of being able to decard a so soft... :dribble: But I think the short joy of it would not be worth it. Shortly it would just become another mint condition SS pony. :P
Me three!! It would be so amazing... And soft!! But I'd probably regret it.
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So softs are pretty expensive ones too. Not worth it.
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It would be amazing to do at a meet - do a pass the parcel.
Everyone chips in, MIP So Soft gets wrapped up, accessories and baby ponies in different layers as token prizes. Winner gets to decard so soft and keep her, but all the people who lost out get to have a feel and a nuzzle.
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It's funny- because the topic is what would YOU do, not, how do you feel about what others would do :)
Generally, I feel like people can do what they want with their things (including vintage ponies).
But with the bubble carded ponies- they are so rare and so irreplaceable (getting more so every day and especially the foreign ones) that opening a sealed bubble-card seems more akin to destroying artwork, since the vintage packaging is more rare by far than the pony itself.
If the packaging is in terrible shape and really can't be displayed, than I don't see a problem with opening a pony like that, since it is impossible to restore damaged packaging (which is why it is a little painful to see/hear of people ripping open their MOC ponies from perfect packaging)
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I wouldn't debox a G1 pony. I don't collect MOC ponies, but I know that many people do so I wouldn't want to ruin that chance. There are only a finite number of MOC ponies, and that number will always be decreasing as time goes on.
I've deboxed tons of G3 ponies though, but that's because they were new at the time. I've recently acquired a few in-box G3s, and I will be deboxing them because the box condition is so horrible and smelly.
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If I ever get one, maybe.
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who keep YOUR pony MiB.
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I like to keep mine intact but my darling daughter had other ideas when she found she could drag a chair to the wall and reach higher...luckily she missed the G1s and grabbed a G3 instead...everything got moved pretty smartly!
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
LOL ,sadly true, everyone can do what they want with what they buy with their money ,but even when you own a house in a community ,you have restrictions and a set of rules that are enforced by a homeowners association :)
If you buy a house isolated from the city and not part of a community then you get to trash your property as you choose ,so we are in a pony community here, we are all for pony preservation :) ,yes we are owners of these ponies,but the consensus is to preserve them as mint as possible and be responsible when owning one :) and act not as an owner but as a guardian ,like the big states who are tied up in trust funds LOL, you get to enjoy it but with restrictions and with the idea to keep it growing and that there is going to be there for the next generation .
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A G1, no. I also would not purchase an MIB G1 at MIB G1 prices. If I stumbled on one second hand for cheap, I would probably pick it up to "rescue" it from an uncertain fate and sell/trade it to someone who values MIB ponies. I, personally, prefer the vast majority of my ponies loose, but I understand how rare MIB G1s are and respect them as the collectibles they are.
A G2, most likely. I still don't know a whole lot about them, but have noticed that there are quite a few of them that are pretty close to the same price MIP as they are loose, so I probably wouldn't think much of it. Same as with G1, though, I wouldn't pay much more than loose prices for MIP ones, anyway, so it probably wouldn't be an issue.
G3s, I'm sort of weird about. Almost all of mine are loose, but Bay Breeze, Frisco, Trolley, Rosey Posey and I *think* my TAF Pony Project ponies are still in their bags (there may be one more, but I can't recall her off the top of my head). One of my birthflower ponies is currently MIB because I'm holding out to find her loose, at which point, I'll sell the MIB girl. Of course, there's still a pretty decent chance I'll get twitchy and open her before that happens. All of the Fair exclusives and Limited Edition ponies that came in boxes were carefully removed and boxes collapsed. I don't understand why I keep the bagged girls in their bags, but open the boxes. It makes no sense, if you think about it, but that's just how I roll right now, I guess. I may even end up opening the exclusives that are currently packaged someday. Don't know for sure yet.
I really, really respect collectors that have the will power to keep their ponies in their packages, but I also really love touching my ponies and brushing their hair and how much easier it is to display them when they're loose. Not to mention the cheaper price tags ;) I fully support either method of collecting, but I do typically avoid trying to buy anything MIP if I know I'll be able to easily pick it up loose.
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One thing that I have learned over the last couple months is that I actually prefer opening ponies that are part of a swap box to opening them from Hasbro. Opening swap ponies is fun. Opening Hasbro ones is a pain--their hair always ends up a mess, whereas swap ponies are usually beautifully groomed. They've also been picked for you by someone as a gift. Has anyone ever considered the thought that part of the joy of swaps is that we are getting the ponies as it was always intended--by someone choosing that special pony and surprising us with it? Just a thought. :)
One thing I do wonder is why some kind of online society for MLP (or even vintage toys in general) preservation has not been created. It should have a website that works as a virtual museum that shows how lovely the ponies look all complete and on card. (Which could also provide a great database for accessory identification). It could also have articles and thoughts on why pony preservation is so important and offer a members list and a badge that could be e-mailed to those who signed up so MOC / MIB buyers / sellers would know whether they are buying / selling to someone who has pledged to help preserve the future of MLP. It would be a -lot- of work, but it's a thought.
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
:like:
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To be honest, I have opened one g1 (when I was a newbie collector haha), it was g1 newborn baby Ribbons and hearts, who came in those clear bags, when I got her I adored her curls but noticed there was stuff in her bag (black dirt like stuff). At the time I was so nervous I asked the pony community of whether to open or not. Because I grew up with g3 ponies I never got the chance of opening a g1, and the other collectors recommended opening her and enjoying the feel of opening a g1 pony (and sniffing new pony smell!) It was truly a wonderful feeling and I'm so happy to have experienced that and I've gently put her into a zip lock bag to protect her, her curls are gorgeous and I still love her new pony smell. I do feel so guilty about it though... I do have an additional MIB baby Ribbons and hearts who will stay as such, and has no gunk in her bag lolol
I do feel a little better about it though because I see her so often MIB with one eBay listing having a huge pile of her MIB, and each pony MIB was no more than $15 average, with most at $8 oddly enough. I still feel mad at myself though haha.
On the other hand I have a MIB mail order Bluebelle who has been discoloured by the plastic band around her face, but I am never opening her because if I do she's nothing but a stained bluebelle with accessories. I still think she is utterly gorgeous and I like to think that the stains are from her quickly eating some chocolate cake before jumping into her bag :)
Though I really really really never want to open another g1 or g2 for that matter! I don't like seeing a rare or a vintage pony being opened if nothing is terribly destroyed or mouldy or whatever, but I do also want others to enjoy an experience they desire deeply, because it really lasts! And I know others out there like me were even too poor as kids to get new toys, but when you do it's such a treasure, I did see g2 ponies in a shop as a kid that were leftover in a toy store much like g3.5 toys I still see occasionally, it was a g2 skyskimmer with the magnetic nose, and a light heart, but when I saved up money over time I could only find g3 ponies, so one year I got a g3 wysteria and a year after I got a g3 tink a tink a too, and they are still so precious to me to this day and for a kid, I kept them in such lovely condition. I did so yearn for those beautiful elegant g2 ponies and to pick things up with that magnetic nose of skyskimmer's. And the boxes had such a charm to them for g2 ponies, the art is too cute! I bet I would've kept that card if I did somehow manage to get skyskimmer!
But then still that feeling is wonderful, but mint ponies are just so special too, It's a really difficult matter...
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
:like::like:
It's your pony and you have every right to debox it, if that's what you want to do. Ponies do not belong to the community, they belong to whoever buys them, and I don't think anyone should ever be made to feel bad about doing something that belongs to THEM. Sure, I wouldn't decard a Mimic or anything, but I really don't think it's a ~*terrible crime*~ to do so.
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I see it both ways, being aware of the community's feelings on it and doing what you want to do because it's yours. If we became aware of a seller buying a lot of them up and deboxing on a large scale I think a lot of us would be in uproar, although that's an extreme case. Still, all the collectors who are doing just one or two are accomplishing that anyway in a less obvious manner.
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only if the pony's plastic is either really badly ripped or the paper and the plastic is badly seperating
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When I was younger, I bought MOC G1's and opened them... I'm not sure if I regret doing it, because the ponies are all flawless and gorgeous and I adore them. *edit* Should also add that back in the 90's and early 2000's MOC G1's were far less expensive, otherwise I never could've afforded them as a kid AND opened them.
If a card/box is heavily damaged, then I'd open it.
G3's I have no issue with deboxing unless it's a rare pony. I have several MIB G3's, but I also have loose versions so I can still enjoy the pony and protect my MIB collection.
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I would open it for sure regardless of generation, but save the backcard just in case I wanna sell later. It's way too awesome not to take advantage of time travelling to a time when you just pulled the pony off the shelf at the store- why not have that rare moment again?
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
LOL ,sadly true, everyone can do what they want with what they buy with their money ,but even when you own a house in a community ,you have restrictions and a set of rules that are enforced by a homeowners association :)
If you buy a house isolated from the city and not part of a community then you get to trash your property as you choose ,so we are in a pony community here, we are all for pony preservation :) ,yes we are owners of these ponies,but the consensus is to preserve them as mint as possible and be responsible when owning one :) and act not as an owner but as a guardian ,like the big states who are tied up in trust funds LOL, you get to enjoy it but with restrictions and with the idea to keep it growing and that there is going to be there for the next generation .
Whoops! Meant to say don't feel bad all ye who wish to keep Your ponies MIB. Fixed it and sorry but no. A pony does not belong to the community. They belong to that individual.
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
LOL ,sadly true, everyone can do what they want with what they buy with their money ,but even when you own a house in a community ,you have restrictions and a set of rules that are enforced by a homeowners association :)
If you buy a house isolated from the city and not part of a community then you get to trash your property as you choose ,so we are in a pony community here, we are all for pony preservation :) ,yes we are owners of these ponies,but the consensus is to preserve them as mint as possible and be responsible when owning one :) and act not as an owner but as a guardian ,like the big states who are tied up in trust funds LOL, you get to enjoy it but with restrictions and with the idea to keep it growing and that there is going to be there for the next generation .
Whoops! Meant to say don't feel bad all ye who wish to keep Your ponies MIB. Fixed it and sorry but no. A pony does not belong to the community. They belong to that individual.
:biggrin: guess you need to understand what I wrote, I never said it does not belong to the owner or that it belongs to the community :)
owning something carries a responsibility :) LOL in other words just like kids ,just because you are the parent of the kid, it does not mean you can do what you want with them, you have a responsibility to CARE for them, if you don't they are taken away or at least put you under supervision to ensure that you do :) ( I know a pony does not compare to a kid, but is for you to get the idea of what we are talking about here :) ) ,but we are all free to do what we want with our ponies ,just as parents are to do what they please with their kids :) and there fore we get to see some being mistreated and abused at the end, and we will continue to do so,because is what they want to do to them, just as some people here will keep de boxing ponies because they can is their pony :)
(extreme comparison I know but it conveys my opinion in the topic ) :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
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Boxing, deboxing, it really is that person's toy to do with what they wish. Don't feel bad all ye who debox YOUR pony, don't feel bad all ye who refuse to keep YOUR pony MiB.
LOL ,sadly true, everyone can do what they want with what they buy with their money ,but even when you own a house in a community ,you have restrictions and a set of rules that are enforced by a homeowners association :)
If you buy a house isolated from the city and not part of a community then you get to trash your property as you choose ,so we are in a pony community here, we are all for pony preservation :) ,yes we are owners of these ponies,but the consensus is to preserve them as mint as possible and be responsible when owning one :) and act not as an owner but as a guardian ,like the big states who are tied up in trust funds LOL, you get to enjoy it but with restrictions and with the idea to keep it growing and that there is going to be there for the next generation .
Whoops! Meant to say don't feel bad all ye who wish to keep Your ponies MIB. Fixed it and sorry but no. A pony does not belong to the community. They belong to that individual.
I don't see why it has to be this closed minded thing like do what you want and don't worry about anyone else. If you're in the community you probably care what other collectors think and it kind of matters what you do if you're a part of that community. There should be some thought process going on at least about diminishing the limited amount left, not only for the community but also if it's just a good decision, like that person on Ebay who went and ripped several off the cards to just turn around and sell them for a lot less recently, taking hundreds and hundreds of dollars of losses. And if that decision is well I really want to open this one again to get that feeling, fine. But they should at least think about it. I think the only person who was hurt or worried was overreacting even when I already said no I don't dislike you I chose the wrong words to say and apologized.
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I've opened up old MIB/MOC ponies. I don't give it a second thought if I want to open something. It belongs to me, after all.
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Good thing I have a lot here that are safe with me and won't be sold to people who will open them, if they're sold at all (probably not). :)
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I know for me personally it depends on the toy/pony. Mostly I just avoid buying MOC since I do like displaying them. But I find nothing more annoying then being made to feel guilty by opening a MOC toy. Its happened a few times, and at the end of the day I bought it, and if I know I'll never be selling it I don't see why not.
But the best toys are ones that can be put back in their boxes easily XD
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This thread makes me think it's more common than I realized. I wonder how many here have opened them within the past 5 years even. I knew a lottttt of people said they would want to or be tempted to. The nice thing is the higher prices will drive a lot of those who will open them away. Not all of course, as we see. I think it's a shame the desire to preserve isn't wider or doesn't win often above 'well I want to do it and it's mine so I will.'
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This thread makes me think it's more common than I realized. I wonder how many here have opened them within the past 5 years even. I knew a lottttt of people said they would want to or be tempted to. The nice thing is the higher prices will drive a lot of those who will open them away. Not all of course, as we see. I think it's a shame the desire to preserve isn't wider or doesn't win often above 'well I want to do it and it's mine so I will.'
If it makes you feel better I've never opened a G1 pony lol :) The only one I would probably ever buy would be a Bowtie MOC but then it would be MOC forever. The toys I've uncarded have all been fairly common Fairy Winkles sets, and a few of the Pretty Mermaids. I think my stance is just more it should be the collectors choice.
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Yes, it is a sad thing just as sad as child abuse and many other things that does not make sense,just because people have the same attitude of entitlement, it is a crime after all, just because you can get away with it does not make it any better.
wish we had "pony protective services" LOL
I can imagine people in court wanting their ponies back :) Pony Judge : "sorry we will confiscate your Moc ponies , Ponies will remain under Federal custody :) you have been reported as a MOC opener , you are to serve and pay a fine and remain on probation for 3 years before you can attempt to own a Moc pony " :) LOL
after psych evaluation then we will allow you supervised visits to the pony room :) LOL
If you open a MOC pony ever again you will loose all rights of ownership !
LOL :P
:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
protect your ponies always:)
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Wow...I am not one to usually bale in on individual posts...but comparing decarding a pony to child abuse even in the loosest and most irrelevant way is seriously out of place. :(
This discussion is always one which has strong opinions on both sides. Personally I am of the "your pony, your choice" argument. But that rule also applies to those who strongly believe ponies should stay in box as well as those who want the right to remove. What I do get fed up with is either side being a little disrespectful of one another's opinions or of people feeling the need to apologise for where they stand.
We are one big community - free the pony, don't free the pony, believe in freedom for the pony, believe in caring for the pony for future of the community. I agree with some, I disagree with others...personally. But I have no issue which way anyone swings and I dont like making anyone feel bad or guilty for preferring to go with either option.
I think we are just about talked out on this subject...until the next time no doubt.