I'm kind of curious- What do you guys like about MIBs?

[Esbayne]

I've never seen the appeal in MIB to be honest. I know everyone has seperate likes and dislikes, I'm curious why those of you who collect boxed ponies like to. I can understand wanting them to be protected and kept nice, but I can do the same with mine and keep them on their shelves unboxed. I like to play around with my ponies and mess with their hair, in my opinion you can't really do that with MIB, keeping them boxed makes them strictly decorations and only to look at.

 I'm curious why you guys enjoy doing that. ^^

[ApertureScience]

It guarantees that the pony is in a better condition.  Still, depending on its age, it could develop problems, but at least they aren't a result of rough handling by the owner.  Also, since most ponies do get taken out of their boxes, when they go off the shelf, you now own something more rare and worth more money.

They look nice on display too; however, it can be difficult to display them because they take up more space.

[Ivy]

Not only does it keep the pony nice and displays nice - but it's guaranteed to have all of it's original accessories! - and I'm all about the accessories!

[hathorcat]

Not only does it keep the pony nice and displays nice - but it's guaranteed to have all of it's original accessories! - and I'm all about the accessories!

Its a vintage toy collector thing as well - no matter what type of toy is being collected be it MLP or Dinky cars, items originally in their box always tend to hold a higher value and therefore are more collectable. And as collectors I think its easy to want something which is more collectable and more desirable - to have the best example of the toy we collect in its original packaging.

For me I do prefer loose and complete ponies but at the same time I also have a selection of MIB in my collection that I purposefully sought out and will not sell even if I have the same pony loose and complete. Because I enjoy and prize having certain ponies MIB/MOC.

[Eviecorn]

I think it's everything that's been said - condition, collector prestige, completion of the set with accessories.  I only have one MIB pony and I've wanted to take her out so many times, but she's a pretty rare G2 so I will abstain. 

[Sarahlacewing]

They are like... virgin ponies.  In a time when most ponies were deboxed and played with they remained untouched by human hands. Condition is mint, selection is complete with no missing parts.  They are a rare and special treasure. As time passes on only fewer and fewer of them will remain. 

Also the nostalgia of the box.  many collectors remember buying them off the shelf in package.


Personally I don't collect MIB but I do appreciate how special they are.

[CottonTALE]

I don't collect MIB either... Because I remember in the back of my head that these are toys and a toy's purpose is to be played with, so as soon as I get home with my new ponies... I unbox them, brush out their mane and tail and put them on my shelf according to their colour (I arrange mine in the order of the rainbow, starting with white and ending on redish-violet) then once in a while, I take all of my ponies off the shelf and brush out their hair and put them back.

[Stiletto]

Not only does it keep the pony nice and displays nice - but it's guaranteed to have all of it's original accessories! - and I'm all about the accessories!

I second this!  Especially ponies that came with a TON of accessories!

[lovesbabysquirmy]

It's a magical, nostalgic moment in time. 

There will never be more of these ponies made, and very few were unopened during their run as children's toys and playthings.  So having one that "survived" is really special.

Maybe think of it as a Vault dweller finally leaving the safety of the vault and stepping out onto the surface for the first time - it's like *that* sense of re-discovery.   

[HollowZero]

I love G1 and G2 MIB. The other gens have ugly backcards so I open them all up.

It's all about the art on the box for me.

[FantasticFirefly]

Old G1 ponies I like the graphics on some of the packaging. I think they display nice.

The newer stuff I never bothered with MIB unless it's a SDCC/Collector pony with nice packaging. G2, g3, g4 I collect for enjoyment and I don't really enjoy the packaging so simply collect anything I want from later lines loose, I don't care about value. I haven't bothered opening some of my store issue G3/G4 ponies yet simply because I don't have a ponyroom to display stuff right now and keeping them MIB for the time being guarantees the sets (accessories) stay together, and for my one G3 MIB her ringlets stay nice (that white crystal princess pony with the mass amounts of curly hair)

[cyberunicorn]

They are like... virgin ponies. 

Love this phrase

I can see why people would want to get them in packs for all of the reasons listed above. I only have three that are MOC g2s I got them really cheap other wise I would not have bought them but there is something about them that makes me look at them over and over.

[HoustonCollector72]

sometimes you just run out of space, my latest additions are staying MIB ,finding it kinda cool  to have them in their box and on the wall !:)

[Pinkie21]

I like MOC G1's because they remind me of my childhood.  I'm trying to collect the ponies I had as a child MOC, because I used to love reading the back-cards and enjoying the artwork.    It would just be really nice to be able to enjoy it again.

[scarletjul]

I agree with everything that's already been said: the nostalgia, the artwork,,the accessories and just the specialness of an untouched, virgin pony.  There's so etching very special about that.