How Critical Are You Now On Condition?

[darth_daddius]

It depends. I obviously prefer good examples, but if they are rare items, then I'm generally happy with almost any condition - even resealed as long as all the bits are original and genuine.

But, its bitten me in the bum when I have managed to upgrade a few items, as it seems that almost every other bugger is only after mint stuff. So, I am a little more stringent now unless it is a really good deal, or really hard to find.

This guy happens to be one of my favourite pieces of my collection, but I know that the condition would offend many and make it very hard to sell if I ever chose to....

Still 100% sealed too

Cheers,
Pat

 

[x-pack]

What happened to it Pat?

One of my favourite pieces is a beat up esb backed Vader. Never thought I would own one then saw it on here for about £50. Card has a few creases but its nice from a distance and still fully sealed.

Only thing that rags me is yellowing of the 12 inch figures. My r2 and Stormy are really quite bad.

 

[Ross_Barr]

For MOC I used to want minty cards without price stickers. I now have a few with price stickers on and they actually add to the character. There are also a few cards I want (such as solid dome R2 on ESB) which go for more than I want to spend at the moment, so I'd happily compromise on card condition to obtain a card I'd want. I don't mind bubble dings and yellowing but I'm still not keen on bubbles which are coming away.

This is also almost exactly how I feel. As my collecting tastes have matured, I have realized that some of the more interesting items in my collection are a little rough around the edges. Of course when something is rare, you can't be too fussy about condition. when it comes to common stuff, I still do prefer it to be as nice as possible, but I don't care about whether an item is graded or not. Just prefer a clean card (price sticker is ok) and a nice clear bubble. bubble being most important.

I've never been a major condition whore. I think it's because I collected back in the 90s and back then everything was rough, you would see sellotape on bubbles and MOCs pinned to walls with drawing pins in shops. No star cases to protect them either.

Now I am looking for nice condition trilogos for my collection, but only because I want a better set than the one I had before.

Yeah now you are just a regular whore, Edd.

 

[peekaygee73]

I've never been a major condition whore. I think it's because I collected back in the 90s and back then everything was rough, you would see sellotape on bubbles and MOCs pinned to walls with drawing pins in shops. No star cases to protect them either.

Now I am looking for nice condition trilogos for my collection, but only because I want a better set than the one I had before.

I was collecting in the 90s too but my experience with MOC is exactly the opposite. I didn't buy that many MOC but those I did were minty-mint and had never got to the toy shelves. I did most of my buying through the post, but certainly remember seeing MOC pinned up and thrown around at comic marts and toy fairs. Boxed was a different matter - I bought a Palitoy boxed Snowspeeder in the late 90s and the box was knackered even then.

 

[tobedesu]

My wallet dictates to me what I can buy which is usually means imperfections.
I am one of the lucky ones that still has all my childhood toys.
My loose focus is the main rebels, including the 2 droids, from star wars and empire and am going through variants of these.
Because my own childhood figures are complete I'm not too fussy on condition of ones I'm buying now. As long as they can stand.
Its great to get a mint loose figure, but all depends on my budget. The most I've laid for a loose figure is £35 for a small head Han.

I only have two carded figures which is where my focus differs as I can't afford MOC from mg loose focus so I'm looking at ROTJ line and whatever comes up as a good price. Beaters are not a problem as long as the bubble is fully sealed.
I have Ree Yees and Leia poncho at the moment.
Ree has a good bubble with a few creases in the card and Leia has a great card with a small crack in the bubble.
Both display great and were a good price.

 

[wrighty]

Wow, great Toltoys Vader. I don't think you will have any problems moving it when you upgrade!! 8)

It depends. I obviously prefer good examples, but if they are rare items, then I'm generally happy with almost any condition - even resealed as long as all the bits are original and genuine.

But, its bitten me in the bum when I have managed to upgrade a few items, as it seems that almost every other bugger is only after mint stuff. So, I am a little more stringent now unless it is a really good deal, or really hard to find.

This guy happens to be one of my favourite pieces of my collection, but I know that the condition would offend many and make it very hard to sell if I ever chose to....

SW Vader Toltoys ROC (Front).JPG

Still 100% sealed too

Cheers,
Pat

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

I buy the best condition I can afford. I will sacrifice condition if a rare piece comes up and I'll buy it as a space filler. What's handy is that it's almost like a payment plan as you pay a little now and when you find a better one you pay a little more having sold off the poorer quality one

Price stickers (other than ugly-ass TRU yellow stickers) add character and history.

Can't stand yellow bubbles. So much so that's why I started collecting Trilogos.

Hate cracked/lifting bubbles. They're never going to get better and a pain to ship when you sell on.

Mint in Sealed Box (MISB) is a novelty and no more. I would like a case of something as a one off example. Hopefully sorting that need out in December! Prefer opened and unused. Almost feels like you're kid again when you pull it all out.

Loose collection needs to be absolutely mint. A loose collection to me is the centre piece of any collection. It represents the most base compulsion to Collect Them All and what started us all off here, one way or the other, so why not pick up beautiful examples. Again, don't mind lower quality if it's a gap filler but I expect to pay accordingly. Ripped cloak VCJs are not acceptable when £500+ is being asked.

 

[poncho]

im not as bothered by condition now on loose per say. i did find paint loss annoying.

but ive come to the conclusion now after 20 years of collecting that loose figures were meant to be played with so if theres the odd scuff or chip than thats fine.

 

[lejackal]

Ripped cloak VCJs are not acceptable when £500+ is being asked.

I look back at Nick_IOWs sales thread from a few months ago and cry at the prices he sold his nice VCJs for

 

[Lee Bullock]

When it comes to carded - I am less fussed about the card condition than the bubble and seal. I still like mint bubbles, clear with no cracks or major dings that change the bubble shape. In terms of the card I am less critical - the odd crease or punch wear doesnt bother me - fading is still a deal-breaker though.

In terms of boxed - including large figures I am more forgiving. I of course prefer C8 or above (in the old scale) but some rarer pieces I will take what I can get if the price is right. The only downside is that I still have an eye on upgrading if I have to compromise on condition of more common items.

 

[plantainman]

Much like Simon, I'm not adverse to buying figures knowing they will need upgrading.

As a loose Coo Variant collector, My priority is having an example of the figures I want in any condition. I then systematically upgrade them if I have the time, money, availability to do so.

Ideally everything comes in C90 condition and is exactly the piece you are looking for, but in reality, I settle for pieces around C70 and above, because these are toys, they are loose, they have lived a lifetime already, and the played with aspect does not bother me one iota. Most of my condition is in the upper end, C85+, but I don't look down my nose disparagingly at those that are of lesser quality.

Neil

 

[grinchy]

I have been back into collecting only about ten years or so, so i'm pretty much a novice still, i'm on a low budget so condition is not that important to me, luckily enough I got my original figures back from my cousin and they were all well played with, they are proudly displayed next to my more recent purchases, I've been lucky through the board to get some Jedi MOC, stoked to have them, most have issues but to me they are a cool bit of history, i'll continue to buy the stuff others would pass over.

 

[palitoyjunky]

It's been a bit of a roller coaster for me over the last 20 years. When I first started out as a collector I was just so excited Seeing the vintage again I just bought up more or less what ever I could in pretty much any condition :!: Then as time went on I found myself becoming stricter on condition but like Lee B I was less bothered by a little card crease than a bubble dent or crack.
As time has gone on and narrowing my focus to Palitoy Empire I have had to accept the fact that Finding the piece itself has to be primary and condition secondary :!: But I have done ok :wink:

Regarding vehicles/playsets I started out going for complete but now I only go for unused or sealed. I guess I love the hunt looking for something a bit special.
I still love seeing vintage in any condition. Sometimes looking at perfect condition vintage looks a little "cold" :!: Seeing well played with SW is so cool and the stories that go with it....priceless 8)