Collector's OCD - A question of Sellotape!

[Stomski]

When you open up figures that may increase in value, such as store exclusives, MP etc. How do you deal with the tape keeping your figures in their cardboard prisons?

If you try to peel the tape you run a few risks-
#1 - A glue residue will be left and will pick up other dirt.
#2 - You may get overzealous and rip the top printed layer of the card.

Although this will hopefully leave a more attractive looking box

If you cut, which side do you cut on? The tape will usually be across a cut edge and a folded flap. You don't want to leave a piece of tape hanging from the edge, so normally a cut close to the cut edge of the cut will allow attaching the loose tape to the folded flap.

A similar question could be posed to bubble cards. Do you rip from the card, cut the bubble or try to prevent rippage by scoring by the edge of the bubble?

[Bogatan]

Used to be quite ocd about the whole thing, but for a long time I've just sliced through tape and made sure both ends are pressed down so theres no sticky edges. Carded have always presented more of an issue. Until this year I kept all my cards with the bubble attached so tried to as neatly as possible unpeel the card from the bottom but leave it attached at the top. It was a relief when they started just taping the bubble on, but now due to space I'm removing the bubbles entirely to save space.

[The Doctor]

I buy figures for fun not for resale/value so I tend not to think of this! But just slicing through the tape seems a sensible suggestion.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

I should say to answer properly my own behaviour had nothing to do with value. I took exactly the same care with BW Optimus Minor as I did with MP Optimus Prime.

I remain convinced that a large part of what sold Transformers to me was the packaging so early on I began taking care of it. For me the packaging maintained that quality right through until BM began although the earlier loss of battle scenes on the back was a blow. Since then I don't think any packaging has really impressed me which has been the gradual cause of me willing to lose some of it. Animated was probably the only recent high point.

[legios]

I have picked one of the Cut the tape.... options in the poll at random. I cut through tape on boxes, usually with my small fine-bladed scissors (I prefer precision weapons to spamming ordnance....). I don't worry too much about it as I don't tend to think about reselling things, whatever they have cost me and boxes only get kept on very rare occasions.

Bubble-packed things always get cut, the bubble trimmed off and thrown away and then the card is evaluated. If it has a full character bio on it then it is kept, if it has an abbreviated multi-lingual bio or just a tech-spec then it is recycled forthwith.

Karl

[Jaymz]

I just cut the tape, don't really think about where or how. Never really thought about whether they'll increase in value. I do have some figures that I bought and never got around to opening [Gentai Wildrider!], and have increased in value, but I will open them once I have the space to have a proper display.

[Deleted]

Being that its mainly G1 reissues that I buy cutting tape is easy!
I'm also with bogotan, the boxes form part of the allure of collecting TF's.
I dont do it to save value (Although I admit I wont do anything that kills value aside from opening!).

On a side note, not caring about MISB has let me buy some bargains at times (ehobby minibots for £30 was the best one but that was ages ago!)

[Deleted]

I just cut the boxes open regardless (except for tfcc stuff, but they come in slide open boxes, so it's not the same)

[grahamthomson]

I buy Transformers to open up and become dusty when left untouched for years on my shelves.

Saying that, anything pre-Beast Wars and I keep the backing cards and outer boxes. Everything else gets recycled where facilities exist.

[blueshift]

I used to be ridiculously OCD to the point of not even creasing flaps!

The constant deluge of product has pretty much killed that urge though!

[Hero]

I use my ultra sharp penknife to carefully cut through the tape, and the bubbles on carded figs too.

===KEN