Oh yeah, for sure.
On, the other hand, are you really any better not knowing what's in the box? Here's a little story for you that illustrates the quandry here.
I have a Gentle Giant Glow in the dark alien; but the one I have now isn't the same one that was initially delivered. When the first one arrived, I opened the box. My intention was to display the item, with the box next to it. They look super cool side by side.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTT!Indeed, they do but there was one small issue with the figure that did upset me. Upon closer inspection of the figure, I'd found that the upper half of the tongue was missing.
FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!Now, these figures aren't cheap and this one was posted to me from California to Australia. For me to accept this condition was not an option so I decided to return it. I had to contact the vendor who was very accommodating and understood my predicament and he arranged to send me a replacement.
I requested specifically that he open and inspect the item* before sending it. The replacement figure did arrive and the figure this time was perfect.
Should I have not opened the original box and remained oblivious to the damaged figure inside? If I wanted to keep it in mint condition, maybe; but if it's broken regardless of me being aware of it, then it's not mint, is it? You could, of course, rightfully say the box was still mint if it hadn't been opened and the contents is
presumed to be mint as well. I totally understand how boxes themselves can be more valuable than the contents. That still doesn't address the notion that I bought the item for the figure and the box is a secondary asset.
What if that figure had gone to someone who never opened it? I guess it would it still be valued as mint condition. No one would be the wiser. Despite being broken, could it be considered as a variant because that's how it left the manufacturer? Maybe it's one of a kind. Unique. Maybe it should be considered more valuable because the damage
was present. It does happen on rare occasions where a faulty figure is considered more valuable than others of the same production run.
But here's the real question. What if that broken figure was one of several with the same defect? It could could easily be the case. What if there's any number (out of a production run of 250) of these 24" Kenner replicas out there in the World with such damage but no one ever finds out? Maybe it's a common issue with these figures. Hell, the tongues are known to fall out of the original 1979 Kenner action figure with ease and Gentle Giant did manage to make a near perfect replica in an up scaled version.
Maybe that's their claim to fame.
Can you imagine how well their promotional material would work, though, if that was the case: 'Our figures are accurate in every aspect to the old Kenner toy. Including the random possibility they may have parts missing.
Exactly like the original figure they're based on.' Ummmm... no.
That's not to say that GG make bad stuff. I'll not support that claim. As far as I am concerned, these oversized figures are the bomb! Sometimes shit happens and Quality Assurance department don't notice. It happens all the time.
Anyway, the replacement arrived. The extra postage paid for returning a 2' tall box was a pain in the ass but it's perfect. Great service and from all concerned. This is a vendor I'll be ordering from again if I need to. No hesitation about that.
Bottom line: I'm Glad I opened the box.
-Windebieste.
*
If you plan to open the packaging and display the contents you can ask the vendor to inspect it first before you purchase it. You can do this whether you're buying online or in store. Most vendors will be happy to oblige if accommodating the request seals the deal and you buy the item. After all, you're going to open the packaging anyway, right? May as well get an inspection done
before you even hand over any cash for the item.
