It has been the motto of action figure collectors for far too long. Never take a figure out of its package. It seems counter-productive to a kid, since toys are meant to be not only removed from their packages but played with as well. But for collectors, there are very good reasons for keeping a figure sealed in its packaging. Here is a list of the top five reasons why such a strange habit pays off.
1. Display
Though figures removed from their packages are easier to display, the original packaging also makes for an attractive display option. When toy companies design action figure packaging, it is often meant to be dynamic, colorful, and pleasing to the eye in order to get you to buy the figure from the store in the first place. Keeping a figure in its package allows you to display recreate the moment of looking upon the figure for the first time.2. Preserving the Figure Inside
A very simple explanation for keeping a figure sealed in its package is because, theoretically, it keeps the figure inside of the packaging in absolutely pristine condition. It also helps to keep the original accessories, which are often lost once opened, intact with the original figure. This way, if the packaging ever became damaged, the figure inside would be safe and worthy of display on its own.3. Documentation
There isn't a lot of paperwork that is involved with collecting action figures, but there are a lot of details about a particular figure and its toy line that are revealed through its packaging. It's an easy way of identifying who the figure is, what toy line it belongs to, what other figures, vehicles, or accessories were available at the time, and when the figure is from. Though some collectors balk at price tags on the figures, some collectors enjoy knowing where the figure was originally purchased, and how much it originally cost.4. Nostalgia
Though many collectors who specialize in toys from their childhood already buy heavily into the nostalgia factor, those who buy and collect packaged figures often have very specific memories of when they saw these figures for the first time. Packaging captures the feeling more than an already-opened figure can.5. Value
The most obvious reason for keeping figures in their original packages is that they are worth more money for all the reasons mentioned above. Though many collectors who focus on current action figures have made this practice a habit, it is much harder to find vintage action figures in their packages, which is why there is often a very large difference between their opened, or loose, value and their packaged value. When buying an action figure for investment, it's always your safest bet to invest in packaged figures.
