The Energon Pub

... Loose/ Out of Box/ Box Missing.

Yeah Right! How often have you seen an ad on Ebay where the seller claims that the figure is new, never played with, never transformed, and yet, is OOB?

Can you really believe that anyone could resist the temptation to transform a figure at least once after taking it out of the box? Why take it out of the box in the first place?

Many a time I have examined a figure that had clear signs of having been transformed before. Either some parts were chipped, showed signs of transformation wear, or were completely in a different position from what it would be if it was just taken out of box. Some giveaway.

Can anyone even guess at why someone would want to take it out of box, with ties removed, or even lost the box, and yet makes the outrageous claim above?

... because they want to sell it?

Sledge wrote:... because they want to sell it?

Ha... I meant besides that! Any legit reason, or even creative reason that might make the claim truth? I was thinking maybe someone here might have done this themselves and can offer me some interesting reason, besides the fact they are outright lying to sell it.

Because they're idiots that think they can fool people?

While i typically ignore this kind of thing in ebay auctions, I can honestly say that i have multiple figures that i have taken out of the box, put them on display, and never transformed them.

a few examples...masterpiece magnus/skywarp/starscream/megs
ehobby sunstorm
my botcon set has only been removed from the styrofoam once to insure propper weapons

The number of bots i have that have only been transformed once is an even greater list.

granted, i'm betting that if i were to ever sell them then they would be transformed prior to release.

Its BS. Doesn't matter if its only "for display" its outta the box (automatic depreciation in value) its "on display" collecting dust and discoloring.

If its cheap go for it, if not....

This happened to me in buying E. Tidal Wave. Fortunately, all parts were there and the toy was not dirty.

He...made the unfortunate mistake of leaving me positive feedback first.

schizophrenica wrote:Because they're idiots that think they can fool people?

they can fool people.. allot of people are stupid who buy on eBay and buy crap that's like forty times its worth..but then again, you can get some good deals..

I've got a few that I've removed from the box and never transformed - MP Optimus Prime, LC Optimus, LC Megs, LC Brawl, MP Starscream.

I just like them in robot form much better so I just removed them, put them in the display case and posed them.

All my others like deluxes and voyagers, I have removed from the box and transformed to robot and put into cases. They have never been put back to their alt modes.

I can be done and sometimes is truthful.

Mark

I don't know how you could tell. I've had some figures that were scuffed/scratched/loose joints/chipped brand new straight out of the box.

And I have others that I've transformed numerous times with absolutely no noticeable wear.

There is also a big difference between transformed a few times and played with.

My nephew "plays with" transformers. This process involves pounding them into each other and otherwise grinding them into dust.

I transform mine a couple times, put them on the shelf and enjoy. Between the two, I would consider my figs "never played with".

yeah, I dunno what happened to the Transformers I had as a kid. I even thought I'd kept some of them in pretty good condition. But then you get them out and the level of wear is just unbelievable.

One of the more annoying things is when there seems to be some sort of sand or grit in the joints.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:... Loose/ Out of Box/ Box Missing.

Yeah Right! How often have you seen an ad on Ebay where the seller claims that the figure is new, never played with, never transformed, and yet, is OOB?

Can you really believe that anyone could resist the temptation to transform a figure at least once after taking it out of the box? Why take it out of the box in the first place?

Many a time I have examined a figure that had clear signs of having been transformed before. Either some parts were chipped, showed signs of transformation wear, or were completely in a different position from what it would be if it was just taken out of box. Some giveaway.

Can anyone even guess at why someone would want to take it out of box, with ties removed, or even lost the box, and yet makes the outrageous claim above?

It's not unheard of.

I've got a MP-01 Prime that I've had for a few years, and it's never been transformed. I put him on the bookshelf and that's where he's been ever since.

I don't plan on selling him because he's a great display piece, but even though I compromised the integrity of the original packaging he's still good as brand new.

I agree with Gutter Bunny, and everyone else who's said basically the same thing. Having a toy out of the box does not mean necessarily that it has/will be transformed. Walmart MP Starscream is a good example or at least one that counts for me. I had a Botcon Deathsaurus that I got loose and it was on my desk for a while and was never transformed once.
I also agree that there's a difference between used for display and 'played with'. Transforming does not necessarily mean played with in an agressive, child-like manner. I transform my figures on occasion and set them up with their guns and fire off missiles, and I consider that playing with my toys. I really don't think that puts my toys in the same category as toys from children who bang them together and everything. OOP, that only really matters to the individual collector, and that doesn't automatically lower a figures' worth......it does for MISB collectors, but I'm not one, so it doesn't matter to me at all.
'Played with' is one of those collector-by-collector terms to define. Just like MIB, is a toy really MIB if the missiles are off the trees? Depends on what you think as a collector.

Counterpunch wrote:This happened to me in buying E. Tidal Wave. Fortunately, all parts were there and the toy was not dirty.

He...made the unfortunate mistake of leaving me positive feedback first.

I have to wonder, - what exactly was your problem with the toy?

Ebay is the wild west, buyer beware.

Statements like "never transformed" are often impossible to verify. Same with "opened only to inspect contents."

What the hell does that mean? "Inspect" is a very broad term.