The Energon Pub

I've been looking to collect MISB Takara Tranformers Collections 00-21 figures, however I've noticed some listed as MISB are double taped, triple taped, and/or with a cut tape underneath. The tape types are exactly the same(wide) though and I don't see any markings of a previously removed tape. One exception is a Starscream with a thin tape on top, but no sign of any previous tape.

Can anyone who has MISB TFCs verify if this is normal, or do true MISB TFCs only have 1 stip of fat tape on each side?

Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Sometimes, they are double taped.

it varies, tape application isnt something that is always consistent.

That said, I have all 22 Takara Collection boxes and the tape application is fairly uniform throughout. Some of the larger boxes (like prime) have 2 pieces of tape per side.

Sometimes the factory workers forget to include a manual or something and the tape has to be cut and reapplied. That might be the case with the auctions you are seeing. Ask the buyer if the item is factory sealed, not just MISB

Thanks for the input. You make a good point about asking if it's factory sealed. I've seen a few other figures advertised as "MISB, only taken out of the box and transformed once" or something along those lines.

Sid Burn wrote:it varies, tape application isnt something that is always consistent.

That said, I have all 22 Takara Collection boxes and the tape application is fairly uniform throughout. Some of the larger boxes (like prime) have 2 pieces of tape per side.

Sometimes the factory workers forget to include a manual or something and the tape has to be cut and reapplied. That might be the case with the auctions you are seeing. Ask the buyer if the item is factory sealed, not just MISB

Vegitron wrote:Thanks for the input. You make a good point about asking if it's factory sealed. I've seen a few other figures advertised as "MISB, only taken out of the box and transformed once" or something along those lines.

Ebay can be a slippery slope in that way, my experience has been 95% positive though.

The terminology of MISB has room for error as you mentioned, so I always ask if it is factory sealed. At least then if I receive it and it isnt factory sealed, I have proof they misrepresented themselves.

I havent had to do this thankfully.

Good luck collecting the TFC boxes
My advice is to buy them all in one auction. This is what I did, you generally save some money.

It may sound like $1500-$2000 is alot all at once, but if you break down the cost of buying them individually from different sellers, paying multiple shipping fees etc etc
it is much cheaper.

Plus, $1000+ auctions scare away many collectors, so the bidding pool is reduced. Individually, TFC Prime always ends with $300+ bidding wars. The Minibots box also has this effect, easily fetching over $100 on its own.

Insecticons, Soundwave, Blaster and Starscream all generate heavy bids on their own as well.

Plus if you win them all at once, it is a great rush when all 22 boxes arrive together. The box mine was shipped in weighed nearly 25 lbs!