darkSpyro

Do you all feel there is a point to keep the 'Special' variants in their packaging? I registered my Bronze Flameslinger and GITD Sonic Boom in all of my games, but I have been debating on wether I should open them up or not. I really never plan on selling them, because they count as their own figures in all of the games. I could always have them go down the other upgrade path.

Like for example, if I get GITD Cynder (which I will be getting from Evilbay eventually), it will obviously be out of the packaging, so what is the point in keeping the others sealed, you know?

I have my Flocked Stump Smash, Blue Bash and Red Drill Sergeant sealed, and I plan on keeping them that way because they don't do anything special.

What are your opinions on this?

I think it depends on your mind-set. Are they toys you want to touch, or are they "collectibles"? Do you have other items you don't open? I hope you don't keep them sealed just because so many do on this site. I often wonder if Skylanders brought "collectors" to DarkSpyro, or if there has always been such a (seemingly) large percentage of them here. Perhaps fan sites are inherently going to have a large number of collectors in them, or maybe people just follow the crowd. Do whatever you want with your figures is my best advice.

EDIT: I forgot to answer your question. We open everything.

I always open them. I collect them but still consider them toys. Since I have no desire to ever sell them I see no need to keep them sealed. Really tho, it's up to you.

Well I don't plan on selling ANY of my Skylanders any time soon, but if I ever did, it would be the ones that don't do anything to benefit the games, like for example, Flocked Stump Smash.

I know it is really my decision, but I was just curious as to what other people do with their 'Special' variants.

I open some and leave others in the package. I don't ever plan to open my FSS. I've left Blue Bash, that variant lip Chill, GITD SB & the Amazon FS in the packages as well. I'm not likely to ever sell any of them, but since I didn't buy those in particular to play with and the whole point of purchasing them was just to have the collectibility...I feel like the packaging is part of that. A big part of it is also if the cards inside are unique, if they are then I am very likely to open the package.

I will skylanders that do something different in the game like Granite Crusher, Molten Hot Dog ect. So I'm gonna keep the "Specials" sealed. I don't really hunt for specials; I've jus stumbled upon gaining Amazon and GITD . I don't think I'll get any more but it's just how it worked out. Only exception is Green Gill Grunt. I asked for the bundle for Christmas and he comes out of package.

All variants get opened - GITD ones, Flocked SS, Metallic Purple Cynder, Clear Cynder, Amazon FS, etc. My 7 year old son is not a collector and wants to play with them. If I get lucky enough to ever find a glitter one, it's getting opened too.

^ this. except my sons are 6 and 3

All of mine get opened. My sons wouldn't have it any other way, nor would I. However, my 3 year old is the one that mostly plays with the physical figures and he has zero interest in the few variants we have (Ruby DS, Blue Bash, Flocked Stump Smash), so they stay pretty much in mint condition anyways - he pulls all of them out but always leaves those behind in the containers. A solid colored figure is way less interesting to a toddler than one that is painted with details. I skipped on the Gold Flameslinger and GITD Sonic Boom, despite having ample opportunity to get one because they really don't have much value and as toys since they really aren't very interesting to my kids.

I can see keeping a rare variant packaged (rock/glitter/etc.), but not really the store exclusive ones. The reason to keep it packaged is to maintain value or if you want to display it. Figures like Amazon Gold Flameslinger have no special value, I can go to Amazon right now and get one for retail if I wanted.

I'd open them if my son cared one way or the other at his age. It really should depend on what the kids want, and if that's a metallic Cynder, so be it if it's affordable on the family's budget to spend that much on a toy. There's really no problem with opening variants.

i keep some packaged others not.
legendaries + variants packaged + ones that i have a soft for

I do a little of both... if they're pretty easy to find, like legendaries, GITD Sonic Boom and "Gold" Flameslinger, then I'll get one to keep in the packaging and one to play with... if they're hard to find, like my rock variants and the sparkle (even Flocked Stumpy), I keep them in the packaging since there's a possibility i might sell or trade them someday and would be worth more sealed... I also have a double of Wham Shell (from that TRU Castle case) that is sealed since he was so hard to find for a while and is a duplicate anyway...

For some there is no choice in the matter, like GITD Cynder, Royal DT, Gnarly Tree Rex, and Green Gilly- those are all opened by necessity since they came from starter packs! I'm not one to drop a hundred bucks or more on something so it can sit in a starter box as a duplicate, but some people do decide to do that... those are some hardcore collectors!! I'm someone who collects them, sure, but I love to play the game as well and use the figures a lot!! Again, it's all personal preference, but that is how I handle my collection and variants!!

I don't care what my kids want - if they want to open the variants then they can find their own. I did not spend that much for their collectability to have them opened when the kids have all the other opened non-variants and could play with the variants in the box anyway.

A ship is safer in the Harbour, but it's not meant for that.

open and enjoy them.

Yes but if you paid a large amount for a signed ball (baseball, football, etc) would you kick/throw it around?

I open up all my varients, because although I see them as collectibles, I like to hold the toy in my hand.

Quote: chaosworrier

Yes but if you paid a large amount for a signed ball (baseball, football, etc) would you kick/throw it around?

Yep, had a footy signed by some of the West Coast Eagles (Aussie Rules Footy team). Pumped it up and kicked it around the park for years. I sold at swap meet a couple of weeks ago for $15.

People are putting way to much value in these figures. If you are collecting them and displaying them fine keep them sealed. However if you a still using you variants through the packet just open the packet and use them.

Its up to you in the long run lol.
But I keep ALL mine sealed, even all the regular characters that aren't variants are still sealed. But thats just me though.

Well thanks for all of your opinions, everyone!

I think I have decided what I am going to do. I am going to keep all real life variants (Flocked Stump Smash, for example) sealed, and all 'Special' in game variants (GITDs, for example), opened.

Why risk any damage to the packaging at all? Leave it in the shopping bag, throw it in a box, shove it in a Rubbermaid tub, and put it on a shelf.

^ if you put it on a shelf you risk it falling at some point. Safest route is to put that at ground level in the back of your shed. That way nobody can even trip over it!

Open 'em, smell 'em, lick 'em.

Eat em.

this seems to be a very long on going topic on this site. It's all what you want to do with them. My gut tells me to keep the special ones sealed, since i dont use them in the game. I opened the giants legendaries but not the ssa ones because they're harder to find now.

Yea I open everybody. Seems a little pointless not to open the figure even if it's a variant.

Just do whatever brings you the most enjoyment out of your product. Asking other people what they would do wont change how you feel. I try tonkeep my variants sealed if all possible because I like to keep them mint. I wont ever sell them and I can still get full enjoyment out of them so thats what I like to do personally. I open everything else though.