A no nonsense approach to high end collectibles with tips, tricks, and insights into the collecting world. Focusing on 1:6 scale figures and premium format statues.
If you haven't already, follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and "X" for more behind the scenes look at my collection, toy photography and MORE. Links are below!
To the Keco Collects fans like me. Warning don’t buy from Toys Wonderland AKA Scammerland. Mr Lui you have lost more money from my posts and reviews then the thousands you stole from me. You will keep losing money, sucker. Send me my in stock items that I ordered over a year ago.
I don't ever plan to have a figure stashed in a closet somewhere. If I don't have room, I need to sell something to make room. And yes, "take a loss" on it
@@KeCoCollects I hear you on that. I think for me I would love to throw the boxes away but the storage of figures I don't have on display is a bit of a challenge of what to do with them.
I have a HT 1/6 scale Brandon Lee figure (R.I.P. Mr. BRANDON LEE) "The Crow" and i noticed his long overcoat flaking. I was like "OH NO!!!!......THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!". Well it was happening, luckily theres a guy i found on EBay that makes custom replacement overcoat snd pants...(THEY WERE FLAKING TOO!). So i reached out to him and aquired the pants and jacket from him. He assured me that this will last WAY FAR LONGER than what they had on him! It feels like REAL leather and a AMAZING AND FANTASTIC JOB he's done with this replacement set!!!!! Now i'm back happy! AWESOME JOB HE DID!👍😄
It depends on the figure but in general you are going to get considerably more for a figure with the box then you would without it should you choose to sell it. Again, it depends on the figure as a lot of these have dramatically depreciated thus closing the gap between loose and boxed when fees/shipping are figured in. But then again you don't know what the future holds for current pegwarmers and current grails. It's impossible to predict in the age of re-releases and 2,3,4.0's. I bought a couple Luke Jedi's last year - one with box and the other mint loose complete. The guy with the box got $120 more than the guy without it. I'm happy with both and if you were to pose them up and blind test me I probably couldn't tell you which is which. Make no mistake the boxes are cool but yeah - they take up a lot of space. If that is a issue perhaps it's best to consider the enjoyment you got out of the figure while owning it and apply a dollar amount to that to make up for any potential lost box profit.
Time = money, so I can see how it is not worth it to list more than a few boxes. I did enjoy the poem, wasn't expecting it! Well done, figure (food?) for thought...
Not the hero we deserve, but the hero we needed 😂 Your videos have helped me get rid of the shipper boxes that were killing my closet, I have the hot toys original boxes for now until I can come up with some way of storing accessories so time will tell!
Good stuff! I’ve been able to get rid of more and more boxes for toys and tech, but some I still can’t yet part with. But the space created getting rid of boxes so far, both physical and mental, has been great. Keep pushing the agenda!! People can be convinced!!
Though I do believe most people in this community I’ve interacted with are wonderful humans, I think separating gatekeepers completely from hobbies like this would be a futile effort. A lot of people of a geekly nature were picked on and excluded when they were younger and instead of being against it happening to someone else are actually happy when given the opportunity to do it themselves. I imagine the main reason some if these people get involved in hobbies that have communities is so they have something to gatekeep about 🤷🏻♂️
Serious question as someone who is getting into 1/6 collecting. Why does everyone pay so much for the figures, just to put them in boring displays like you and all other youtubers. Why not build a cool looking diorama and reduce the figure count a bit to make the ones you actually really like, stand out and not look out of context? Seriously, like you have figures worth thousands and yet all you do is put them behind glass in a dead boring scene and put spotlight on them... Why not investing a bit into building a nice diorama and display like only 3-4 instead of smashing 10 + figures into one department like chickens in a chick farm.
I don't get the need to upgrade and selling the old version.. as a collector, do you not want to keep the old version and add the new one to have a collection?
I have always thought the obsession with boxes was the weirdest part of this hobby. I do save some however. Even though I collect more intentionally than I did prior to my first figure purge, some items I understand may be traded up if a more definitive or exceptionally better version of a character is released. For figures that I’m not convinced are the perfect version of a certain character, or era for a character, I keep the box and shipper.
I agree that worrying so much about the boxes is silly, but how much does not having the box affect the price and ability to sell the figure later? Some people rotate items in their collection. I don't think it makes sense to pay for a storage facility to store the boxes. That gets expensive quickly. At least with these figures, collectors are more okay with taking them out of the box to display. Some collectibles loose a lot of value by simply opening the box.
So 400 boxes at profit 8 a box whould be 3200 profit not bad and pay for new figure or two ..i chuck my boxes cause i dont buy for value .i only buy figure i love not whole line so small collection but still not worth my time energy or money shipping them out as people ask the most stupid questions .is it mint box ..corner wear etc .i believe collecting is that not value.what waste of family time or anything else in real world.they just boxes nothing more or less
Sure, simple math says to do it, but listing and shipping 400 boxes with however long it takes to actually find buyers is not something I am able to do
It’s so funny uncanny that this video came out when it did cos I was just getting sick of boxes piling up and asking myself why I kept holding on. I started by getting rid of small stuff like boxes from Mcfarlane and Amazing Yamaguchi figures. It felt so good! It was a kind of finality. A declaration that these are the figures that I really want and will not sell. Just last night, I finally decided get rid of some boxes from my 1/6 stuff. It’s so funny that we have this problem, just like the people who collect high end bags. I think for a lot of us, we know that deep down inside, we have spent way too much money on these things and want to maximize our returns should we decide to sell them. And there are some of us who are literally hoarding, or at least exhibiting the early symptoms of it. Thank you for being a different voice for our community. Just so you know, you are probably the only channel I comment on.
Great in principle, but having 200 listings and waiting for them all to sell (however long that takes) is not worth it to me. Good luck to those who do it!
I've thrown out pretty much all my third party boxes. All the trick or treat studios. Ones that don't lose too much in comparison to selling without the box. Inart, hot toys, kaustic plastik (more expensive) I haven't as of yet. Plus statues especially as they're needed to insure some protection. But getting rid of the above, you do feel much better. If people have to pay 200 plus each month for storage, that's far more then the difference you'll get for selling a figure without the box. This push by yourself is healthy for our community and more people should do it.
I collect figures and diecast models I don't collect boxes. I can careless if I buy something used and it doesn't have the box. I'd prefer it doesn't have the box. I don't know how some of these people have the room for whatever it is they collect and the boxes our crap comes in. Unless the figure or model is extremely expensive I throw the boxes out. I never plan on selling my collection and if I did who cares if I have the box. Don't buy it then. F the boxes I'm with you
I thought the main value in the box was that when selling a figure with the box, you could sell it for $300 say, but with the figure loose and with all accessories, you could sell it for only $200. In that scenario the box would be worth $100 to you. However this only matters for figures that you are not 100% sure you are going to keep forever. I agree that selling loose boxes isn't really worth it, unless you sell lots of other things on eBay anyway.
I suppose it's how you look at it - if you NEVER are going to get rid of them , then get a few bucks I think some people say - but if you do move them on, yes, right now the boxes are a big deal for others
@@KeCoCollects The thing is, for your collection, you are in the curation phase, and you must have around 400 figures, (as you mentioned 400 boxes), so not all of those figures you will want to keep forever, and for you to keep buying some new figures, inevitably some of your current figures will need to be sold due to lack of space. With that in mind, it makes sense for you to keep some boxes for those figures that are your least favoured ones, (and therefore the ones you are more likely to sell at some point).
Selling and Trading cardboard boxes! America is truly done for! 🤣🤣 Seriously, I tend to toss the brown shippers as they generally covered with UPS/USPS labels, sharpie marsk, dirt, and goo. For now, I am keeping the art boxes. I just started tossing boxes for other figure I collect - Marvel Legends, GI Joe Classified, etc.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while 300+ boxes but I still don’t have the nuts to do it . Some of them are works of art by themselves , great video
I have only respect for collectors who discard the art boxes. It has been a mental struggle for me for the longest of time and I'm still struggling LOL! Buying a new figure is no problem at all. There are space for it still in my display. But the box! Where to store it? That's my dilemma. One day... just one day.... (and when will that be LOL!)
Great content as far as boxes everyone is different. There are in box collectors and completionist to me the box came with the figure so I’m keeping it . But I also don’t have over 400 figures yet maybe when I get to that point I’ll reevaluate the situation while 250 boxes is not a small amount either but I have a room dedicated to that stuff .
I used to have all my boxes in a storage unit, was ridiculous. But then we moved house. Every figure went back in the box for the move so they were all safe. And now the boxes all live in the loft. I think keeping the boxes is fine if you have the space
I bought the Saturn Toys '66 Batman and Robin figures from a Hong Kong seller and they offered it about $40 cheaper without the box. Didn't see the point of spending more money for someone which Id never have any use for.
You need to get off your soapbox buddy, let everyone decide for themselves. If people have the space and are willing to use their storage that is fine. Most peoples collection are in a constant state of flux, and fact is without the box any resale value of the figure is toast. I buy and sell most stuff second hand in the Netherlands. without box I'd get 150 maximum, with box 250. So definitely worth it to keep as long as your collection isn't near final. Once you do get near final or you don't have the space to spare in the attic or garage. then it becomes an option. Certainly not before that. As long as the marketplace stays this way I certainly will keep my hot toys boxes. I do toss out the boxes for larger statues that are sure to remain in the collection for the forseeable future, those are simply to huge to keep, and any sales would be local pickup anyway.
Great video. My uncle and I were literally talking about this and I have a live show discussing this same topic! I’m two storage units in, and I’m tired of spending money just for boxes! My only caveat is that I also collect statues and there’s a possibility I may purchase one more home before I retire. If I were in my definite retirement home, I’d probably toss the boxes. However, my final retirement home would have a huge storage area (per my vision), so the issue would shift. Moving large polystone pieces without the boxes can be dangerous. I’ve done it before, but I bought the home first, so I had time to move pieces daily and strategically. I don’t sell much, so having boxes for resell isn’t a large issue. I guess it would be if my family wanted to sell my full collection when I leave this world. 20+ years of collecting and holding on to boxes is a pain, but in some ways a necessity.
The mathematical equation proves you aren't crazy. You basically proved your intelligence. Not only are you saying that the boxes are worthless, but you are saying that it's the figures that are worthit. I think the focus being put back on figures is real important here. Thank you. This video was very helpful.
I got into collecting boxes due to Deanknight displaying his collection with box backdrops back in the day. Budgetstark on the other hand always threw out his boxes due to living in Hong Kong and space being limited there. But now that I have so many figures I just want to throw them all out (art boxes), but I won't be doing that anytime soon. I threw away all the shipping boxes though in the recycle bin because I'm not interested in ever selling the figures. I can understand others wanting to sell them like people want to sell hockey cards though. 400 boxes are way too many to keep though. Good, thought provoking video. Very original. If I ever want to throw the boxes out I'll definitely look at this video again for motivation and courage.
Keco I tend to keep boxes in order to store them safely if I’m ever moving or if I need swap figures due to limited space. What do you recommend for keeping 1/6 hot toys well preserved if you’re ever moving or changing your display? Also the hard work the artists put on the art for those boxes, makes it a sad notion to just throw them away.
If space is an issue for display or if you move from time to time, a box definitely is the safer option. But you could always pack the accessories safely in totes and bags and bubble wrap figures as well. All depends on how much time you want to spend on it - as for the artist, they've been paid already and it's not a 1/1 box - no one is keeping cereal boxes simply because the artist spent time on it :)
I think people just have hard time throwing something that looks nice 😅. I personally ,at least for now don’t have such a huge collection ,so I keep the boxes ,mainly because I keep the accessories inside and I live rental ,so in case I have to move ,it would be easier to protect the figures. But since I do a lot of body swaps ,I noticed I’m piling up a lot oh phicen body boxes as well ,and finally started throwing at least those out 😅. With your big collection , I think that’s the smartest thing to do ,to throw them out ,otherwise “collector” turns into hoarder ,imo. It’s super funny people crying and cringing cuz someone chose to throw some boxes out 😅. I throw the shippers out ,at least ,and people in the community have asked me “ but whyyy??” Even for that 😅.
@@KeCoCollects yep, that was exactly what they were telling me 😅. But the shipper is ugly ,plus when is enforced with corner protectors, I just tear it off when unboxing 😅.
I definitely think when you get to the point where you are with 400+ figures/boxes, it doesn't make a lot of sense to tie up that much space. I still have all of mine in the top of a closet, but I am only at around 30 or so, so it isn't out of hand just yet. Everyone's situation is different and I think it really comes down to keeping them not causing an issue vs it becoming more of a hassle to keep them. I would much rather have a complete set than not, even though I have never sold any and don't have any intention to. However you can't be mad or blame anyone for getting rid of them in your situation. Anyway, love the content. Keep it coming!
Preach that truth!!! 🔥 Amazing lyrical intro .. I did the same thing with shipper boxes about 2 months ago and cut my storage area in half ..I am working on accessory storage and then maybe toss the art boxes. Great video brother strong work 💪🏻
@@KeCoCollects I’m glad you finally said it! I have around 200 1/6 scale boxes and about 70 1/4 scale statue boxes. I’m probably going to keep the 1/4 scale boxes simply because they’re easier to transport when I move. I collect because I love it, not to make a profit.