Open Or Sealed? The Debate

[JLSTF]

How many people open their Steelbooks when they buy them or do you just leave them sealed.

So far i have 13 Steelbooks and have opened 3 i opened Angels and Demons,Inglorious Bastards and District 9.

I fear if i open my pirates and nightmare before christmas ones i will have to modify them to be able to put the discs in and not have them in a sleeve

 

[hellboydce1]

everyone i have opened, even if i haven't got around to watching them yet

 

[Ronnie3067]

I always opened my steels when I got them but then went a bit mad on Zavvi/amazon last year and bought about 50 or 60 in one month! I have steadily bought about 2 - 5 a month since then and I kept finding reasons not to open them.

Out of 214 SteelBooks I have, 113 are currently sealed. I'm opening them up slowly now, not just to enjoy the SteelBook but to actually watch the movie. I have just recently aquired sealed Play.com Iron Man/Iron Man 2 and may never open them.

I used to look at people's collection and wonder why they would buy SteelBooks and not open them as it seemed a waste of money, now I find myself one of those collectors.

 

[NoDingsNoScratches]

I'm still of the opinion that Everything Must be Opened Open & Enjoyed.
*Except for spare copies. Or multiple copies of the same Title.

ONLY if the Spare Copy Is OCD sealed-mint including shrink wrap, I will keep it for my sealed collection. I will GIFT it to family or friends or return it if can if its not mint.

For me, the Whole Idea behind Keeping a sealed collection is for possible re-sale value later. Ideally Marvel/DC & Ultra Limited as a rule of Thumb. Im not gunna lie, I've paid premium crazy-Prices on many Occasions. No Lie. Guilty as charged. But Ive had to play a lot of catch up to complete my collection as much as possible.

Here's my sealed collection....pic

8 & counting!

 

[psychoscot]

I'm still of the opinion that Everything Must be Opened Open & Enjoyed.
*Except for spare copies. Or multiple copies of the same Title.

ONLY if the Spare Copy Is OCD sealed-mint including shrink wrap, I will keep it for my sealed collection. I will GIFT it to family or friends or return it if can if its not mint.

For me, the Whole Idea behind Keeping a sealed collection is for possible re-sale value later. Ideally Marvel/DC & Ultra Limited as a rule of Thumb. Im not gunna lie, I've paid premium crazy-Prices on many Occasions. No Lie. Guilty as charged. But Ive had to play a lot of catch up to complete my collection as much as possible.

Here's my sealed collection....pic

8 & counting!

Completely agree with you!

 

[Risahawkeye]

I keep a majority of mine sealed but I intend to open them. Some I may not such as the Batman Begins ones since I have the collection and got the steelbooks as well. Others I am really behind on. Bourne series as well as Fast/Furious I plan to open and watch but have been too busy or distracted to get to them.

Usually repackage them in plastic for the time being once opened. I am interested in getting protective cases in the future.

 

[dipzy]

I keep 99% of steels that I buy sealed since I have watched the movie but if there are films I have missed in the cinema, I will buy two copies so that I can watch one and keep the other sealed

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[NoDingsNoScratches]

I am now an avid SEALED Collector!

I was against this not too long ago. Im am really strict on what will qualify to get into my sealed collection. Here are the requirements:

*Spare Copy &/or Multiple Edition of Same Title
*OCD Sealed Mint.

That's it.

So far I have

1. Thor 2 Kimchi Lenti #094
2. Thor 2 kimchi Lenti #667
3. The wrestler Full Slip
4. The wrestler 1/4 slip
5. Leon Exclusive Full Slip
6. The pianist Lenti
7. The pianist Full Slip + free gift

8. Bambi Zavvi
9. Cinderella Zavvi
10. Thor 2 BB
11. Thor 2 Zavvi
12. JLW Target
13. Ultimate Averngers Zavvi
14. BIG Zavvi

15. Lone Survivor Target
16. The Aviator Zavvi

--------

17. Xmen Fururpak Target
18. X2 Fururpak Target
19. Xmen The Last Stand Fururpak Target
20. The wolverine Fururpak target

21. Prometheus Fururpak Target
22. Fight Club Fururpak target


My sealed collection is getting bigger and better than some people's entire collection

 

[PKAVFC]

The way I see it - sealed = investment
Open = enjoyment

But each to their own. It's an enjoyable hobby regardless, so as long as it keeps you happy, that's the main thing

 

[MrBMT]

My intention (currently) is to open every Steelbook that I purchase.

I have 2 unopened Steelbooks, as I open them when I watch them.

Right now, I own 23 Steelbooks (22 Blu-ray - G2's, 1 DVD - G1) and one Metalpak, I started collecting them a little under two months ago.

I have another 9 Steelbooks and 4 Metalpak's (the Metalpak's because they were new, sealed & it cost less than £20 for them all) in the post to me, 2 of which hopefully will turn up tomorrow.

As soon as I'm ready to watch I open them and transfer them to Steelbook Sleeves (including J-Cards) to keep them in as pristine condition as possible.

I'm sure I'll have many more soon enough. I seem to have caught the Steelbook collecting bug.

 

[thesource7]

i keep mine sealed but these days, many steelbooks come to me with either a tiny tear or gap somewhere. seems to come either when it was being packaged or when it was being sealed by the factory. :/

 

[steel888]

I find it interesting those who prefer an OCD sealed mint item.

For those OCD people, does it not bother you in the slightest that there could be a possible imperfection that you don't see while it's sealed?

As many people have pointed out in the past, you really don't know what possible imperfections may be lurking underneath the slips or other areas you can't see with the naked eye.

Like other things in life, I think it's better when it's naked. :boobies:

 

[dfoles]

I open them. And throw away the J-cards!

 

[Man on 1Wire x 6 3]

I open them. And throw away the J-cards!

I'm shocked by that. And then I think to myself I've just kept all of mine in a cupboard, but they've never seen the light of day...so I guess you've got the right idea

 

[dfoles]

I'm shocked by that. And then I think to myself I've just kept all of mine in a cupboard, but they've never seen the light of day...so I guess you've got the right idea

I started collecting them in a box, then I realized all I was doing with them was collecting them in a box that I never used for anything.

So now I toss them.

 

[UpsetSmiley]

I open them. And throw away the J-cards!

Interesting preference, some I open, others I open over time. I usually store the j-cards in small boxes. I think the steelbook is valued slightly more with the j-card. For example if two of the same steelbooks are sold unsealed on eBay with no j-card for £14 and the other includes the j-card for £18. I might pay the extra £4 just for that. Call me crazy, especially the Fox releases with the small card sleeves.

Edit: Even if you don't intend on selling on your collection, I think they're always nice to keep stored away as they have all the specifications and all that jazz.

 

[MrBMT]

I think the steelbook is valued slightly more with the j-card. For example if two of the same steelbooks are sold unsealed on eBay with no j-card for £14 and the other includes the j-card for £18. I might pay the extra £4 just for that. Call me crazy, especially the Fox releases with the small card sleeves.

Edit: Even if you don't intend on selling on your collection, I think they're always nice to keep stored away as they have all the specifications and all that jazz.

I'm the same, personally I actually prefer a mint opened steelbook /w j-card opposed to a sealed one a lot of the time, because that way you can be sure it's not damaged underneath.

The steelbook wraps I use have plenty of room for j-cards, lenticular magnets, etc. so as soon as I've opened one I simply transfer it to one of those.

Plus I'm sure I'll sell some of my collection at some point and think it's better to have a "complete package" when you do.

 

[mnementh]

As this was raised again in the V thread, I thought I'd give my opinions (please remember these are my opinions and not intended to upset anyone - I know some people get a bit tetchy on this subject)

Firstly background -I've been an avid collector all my life across multiple items. From comics, fine wines, whiskys, 1st edition books, animation and original artwork and other stuff !

I have always kept everything sealed. The packaging is part of the product and therefore any tears, rips etc mean that (for me) the item is not in mint condition.

If an item has been opened then the best it can be is excellent. It doesn't matter if there are no defects, because the original seal has been removed then it cannot be mint.

With steelbooks, I know people say that because I haven't opened something then I can't say it's mint, but this is a Schrodinger's cat argument. If the item is sealed and appears to be defect free, then it is mint. If it opened and defect free, then it is in excellent used condition.

If you could call an opened steelbook mint, then an opened IM FS would command the same price as a sealed IMFS with stickers. I have never seen this happen.

Please remember these are my opinions and how I judge something to be mint condition. Others have differing opinions, however they try and enforce them on people.

People should be allowed to collect how they see fit, with no judgement from anyone else.

Until there is a global definition of conditions recognised (as there is for comics, wine etc) This matter will always be subjective

 

[paulboland]

As this was raised again in the V thread, I thought I'd give my opinions (please remember these are my opinions and not intended to upset anyone - I know some people get a bit tetchy on this subject)

Firstly background -I've been an avid collector all my life across multiple items. From comics, fine wines, whiskys, 1st edition books, animation and original artwork and other stuff !

I have always kept everything sealed. The packaging is part of the product and therefore any tears, rips etc mean that (for me) the item is not in mint condition.

If an item has been opened then the best it can be is excellent. It doesn't matter if there are no defects, because the original seal has been removed then it cannot be mint.

With steelbooks, I know people say that because I haven't opened something then I can't say it's mint, but this is a Schrodinger's cat argument. If the item is sealed and appears to be defect free, then it is mint. If it opened and defect free, then it is in excellent used condition.

If you could call an opened steelbook mint, then an opened IM FS would command the same price as a sealed IMFS with stickers. I have never seen this happen.

Please remember these are my opinions and how I judge something to be mint condition. Others have differing opinions, however they try and enforce them on people.

People should be allowed to collect how they see fit, with no judgement from anyone else.

I understand were your coming from in regard to keeping sealed
All you have is a sealed item with its condition unknown

You cant say though something you have is mint if its not been opened
If your selling a item you cant advertise it as mint if its not been fully inspected

Example a steelbook or a Box Set is advertised for sale as in mint condition and when the customer gets delivery and fully opens the package and sees damage then its not mint its condition is damaged

Mint means item is in perfect condition with no damage anywhere
Unless you know an item is in perfect condition you cant say its in mint condition all you can say is sealed condition and status of contents condition is unknown

 

[mnementh]

But this is your opinion.

I believe if this were the case then nothing can truly be sold as mint.

You could never buy a bottle of Lafite Rothschild 1982, open it and then sell it as mint.

Again, as stated these are my opinions. No disrespect, but your post says you understand where I am coming from, but then goes on to state I am wrong !!!

I am not wrong, I am sticking to my beliefs until someone, somewhere defines a globally accepted condition rating.

 

[paulboland]

But this is your opinion.

I believe if this were the case then nothing can truly be sold as mint.

You could never buy a bottle of Lafite Rothschild 1982, open it and then sell it as mint.

Mint condition is an expression used in the description of pre-owned goods. Originally, the phrase comes from the way collectors describe the condition of coins. As the name given to a coin factory is a 'mint', then mint condition is the condition a coin is in as it leaves the mint

Mint Condition use of this status really should not be used to describe the condition of steelbooks or other items that are sealed

The term mint condition really is only meant to describe a condition of a coin

When advertising a Steelbook for sale that's sealed all you can advertise its never been opened and you cant say its mint as you don't know its condition