It’s an age old battle: inny vs. outie. And no, we’re not talking about bellybuttons. After strenuous unscientific research, here’s the lowdown on in-the-box collectors compared to out-of-the-box collectors.
So, you’re in an in-the-box collector. You’re one of “those” people. You examine each box carefully before purchasing – a dent there or a scratch here means someone has just lost a sale. Your life is probably a bit more structured, you like a good routine. Some may call you the “right brain” sort. You may not be a neat freak, but your collection is surely handled and set-up with care. You’re firm in your views and opinions, and especially in your exasperation as to why some collectors take their figures out of the box. Don’t they know that half of what they’re paying for is the box?
In-the-box collectors are more often than not gluttons for punishment. Punishment on your wallet, that is. Because in addition to buying the Pop itself, you’re probably ponying up for the precious Pop Protectors to keep the cardboard and plastic in pristine condition.
And really, how much space do you have in your house? Pop boxes aren’t that big, but after collecting for a few months or years you’re like one of the three pigs and you’re building your house of Pops. And that’s super awesome. Sure, your bed is one of those that folds into the wall and maybe you eat standing up because your dining room table has been chain-sawed into makeshift clubs to fend off Pop thieves, but hey – you’re an in-the-box collector and you’re proud of it!
On the other side of the coin we have the out-of-the-box collector. Is this you? Perhaps you are more of an out-the-box thinker, a “left brainer.” You roll your eyes at the collectors on the other side of the fence who keep their figures in the boxes. How do you play with them if they’re still in the box? You may or may not have replaced your rubber ducky with a Pop that floats beside you while bathing. You’re more apt to try new things and change doesn’t bother you so much. You have more space to display your Dorbz and Hikari figures because you’ve eliminated the bulky boxes. You appreciate your figure from every possible angle. If there’s hidden Easter Egg on the bottom of Wall-E’s treads, you’ll find it.
Out-of-the-box collectors may be a bit more fearful. After all, there’s nothing besides the custom built acrylic and titanium case to keep them safe. What if there’s an earthquake and a figure falls over? Or even worse, what if one hits another, which hits another, and pretty soon your Pops have all dominoed over?
Besides, out-of-the-box collectors may also have more visits from the police. The neighbors have reported a series of loud noises coming from your house and you have to explain to a skeptical sheriff that you were just jumping up and down to get your toys to bobble their heads. You’re hit with a $100 fine for disturbing the peace, but hey – you’re an out-of-the-box collector and it’s worth it!
What kind of collector are you?
Matt Norris