Removing toys from their packages

Over the years, I have learnt and adopted some methods of removing toys from their packages with minimum ‘damage’ to their packaging.  I first picked up these tips from a local Star Wars collector many, many years ago.

For Mint-On-Card (MOC) toys, I use a penknife to slice very closely and carefully at the plastic bubble edges that are glued to the backcard.  In this way, I can remove the bubble without ripping off the picture on the card.  I’ll then discard the bubble and can choose to keep the backcard. 

Even if I eventually decide to toss the backcard into the recycling bin, I always still use my penknife to cut off the plastic bubbles neatly instead of ripping them off their back cards.  It has become my habit over the years.  I just cannot stand seeing backcards with parts of their printed pictures ripped off as it simply looks ugly.

For Mint-In-Box (MIB), I also use a penknife to slice through all the parts that are taped so as to open the box.  I’ll then remove the toy from the box with all its internal packaging.  The internal packaging can be styrofoam, plastic bubbles and more cardboard. 

I’ll separate out the packaging materials that can be recycled while the plastic bubbles are discarded.  The outer box usually has very nice printed pictures of the toy so I’ll fold the box and keep it.  If I don’t keep the box, I’ll recycle it.