Buying blind boxes vs. sealed case

[DLRich]

What is your preference? Buying blind boxes or a sealed case.

As I understand it, if you buy a case, you're guaranteed to get one chaser as well as 2 sets of the other figures. So from a collectors point of view, this is probably the "smartest" way of acquiring a set. At the same time, however, it takes away any suspense. I've seen people get real excited when they buy one or two boxes and find either the particular figure they were looking for or the chaser. That anticipation and excitement must be lacking when buying a case. Of course there is the downside of blind boxes of really hoping for a particular figure, opening the box and package and then, "Darn, another monkey".

This past weekend, I thought I would be clever and buy my blind boxes in bulk from one case instead of my two boxes at a time. So I purchased 12 boxes of Urban 2 with the plan of opening a few that Sunday, then opening the others a few at a time on later days. I thought this would reduce my likelihood of doubles (or triples or more) and I'd still be spending the same amount. Of course after opening a few, my wife prodded me to keep opening them (plus she wanted to open some) and needless to say, we opened all 12 on Sunday. I actually got the chaser in the third box I opened so I feel lucky with that. I still had 5 doubles out of the 12 boxes, though. Now I feel like I should have just purchased the case.

So what do you prefer?

In case anybody is interested, here are the results of the boxes I opened:
-color by number
-made in china (2x)
-chaser (twist of lime)
-galaxy (2x)
-confetti (2x)
-ice cream bar (2x)
-gears (2x)



Please forgive me if this topic has been covered before but I didn't see any thread on this.

[Sledge]

I get just as much excitement from opening the individual boxes in the cases I purchase. It's fun guessing which one you'll open next but still knowing you'll end up with an entire series.

[WDWTigger72]

I prefer getting a full case when purchasing Vinylmations (1) Because purchasing a full case allows me to get my full set (2) The doubles I have within the case I have been swapping with a friend in Florida to get signed, so I am lucky they are willing to do that (3) I don't live near the parks so purchasing a box at a time wouldn't make economical sense, also the frustration of getting duplicates without completing my set. Not sure how long I will be collecting entire sets though with the rapid releases, I still haven't purchased the "Clear Series" or "Urban 2", so I am starting to pull back now (Maybe!).

[SPLzero]

I think if you don't really want to buy a case and you live near a store you can always take the route of seeing how many it takes to get all 12 from a brand new case.

[Qsk50]

For me its fun to do the blind box deal. I ordered 8 boxes this past Friday.
4 Urban and 4 Clear. Three of the Urbans were the girly one. Im ok with this
because I find the experience of not knowing what Im getting part of the fun
of this collection.
I haven't liked all 12 in any of the series. This up until they came out
with Holiday and Cutesters. I will be getting a case of those because I gotta
have them all and my sister wants quite a few of them.

I can't speak on the experience of getting a case since I have not done it.
Like you mentioned, for collectors its probably the way to go.

[Gasgano7]

When we went for my familys annual Christmas outting at wdw last year Park 1 was just released. We bought 1 just to check them out.

One turned into 31 blindboxes before we completed the set. Yep,about $320 worth of blindboxes. My wife just wanted figment... guess which one completed the set..yep figment. I got 3 balloon chasers though.

The CM's at DHS didnt need to keep laughing at us as we bought one at a time. :lol:

Now the rules is cases only.

[Qsk50]

When we went for my familys annual Christmas outting at wdw last year Park 1 was just released. We bought 1 just to check them out.

One turned into 31 blindboxes before we completed the set. Yep,about $320 worth of blindboxes. My wife just wanted figment... guess which one completed the set..yep figment. I got 3 balloon chasers though.

The CM's at DHS didnt need to keep laughing at us as we bought one at a time. :lol:

Now the rules is cases only.

Well that's actually great. If you sold 2 of them (balloon chaser) now you will at least get back half of what you spent, or more :thumbsup:

[disneyfan168]

When we went for my familys annual Christmas outting at wdw last year Park 1 was just released. We bought 1 just to check them out.

One turned into 31 blindboxes before we completed the set. Yep,about $320 worth of blindboxes. My wife just wanted figment... guess which one completed the set..yep figment. I got 3 balloon chasers though.

The CM's at DHS didnt need to keep laughing at us as we bought one at a time. :lol:

Now the rules is cases only.

Are you selling the extra balloon chaser?:shrug::lol:

[VintageOne]

Great thread question! I prefer to buy blind boxes a couple at a time, open just outside the store, and head back in for more if I don't get what I want. Here's another way to look at it, and how I do it - the GOAL is to get the full set with chaser BEFORE you hit 24total boxes purchased. That way, you are actually spending less then a case would cost and not dealing with trading or selling the excess doubles. I've completed Park 2, Clear 1 & Urban 2 this way, and the least # was 17 boxes, the most was 23, so I'm doing well. I saw one person on the thread bought well over 30 or 40 to complete a set, so I suppose it COULD happen...but other than the chaser you can trade for what you need on here, so why buy that many?

Here's a tip: This method only works if you're near a Disney location and can get there often. Also, look for a full case or near full case that was just put out on the shelf...more likely to have the chaser running around somewhere, you might pull it early!

[Gasgano7]

I have one, gave one to my sister, and other to wifes family. Made three more addicts so something good came of it.

[DLRich]

I hadn't considered buying a couple, opening them outside the store and then returning to the store and repeating the purchase/open cycle until you get what you want. I know when I've bought some boxes at the Disneyland Disneyana shop, they've offered their scissors to open the packages before. So maybe I could just do that cycle at the counter? I'll have to try this some day when it's not busy in the stores.

[HT_NSU]

I like both, but I only buy a case for the series that I want all of (Park #2, Holiday* and Muppets* - *once they come out). Other than that, I kind of like blind boxing. I like not knowing what I'm getting.

[Mouseman74]

I always buy the case cause I want to make sure I have the two full sets - one to open and one to keep sealed. Then I buy a couple at a time till I get the extra chaser to complete my second set. The extras I give to my cousin who lives up in New York for birthdays, holidays, random acts of kindness. Park 1 & 2 were easy to complete. Park 2 I got the chaser with in 4 boxes. Urban 2 within 6. Clear was my first real challenge as it took about 12 to get the extra one I needed. LOL.

[chris5138522]

off topic does anyone know if there still selling the cast member vinyl if so where does a cast member buy it thanks

[Fab5Fan]

I would be willing to buy a case if it was just 1 of each and the chaser, but for me it seems to much of a hassle to have to deal with selling them on ebay or hoping to find someone that is willing to trade, plus I don't always like all of them, just certain ones.

[alicetwasbrillig]

I think buying blindboxes is really fun when you are actually in the park because then then it is kind of an adventure. My family and I had a lot of fun opening the boxes on our last trip. But since I live in the Midwest, it is more economical for me to just buy the ones I really want from a set on Ebay or Vbay. I did this with the Clears and I'm doing it for Urban #2. If I really like the whole set of a series I will try splitting a case with my sister (I want to do this for Park #3).

But I am going to the D23 Expo and heading to Disneyland while there so I will probably buy a couple blindboxes of Urban #2.

[BlackHawkTraffic]

I love the feeling not knowing what your gonna get but at the same time I want ALL of them so buying a box after only having 5 of them still felt exciting because you get to open all of them regardless...so its kinda 50-50 depending on if you want ALL of them or just a few.

[Zephyr]

I'm a blind box kinda guy. I enjoy the fun of not knowing whant I'm getting and I haven't been in love with an entire set so far. Urban 2 is the closest I've had to wanting the whole series, but luckily I've gotten all the one I really want with no doubles. But on the other hand, Park 2 Series doesn't seem to like me, as I've gotten 3 aquaramouse, and 2 Ariels! I'm still trying for that chaser though. I might have to get a case of the cutesters though, that set is pretty darn.... cute.

[hizavoc]

Even though i know i have the whole set by getting a case, it is still exciting on which one i am opening. I prefer to just get the whole case and try to either split the other set with somone else. At least this way i know i will have 2 sets of 11 and get the chaser too. It is just harder to unload the extras now that they are producing so much more quantity.

[Nimini]

I've been buying the selected few I needed/wanted off of ebay since I haven't been able to make it to the parks since May... I think I may be buying a case of the cutesters and park 3, my other vinylmations have been doubles my sisters had so I've never opened a blind box actually. Also making a trip just to buy 9" Jack and Skeleton Dance from the Holiday collection.

[VinylGreg]

I'm just getting started with the Vinyls. My plan is to buy cases b/c I want to be sure I have the set (I'm sticking to the park sets, since I know I'll love whatever they are). I might then buy some random ones just to have the fun of opening a blind box.

[chris5138522]

I buy sealed cases i dont like the guessing game

[vinylFLIP]

After reading this I think I'm going to buy a case. However, now I'm wondering if I should invest in a case or the 9" vinylmations since they are more limited edition. But then again there are the chasers. Excellent thread though.

[Are-Jay]

Firstly, a Hello to everyone- First post!

Anywho, I've long resisted getting into these Vinylmation figures but when I saw the "Clear" series, I could not resist any longer- dunno what it is but I love translucent figures! I intended to purchase a case as I wanted them all but when I got to Disneyland yesterday and saw the display cases and blind-boxes- I had to buy some! "Some" turned into 16, and I'm happy to report that I pulled 11 different colors, including the chaser :) Just need the yellow now.

Not sure if I'll be going this route again, but it is seriously a real blast opening them, especially if you're inside the park. I actually had a few people watch as I opened them and applauded when I got a new color LOL :lol:

[BlackHawkTraffic]

Firstly, a Hello to everyone- First post!

Anywho, I've long resisted getting into these Vinylmation figures but when I saw the "Clear" series, I could not resist any longer- dunno what it is but I love translucent figures! I intended to purchase a case as I wanted them all but when I got to Disneyland yesterday and saw the display cases and blind-boxes- I had to buy some! "Some" turned into 16, and I'm happy to report that I pulled 11 different colors, including the chaser :) Just need the yellow now.

Not sure if I'll be going this route again, but it is seriously a real blast opening them, especially if you're inside the park. I actually had a few people watch as I opened them and applauded when I got a new color LOL :lol:

I guess my OCD kicks in because I refuse to open them inside the park where dropping them, dirty fingers or possibly losing one could happen...its always at my house on a table with everything all ready to go like an operating table :lol:

[JaredtheQuad]

I'M GONNA START BUYING AN ENTIRE CASE!

[DonMuppetFan83]

We like to buy blind and take our luck. I bought 10 this past trip and my girlfriend bought 10. She picked out 4 of mine. She got 1 double out of the 14 she picked. I on the other hand got 4 doubles out of my six lol. She has a system, starts at a corner, counts in, then I forget the rest. But I have about 8 doubles now from Park 1, Park 2, Urban 2 and clear, so i plan to use them to trade.

She doesnt want to complete every set, just buy some, and get the ones she really likes, but I like to complete things, so I will try and finish up sets. We werent really digging the urban 1 at first but now we like it and wish we had got some lol.

I will be buying a case of muppets though. I want the chaser and the whole set, and a friend of mine will be buying the other set from me. So thats pry the only case I will buy.

[Vinylmickey]

My daughter and I go to the park quite often and where alway picking up blind boxes. So we go early in the morning when the case's where new on the shelf and pick our blind boxes. This last series I just broke down and bought the case to make sure that we got the chaser. I will also buy the case on the Holiday Series. I just trade the extra or sell them on this web site. Seems to work out OK for us so far.

[mesaguy]

I'm torn on this question....buying a case would be easier, but the joy my 3 old daughter gets when we go from one store to another that has the vinyls, and to see her open them...and when we don't get the ones we need...her only response is.."it's okay daddy, we can try again...":wave:

[mt1234]

i always feel that buying blind boxes is such a disappointment when you get a double or you dont get the one you want. and sealed cases are still just as exciting because you are waiting for hte chaser. but the only problem with sealed cases is that you get doubles of the other 11 figures.

[Panzee]

my gf and i have a little game when we buy the full case.. we try to pull out the 12 without getting doubles.. the person who pulls out the most doubles once all 12 have been found has to do something around the house.. i think the best we've done so far is 3 doubles, so we still have 9 unopened from that case

[MaxGoof]

I've just been buying the individuals that I want off of ebay and the Buy/Sell boards, but I'll be picking up my first blind-boxed VMs at the NYC WoD store this weekend!

In general, I love blind-boxed collectibles, even though I'm not terribly lucky. AT ALL. I'll probably still end up buying the chasers off ebay, but it's all in good fun. :D