Governor Mister Phes Posted May 7, 2005 Governor Posted May 7, 2005 MISB = Mint In Sealed Box for those who don't know. Its great to get a brand new LEGO set completely sealed and still in its bags. It has that new LEGO smell and you know the pieces are in pristine condition (or should be). Its like a hit of excitement opening it for the first time. BUT... What happens if the set is no longer in production and is becoming increasingly rare to find MISB? Should they be preserved or should they be opened, after all that is the intention of the production? Remember, the older the set (usually) the less exist in MISB condition, and once they're all opened their MISB status becomes extinct. There might be something special about opening a brand new LEGO set, but there's also something special about owning a MISB set no longer in production. You have something in a condition that very few other people have and that's rare. But once its opened it becomes another bunch of second hand LEGO pieces thus losing that special MISB status forever. Is there a need to open MISB sets? The majority of MSIB sets are also available opened and are usually much cheaper. Its a matter of patience and waiting that little bit longer to find one. By purchasing these sets for building purposes are you not robbing the opportunity for collectors who wish to preserve these rarities for the future?
xwingyoda Posted May 7, 2005 Posted May 7, 2005 I guess the answer really depends on your intentions ;) 1) you buy a set as an AFOL to open it, build it, modify it, and put it on display - or you can buy it for pieces... Bottom
Governor Mister Phes Posted May 7, 2005 Author Governor Posted May 7, 2005 My intentions are... 1) Own all the Pirate sets second hand. 2) Own all the Pirate sets MISB to preserve them for future generations - if any will be able to appreciate that kind of thing. 3) Create a Pirate LEGO museum where all the MISB are on display for anyone who wants to see such rarities for themselves. 4) Expand the museum into a theme park and buy all the 3D LEGO Pirate models from the LegoLands... Now I shall resume my dreaming...
eDeevo Posted May 7, 2005 Posted May 7, 2005 I guess the answer really depends on your intentions ;) 1) you buy a set as an AFOL to open it, build it, modify it, and put it on display - or you can buy it for pieces... Bottom
Norro Posted May 7, 2005 Posted May 7, 2005 I fear I started this In this thread... To further agitate Mr. Fez :-D I just opened some accessory sets I've been saving for a few years (purely to keep the pieces mint and savour enjoyment... not for resale...) God bless, Nathan
Governor Mister Phes Posted May 8, 2005 Author Governor Posted May 8, 2005 More... re-releases... Legends... needed... quickly...
Jipay Posted June 12, 2005 Posted June 12, 2005 I think the MISB should all belong to the Vault in Billund. Sets in circulation should all be free ! Free them from their boxes ! Bricks need fresh air :)
Governor Mister Phes Posted June 12, 2005 Author Governor Posted June 12, 2005 "Sets in circulation should all be free" Do you mean that people shouldn't have to pay for them?
xwingyoda Posted June 12, 2005 Posted June 12, 2005 you only wish Phes !!!!!! Parts and minifigs should be free to be badly treated by small kids, getting parts apart with their teeth...
Governor Mister Phes Posted June 12, 2005 Author Governor Posted June 12, 2005 Horrible little children mutilating LEGO sets! That's hideous Actually it would horrify me if someone purchased a MISB Skulls Eye Schooner to give to some kiddie who wouldn't respect it. A kiddie who would eventually damage and lose its pieces. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!! Now that's one of my worst nightmares.
Akkhraziel Posted June 13, 2005 Posted June 13, 2005 Well, as usual, I fall into a slightly different camp. Between school, work, and life in between, I rarely have time to hunt down all of the peices I need for a model. And indeed, I agree with the notion that there is something invigorating and nostalgic about opening a set and all of its contents. Which is to say...I buy MISB more times than I piece sets together, but I also then immediately open them...or if not immediately then whenever I get the time and space to put them together. While I realzie that I am destroying the collectors value of the item...I don't particularly care. And in many cases, the convienece of having all the pieces in one place without chasing them down paired with the fact that it *is* fun to open sets up, I usually consider the money well spent. Admittedly, I only buy older sets rarely and focus most of my attention on the many, many closeout sets I run across. Akkh
gylman Posted June 13, 2005 Posted June 13, 2005 Usually I build my sets within weeks to months of buying them (sometimes hours, but life is not usulaly that kind). However, some special sets (usually sentimental reasons) I keep extra copy MISB.
Governor Mister Phes Posted June 13, 2005 Author Governor Posted June 13, 2005 When I refer to MISB box sets, I don't mean the ones on shelves now. I'm specifically referring to those that are around 10 years or older... Obviously if nobody opened LEGO that would defeat the purpose of it!
Heeck Posted June 24, 2005 Posted June 24, 2005 Well, it shouldn't be your or anyone else's concern whether they open their sets or not. Personally, I have a lot of family problems, etc right now and buy Lego sets for enjoyment and comfort. I only buy MISB or MIOB with sealed contents sets. Why? I don't trust used legos, as I've seen how some people treat theirs and it isn't a topic I'd like cover. Also, as many have said, there is something quite special about getting and opening a new set. That new smell, the shiny new bricks, getting everything complete without any hassles. Personally, I don't care if the Eldorado Fortress that I got MISB was opened (that's right, now who's gonna stop me?) and the value dropped. I'm not collecting these to make a profit, why shouldn't I open them if I want to? Of course, I wouldn't be stupid enough to open a MISB Yellow Castle or anything, I get enough kicks opening sets from the 1989-2005 era. :-D
Governor Mister Phes Posted June 24, 2005 Author Governor Posted June 24, 2005 Right! That's it! As soon as I get MSIB Yellow Castle I get I'm opening it and photographing the whole opening process! :^D
caniac244 Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 I don't see why MISB is needed, because I would rather build and use my Lego, not look at it's box.
UsernameMDM Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 I broke the MISB habit for new items long ago. There is no way I would open MISB items that are old/out of production.
BlueDragonZ Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 If i don't own one and i got a double, i'll open it for sure.
Big Cam Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 I don't see why MISB is needed, because I would rather build and use my Lego, not look at it's box. lol, Did you search for this. Either way it's a good topic, I prefer to only buy MISB's but then I open them. I just want to make sure I get all the original parts.
Callum Posted December 26, 2009 Posted December 26, 2009 I have about 20 lego MISB sets in my cupboard that I have picked up over the last year or two. my partner often threatens to open my Skulls Eye Schooner if I dont obey her commands. Why do I keep them sealed? Because it is a rare treasure. One day it will most likely be opened by someone after I am gone (or destroyed in a natural disaster.) but I think it is pretty neat to preserve things like that for as long as we can.
Karto Posted December 26, 2009 Posted December 26, 2009 I don't see why MISB is needed, because I would rather build and use my Lego, not look at it's box. It is 'needed' by the set collectors, like in any other type of collection. Some prefer to build and unbuild, others like to build once and then display, some like to play the theme with actual sets (hot cop persuit in Lego City...), there are even some people who like to destroy their bricks 'just for fun'. So what is the 'good way', yours? If you find an old MISB set (20+ years), I would rather recommend to sell it instead of opening it. With 10% of the money you made out of it, buy a used (mint) one. So, you'll be happy to buy much more sets with the money and the collector will be happy with his new unopened box full of plastic pieces. One day it will most likely be opened by someone after I am gone (or destroyed in a natural disaster.) but I think it is pretty neat to preserve things like that for as long as we can. It's time to build Noe's Arch.
CP5670 Posted December 27, 2009 Posted December 27, 2009 (edited) If you find an old MISB set (20+ years), I would rather recommend to sell it instead of opening it. With 10% of the money you made out of it, buy a used (mint) one. So, you'll be happy to buy much more sets with the money and the collector will be happy with his new unopened box full of plastic pieces. I buy MISB sets for their part quality. I have gotten equivalent quality from some used sets in the past, but you always take a risk with used sets and it can be very difficult to tell what the piece condition is like in advance. I know from experience that "mint" or "excellent condition" can mean just about anything, and these days, I would rather avoid the uncertainty. If you scour ebay regularly like I used to, you can find good deals on many such sets. I actually have over 100 MISB sets from the 80s and 90s in storage. They have piled up over time because I bought them on ebay whenever I spotted a good deal, over the course of 7 or 8 years. At one point, I was building them at a slower rate than I was getting more of them. I currently lack the space or time to build and display them all, especially as I spend more time with MOCs than building sets these days. I still build one every two or three weeks though, and I intend to build them all eventually (and modify them/MOC with their parts). Edited December 27, 2009 by CP5670
Zorbas Posted December 27, 2009 Posted December 27, 2009 I actually have over 100 MISB sets from the 80s and 90s in storage. Your storage area is my Disneyland!
Karto Posted December 27, 2009 Posted December 27, 2009 I buy MISB sets for their part quality. I have gotten equivalent quality from some used sets in the past, but you always take a risk with used sets and it can be very difficult to tell what the piece condition is like in advance. I know from experience that "mint" or "excellent condition" can mean just about anything, and these days, I would rather avoid the uncertainty. If you scour ebay regularly like I used to, you can find good deals on many such sets.I actually have over 100 MISB sets from the 80s and 90s in storage. They have piled up over time because I bought them on ebay whenever I spotted a good deal, over the course of 7 or 8 years. At one point, I was building them at a slower rate than I was getting more of them. I currently lack the space or time to build and display them all, especially as I spend more time with MOCs than building sets these days. I still build one every two or three weeks though, and I intend to build them all eventually (and modify them/MOC with their parts). From my experience on eBay (400+ buys), you'll get way more mint parts sold as being used than getting MISB sets (I mean 20+ old ones) for the same money. It's all about how to look for the great deals. It's a shame but lots of people just never played with their Lego - and they are quite easy to track on auction sites . I'm into collecting sets and I have about 1200 of them now (500 boxed, 300 sealed). There are some pictures in the Storage topic of the general forum. I try to keep only mint / unused sets, which is why I'm exclusively looking for mint parts. In my opinion, it is even easier and cheaper to find mint parts on eBay than on Bricklink! Note: I'm speaking about older parts which are no longer produced or have slight structural differences like closed inner-studs, side mold marks, different internal markings, etc. I sell sometimes bulk lots of used parts which are in every possible condition besides 'mint'. Last year I got rid of 75kg, in a few weeks I'll put a lot of 100kg trash
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