Kit Inspection

Thank you all for your responses.  I really don't have any plans to sell these kits but you never know.  I started to inspect each box, only ten more to go.

Just FYI I know of two eBay sellers and one LHS that can seal boxes, so I don't put much stock in it unless the cellophane has an old faded 99 cent sticker on it.

It depends on your "target market. If you think you might resell a kit, and want to resell to a collector, leave it unopened and "mint in box." Otherwise, I saw open it and inspect. If you build it, great, and if you sell it later to a non-collector, you can always put "box was opened for parts inspection but all parts are still sealed..."

Although I'd still caution you regarding special/limited release kits until you actually build it...but it'd really suck if it was missing parts, lol

Thank you all.  Looks like better get busy opening boxes and conducting inspection.

Being too lazy right now, I'll just second what Groot said. He and I  do things just about exactly the same.

and I'm not going to have any unfinished kits in my stash either....so there!

If I buy the kit brand new I generally just make sure all of the sprues are present.  I also open everything right away to get the decals into a ziploc bag (article in FSM over the last year or so about moisture and bugs actually destroying decals over time).  

If I get the kit off ebay or something, I always try to ask beforehand if all the sprues are present.  Most sellers are pretty cool, some simply won't respond, and some frankly don't know.  When I receive the kit, I always go part by part through with the instructions if the box had been previously opened.  

I recently tracked down a 1/32 F/A-18 and bought the thing and found it had several pieces that were not accounted for (fortunately it was a couple pieces of ordnance, which the kit is already heavy in, and the pilot figures so ultimately it was possible to replace it with aftermarket stuff).  I also purchased an aircraft ordnance set that was missing the decals and several missiles.  The seller had gotten the thing at a flea market and simply didn't know, and it would have cost more to ship back that I paid for it, and I can work around it.  Finally, I recently bought a 1/350 Tamiya Missouri and upon receiving it I opened the thing (still in original shrink wrap) to find the hull was actually cracked.  It's a clean crack and I think I can work around it, but it certainly made me take a much closer look at the other parts to make sure there wasn't something I couldn't work around.

So anything you get I highly recommend just checking out and storing the decals.  Of note though, I fully intend to build every model in my stash (don't we all!) so I am not looking to resell any.  But that's my opinion of course.

Groot

I bought a kit from an on-line retailer, and found a key part was missing from a sprue.  I did not open the bags, and the retailer replaced the kit and paid postage both ways!  Great service!  The company was CultTVMan.com.  There are some good guys out there!

Yes it does, thank you.

Unfortunately I don't have a solid answer but here's my view:

If it's a special/limited edition model kit then keep it sealed, I'd say.

As a builder (first) I always open my kits when buying (if in store then after the purchase, of course) to make sure all the parts are there as well as out of sheer excitement of getting the kit.  Although as far as I can remember most of the time I do discover issues is when inspecting it further at home.  I don't recall ever buying a kit just to throw it straight into the stash.

If you've opened it (while keeping the parts bags sealed) and it's inspected to your satisfaction you could always say it's complete and you could allow a local buyer to inspect it with full confidence.  When selling it online you could also post pictures of the contents for buyers to inspect (as well as for your records should a dispute arise, but PayPal tends to favour buyers heavily).  But I've experienced buying a sealed model kit only to have it missing a few key components.  Since it was old and rare I decided to keep it and buy replacement replica parts.  Luckily they existed.

From a buyer's perspective I appreciate being able to inspect it myself if buying it locally and online posts with pictures of all the sprues in the bag as well as the instruction sheet tends to lure me to buying it.  But this is from a builder's perspective, not a collector.

Hope that helps!