Here at Nerd Urbanity, customer service and product insight means everything to us. Furthermore, we understand that everyone has their own preferred standards in regards to the collect-ability of their purchases. Some collectors look for a figure to display, while others are looking for rare mint (unopened factory sealed) in the box finds. With that in mind, we strive to provide accurate descriptions of both the new and used products we carry. What follows is a list of our standards for our new unopened/sealed items (MINT) and our pre-owned/opened items (with or without packaging).
New MINT in Box Collectables
All new boxed items will be listed in MINT condition. Details in regards to an item's overall condition will be comprehensively provided alongside images in an effort to alleviate concerns about quality. The following information is our grading scale and a list of some of the terms that we may use for a MINT item's overall condition.
Collectors Condition
Mint condition, case fresh, and factory sealed with little to no visible flaws on the packaging or figure within. The figures and/or plays-sets in collector’s condition are typically sought after by ardent collectors. The criteria for mint figures in "Collectors Condition" may include the following prerequisites:
- Factory sealed
- Little to no wear around the box's edges
- Very minor scuffing to the window or bubble
- No yellowing of the exterior bubble or plastic window if applicable.
- Good sticker and/or price tag placement that doesn't detract from the packaging's artwork
Standard Condition
Mint condition, case fresh, and factory sealed with no damage to the figure inside and minor to moderate flaws to the packaging. Although the packaging is less than perfect, it remains displayable. The criteria for mint figures in "Standard Condition" may include one or more of the following prerequisites:
- Factory sealed, however, the packaging may have some flaws
- Minor bubble detachment
- Some areas of creasing
- Some shelf wear
- Some yellowing to the window or bubble
- Denting to the bubble and/or minor window cracking
- Factory sealed or minor areas of popped tape as long as the packaging remain sealed
- Packaging may have minor to some moderate wear
Substandard Condition
Figures and/or play sets in substandard packaging and the internal contents may or may not have received damage, or otherwise, perfect for out of packaging collectors. All substandard packaging purchases are final sales, no exceptions.
- All Sales Are Final No Exception
- Packaging may have some significant wear to the point of being non displayable in the box.
- Large areas of creasing and/or curling
- Significant Yellowing to the window/bubble
- Partial bubble detachment
- Significant dents to the bubble
- Significant cracks to the bubble
- Significant denting to the window
- Inaccurately placed bubble
- Bubble detachment
- Packaging has torn, cut, or missing areas
Pre-Owned Figures and/or Play-set
All Pre-owned items will be listed in standard pre-owned condition. Details in regards to an item's overall condition will be comprehensively provided alongside images in an effort to alleviate concerns about quality and completeness. The following information is our A,B,C grading scale and a list of some of the terms that we may use for the condition of pre-owned items.
(A)
- 100% complete with paperwork
- Box may be included and may have varying degrees of wear
- Very minor to no paint blemishes and/or fading
- Very minor to no sticker curling or fading
- No breaks or cracks
- No plastic stress
- Very minor to no scuffing
- Tight joints
- Highly displayable
- Significantly Meets collector's standards
(B)
- All or a majority of accessories are present
- May or may not have a box, sticker sheets, or instructions
- If a box is included, it may have varying degrees of wear
- No breaks, cracks, or missing limbs
- Minor paint blemishes and/or paint fading
- Very minor plastic stress
- Very minor yellowing may be present but not highly noticeable
- Minor scratches
- Tight joints (a single loose joint is acceptable)
- Very minor sticker peeling, fading, and/or curling
- Must have an appealing shelf presence
(C)
- Some or no accessories are present
- May or may not have a box, sticker sheets, or instructions
- If a box is included, it may have varying degrees of wear
- There is a possibility of breaks, cracks, or missing limbs
- Moderate to significant yellowing may be present
- Moderate to significant paint blemishes and/or paint fading
- Moderate to significant plastic stress
- Moderate scratches on the item
- Loose joints (some may remain tight)
- Very moderate to significant sticker peeling, fading, curling, or loss
- May or may not have an appealing shelf presence
Glossary of Terms
Breaks- Cleanly separated portions of a figure, packaging, accessory, or part.
Case Fresh- Straight out of a box from the factory or looks as if it had come straight out of the box from the factory.
Cracks- Broken without the complete separation of an item or part, with regards to play-sets, figures, accessories, plastic bubbles, display windows, ect.
Curling- Packaging for carded figures curled with or without some creasing. This may also apply to figure that have stickers that have come loose on one side and curled up.
Denting- Depressed or deformed areas of a figure, accessories, and/or packaging.
Fading- The loss of an item's color vibrancy.
Minor- Wear and tear to small areas of a figure, set, or box
Mint- Figures and/or sets are brand new in the package.
Moderate- Wear and tear to medium sized areas of a figure, set, or box.
Paint Marks- Sloppy paint or paint scuffs.
Plastic Stress- Plastic strain or weakened plastic that’s identified by the presence of warped and/or discolored areas where plastic joints, pins, screws, and/or fasteners are located.
Pre-Owned- Used items.
Scratches- Nicks and/or scuffs in the paint or plastic of a figure or packaging.
Sealed- Taped, glued, and/or heat sealed processes used to hold packaging closed remains intact.
Shelf Wear/Box Wear- Scuffs, dings, and/or marks on the corners or surfaces of a box.
Significant- Significant wear and tear to large areas of a figure, set, or package.
Third Party Figures- Third party figures are collectables created by companies other than your typical standard manufacturer. Standard manufacturers include Hasbro, Mattel, LJN, and ECT. For example: instead of a Hasbro Jetfire, Fans Toys would release their own homage to Jetfire named Phoenix.
Yellowing- Over time some white plastics begin to take on a yellow tinge to varying degrees. Yellowing varies from a light yellow that's almost unnoticeable to a very dark yellow that completely discolors a collectable.
Very Minor- Minimal to a negligible degree of wear and tear to a figure, set, or package.
**Terms and Definitions May Be Subject To Expansion**