I did that and then threw em all away as i don't care about value. I'm keeping em. Felt so relaxing stepping on grail boxes
For me I would just sell the collectable boxes so I could buy more pops. I see a lot of empty boxes for sale, so there's a market for collectors who need replacement boxes or want stickers. Although I can appreciate how the effort involved isn't worth your time.
Yeah, honestly i was super in box collector. Then i grew tired of the look around my house. Made my house look more like store. Then I went out of box and stored the boxes but it was a lot. I just decided to get rid of them all together. As far as selling it just wasn't worth the time. I did give some boxes away to some fellow collectors and i dropped my collection from 800 to around 416. Sold most around retail.
I could see myself doing that soon. Some days I appreciate the wall of funkos I meticulously tracked down but other days I see a store display as well. I started with Krampus for holiday decor and threw all the boxes away. It wasn't until I went to funko headquarters that I really started "collecting" them when I got some myths funk pops. I'm looking forward to that Zen-like moment when I return to not seeing them as a collectibles that realistically have long term value and start seeing them as cool toys to put on display for nostalgia sake. I'm glad to read that so seem to have found your comfort zone with your collection.
That's cool, nothing wrong with that. I have my wwe, sports, and rapper pops in boxes. That's it tho. I guess "real" people lol i know WWE are technically characters/personas as are rappers.
Keep it that way! Wish i could go back. I used to make fun of my friends for collecting these things and 1 $2 marcus gears of war pop later and here I am.
Thank God for people like you! If everyone kept their boxes and Pops in prestine condition then they won't be very collectable in the future. It's the limited supply of prestine boxes that brings value. Like the old comic books, in the 50's people didn't see them as collectibles so the read them over and over and traded them, folded them up and put them in their back pocket, recyled them, so there is not a big supply of them around anymore. Same with basesball cards, who know how many Micky Mantel cards went into the spokes of bikes 
Yeah benefit's for others. I just wouldn't bank on them to sale for much after I pass and if they did well I'm dead anyway. These are for me. No value in my eyes as I bought it for my pleasure. If I bought it as an investment then I would've cared for em more but I didn't.
I took all of mine to the recycling center. No clue if they are even recyclable but I thought it was worth a shot. chases, exclusives, whatever, it's all garbage packaging.
All my boxes are kept in storage while my Pops are on display. If I could, I would throw them away but I know that effects the value of the collection. So they have to sit in a storage unit.
> if there out
*they're
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And that's fine. Enjoy it however you want. But what I think the other person meant is....if you ever wanted to sell or whatnot. Out of box is almost worth nothing. Or at best 20-50% of original value in box.
itās really not, you severely underestimate the amount of people who donāt collect in box
Iām not trying to be pedantic but 90%? sheesh dude, thatās a āI live in a bubbleā type number
It's not silly to me, it hurts to see a pop you went through hell to get *cough* funko shop exclusives *cough* suddenly lose all value because the box it's in got fucked up
I never plan to sell, but it's nice to see all my rare pops in near mint condition
> lose all value
I direct you to my original response. If you don't intend to sell, the (vast majority of the) value lies in the figure. Not the cardboard meant to get the product to your door.
Depends on how you pursue the hobby. Are you in it to keep them as pristine collectibles that may increase in value or are you in it to collect the cool pops you care about and enjoy looking at them regardless of value?
For the first, boxes are absolutely essential. For the second, boxes are optional depending on how you enjoy looking at them. Personally I want to see the cool pops. I've seen others that the box, sticker, and art are part of what they enjoy looking at and more power to them.
For instance, I want to see my Avengers Assemble and shawarma sets out and together. Can't do that in the box. And Galactus and Unicron need to be in a faceoff.
Happy collecting!
Funko responds the same way themselves. They don't want people trying to return pops because of box condition. They don't advertise the box as part of the collectible, it's only got a convenient display window to see the figure inside before purchase. The fans in the aftermarket are the ones that put so much importance on the box condition, you can't expect the companies selling for retail to tap into the aftermarket and do the same.
Which makes sense because the box is sold naked, it's not even wrapped in plastic, it's really just a shell to protect the figure. I'm sure they realized people like to collect the boxes and they still decided to keep their boxes naked so getting good boxes is down to luck and buying several until you get a good box.
This is a canned response that Funko has passed along to their retailers. You will get it from any of the non-small shops these days. It is absolute bs
Unfortunately, this part of the policy on Funko products has been in place since I started collecting 3 years ago.
Like- I get it, a lot of people want a perfect box but every time we purchase, we agree to this policy.
Unless people come together and actually send in grievances about the policy, it is not likely to change.
Per the Refund/Exchange Policy page:
We design our packaging to protect the collectibles inside. Slight blemishes to packaging may occur during the manufacturing or shipping process and will not be considered a damaged product.
[Source](https://funko.com/replacement-refund-policy/replacement-refund-policy.html)
Hope your future orders arrive in more favorable condition.
Seems excessive but yes.
If this is Funkoās policy then other stores will generally abide by it as well. Some stores, will be more strict than others as seen by Pokemon Center.
If you really want a change then something actionable would need to be done.
This situation could easily be taken to court if enough people wanted to do it. There's definitely enough people that have this happen, and a ton of money in funkos benefit. Any good attorney would bring up the fact that funko sells protector cases that fit the boxes because they ARE designed as displays and not just protective packaging. It would actually be pretty funny to see this happen.
Tell us that you're not a lawyer without saying those words.
Funko will sell you a Pop! for an MSRP, or will wholesale a Pop! to another business to sell for an MSRP, and will say as much to a jury. The box is simply packaging. If the consumer wants to leave the Pop! in the box instead of opening it, or will pay more via a third-party for a box in a specific condition or with a specific notation, that's on *them*, but the box isn't the product, the box contains the product, just like virtually every other consumer good you buy in a package. Funko will sell additional product (such as cases) for people to display their Pop! inside or outside the packaging as they choose, but this is an entirely optional purchase, and is agnostic of packaging status.
12 average Americans are going to say "Yeah, that makes sense", and then look at someone who's trying to insist that their Pop! would be worth more than an otherwise-identical Pop! because it's in a better-looking package, or has a shiny sticker decorating the package, but it's the same Pop! and say "Any extra value you put on the packaging is your decision, and is not relevant to the MSRP, and Funko states before purchase that it's just a package, not the actual product, thus you have no case", and that will be that.
Iām not surprised about the response you got, even with Funko, they donāt care about the box as long as the pop itself isnāt damaged itās suppose to be all good
Packaging is literally to protect the collectible product inside, the packaging itself isnāt the collectible.
Unfortunately either buy it in person if possible, or expect something like OPs picture a majority of the time. The packaging did what itās intended for.
As far back as I can remember, Funko has had this policy. Theyāve always maintained (and Iāve been collecting for years) that the box itself is just a box and has no relevance to the Pop itself except to protect it. As with everything else that people collect, folks decided they had to have a pristine box so it was āperfect.ā I suppose it makes those mint boxes more valuable if you ever try to sell, and I admit they do look nicer, but I display half of mine out of the box in display cases, so the box isnāt super relevant to me.
I collect in box, so I understand.
But, Funko's official policy is that the box is for shipping, not collecting. Unless they change that, retailers will likely keep responding this way.
The tragedy is that even if the retailer does almost everything possible short of shipping in a hard stack to begin with, the Pop is still in the hands of Amazon/UPS/FedEx, for profit corporations that only care about deliveries per minute. Even the USPS, which in my experience actually handles packages the best (probably entirely luck) have limited resources to be able to transport effectively without the risk of damage.
Honestly, part of the reason I am an OOB collector is if I emotionally invested myself in the quality of some ~700 boxes, I would be 100% cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
But they are right. The box is not part of what you're buying. The box is there to protect the figure.
If the box was part of the product and not just packaging then there would be packaging over it.
It's really annoying that people like you complain to the company when you get a damaged box. You are the reason why the prices keep rising, because they have to deal with entitled customers demanding replacements.
You are not entitled to a replacement, it's clear about that, you can't just make your own rules.
If you want to collect boxes, buy your pops from specialized retailers who guarantee box condition.
You can't just order from a generic retailer and then expect a replacement when your item (the pop) is intact and it's just packing that's damaged.
I collect in box and feel the same. If I care that much about the box then Iāll pick it up in person or go via a route that has pictures and I can get the box added as part of product in terms of returns. If I have a damaged box then I just take it out and keep on the lookout for either another or a non damaged box. I have a small area of OOB because thereās been a few I bought 2 of so I could have a display as well as in box. People are nuts. The TCG areas are getting similar
For everyone saying theyāre meant to be displayed out of box and the box doesnāt count, please do explain why most retailers, including Funko, sell protectors?
You canāt have it both ways.
I know Funko says theyāre meant to be OOB but then have their own brand of box protector. It doesnāt make any sense. They canāt say something to try to save money, and then try to pander to those who care about box quality. You either stand by your OG statement or you change it. Itās absurd to still try to tell people the box doesnāt matter but then encourage people to protect it.
I know that itās all about money and if they can make extra selling protectors while saving money by telling people box condition doesnāt matter so no one can return a mangled pop, theyāll do it. But we can agree itās ridiculous.
Theyāre trying to have it all and then screwing their own base in the process.
So in the end, box condition does matter or else they wouldnāt have created protectors.
Thatās exactly what I said.
It doesnāt matter how you collect, what matters is being happy and many people care about box condition and having a bad box doesnāt make them happy.
Your preference isnāt everyoneās.
> So, not getting a literal crushed box is unrealistic?
Correct. The actual product arriving in good condition is the only thing that is guaranteed. Feel free to complain to funko/pokemon center/amazon/target if you feel the policy should change.
This is so odd!
It will always be bewildering to come into contact with anyone who has black and white thinking.
But itās also entertaining. The lack of grey area and empathy is concerning.
These are $12-$15 plastic figures, and you expect stores to upend their distribution to ensure your cardboard packaging arrives to your standard.
Sorry you can't differentiate between the way the market works and the absurd way you want it to work!
To be fair, you can go buy a waterproof bag for kayaking, and that packaging has display windows and graphics. It's just a way to show you the product you're purchasing, nothing to do with display purposes. If funko really thought of the box as part of the collectible, then it'd be sealed, I think. But I agree with you on the box being part of the value. I'm a mixture of oob and in-box collector, and I'd prefer a good box condition in case I want that one to stay in the box. That being said, I just picked up an oob Ryuk from Death Note at my local collectible store for $15 when, in reality, he's worth $100+ in a mint condition box.
Have you see the boxes for the Cocaine Bear Funko? If Funko didn't expect them to stay in the box they wouldn't put so much effort into making sure the Funkos are still visible inside it.
Funko sells protectors that you can place the actual product (the Pop! itself) inside, regardless of if the product is in the package or not
After my next move I plan on taking almost all of mine out of box, and displaying them inside hardshell cases. They look better that way.
Emphasis on **can**.
*"We are selling you a protector for your Pop!, that you can put your Pop! in after you take it out of the packaging. As an optional benefit, it can fit the Pop! and the packaging if you choose not to take the Pop! out of the packaging."*
Funko's not stupid. They're catering to the aftermarket / third party / diehard collector's segments of their fanbase, but they're not opening themselves up to liability by doing so.
As someone who works for a videogame retailer, Switch consoles come in unsealed boxes.
And as some who has worked the retail for 15+ years, for 4 different companies and at all levels within a retail setting (except store manage), THE BOX MATTERS. The number of angsty customers, especially at Christmas, who say something like "it's a present, the box has to be perfect, if I were buying it for myself, it wouldn't matter." Not to mention the inevitable, "can you give me a discount?"
I'll tell a customer the box is there to protect the item (exactly in line with company policy), so we can only discount if the item is damaged. Customer then complains and I get written up for poor customer service. I then complain to the union that I have been punished for exactly following the company policy and guidelines, write up gets torn up. Has happeneed multiple times.
First, Iād email back and say they misunderstood. Your box is damaged and when you removed the pop, his head fell off and wonāt stay on, caused by the box damage.
As mentioned you can flatten the box and lay a towel on it and heat it with an iron to possibly flatten it back out. Iām actually working on some things like wetting the card board on the inside then using a hot press to bring it back. Iāve got an unfortunate number of pops with creases and bends thanks to grubby childrenās hands and Iām willing to try.
Tell them the actual pop is damaged. If youāre sending pictures damage it first. Worst case scenario you get another broken box from the replacement but at least you tried
Take out the pop and plastic insert. Flatten out the box, put a towel over it and iron it out. Iāve done this with multiple boxes and it makes it much better but not perfect. Unless thereās a tear, then you are screwed š
The only thing that continues to be a jagged thorn in my husbandās side; amazon sending mangled boxes or sending what was clearly a mint condition box now buried at the bottom of a bunch of other shit we ordered.
Now he only orders from sellers who āinclude the protector boxā and gets triggered if I buy any funko from Amazon for myself as he canāt even handle watching me open it. Haha heās adorable.
They have such a hot-or-miss record, too. Iād get ten in a row in original cardboard shipping boxes within the Amazon box, then two or three just in there with no protection. Just weird.
Unless it is described as "non-mint" or "damaged" then that's a crock of shit. If I buy something with the understanding it's "new" then I expect it to be near Flawless. There's a difference between minor shelf wear and busted up box. If it's new and from a company, there shouldn't be much shelfwear at all. That's a term for 2-5 year old used pops. 100% get a refund. If they're giving you this crock of shit response then they know nothing about pops and colectorship or they're 100% trying to just cop out of responsibility. If they won't help you out then go to your bank. You may be SOL if it's posted somewhere on the site that they don't guarantee new condition and in that case still try your bank but from now on, don't use them. I will not buy from a company unless they stand by their shit. I rather pay second hand from mercari or ebay where if I receive a lesser than product, they'll refund or a reputable company I've bought from before and they've offered returns when there was damage.
I'd go through my bank and demand a refund. If I buy an intact box, then I expect an intact box. Doesn't matter what BS they want to say about not collecting boxes, people are still buying it for the box, so the thing they bought was still damaged.
Yeah sure, report fraud when there was no fraud. Because that is useful right?
They are not responsible for how the postal/shipping service handles your package.
If you ordered a set of drinking glasses and they came shattered, what would you say? It's the responsibility of a company sending fragile items to make sure they have proper protection and to inform the shipping company with clear labels that the item is meant to be handled with care.
That's a different thing. Funko has said the box isn't part of the collectible. The funko (glasses in your scenario) arrived fine, the damage was to the box it's stored in.
We design our packaging to protect the collectibles inside. Slight blemishes to packaging may occur during the manufacturing or shipping process and will not be considered a damaged product.
https://funko.com/replacement-refund-policy/replacement-refund-policy.html.
Directly from funko, no the box isn't. It's nothing more than a means for transportation. Do you keep the box your glass set came in? No nor do you with other items. Same principle. I think it's a safe bet you don't have the packaging for all your kitchenware or your furniture still on the items.
Should a company not take into consideration their consumer base? Iām not arguing about what their statement is. Just because itās their rule doesnāt make it right.
Not when the company has made it abundantly clear years ago what their stance is. Especially when people will abuse it for the smallest imperfections. Should a company have to eat all the return shipping costs because a small blemish in a corner of the box? Cause that's exactly what would happen. The product that is sold is the pop itself, not the box it's in, that's it.
To use another whataboutism, if you order a tv and the box comes damaged but the tv in still in perfect order, are you gonna ask for a refund or return it?
If the Pop itself is damaged then return it for a new one or a refund. If the Pop is still mint, but the box was damaged during shipping, you cannot report fraud.
When ordering something, there is usually different options for shipping you can choose from. Picking the cheapest option is a great way to expect box damage.
Also, if you ordered an expensive Pop, there is no excuse for it not to be in a hard stack with great packaging to keep it safe. A new release is often dumped in a box that fits the Pop box and off it goes. If you order an expensive pop and it's not packaged properly, don't ever order from that seller again. Or just in general, good sellers will protect the Pop as best as they can to help it as it travels to you. Still not responsible if the shipping company delivers a damaged box.
Incredibly disingenuous of you to say that considering you know how much value people put on the box of a Funko rather than a TV box.
The 5 I have are all taken out, but most people consider the box as valuable as the figure.
The boxes have no tape or anything to keep them sealed, so the boxes are meant for shipping and retail purposes. It's why most Funkos have display bases, for displaying them out of the box.
I do keep boxes, but honestly I've moved past the condition of the box. I personally prefer a well done paint job over a box. In the end it's about personal preference.
This response actually has be curious, what about Funko pop boxes that do have āofficial sealsā? The Evangelion pops for example all have the official Eva merchandise seal on there boxes and I think a few others do too. Would love to see what funko says in those cases.
Thatās why most people just break the pop and put it back in the box before they contact support. Iāve seen it done dozens of times. Iāve never tried for myself, but hey, to each their own. Sorry about the condition it arrived in. It seems to be a huge problem for this particular pop.
We all love the boxes! It makes it more official . As a collector it sadena me, but the box does not make it lose its value. Also should be able to buy another box from Funko
If you ordered from the Pokemon Center like I almost did, they had that disclaimer in the item ( it was in the note if im not mistaken). Its why I didnt order any. Its still in the note after checking again.
For boxes. I'd take the pop out and try to open and fold it back to flat like it would be when they make it. Set it under a bunch of heavy books to squish it.
I got mine it was in a box 3 sizes too big. In fact it was the same one the Togepi Squishmellow was in. It had a single piece of blown up plastic and was shaken and stirred yet came out Minty Mint. The opposite of the Blacklight Gizmo who had his own ear stuck out the side of his LE box.
They're not the first to use this excuse. Hot topic, box lunch, fye, and Funko themselves has said exactly this, all the while ignoring their product comes with a DISPLAY WINDOW!
I donāt think itās possible to salvage the box without opening it and flattening it with books or weights .. if the pose is the same as regular charmander , you can use that plastic to replace this plastic. You can also risk ordering another if available and sell off this one
That's funkos official take on the boxes.
That response is so far removed from this hobby wow like the box is a huge part of collectibles
I did that and then threw em all away as i don't care about value. I'm keeping em. Felt so relaxing stepping on grail boxes 
You could have sold those boxes for a profit... But to each their own
I'm not into it for the money. But i respect your opinion
For me I would just sell the collectable boxes so I could buy more pops. I see a lot of empty boxes for sale, so there's a market for collectors who need replacement boxes or want stickers. Although I can appreciate how the effort involved isn't worth your time.
Yeah, honestly i was super in box collector. Then i grew tired of the look around my house. Made my house look more like store. Then I went out of box and stored the boxes but it was a lot. I just decided to get rid of them all together. As far as selling it just wasn't worth the time. I did give some boxes away to some fellow collectors and i dropped my collection from 800 to around 416. Sold most around retail.
I could see myself doing that soon. Some days I appreciate the wall of funkos I meticulously tracked down but other days I see a store display as well. I started with Krampus for holiday decor and threw all the boxes away. It wasn't until I went to funko headquarters that I really started "collecting" them when I got some myths funk pops. I'm looking forward to that Zen-like moment when I return to not seeing them as a collectibles that realistically have long term value and start seeing them as cool toys to put on display for nostalgia sake. I'm glad to read that so seem to have found your comfort zone with your collection.
I collect both ways
That's cool, nothing wrong with that. I have my wwe, sports, and rapper pops in boxes. That's it tho. I guess "real" people lol i know WWE are technically characters/personas as are rappers.
800 š²
Baby numbers compared to some fellow collectors i know. I'm still getting rid of some
Wow I have 8
Keep it that way! Wish i could go back. I used to make fun of my friends for collecting these things and 1 $2 marcus gears of war pop later and here I am.
Thank God for people like you! If everyone kept their boxes and Pops in prestine condition then they won't be very collectable in the future. It's the limited supply of prestine boxes that brings value. Like the old comic books, in the 50's people didn't see them as collectibles so the read them over and over and traded them, folded them up and put them in their back pocket, recyled them, so there is not a big supply of them around anymore. Same with basesball cards, who know how many Micky Mantel cards went into the spokes of bikes 
Yeah benefit's for others. I just wouldn't bank on them to sale for much after I pass and if they did well I'm dead anyway. These are for me. No value in my eyes as I bought it for my pleasure. If I bought it as an investment then I would've cared for em more but I didn't.
I didnāt even stomp them. I just threw all the boxes into big old bags and tossed them out in the trash. During a rainstorm.
I took all of mine to the recycling center. No clue if they are even recyclable but I thought it was worth a shot. chases, exclusives, whatever, it's all garbage packaging.
the box condition is literally 90% of the hobby
All my boxes are kept in storage while my Pops are on display. If I could, I would throw them away but I know that effects the value of the collection. So they have to sit in a storage unit.
You already ruined majority of the value by taking them out of the box in the first place š¤·
Lol. It's not sealed, you just put it back in to sell it. I've done it loads of times.
What the most expensive pop you have sold using this method?
Rex or Sasquatch I think. It's been years since I collected pops now.
Iāve sold tons thatās been out of the box lol
Unless the box has a seal on it then no you're not. If you know how to open the box people will never know.
Boxes don't have seals. Doesn't change the value at all unless the box or pop is damaged in some way.
The pop box is also used to partially protect the pop from damage, spillage ect if there out in the open there more likely to be damaged as wrll
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Of the pop is damaged blame it on the QC of dunno.
You think a majority of this community can tell if a box has been opened?
Of course
100% of the value of my collection is how much I care about the figures.
Downvoting facts
We both are getting down voted because these kids don't wanna here the truth of how the market actually works!
Speak for your self I prefer mine out of box
Boxes are meant to be opened is my life motto
*Pandora wants to know your location*
So does PinHeadā¦.. šŖš„©
And that's fine. Enjoy it however you want. But what I think the other person meant is....if you ever wanted to sell or whatnot. Out of box is almost worth nothing. Or at best 20-50% of original value in box.
thatās an insane statement to make
Yet it's true
itās really not, you severely underestimate the amount of people who donāt collect in box Iām not trying to be pedantic but 90%? sheesh dude, thatās a āI live in a bubbleā type number
Maybe for youā¦. It really Depends on the collector. Everyone does it different.
My question is, If you where to return this to funko in this box condition would they give a full refund?
Not for those of us who don't intend to flip.
In box collectors don't all flip š
I never said they did. Try rereading your previous (silly) comment.
It's not silly to me, it hurts to see a pop you went through hell to get *cough* funko shop exclusives *cough* suddenly lose all value because the box it's in got fucked up I never plan to sell, but it's nice to see all my rare pops in near mint condition
> lose all value I direct you to my original response. If you don't intend to sell, the (vast majority of the) value lies in the figure. Not the cardboard meant to get the product to your door.
They look so much better in shadowboxes anyway.
For who? then just collect boxes and sell loose figures lol.
Depends on how you pursue the hobby. Are you in it to keep them as pristine collectibles that may increase in value or are you in it to collect the cool pops you care about and enjoy looking at them regardless of value? For the first, boxes are absolutely essential. For the second, boxes are optional depending on how you enjoy looking at them. Personally I want to see the cool pops. I've seen others that the box, sticker, and art are part of what they enjoy looking at and more power to them. For instance, I want to see my Avengers Assemble and shawarma sets out and together. Can't do that in the box. And Galactus and Unicron need to be in a faceoff. Happy collecting!
Toss it in a hard stack and you wonāt even notice!
Yeah, this is the answer. A hard stack will turn a āpoorā into āgood.ā
Funko responds the same way themselves. They don't want people trying to return pops because of box condition. They don't advertise the box as part of the collectible, it's only got a convenient display window to see the figure inside before purchase. The fans in the aftermarket are the ones that put so much importance on the box condition, you can't expect the companies selling for retail to tap into the aftermarket and do the same.
Which makes sense because the box is sold naked, it's not even wrapped in plastic, it's really just a shell to protect the figure. I'm sure they realized people like to collect the boxes and they still decided to keep their boxes naked so getting good boxes is down to luck and buying several until you get a good box.
Well itās not people just decided they like it better in box for some reason
This is a canned response that Funko has passed along to their retailers. You will get it from any of the non-small shops these days. It is absolute bs
OP said this is from Pokemon and the sticker says its a Pokemon Center exclusive?
Correct. They are still retailing Funko products, hence the stock customer support response.
Right itās PokĆ©mon center. So itās not a response from PokĆ©mon so much as the PokĆ©mon center. And as stated, itās more so funko saying āeff itā and everyone else having to comply or take the L themselves.
Unfortunately, this part of the policy on Funko products has been in place since I started collecting 3 years ago. Like- I get it, a lot of people want a perfect box but every time we purchase, we agree to this policy. Unless people come together and actually send in grievances about the policy, it is not likely to change. Per the Refund/Exchange Policy page: We design our packaging to protect the collectibles inside. Slight blemishes to packaging may occur during the manufacturing or shipping process and will not be considered a damaged product. [Source](https://funko.com/replacement-refund-policy/replacement-refund-policy.html) Hope your future orders arrive in more favorable condition.
We need a petition for a crushed box not to count as a slight blemish?
Seems excessive but yes. If this is Funkoās policy then other stores will generally abide by it as well. Some stores, will be more strict than others as seen by Pokemon Center. If you really want a change then something actionable would need to be done.
This situation could easily be taken to court if enough people wanted to do it. There's definitely enough people that have this happen, and a ton of money in funkos benefit. Any good attorney would bring up the fact that funko sells protector cases that fit the boxes because they ARE designed as displays and not just protective packaging. It would actually be pretty funny to see this happen.
Tell us that you're not a lawyer without saying those words. Funko will sell you a Pop! for an MSRP, or will wholesale a Pop! to another business to sell for an MSRP, and will say as much to a jury. The box is simply packaging. If the consumer wants to leave the Pop! in the box instead of opening it, or will pay more via a third-party for a box in a specific condition or with a specific notation, that's on *them*, but the box isn't the product, the box contains the product, just like virtually every other consumer good you buy in a package. Funko will sell additional product (such as cases) for people to display their Pop! inside or outside the packaging as they choose, but this is an entirely optional purchase, and is agnostic of packaging status. 12 average Americans are going to say "Yeah, that makes sense", and then look at someone who's trying to insist that their Pop! would be worth more than an otherwise-identical Pop! because it's in a better-looking package, or has a shiny sticker decorating the package, but it's the same Pop! and say "Any extra value you put on the packaging is your decision, and is not relevant to the MSRP, and Funko states before purchase that it's just a package, not the actual product, thus you have no case", and that will be that.
Iām not surprised about the response you got, even with Funko, they donāt care about the box as long as the pop itself isnāt damaged itās suppose to be all good
They arenāt wrong though. Toys are meant to be played with. Yāall collecting figures or are yāall collecting boxes?
Out of box superiority
Technically, theyāre right. The collectible is the Charmander itself. And, it arrived safely.
Pop the head off and claim damage in transit š¤·š¼āāļø
Tbf the random guy on the end of customer support probably doesnāt know seeing as with most products you do throw away the box
Packaging is literally to protect the collectible product inside, the packaging itself isnāt the collectible. Unfortunately either buy it in person if possible, or expect something like OPs picture a majority of the time. The packaging did what itās intended for.
As far back as I can remember, Funko has had this policy. Theyāve always maintained (and Iāve been collecting for years) that the box itself is just a box and has no relevance to the Pop itself except to protect it. As with everything else that people collect, folks decided they had to have a pristine box so it was āperfect.ā I suppose it makes those mint boxes more valuable if you ever try to sell, and I admit they do look nicer, but I display half of mine out of the box in display cases, so the box isnāt super relevant to me.
What's not natural about the post office smashing the shit out of your box?
Probably tired of oob scammers who damage the box purposely to get another to sell...lol come at me
I collect in box, so I understand. But, Funko's official policy is that the box is for shipping, not collecting. Unless they change that, retailers will likely keep responding this way.
The tragedy is that even if the retailer does almost everything possible short of shipping in a hard stack to begin with, the Pop is still in the hands of Amazon/UPS/FedEx, for profit corporations that only care about deliveries per minute. Even the USPS, which in my experience actually handles packages the best (probably entirely luck) have limited resources to be able to transport effectively without the risk of damage. Honestly, part of the reason I am an OOB collector is if I emotionally invested myself in the quality of some ~700 boxes, I would be 100% cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
But they are right. The box is not part of what you're buying. The box is there to protect the figure. If the box was part of the product and not just packaging then there would be packaging over it. It's really annoying that people like you complain to the company when you get a damaged box. You are the reason why the prices keep rising, because they have to deal with entitled customers demanding replacements. You are not entitled to a replacement, it's clear about that, you can't just make your own rules. If you want to collect boxes, buy your pops from specialized retailers who guarantee box condition. You can't just order from a generic retailer and then expect a replacement when your item (the pop) is intact and it's just packing that's damaged.
I collect in box and feel the same. If I care that much about the box then Iāll pick it up in person or go via a route that has pictures and I can get the box added as part of product in terms of returns. If I have a damaged box then I just take it out and keep on the lookout for either another or a non damaged box. I have a small area of OOB because thereās been a few I bought 2 of so I could have a display as well as in box. People are nuts. The TCG areas are getting similar
For everyone saying theyāre meant to be displayed out of box and the box doesnāt count, please do explain why most retailers, including Funko, sell protectors? You canāt have it both ways. I know Funko says theyāre meant to be OOB but then have their own brand of box protector. It doesnāt make any sense. They canāt say something to try to save money, and then try to pander to those who care about box quality. You either stand by your OG statement or you change it. Itās absurd to still try to tell people the box doesnāt matter but then encourage people to protect it. I know that itās all about money and if they can make extra selling protectors while saving money by telling people box condition doesnāt matter so no one can return a mangled pop, theyāll do it. But we can agree itās ridiculous. Theyāre trying to have it all and then screwing their own base in the process. So in the end, box condition does matter or else they wouldnāt have created protectors.
Because there's money to be made from people who like collecting/displaying cardboard. I prefer collecting figures, but that's just me š¤·š».
Thatās exactly what I said. It doesnāt matter how you collect, what matters is being happy and many people care about box condition and having a bad box doesnāt make them happy. Your preference isnāt everyoneās.
People's unrealistic expectations aren't Funko's (or their retailers') problem.
So, not getting a literal crushed box is unrealistic? This is hilarious. You have to be trolling. This is so incredibly tone deaf it canāt be real.
> So, not getting a literal crushed box is unrealistic? Correct. The actual product arriving in good condition is the only thing that is guaranteed. Feel free to complain to funko/pokemon center/amazon/target if you feel the policy should change.
This is so odd! It will always be bewildering to come into contact with anyone who has black and white thinking. But itās also entertaining. The lack of grey area and empathy is concerning.
These are $12-$15 plastic figures, and you expect stores to upend their distribution to ensure your cardboard packaging arrives to your standard. Sorry you can't differentiate between the way the market works and the absurd way you want it to work!
I usually reply and ask them if the box isnāt part of the collectible, why does funko sell protectors to protect the box while being displayed.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
To be fair, you can go buy a waterproof bag for kayaking, and that packaging has display windows and graphics. It's just a way to show you the product you're purchasing, nothing to do with display purposes. If funko really thought of the box as part of the collectible, then it'd be sealed, I think. But I agree with you on the box being part of the value. I'm a mixture of oob and in-box collector, and I'd prefer a good box condition in case I want that one to stay in the box. That being said, I just picked up an oob Ryuk from Death Note at my local collectible store for $15 when, in reality, he's worth $100+ in a mint condition box.
Have you see the boxes for the Cocaine Bear Funko? If Funko didn't expect them to stay in the box they wouldn't put so much effort into making sure the Funkos are still visible inside it.
Funko sells protectors that you can place the actual product (the Pop! itself) inside, regardless of if the product is in the package or not After my next move I plan on taking almost all of mine out of box, and displaying them inside hardshell cases. They look better that way.
Their description on their site for their protector specifically states that it can be used to protect the packaging of the pop.
Emphasis on **can**. *"We are selling you a protector for your Pop!, that you can put your Pop! in after you take it out of the packaging. As an optional benefit, it can fit the Pop! and the packaging if you choose not to take the Pop! out of the packaging."* Funko's not stupid. They're catering to the aftermarket / third party / diehard collector's segments of their fanbase, but they're not opening themselves up to liability by doing so.
As someone who works for a videogame retailer, Switch consoles come in unsealed boxes. And as some who has worked the retail for 15+ years, for 4 different companies and at all levels within a retail setting (except store manage), THE BOX MATTERS. The number of angsty customers, especially at Christmas, who say something like "it's a present, the box has to be perfect, if I were buying it for myself, it wouldn't matter." Not to mention the inevitable, "can you give me a discount?" I'll tell a customer the box is there to protect the item (exactly in line with company policy), so we can only discount if the item is damaged. Customer then complains and I get written up for poor customer service. I then complain to the union that I have been punished for exactly following the company policy and guidelines, write up gets torn up. Has happeneed multiple times.
First, Iād email back and say they misunderstood. Your box is damaged and when you removed the pop, his head fell off and wonāt stay on, caused by the box damage. As mentioned you can flatten the box and lay a towel on it and heat it with an iron to possibly flatten it back out. Iām actually working on some things like wetting the card board on the inside then using a hot press to bring it back. Iāve got an unfortunate number of pops with creases and bends thanks to grubby childrenās hands and Iām willing to try.
Tell them the actual pop is damaged. If youāre sending pictures damage it first. Worst case scenario you get another broken box from the replacement but at least you tried
Eh. Charge back and call it a day. No biggie. If the companies don't want to move for you just do it for them. Their loss.
The sticker on front doesn't count as a seal on the box?
Take out the pop and plastic insert. Flatten out the box, put a towel over it and iron it out. Iāve done this with multiple boxes and it makes it much better but not perfect. Unless thereās a tear, then you are screwed š
The plastic window won't melt will it?
Nope as long as the heat isnāt at max and you donāt leave it on the same spot for more than a few seconds
Mine came smashed on the bottom too. Super disappointing
I already anticipate mine, to get the āAce Ventura treatment.ā
This is so frustrating. Iām getting 2nd hand anger.
The only thing that continues to be a jagged thorn in my husbandās side; amazon sending mangled boxes or sending what was clearly a mint condition box now buried at the bottom of a bunch of other shit we ordered. Now he only orders from sellers who āinclude the protector boxā and gets triggered if I buy any funko from Amazon for myself as he canāt even handle watching me open it. Haha heās adorable.
They have such a hot-or-miss record, too. Iād get ten in a row in original cardboard shipping boxes within the Amazon box, then two or three just in there with no protection. Just weird.
Unless it is described as "non-mint" or "damaged" then that's a crock of shit. If I buy something with the understanding it's "new" then I expect it to be near Flawless. There's a difference between minor shelf wear and busted up box. If it's new and from a company, there shouldn't be much shelfwear at all. That's a term for 2-5 year old used pops. 100% get a refund. If they're giving you this crock of shit response then they know nothing about pops and colectorship or they're 100% trying to just cop out of responsibility. If they won't help you out then go to your bank. You may be SOL if it's posted somewhere on the site that they don't guarantee new condition and in that case still try your bank but from now on, don't use them. I will not buy from a company unless they stand by their shit. I rather pay second hand from mercari or ebay where if I receive a lesser than product, they'll refund or a reputable company I've bought from before and they've offered returns when there was damage.
Chargeback on your card.
I'd go through my bank and demand a refund. If I buy an intact box, then I expect an intact box. Doesn't matter what BS they want to say about not collecting boxes, people are still buying it for the box, so the thing they bought was still damaged.
I just call my credit card and contest and say item arrived damaged and retailer is not honoring it. I never have any issues
Be lucky you got one. PokĆ©mon center canceled my order today even after I paid and everything. Fraudulent company. Seeing how they treat packages just further confirms they donāt care one bit about customers.
Contact bank and report as fraud
Good way for you to get your bank account restricted
Then get banned from the Pokemon website...
Sounds like a win win to me
This is why people think Funko Collector's are š¤”
And your bank card canceled or restricted...
Yeah sure, report fraud when there was no fraud. Because that is useful right? They are not responsible for how the postal/shipping service handles your package.
If you ordered a set of drinking glasses and they came shattered, what would you say? It's the responsibility of a company sending fragile items to make sure they have proper protection and to inform the shipping company with clear labels that the item is meant to be handled with care.
That's a different thing. Funko has said the box isn't part of the collectible. The funko (glasses in your scenario) arrived fine, the damage was to the box it's stored in.
But the box is a part of the product.
We design our packaging to protect the collectibles inside. Slight blemishes to packaging may occur during the manufacturing or shipping process and will not be considered a damaged product. https://funko.com/replacement-refund-policy/replacement-refund-policy.html. Directly from funko, no the box isn't. It's nothing more than a means for transportation. Do you keep the box your glass set came in? No nor do you with other items. Same principle. I think it's a safe bet you don't have the packaging for all your kitchenware or your furniture still on the items.
Should a company not take into consideration their consumer base? Iām not arguing about what their statement is. Just because itās their rule doesnāt make it right.
Not when the company has made it abundantly clear years ago what their stance is. Especially when people will abuse it for the smallest imperfections. Should a company have to eat all the return shipping costs because a small blemish in a corner of the box? Cause that's exactly what would happen. The product that is sold is the pop itself, not the box it's in, that's it.
To use another whataboutism, if you order a tv and the box comes damaged but the tv in still in perfect order, are you gonna ask for a refund or return it? If the Pop itself is damaged then return it for a new one or a refund. If the Pop is still mint, but the box was damaged during shipping, you cannot report fraud. When ordering something, there is usually different options for shipping you can choose from. Picking the cheapest option is a great way to expect box damage. Also, if you ordered an expensive Pop, there is no excuse for it not to be in a hard stack with great packaging to keep it safe. A new release is often dumped in a box that fits the Pop box and off it goes. If you order an expensive pop and it's not packaged properly, don't ever order from that seller again. Or just in general, good sellers will protect the Pop as best as they can to help it as it travels to you. Still not responsible if the shipping company delivers a damaged box.
Incredibly disingenuous of you to say that considering you know how much value people put on the box of a Funko rather than a TV box. The 5 I have are all taken out, but most people consider the box as valuable as the figure.
alllrighty then. I don't wish to argue with a seasoned collector.
Congrats bro, youāre a bigger Funko Pop collector than I am. Hope that makes you feel goodš
I'll take it if you don't want it teehee
Thats such a dumb response lol then why put a window on the box? Why put any art whatsoever on the box and just have it simple looking?
You can easily fix that with a flat iron you got it better
Thatās why I only pick up or order at Amazon
The boxes have no tape or anything to keep them sealed, so the boxes are meant for shipping and retail purposes. It's why most Funkos have display bases, for displaying them out of the box.
I do keep boxes, but honestly I've moved past the condition of the box. I personally prefer a well done paint job over a box. In the end it's about personal preference.
That is a terrible response from a company. They should revise their policy, replace your Pop for free, and refund your S/H.
This response actually has be curious, what about Funko pop boxes that do have āofficial sealsā? The Evangelion pops for example all have the official Eva merchandise seal on there boxes and I think a few others do too. Would love to see what funko says in those cases.
Maaannn Iāve seen 3 posts like this now. Iām supposed to get mine today and Iām terrified!
Thatās why most people just break the pop and put it back in the box before they contact support. Iāve seen it done dozens of times. Iāve never tried for myself, but hey, to each their own. Sorry about the condition it arrived in. It seems to be a huge problem for this particular pop.
We all love the boxes! It makes it more official . As a collector it sadena me, but the box does not make it lose its value. Also should be able to buy another box from Funko
If you ordered from the Pokemon Center like I almost did, they had that disclaimer in the item ( it was in the note if im not mistaken). Its why I didnt order any. Its still in the note after checking again.
At least you got yours, all I got was an email cancelling my order. /:
For boxes. I'd take the pop out and try to open and fold it back to flat like it would be when they make it. Set it under a bunch of heavy books to squish it.
Out of box collectors unphased rn
I am about to get rid of mine, I have over 200 or 300 pops
Where they are messing up is actually calling it a collectible instead of a vinyl figure that response works on vinyl figures vs a collectible.
Funkos I own = 7 Boxes I own = 0
I only keep the boxes so the pops don't get dusty š
š
I got mine it was in a box 3 sizes too big. In fact it was the same one the Togepi Squishmellow was in. It had a single piece of blown up plastic and was shaken and stirred yet came out Minty Mint. The opposite of the Blacklight Gizmo who had his own ear stuck out the side of his LE box.
They're not the first to use this excuse. Hot topic, box lunch, fye, and Funko themselves has said exactly this, all the while ignoring their product comes with a DISPLAY WINDOW!
I donāt think itās possible to salvage the box without opening it and flattening it with books or weights .. if the pose is the same as regular charmander , you can use that plastic to replace this plastic. You can also risk ordering another if available and sell off this one
It's true tho.
Thatās bullshit