Collector Preference Question?

[Tom L]

I've wrestled with this choice once or twice before, but I am curious what everyone thinks.

For example, You are at a toy show and find a seller who has two carded Penguins. They are both on the same exact version and the same price.

Card A: Card is C9.5+, figure inside is mint but with a gray head

Card B: Card is C8, figure inside is mint without a gray head

Non-gray head or better card? Which.....do.....you.....choose?

Tom L.

[DocDrako]

I'd go for Card B. Since I'd end up caving in and ripping it open, I'd want the mintier loose Penguin.

[Dave Mc]

I think if I was a carded collector, I'd still want the nicest figure inside I could get. It would always bug me no matter how nice the card, if the figure inside was grey, or had a broken knee pin or something. I think that flaw would distract the overall presentation of the piece, more than a card that was less than perfect.

[Marvelmania]

Definitely the non-gray carded figure! To me the figure condition is more important than the card condition.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Same here, I find greyed heads a bit creepy.

[ddgaff1132]

Come on!!! You know most of the time dealers are over guaging the condition of the goods. Besides its just packaging. The figure is key.

[bgrimm77]

I would take card B....Mint figure takes precedence.

[Megospidey]

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with everyone else...I primarily collect the figure. The packaging is secondary to me...

I want it (packaging) in the best condition possible, don't get me wrong, but not at sacrificing the condition of the figure itself.

[palitoy]

Is either card a Canadian card?

If they're both US I'd go B.

[Sowth]

I'd go B too.

B is the only MOC, if it's a Zombie head then it's not mint IMO.

People have lots of views on this but in my book the two items you described Tom should be listed as below, strictly speaking:

A - NMOMC
B - MONMC

Cheers,
Will

[clemso]

I walk away and wait for perfect figure and card.

Clem

[dumbldor]

Tom, I would also go with Card B. If the condition of card B slipped a little more, however, I would possibly go with Card A. A C8 card is still a nice card, and the Mint figure means a lot, so I would choose Card B in your example.

To extend the discussion a little bit, I would take a gray head or a broken joint on a rare card any day over nothing at all, but on a common card, the condition of the figure is critical.

[megoscott]

How about this one? Perfect card. Perfect figure. Chest emblem missing.

[Megospidey]

^^ I agree with the statement regarding a rare card.

[Sideshow Spock]

At shows, I prefer my collectors to have bathed within the last 48 hrs. Often the evidence indicates otherwise