So I've been noticing as my Kaiju collection grows, that about 50% of the figures that I get through sales and trades have slight imperfections. For example, my Zag has a bit of paint rubbed off the top point of his head. My Pollard has a small chip of paint missing on the tip of his horn. The right ear of my Himalan has a small spot of paint rubbed off. One of the horns on my Ojo Rojo has a paint spot rubbed off.

I was just wondering what you guys think. Is this common? Or do I keep getting a little gipped when people don't mention these small spots before selling? Also, what do you think of trying to fix some of the spots? The spot on the top of my Zag seems like it could be fixed by someone with an airbrush and some white paint. Should I try to get it fixed?

The way I see it, if it's not bad, it adds character and age.
I was thinking to myself "What is all my collection going to look like in 20years?"
Clear yellow, paint scuffs, missing accessories maybe.

And then it reminded me: It's going to look like my toys from my childhood toybox.
I look forward to my toys getting some experience and roughing it up. Who knows what I'll have in my collection in that time, but for either the one, two or ten I have, they are going to look rad!

Though sometimes it can be nerve racking when you drop one off the shelf and it scraps some paint away. But hey, they are just toys... Some, at least.

Also thinking of doing a custom "Dusty Toy Box" line. Like give the releases a pre-scuffed, dried, dusty look so you won't have to worry about all of that. Kind of like a pair of jeans or shirt in a vintage wash. That way you meant to buy it worn and it's purposely scrapped and tattered. Vintage Washed Vinyl!

Horns, ears, noses, foreheads etc tend to be prone to paint rubs if they take a fall or bounce around in a box with other figures during shipping. Sometimes, they even ship from the toy company with a defect. The Neo Gorillas come to mind.

Personally, I would just let it go and not attempt to fix or repair them. Think of them as having more character like older vintage pieces. And eventually, 10-30 years from now, alot more figures out there will have some sort of marks. If you start collecting vintage, you'll be forced to accept rubs and markings, just a fact of life unless you are very wealthy and buy MIB.

Could be newer sellers overlook such wear when selling. If you want to avoid it, just ask to have the seller do one more lookover as you don't want to buy a figure with wear and ask that they pack it well. I've done this in the past with a couple new sellers or something with a significant price tag. This way, when it arrives with a surprise, you have some recourse.

My 2 cents...

I've got a problem with it if it affects the display value of the toy. of course there are some understandable problem areas like liquidsky was saying. If it's vintage, then OK--it was probably some kid's play thing so that's part of the magic. But the new stuff is geared toward collectors, so I generally expect it to be tip-top--and if it has a scratch or two, cool. just let me know so I can make an informed decision. Unless it's a one-off or something ridiculously rare or hard to come by, I can wait for a MIB one to come around for the same money (if it's really beat up or has a very noticeable nip in the paint).

I've often found toys with small defects even buying them new in shop.
so neurotic I correct a defect with airbrush and V color...
...I can not resist

Some come that way brand new. Sometimes it seems to be an oversight, sometimes after being shipped from Japan to the US (and sometimes from Japan to a US store to you, 3 times!) I don't even notice anymore unless it's HUGE.

When I first started collecting Secret Base figures most of the ones I got from board members had their problems. It honestly drove me crazy. I have since rotated most of them out, but it is true I do get some directly from Secret Base and other shops with flaws. They don't bother me as much if I get them from the shop, but that is how the board member could have gotten them and just passed them along.

I usually ask for quality prior to making any payments.

I have gotten more undisclosed paint rubs and chips off this board than any where else I have bought to be honest. Personally it would be really nice if mentioned in the sales thread or at least in the pm response before payment is made. Only once was the item described as mint only to arrive with several paint chips. I don't consider something mint even if the chips/rubs are from the factory. One was so bad that I can only think to strip it for a custom. I have more or less learned my lesson though and as others have said I will be asking about it before I purchase painted toys. I usually have not said anything because it was great price or it is hard to find regardless. In the end they usually only bother me for a minute and then I just enjoy the toy. After all, what are they for anyways?

To me it seems quite common for even mint in bag toys to have some small imperfection or another. Unless it is something that is distracting or in-your-face while viewing the toy I don't sweat small marks or scuffs. Despite the crazy prices we pay for them, they are just toys.

My philosophy is: If something bothers me (a paint rub or small chip), I put the toy on the shelf and live with it for a few days. Take it out and mess with it, take pics, etc. If the issue continued to bother me, I may consider finding a newer "clean" specimen. But that has never happened. I keep everything.

Fact is most toys, other than those I've seen painted at M1 (on youtube), don't have any type of clear to protect the paint. most of the time the matte paint, on shiny vinyl is the desired finish, and that can be their downfall. Even the cleanest figure painted with V-color can chip, or rub off... I've had MANY board members here have me fix imperfect toys. Its kinda fun to color match. But yeah, getting a new toy just to have a scratch kinda sucks imo... I like them perfect-ish, and shiny. I guess the main this to remember is that these toys are still painted like they were 40-50 years ago.. quick sprays just to highlight parts, and keep costs down... It can be charming to some... not me tho

I think it's actually worse to 'restore' paint damage. From a collecting standpoint, I would want a toy to have only original parts, paint, paperwork, etc.- even if this means accepting a couple scuffs. The thought that people might be having damaged toys repaired and later sold as 'mint' makes me cringe.

Getting new toys in bags with a paper insert makes me worry each time I open the bag.

Paper is very abrasive and there is a lot of chance there will be some paint rubs. For instance, a lot of my Rainbows have a paint scratch at the back because of the insert (recycled paper...).

I had to get used to it but I'd still rather have toys without imperfections.

this should definitely be disclosed to potential buyers all the way down the line.

Full disclosure for sure but I really doubt PK or LASH touching up one of their own pieces would devalue it. Antiques is one thing but when the creating artist can fix a paint chip that's another story in my book.

If the original artist is doing the repair that is a totally different story.

but what would be a problem(s) for artists/painters to use clear coat to protect the paint-job ?
It cant be because of the extra-costs, right ?
Does it give an unwanted gloss ?
A matter of extra-time for "painting" /drying ?
Is it difficult to clear-coat a toy so that it looks good ?
I dont get it why NOT every artist is doing this to protect the toy .....???
In NO way an offense( since im not a painter and so cannot participate in painters-conversations), just out of curiousity ...

They should clear-coat, there are different finishes, glossy and matte. With Monster Kolor, it's basically a necessity and a key step in the paint application.

I don't know if the Japanese factories, use v-color, I think it's another brand. But some of those colors, especially metallics do not bond well. Yeah, it's extra time, but well worth it in my opinion. I've also had some issues with Secret Base paint aps, and have even suspected some of the paints they use to be acrylic, which without a doubt should be clear coated.

I restored my toys.
I usually do not sell toys restored .... if I restore them I do it for my collection.
I have the colors that I buy in toysfactory, indistinguishable from the original(if able to use airbrush)
and retouching is never visible.
if the defect is too large I leave it.

I'm neurotic

An interesting topic, but it makes me wonder that if you are touching up your toys, you could potentially be devaluing them, especially the vintage pieces (huge cringe here!). This is the case with many items that go up for auction--i.e. if you polish off the patina from antique coins or revarnish furniture, the value of the item plummets. I have seen JYA auctions where toys were repaired, i.e. cracked Kanegon eye-stalk that was restored, but I would personally not buy something retouched or restored. Even a damaged toy that has been repaired by professional restorers, loses considerable value as confirmed in appraisals. I also wonder how secondary new paint ages in comparison alongside the original paint. As much of a clean-nik that I am, I'd much rather have a toy in original condition.

I don't mind imperfections, but I mind not being told about them (which indeed happens quite often here). Another argument for taking your own pictures and not using stock photos.

It's true that it gives them "character", though... One or two of mine have even got teeth marks from my kids biting into them, but I try and take close-ups of everything if that's the case.

I do not have high value of vintage toys.
if I bought toys like this probably would not put my hands on them.

Only a couple toys in my collection got small touch ups, and those are keepers.. otherwise I wouldn't bother

Most of the usual crowd I have dealt w/ on the BST are straight up w/ their descriptions on their posting. If it's somebody I don't know, I will ask the condition w/ my response. My only surprises have come from that auction site that's so popular with the kids these days.

I'd rather see an occasional vinyl drip or paint issue than KRap that has been popped out of machines by the thousand w/ terribly regulated pad printing. Of course it can be distracting on a transparent figure, but 99% of the time I can live with it knowing the process & attention that goes into these magical sofubi. Mebbe I'm just a hopeless romantic...

You're a hopeless romantic that I need to get my butt in gear and send a Dragamel to.