So should I open up the boxes and risk damage, so I can remove the dead batteries before they corrode and fit new batteries? or leave them well alone.

What's your view on opening packaging? Do you think opening devalue's the item?

What about boxes that do not have 'viewing windows' in them? If you don't open them up and check the contents, how do you know some crafty devil has not carefully removed the contents and then resealed the box? You could be paying good money for a box full of rocks!

Your thoughts please.

 "What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that?"

 "I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal!" 

In answer to your first one, I would say that you'd be best off removing the batteries before they corrode, as I would be inclined to think corroded batteries may have a detrimental effect to the item.  If you slice the tape open and then tape over it once you're done, there shouldn't be any noticeable difference.

I think that your second question is the key one and is certainly something that I've thought about a lot.  At the end of the day, I think what it comes down to is why you collect and what you ultimately plan doing with your collection.  If it's never your intention to open your collection, does it really matter whether or not the contents are what they're supposed to be?  I know that sounds stupid, but I think it has parallels with Schrödinger's Cat; the ultimate question is, is what you bought in the (unopened) box or not?  The only way you're going to find out is to open it, but if you're intention is never to open the box, what does it matter, so why open it?

As for devaluing the item by opening it, my personal opinion is that the vast majority of items in my collection are worth far less than what I paid and whilst loose items are generally cheaper than the same item carded or boxed, when it comes down to it, there's probably not huge amounts in it.  I think that again, it also depends on what you plan to do with your collection; do you ever envisage selling it?  If the answer is yes, then maybe you should keep everything packaged.  After all, by doing it that way, you appeal to both carded and loose collectors alike, whereas if it's opened, then the carded collectors are not going to be interested.  If you don't ever want to get rid of your collection, then it probably boils down to a matter of preference.

For me, I'd like to one day have a room big enough to display my collection, albeit with the Hasbro range carded and boxed.  I have bought doubles of some figures and have a couple of vehicles and beasts that I bought off another collector opened and in an ideal world, I'd like to have 2 of everything to display, with the loose item in front of the carded/boxed version.  That's probably a pipe-dream, both to have a room big enough as well as having the money to buy another one of most of my collection, but it doesn't hurt to dream does it....

As for other bits of my collection, I'm looking forward to eventually being able to display my Gentle Giant, Master Replica and Kotobukiya collectables so that they can actually be seen, but again, that will have to wait for the time being.

I think I've said enough now, so I'll let somebody else have a go...

"People say football is a matter of life and death" , " I believe it is much more important than that"

"Spider Pig, Spider Pig, does whatever a Spider Pig does, Can he swing from a web? No he can't, he's a pig..."

My advice would always be to check the contents.

“(Obi-Wan) "That boy is our last hope." (Yoda) "No, there is another."”

"(Yoda) "Yamaro his name is.""

 "What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that?"

 "I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal!" 

Well done on getting the batteries out successfully.

What did you decide on the whole opening/not opening thing?

"People say football is a matter of life and death" , " I believe it is much more important than that"

"Spider Pig, Spider Pig, does whatever a Spider Pig does, Can he swing from a web? No he can't, he's a pig..."

I've been puzzling on this question for a long time. My view is that it is up to the individual collector to decide how he prefers to display his collection. Personally I like to keep everything sealed up, as I think the packaging is as important as the figure. For example I collect EP1 ,not only because I like the film, but because of the red/black packaging. I also prefer the 'standing pose' of the figures rather than the more modern 'action poses'. I sometimes buy items purely because how they are displayed, Cinema Scenes and Battlepacks for instance. These look great ,but if they were just a plain box full of the figures I wouldn't even consider buying them.

Keeping things boxed has also helped me in the past, as when I have got bored of certain items, they have been easier to sell. This in turn has helped me fund my hobby.

As for 'non window boxes', this puts me in a difficult position as I am unfortunately one of those people who worry about everything. Having a sealed box would bug me as I can't be sure the item is in there.But an opened box would bug me even more, just because it had been opened! So I guess I would leave the box sealed.

Having said all that, Its doesn't bother me if someone wants to open all their stuff and throw the packaging in the bin. 

Hope all that makes sense!

 "What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that?"

 "I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal!" 

         I am Jedi