We're sorry, but we could not fulfill your request for /2016/12/15/review-71017-lego-minifigures-the-lego-batman-movie-series/ on this server. An invalid request was received from your browser. This may be caused by a malfunctioning proxy server or browser privacy software. Your technical support key is: 36b3-62f6-1756-6707 You can use this key to fix this problem yourself. and be sure to provide the technical support key shown above.NEXO Shield Power of LanceCheat the game by altering the rules. Use this as the first power for the LEGO Nexo Power Mixer! Scan the following QR-Code to get instant access to level 5. Timezones are detected automatically. If the timezonedetection doesn't seem to work, please choose: LEGO® NEXO KNIGHTS™ MERLOK 2.0Blind box toys are small figurines wrapped inside uniform packaging to keep their identities secret until they are opened. These little toys are often pop culture characters borrowed from television, comics, movies, and more–and they’re terribly addictive once you start collecting them.
They’re also known as “mystery minis”, toy manufacturer FunKo’s trademarked brand of blind boxes. Sets often vary in size, from 8 unique characters to over 25. Common and rare characters keep collectors guessing just which they will find. And it’s not cheap to catch them all: each toy averages $8 per item, and diligently collecting a full set could be as little as $100 (if you’re lucky) – but get ready to spend a grip of cash if you hope to collect a full set. Want to learn more? Here’s a rundown of the history and economics of . Now that you’re caught up on the magic and science of these little creatures, let’s talk about how to snag what you want without busting your budget or breaking the rules. Retailers and toy companies hope you will rely on chance to find the mystery mini your heart is set on. But with a little ingenuity and cleverness, you just might find the toy you’re looking for on the first try. Below are some ways you can increase your luck when buying blind boxes.
Disclaimer: the success of these methods is not guaranteed. Use at your own discretion, and respect retailers’ rules if they have specifically requested you do not engage in any of the tactics below. And remember that half the fun is the mystery of the find. Only try these if you’re deadly intent on locating specific characters. Now on to the good stuff! This is the closest you’ll get to seeing inside the box without visiting an x-ray machine (though you might look a little dorky doing it). Be warned: the method is controversial among blind box toy collectors, and weighing blind boxes is rife with caveats such as requiring access to the box before buying it. That means no online purchases where a retailer selects the box for you. If you do choose to buy online, you can try returning the box after it arrived on your doorstep. Note that many retailers have special restrictions with blind box purchases that prevent returns, even if the packaging is intact. Your luck is improved if you can handle the boxes before purchase.
Carry an electronic pocket scale into your friendly local geek boutique selling blind boxes. Book stores, comic shops, novelty shops, and game stores will often carry them. You can purchase a sensitive scale that measures to a high degree of accuracy for less than $10 on Amazon. I highly recommend that you also buy a calibration weight for additional accuracy. Weighing blind boxes is controversial in collector communities: many have claimed that it does not work. For example, the smallest bit of extra paint or additional plastic wrapping can throw off the weight. Common sense and good judgment can combat the risk of measurable differences. Get a feel for what might throw off the weight: paint, extra packaging, duplicate character shapes, and more. Be shrewd and search out dramatic weight differences to minimize risk of duplicates. For example, if one box weighs 5 grams less than your current character and another weighs 22 grams more, take the box with the greatest difference – in this case, the one that weighs more.
My Game of Thrones Arya figurine (pictured above) weighed a full 25% lighter than the next-heavier character in my Game of Thrones collection. It was a sure bet when I selected her box that I was going to get a new character. You will have a higher rate of success if the character set comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, this Living Dead Dolls collection has uniquely-shaped characters that are sure to be very different in weight. Weighing is not foolproof. Some sets have color variants of the same doll, such as the Living Dead Dolls above, making it nearly impossible to pick two styles of the same character. And weighing blind boxes is useless when the entire set is stamped from the same mold, such as the . Most blind box toy manufacturers emphasize in their marketing that there are NO codes that give away what is inside. Some still have hidden codes that help the manufacturer track inventory of specific characters. There are rumors of specific series containing codes, such as , , and .
They could come in the form of a three-digit combination of letters and numbers, or simply the last two numbers in the barcode. The Bricks & Bloks blog has to get you started. Some collectors complain that using codes to locate characters give them an unfair advantage over the serendipitous enthusiast. Snatching up all the rare toys the first time around leaves the duplicates for unsuspecting fans. Also, some code hunters have left chaos in their wake by damaging boxes to locate codes: be courteous of the retailer and others who are interested.Driven collectors might want to consider buying unopened cases at a discount and reselling duplicates. Many online retailers sell unopened cases of blind box toys at a discount. For example, you would save roughly 15% – 25% per figurine if you purchased the Game of Thrones Mystery Minis case of 24 boxes. But, still – buying a case will only get you a teeny bit closer to a full set and at a high price tag. A 1-in-144 chance of obtaining an ultra rare figurine means you would need to buy six blind box cases before you might find one.
(And to compare, buying one of the ultra-rare figurines on the second-hand market will run you $100 alone. It’s expensive any way you shake it.) Offset astronomical costs by reselling boxes on eBay, Craigslist, and more. Consider combining the weighing methodology with this case-purchase tactic to improve your chances of making your money back. Unopened boxes are more likely to fetch a higher price ($6 – $8) than common revealed characters ($2 – $5). A great reason to purchase a full case: some manufacturers will intentionally put one complete set of blind box toys in one case. creator David Horvath puts one of every doll in each case to give collectors a fair shake: “Mixing up blind assortments with ratios to make something harder to find doesn’t feel right to us. If you really want a full set, you should be able to walk in, ask for a sealed box, and presto, have them all. We also feel that getting repeats is lame. So we placed one of each guy in one box.” The least exciting but most practical option of getting the blind box toy you want: simply buy or exchange the character.
Blind box toys are rife with duplicates. Depending on the series, it’s not uncommon to have 3-6 duplicates of the same toy before you score a rare. Some retailers will allow open exchanges: a clear case might be placed in the store containing one or two characters from a series at a time. They will allow you to exchange your figure for one in the case. The good news is that you know exactly what you’re getting. The bad news is that you’re likely going to be exchanging a very common character for another very common character. This strategy is not recommended for collectors looking for rares only. A winning strategy without blowing your budget is to join a community for your blind box series and trade with other collectors. Check fan forums hosted by the manufacturer to see where you can trade at in-person meetups or even by mail. Rares may still be difficult to acquire using this method, but keep your eyes open for avid collectors with duplicate rares. Be ready to bring more to the table than just your duplicates – perhaps a blind box from another series could entice them to give up a sought-after collectible.