What to Check When Buying Used Figures: Unopened, Opened, Boxless, and Missing Parts

The Bottom Line: Used Figures Are Easy to Choose If You Check "Condition, Accessories, and Seller"

Used figures are a solid option once you know the key points.

The used market is especially helpful when hunting for already-released popular items, items whose pre-order you missed, items awaiting a reissue, or items whose new stock is already low.

Before buying a used figure, though, always check these three things:

• 1. The condition of the figure itself
• 2. The presence of accessories and the base
• 3. The trustworthiness of the seller

Choosing on price alone, without looking at these three, makes regret after delivery more likely.

With used figures, value changes greatly with condition even for the same item. Unopened, opened mint, boxless, missing parts, or outer-box damage all lead to completely different satisfaction after purchase.

It's important to choose not just by whether it's cheap, but by thinking about "what condition I can accept."

What Is a Used Figure? The Difference from New

A used figure is one that has passed through someone's hands once.

Not only opened items but also items kept unopened can be treated as used once they've been in circulation.

The difference between new and used isn't simply "whether it was opened."

New Figures

New figures are basically unused items — new items sold directly from a shop, or unused items after maker shipment. That said, even new items can have light scuffs or dents on the outer box.

Used Figures

Used figures are items that have passed through a buyer's or shop's hands once. Some are unopened, while others are opened, boxless, missing accessories, display items, or "as-is" items. When viewing a used figure, it's important not to judge by the word "used" alone, but to check the specific condition.

Are Used Figures OK to Buy?

Used figures are well worth buying if you check the condition before choosing.

Used figures are a strong option especially in cases like:

• You're hunting for a figure whose pre-order you missed
• You're looking for an item with no reissue planned
• You want an already-released older item
• You want to keep the price below new
• You value the figure's condition over the box
• You're buying to open and display

On the other hand, these people should choose carefully:

• You want even the outer box in perfect condition
• Missing accessories are an absolute no
• You collect only unopened items
• You mind the smell or storage condition of used items
• You're anxious about buying items with few condition notes

With used figures, satisfaction varies greatly with how you choose. Rather than thinking "used is worrying," it's important to know where to check so you can buy with confidence.

The Difference Between Unopened, Opened, Boxless, and Missing Parts

The first thing to understand when hunting for used figures is the condition labels.

Especially important are the differences between unopened, opened, boxless, and missing parts. These differ greatly in price and in what you need to check.

What Is "Unopened"? A Used Item That Hasn't Been Opened

Unopened means the outer box, inner bag, and blister haven't been opened.

In the used market, there are items that are "used but unopened." Even if it's passed through someone's hands once, if the box hasn't been opened it can be sold as unopened.

The benefit of an unopened item is the high likelihood that the figure itself hasn't been touched.

However, unopened doesn't mean completely safe. Points to check:

• Any scuffs or dents on the outer box?
• Is the tape deteriorated?
• Any fading on the outer box?
• Is it a long-stored item?
• Is there a risk that the contents can't be verified?

Since you can't directly inspect the contents of an unopened item, depending on storage, deterioration or part problems may turn up after opening. Unopened is appealing, but it's safer not to think "unopened = perfectly mint."

What Is "Opened"? A Used Item Whose Contents Are Easy to Check

Opened means the outer box or blister has been opened.

Many used figures in circulation are opened.

The benefit of opened items is that the shop or seller can easily check the condition of the contents. With thorough photos, you can more easily check the figure's scratches, accessories, base, and outer-box condition.

On the other hand, opened items come with cautions:

• The figure may have scratches or stains
• The base may have scuffs
• Accessories may be missing
• There may be no blister
• There may be assembly or support marks
• It may have been displayed for a long time

When buying opened items, check the photos and description carefully. The presence of accessories is especially important for articulated figures and items with many swap parts.

What Is "Boxless"? Cheap, but with Many Cautions

Boxless is a used figure with no outer box.

Boxless items can be cheaper than boxed ones. Some people feel boxless is plenty if the figure is in good condition and they intend to display it right away.

However, boxless has its cautions:

• Prone to scratches during storage and transit
• Accessory management may be unclear
• No blister means a risk of damage
• There may be no instructions
• Resale value tends to drop
• Collectibility tends to be lower

When buying a boxless figure, whether it's packed carefully is also important. Figures with delicate hair parts, weapons, effects, or base protrusions can be prone to damage in transit. With boxless items, it gives peace of mind to confirm the figure photos and packing method.

What Is "Missing Parts"? Some Accessories Are Absent

Missing parts means some of the parts or accessories that originally came with the item are absent.

Common missing items on figures:

• Base
• Support
• Swap face plates
• Swap hands
• Weapon parts
• Effect parts
• Swap parts
• Instructions
• Bonus parts
• Background sheet
• Blister
• Outer box

Missing parts can affect how you display the figure. Without the base or support in particular, you may not be able to display it stably. For articulated figures, missing swap parts greatly reduce the fun. Missing-part items can be cheap, but always check what exactly is missing.

The Condition of the Figure Itself, Which You Want to Check

When buying a used figure, the most important thing is the condition of the figure itself.

The outer box and price matter too, but for display purposes the figure's condition greatly determines satisfaction.

Points to check:

• Any scratches or stains on the face?
• Any breaks or chips in the hair parts?
• Any paint chipping on the outfit?
• Any color transfer on the skin areas?
• Is the connection to the base loose?
• Any part damage?
• Any damage to the support holes?
• Any paint stickiness?
• Any dust or dirt clinging on?

The face, hair, hands, feet, and thin decorative parts are especially worth checking. With items that have few photos, scratches and stains can be hard to see. If you're concerned, it's reassuring to see whether you can get extra photos before buying.

The Face and Expression Are the Most Important Points

The most prominent part of a figure is the face.

With used figures, check for scratches, stains, paint misalignment, and color transfer on the face. The area around the eyes, mouth, cheeks, and bangs especially affects the impression.

Points to check:

• Is the eye printing clean?
• Any black spots or stains on the face?
• Is the face hidden by the bangs?
• Are the face plates complete?
• Any color transfer on the face parts?

For items with multiple face plates, like Nendoroids and articulated figures, also check whether all the face plates are present.

Hair, Weapons, and Thin Parts Are Easily Damaged

Among a figure's parts, the hair, ribbons, weapons, wings, effects, and thin decorative parts are easily damaged.

On used items, there can be small chips or breaks that are hard to see at a glance.

Points to check:

• Are the tips of the hair broken?
• Are the weapon parts bent?
• Are ribbons or decorations chipped?
• Any cracks in the effect parts?
• Any breaks in the connection points?
• Any glue marks?

Figures with many thin parts also risk damage in transit if bought boxless or without a blister.

Check the Base, Support, and Connection Points

For displaying a figure, the base and support are very important.

With no base, a broken support, or a loose connection, you may not be able to display it stably.

Points to check:

• Does it come with a base?
• Is there a support?
• Is the support unbroken?
• Any damage to the connection holes on the soles?
• Any scuffs or scratches on the base?
• Does the figure stand on its own?

For one-legged poses, floating poses, and items with effects in particular, the base and support can be essential. With used figures, always check whether the base is present.

How to Read Outer-Box Scuffs, Dents, and Fading

With used figures, not just the figure but the outer box's condition matters.

The outer box relates to collectibility and ease of storage. If you want to keep the box clean too, always check its condition.

Common outer-box damage:

• Surface scuffs
• Crushed corners
• Dents
• Tears
• Tape marks
• Fading
• Discoloration
• Price-tag marks
• Sticker marks
• Box warping

Items with outer-box damage can be cheaper. It may be no problem if you only display the figure, but it's a concern for people who want to keep the box too.

Cases Where It's Fine to Buy Even with a Damaged Box

Even with a damaged outer box, it's a solid option if your goal is the figure itself.

Cases where it's fine to buy:

• The figure is in good condition
• All accessories are present
• You can accept the box as storage-only
• The price matches the condition
• There are photos of the outer-box damage
• You've checked the return terms

For people who don't mind box scuffs or dents, items with outer-box damage can be a good deal. However, if the box damage is large, check whether the blister or contents are affected too.

Watch for Stickiness, Color Transfer, and Odor

Easy to overlook with used figures are stickiness, color transfer, and odor.

These are hard to tell from photos, so you need to read the description carefully.

Stickiness

Depending on long storage or environment, stickiness can appear on the figure's surface. Older figures and items stored long-term in a sealed box especially warrant caution.

Color Transfer

Dark outfit colors, hair, the base, or separate parts can transfer color onto the skin or other parts. White skin parts and bright outfits show color transfer most easily.

Odor

Used figures can carry cigarette smell, perfume, storage odor, or a damp smell. Odor can't be checked in photos, so see whether the description mentions it, or check the seller's condition grade and notes.

Watch for Missing Accessories, Base, and Swap Parts

A particularly common issue with used figures is missing accessories.

Even if it looks clean, missing parts can lower satisfaction with the item.

Nendoroids

Nendoroids have many face plates, hand and foot parts, small items, base, and support. Missing parts greatly reduce posing freedom.

figma and Articulated Figures

For articulated figures like figmas, the hand parts, face plates, weapons, and stand are important. With many small parts, checking for missing pieces is essential.

Scale Figures

For scale figures, check the base, support, effects, instructions, and bonus parts. Large parts stand out, but small parts are easily overlooked.

Prize Figures

Prize figures often have few accessories, but some items need a base or support part. If boxless, check whether the base is included.

The Difference Between Used Shops and Private Listings

Places to buy used figures include used shops, online stores, flea-market apps, and auctions. Each has different characteristics.

Buying at Used Shops: Benefits and Cautions

The benefit of buying at a used shop is the presence of condition grades and inspection.

Many used shops list the item's condition, outer-box scratches, missing parts, and opened status.

Benefits:

• There are condition grades
• Items are often inspected
• Return terms are often clearly stated
• Inventory management is relatively stable
• The seller is clear

Cautions:

• Condition-grade standards differ by shop
• There may be few photos
• Details of outer-box damage can be hard to tell
• Popular items can be priced higher

Even when buying at a used shop, always check the condition notes and return terms.

Cautions When Buying on Flea-Market Apps and Private Listings

On flea-market apps and private listings, you can find hidden gems.

However, condition notes and packing quality vary by seller.

Points to check:

• Are the photos of the actual item?
• Are there photos from multiple angles?
• Are there photos of the figure, outer box, and accessories?
• Is the presence of missing parts clearly stated?
• Is the storage environment written?
• Is there a note about smoking or pet environments?
• Is the packing method careful?
• Is there no problem with the seller's rating?
• What's the return handling?

On flea-market apps, descriptions can be sparse. If anything concerns you, ask before buying.

Watch for Items Far Cheaper Than Market

When hunting for used figures, you'll find items far below market.

Not all cheap items are bad, but it's important to check the reason for the low price.

Possible reasons for a low price:

• Boxless
• Opened
• Missing accessories
• Figure has scratches
• Outer-box damage
• Fading
• Stickiness
• Odor
• Repair marks
• Possible knockoff
• High shipping cost

If a popular figure in particular is extremely below market, check not just the condition but also whether it's genuine. Don't judge by price alone — decide by looking at the condition, the seller, and the total including shipping.

Watch for Fakes and Knockoffs Too

For popular figures, fakes and knockoffs can circulate.

Caution is especially needed when buying on the used market or flea-market apps.

Points to check:

• Is the price not extremely below market?
• Is there a package image?
• Are the product images of the actual item?
• Is the seller's rating sufficient?
• Is the description not unnatural?
• Is there a genuine-product marking?
• Can you verify the maker name and JAN code?
• Are the photos not only official images?

Knockoffs can be hard to judge from photos alone. If unsure, buying from a trustworthy used shop or a seller with a track record is recommended.

Points to Check in the Photos

When buying a used figure online, photos are very important.

Photos to check:

• Front of the figure
• Side view
• Back
• Close-up of the face
• Close-up of the hair and thin parts
• Base
• Accessory list
• Front of the outer box
• Corners of the outer box
• Bottom of the box
• Tape area of the box
• Spots with scratches or stains

Items with few photos make the condition hard to tell. For expensive items or items whose condition concerns you, it's safer to choose ones with multiple photos.

Words to Watch for in the Description

In used-figure descriptions, watch for words like:

• Unopened
• Opened
• Boxless
• No blister
• Accessories complete
• Some parts missing
• Base missing
• Outer box has scratches
• Figure has scratches
• Color transfer present
• Stickiness present
• Fading present
• Smoking environment
• Pet environment
• As-is item
• Junk item
• What you see in the photo is everything

Be especially careful when it says "as-is," "junk," or "what you see in the photo is everything." As-is and junk items can be hard to return or exchange. Even if cheap, buy only after you're satisfied with the condition.

Check the Return and Exchange Terms

Before buying a used figure, check the return and exchange terms too.

Points to look at:

• Can you return it?
• The return-eligible period
• Handling of initial defects
• Handling of in-transit damage
• Whether used items can be returned
• Treatment of outer-box scratches
• Handling if parts are missing
• Whether buyer's-convenience returns are allowed

Used items differ in condition item by item. Even if you feel "there were more scratches than I expected," you may not be able to return it if it was noted in the description. Before buying, check the condition notes and return terms together.

Pre-Purchase Checklist for Used Figures

• Is the product name the official name?
• Is it the character/version you want?
• Is it unopened or opened?
• Boxed or boxless?
• Is there a blister?
• Are all accessories present?
• Is there a base and support?
• Any scratches or stains on the figure?
• Any damage to the face or hair?
• Any color transfer?
• Any stickiness?
• Any note about odor?
• Any scuffs, dents, or fading on the outer box?
• Are the photos of the actual item?
• Are there photos from multiple angles?
• Is there no problem with the seller's rating?
• Is the price reasonable versus market?
• Did you check the total including shipping?
• Is there no fake/knockoff risk?
• Did you check the return and exchange terms?

Using this checklist reduces the chance of buying the wrong used figure.

By Goal: Which Condition Should You Choose?

For Collecting, Choose Unopened / Boxed

People who want to treasure the box too should choose unopened items or boxed mint items. Check the outer box for scuffs and dents as well.

For Display, Opened Mint Is Also an Option

If you'll display right away, opened mint items are also a solid option. With a clean figure and complete accessories, satisfaction is high.

If You Just Want It Cheap, Boxless Works Too

Boxless items can be cheaper. However, always check the base, accessories, and packing condition.

For Parts or Repair, Missing-Part Items Are an Option

Missing-part and "as-is" items can work for parts harvesting or repair. However, they're hard to recommend for beginners.

Common Mistakes with Used Figures

I Thought "Unopened = Mint"

Even unopened, the outer box can have scratches or fading. There's also the risk that the contents can't be verified.

It Was Opened and Accessories Were Missing

Missing base, support, or swap parts affects how you display it.

I Bought Boxless Cheap, but the Packing Was Poor

Boxless figures can be prone to damage in transit. The packing method matters too.

There Was Color Transfer I Didn't Notice in the Photos

Color transfer and stickiness can be hard to see in photos. Check the description too.

I Bought It Below Market and the Condition Was Bad

Cheap items often have a reason. Always check the condition notes.

FAQ

Are used figures OK to buy?

If you check the condition before choosing, used figures are a solid option. They're especially handy when hunting for pre-order-closed or older items. Just check the figure's condition, accessories, outer box, and seller.

Is an unopened used figure the same as new?

Not necessarily. Even unopened, it's an item that has passed through someone's hands once, and the outer box may have scuffs, dents, or fading.

Should I avoid opened figures?

If the figure is in good condition and the accessories are complete, opened can be no problem. For display, opened mint items are an option.

Is it OK to buy a boxless figure?

For display, if the figure and accessories are in fine condition, it's an option. Just watch the risk of damage in transit and the difficulty of storage.

Should I avoid missing-part figures?

It depends on what's missing. Without the base or support, you may not be able to display it. If only swap parts are missing, it may be no problem depending on how you display it.

What's the single most important thing with used figures?

The figure's condition, the presence of accessories, and the seller's trustworthiness. Check carefully especially with items that have few photos or vague descriptions.

What should I watch when buying used figures on flea-market apps?

Check the photos of the actual item, accessories, outer-box condition, smoking/pet environment, packing method, and seller rating. If anything is unclear, it's best to ask before buying.

Summary: Read the Condition and You Can Avoid Mistakes with Used Figures

Used figures are a handy option when hunting for items whose pre-order you missed or older popular figures.

Even items you can't find new can be found used. You can sometimes buy at a lower price, and the used market is very helpful for building a collection.

That said, condition checking is important for used figures.

Points to check especially:

• Unopened or opened?
• Boxed or boxless?
• Are the accessories complete?
• Is there a base and support?
• Any scratches or color transfer on the figure?
• Any stickiness or odor?
• Any scuffs, dents, or fading on the outer box?
• Is the seller trustworthy?
• Is the price in line with market?
• Did you check the return and exchange terms?

Used figures are items where choosing on cheapness alone leads to mistakes easily. On the other hand, if you know how to read the condition, it's easier to choose items you'll be satisfied with.

If you're hunting for an older item of your favorite character, looking for a figure whose pre-order you missed, or unsure whether to wait for a reissue, give used figures a place on your list too. If you carefully check the figure, outer box, accessories, and seller before buying, you can enjoy used figures with confidence.

Related Guides

• How to Efficiently Find Figures of Your Favorite Character
• Can You Still Buy a Figure You Missed Pre-ordering?
• A Checklist to Avoid Mistakes When Buying Figures Online
• What to Check Before Buying Pre-order Items
• What Are Sales Units?

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