Here’s something you have to be super careful about if you are considering purchasing one of these vintage ALIEN toys in a box. They can appear on eBay mounted inside the box and fastened to the red insert support card. Frequently, such samples of the toy are also opened. Like this one currently for sale on eBay for US1999.99. We need to take a closer look at this item.One of the attractions here is the claim this figure is fastened to the insert card and being held in situ by zip ties. This can mean the figure has never been removed from its box and as such can considerably ramp up the value of the toy. What about figures that have been removed from their box and then fastened back in place with replacement zip ties, is the toy still valuable? Sure. But it also means the figure has been removed from the box and as such it is considerably reduced in value.

That’s the issue on display here. This figure is being held in place with replacement ratchet style zip ties rather than the original laddered variety that Kenner used to package the figure and is proof this sample has been removed from its box. The third image shows you what a figure that has never been removed from the box with the zip ties holding it in place look like. What’s this vintage ALIEN worth, then? Certainly not US2,000, that’s for sure. It’s still a good pick up at half that price but at two Grand, you can expect to purchase an undisturbed figure in original box that has never been opened at all; and we also know this figure has been outside of its box due the dust that has collected on it. Beware of sales like this one.

-Windebieste.