Repunz, Wow on Snow White. It looks like a totally different doll! I've been passing her up on Ebay, but after seeing your photo, she's on
the list.
rabbitunderground I also have the singing 17" Elsa (one boxed and one deboxed) and I actually somewhat regret the boxed one. She has a battery in her that I can't take out, so even though it has that little plastic thingy in, I worry that the battery may not stand the test of time. At least with your deboxed one you can easily take out the battery if you store her, and not worry. Plus, only deboxed can she startle you with bursting into song every time a breeze blows by her...or is that just mine? lol!
I have one of the singing Elsa's boxed as well. She had the pull tab in her when I got her, but I couldn't resist pulling it, much to my regret. I have to hide her in a closet facing the wall. I'd like to get another one, that hasn't had the tab pulled, to customize the one with the pulled tab to resemble the SQ Elsa that I will never be able to afford. I worry a bit about the battery too.
I've kind of avoided this thread because I actually torment myself over deboxing, and knew I'd have a long winded reply. I haven't yet deboxed any of my LE dolls yet. I have one I'm currently debating with myself about deboxing. I have an Aurora with a damaged box. It was disclosed on the auction that there were creases on the box, but I didn't realize the plastic cover was also damaged. It makes looking at it unpleasant at certain angles because of the way the light hits it. I came across another one at an even better price, so got it too. It's perfect. So, now I want to debox the bent one, but can't bring myself to do it yet. I keep thinking I could sell her in a year or so for a good price, even with the damaged box and use the money to buy another doll I don't have. That seems the smart thing to do, however, I don't think I can resist deboxing her. I also keep noticing how much detail there is on the bottom of the skirt that doesn't show through the box. I kinda also want to twirl her skirt around.
The funny thing is, the Disney LE dolls do seem to hold their value fairly well even deboxed. I've been surprised at what some have gone for on Ebay lately. That's not true of most dolls. So, I don't know why I have such a hard time with this.
I have a really hard time deboxing my dolls. Mostly because I'm worried they'll get ruined if I take them out, and I started collecting at a time you absolutely didn't do that (Ebay has changed everything in the doll collecting world). I've had quite a few since I was a teenager and I know they'd look horrible if I'd deboxed them years ago from moving and everything else that goes on in life. Yet, I have seen some dolls damaged by their boxes because of the acid in the paper. It yellows all the packaging as well as the doll. I don't see that happening with the Disney dolls, but still, sometimes it's better to take them out.
Basically, I debox if I'll get more enjoyment out the doll that way, regardless of the cost of the doll. My Disney LE stay in their boxes to keep them nice. I think Disney does an outstanding job making them display nicely in box. I really wish more doll makers would do the same. I have Barbies, what I call the gateway doll, that I won't remove from box as they are well displayed in box and there isn't much to be gained from deboxing beyond some added space. I just don't think they look good out of box. They quickly get disheveled and you can't really pose them. The dolls aren't actually worth much today, but they are to me as many were gifts, and others just make me happy. I know a lot my other types of dolls won't retain value as they are fads and will be forgotten, so if I keep a doll boxed it is mostly to try to keep them nice for myself.
I debox my Tonner dolls because they are in solid cardboard boxes and I can get no enjoyment out of them like that.Many of them pose well too, and I have so much fun changing them around. I have a ton of Pullip dolls that pose even better. Some are deboxed, but most aren't. They seem to sell well even deboxed, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have a few doubles of my favorites, but kick myself over it when there's a new one I can't afford, or I think I don't have enough room to do that. Some dolls I bought with damaged boxes or used so I could debox with a clear conscience. My problem with deboxing Pullip, is that I actually like their boxes, but can't justify keeping the empty boxes. Also, I still wasn't into deboxing when I first started collecting them. More will end up deboxed, however, there a couple of LE that I absolutely won't debox. I hope to find them used on Ebay at reasonable prices to have to display.
I also have some mass produced cheaper dolls, like MH, EAH and the cheaper Disney dolls. I don't debox if I like the packaging and I like to keep them nice. I do buy more doubles on those as I feel freer to customize them than I do my more expensive dolls, but still like them as they come from the manufacturer. As my collection grows, deboxing seems more a necessity. It's still hard to do. Mostly because I want to keep them nice. I try not to think about the money, but it's hard not to do so when some skyrocket in value. Still, they may go up now, but if people forget about them, they will go back down. I'm often surprised to see dolls I coveted years ago selling for next to nothing. The Holiday Barbies are a good example if any of you are old enough to remember them in their prime. I can't see that happening the Disney dolls as Disney is a childhood favorite for most people and they are good at protecting their image.
Your pics look great btw.
