Clear cases that keep window boxes crisp.
Typical price
£10 to £16
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £10 to £16
- Works with
Collectors pay for the box as much as the figure. A protector guards the corners and the window against crushing and scuffs, in storage and in the post.
Our approved alternative for the same job: Bubble wrap, 500 mm x 100 m
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Boxed vinyl figure sellers
Protectors suit you if you sell boxed vinyl figures, such as standard 4 inch window-box figures, on eBay, Vinted or Whatnot toy shows. Collectors grade the box as hard as the figure, and a crushed corner can take a good chunk off the price.
A 20 pack covers a small collection or a month of steady sales. At dozens of boxed figures a week, buy in larger lots and protect stock the day it arrives instead of the day it sells.
Matching 4, 6 and 10 inch boxes
Each protector fits one box size. The common ones fit the standard 4 inch window box; larger 6 inch, 10 inch and deluxe boxes need their own size, so measure the box and compare it with the inner size in the listing.
Choose clear PET plastic with a fold-in or tuck lid at both ends, and a protective film you peel off before use. Thicker plastic, often listed at around 0.5 mm, resists dents better than flimsy thin sheet.
Protectors should arrive flat. Flat packs ship for less, and you fold each one round the box, which takes about a minute the first few times.
Folding one on and posting it
Fold the protector along its scored lines, slide the box in from the end and close both tuck flaps. Keep the window facing the front so you can photograph the figure without taking it out.
To post, wrap the protected box in bubble wrap or honeycomb paper and place it in a double-wall box with a few centimetres of padding on every side. The protector stops scuffs; the outer box and padding stop crush damage.
Kit for this step
Bubble wrap, tubs and double-wall boxes
Bubble wrap, 500 mm x 100 m, is the fallback. It cushions the post but does nothing for scuffs and corner wear in storage, and tape on bubble wrap can lift the box print if it touches it.
Clear stackable 32 L tubs, 4 pack, hold loose or unboxed figures well. Put out-of-box stock in tubs and anything sold as mint in box in protectors.
Double-wall boxes, 18 x 12 x 8 in, 15 pack, are the outer layer for a multi-figure order; with a protector on each, the boxes inside stop rubbing against each other.
Cost per figure
At £10 to £16 for 20, each protector costs roughly 50p to 80p. On a figure that sells for £15 or more, one avoided partial refund for a dented box covers it.
You can reuse protectors. Keep them on your display stock and send them on in the post, or include the protector in the sale and show it in the listing photos.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Measure the box and match it to the protector's inner size; a loose fit lets the box slide and scuff inside.
- A protective film left on turns the case cloudy in photos. Peel it before you fold.
- Tape stuck straight onto the window box can tear the print, so tape the protector or the outer wrapping instead.
- In a mailing bag, a protected box still crushes. Post it in a box with padding all round.
- Fold along the marked lines; folding against the scores weakens the corners.
Setups that use it
Complete kits this product is part of.
Guides that use it
Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Do these fit 6 inch or 10 inch figure boxes?
Standard packs fit 4 inch window boxes. Larger boxes need protectors made for that size, so check the inner dimensions.
Are box protectors UV resistant?
Some are sold with UV protection, many are not. If your shelf gets sun, choose a UV-rated protector or move the shelf.
Do I need a protector if I post in a box?
The outer box stops crushing. The protector guards against the scuffs and corner wear that build up in your storage and in transit.
Can I sell the figure with the protector on?
Yes. Say so in the listing: collectors of boxed figures like them to arrive already protected.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Grip seal bags, 100 × 150 mm, 100 pack
A coiled charger, a set of earrings or a bag of spare game pieces fits a 100 × 150 mm grip seal bag, and you can write the stock code on the white panel. Pick a larger size if you bag laptop power bricks or whole controllers.
Typical price£4 to £8
See on AmazonAcid-free tissue paper, 100 sheets
A sheet of tissue costs pennies and changes how a £15 vintage shirt feels on arrival. Buyers mention it in reviews.
Typical price£7 to £11
See on AmazonCoin capsules, assorted sizes, 100 pack
A fingerprint on a coin's surface can knock its value. Capsules show both faces on your stream and protect the coin in the post.
Typical price£8 to £14
See on AmazonBubble wrap, 500 mm x 100 m
A long roll costs several times less per metre than the small packs sold in shops.
Typical price£10 to £15
See on Amazon