Stickers.. Remove or Ignore?

I was wondering what other collectors do with cibs/carts they get with stickers/tape/cello/writing on them

- do you remove it at any cost
- do you remove it only if 100% sure to not damage the item
- do you ignore them and leave them be?

personally i'm a remover at 99% max, I only have 1 cib that i didn't remove the stickers off because i noticed they were so "grown" into the box that they would tear it apart.
Other than that i remove all stickers/residue/writing at any means possible and get away with it without harming the item 99.9% of the time

this however stops at a certain degree.. id be very tense trying to remove a sticker from a Rodland box just to say image

so what do you do?
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Comments

  • i'll remove any sticker I find on any of my games, sometimes they'll start to tear, so I start from the other side to try and minimize damage



    usually they aren't that bad though, but some stickers really weld themselves to the box
  • Any advice on getting the freaking things off? Especally the bad ones? How bout perminate marker from cart/label?
  • I removed all stickers on ones for my collection.



    For ones worth less than $3 that I'm flipping I don't bother and resell them in bulk lots



    For ones above that which I'll sell individually, I remove and clean the front and top because my pics are from a top-down perspective. I ignore everything else.

    BTW: I removed a Blockbuster rental sticker from the Flintstones 2 box I sold last year. I just practiced the technique on other boxes first so I didn't damage the big one.
  • If you lick your finger and rub off the outer paper portion, you can then work on the sticky residue. Alcohol swabs work great...I would make it a two step process so that the sticker can dry between steps.
  • I remove everything... I have removed every sticker i've come across thus far. Ink is a little tougher for me, I'll stop trying to remove it only when I notice the game is getting damaged. Took the gold off a Zelda game with "goo gone" once :/
  • I'll let you in on a little secret for removing permanent marker from a cart....



    TOOTHPASTE!!! I always use whitening toothpaste (it's what I have on hand in the house), but it works WONDERS! Even if it doesn't remove it 100% (although it very well may), it will make it so faint that it is almost invisible to the naked eye.



    As for stickers, I always use fingernails / goo-gone. Haven't come up with any better techniques yet.
  • For marker on carts i use plastic pollish, and for servere cases where theres paint or tar (yes i had tar on my carts)  very light sanding then polishing.

  • What about removing marker on shrinkwrap? I haven't tried goo gone yet but I've recently discovered the magic it has on sticker residue image
  • If there is a price tag, I'll leave it on. I like the nostalgia / historial reference. image
  • For marker on cart I use alcohol and a pencil eraser, for stickers on cart, I use lighter fuel. Both works very very well !
  • I love how everyone has different methods image. Interested in trying some.
  • I really want to use toothpaste, the method sound silly but i think it probably works great. And after, you have nice mint smelling carts image.
  • Originally posted by: Marton

    I really want to use toothpaste, the method sound silly but i think it probably works great. And after, you have nice mint smelling carts image.



    LOL you can literally advertize them on ebay as being *minty* image
  • Get new ones.image
  • Try a hair dryer for stickers on box, works well if the glue is not too strong.
  • Dry Erase marker will remove Permanent marker.

    Stickers/Security Stickers - Googone



    Never dealt with boxes much, but I would certainly try the hair dryer before anything else. If it's completely melded and become one with the box just leave it.
  • Originally posted by: jonebone

    I'll let you in on a little secret for removing permanent marker from a cart....

    TOOTHPASTE!!! I always use whitening toothpaste (it's what I have on hand in the house), but it works WONDERS! Even if it doesn't remove it 100% (although it very well may), it will make it so faint that it is almost invisible to the naked eye.

    Do you use any particular brand of toothpaste?

  • Well I would remove them all but I have huge problems getting them off cardboard boxes. The hair dryer method usually doesn't remove all of the glue. What's the best method to do it without any risk of damaging the print.
  • Originally posted by: GameboyRicky

    Originally posted by: jonebone

    I'll let you in on a little secret for removing permanent marker from a cart....

    TOOTHPASTE!!! I always use whitening toothpaste (it's what I have on hand in the house), but it works WONDERS! Even if it doesn't remove it 100% (although it very well may), it will make it so faint that it is almost invisible to the naked eye.

    Do you use any particular brand of toothpaste?



    Well I mean I always use Crest because it's what is in my house, lol.  Not sure if any particular brand would matter...
  • has anyone ever seriously messed up a game by trying to remove a sticker or something?
  • I messed a SMB/Duck Hunt once and a couple of back labels, but that's all.
  • Originally posted by: Xtincthed

    has anyone ever seriously messed up a game by trying to remove a sticker or something?



    Hell yes. Luckily, I was testing it on a junk cart though.   Don't ever confuse "Goo Gone" with "Goof Off".   The latter will literally liquify the plastic. 

    Also, if you use Mr Clean Magic Eraser, be sure to wet the surface otherwise you wear down the plastic.

    If you accidentally spill a cleaner like Goo Gone on the edge of the label, it will discolor it.

    Removing stickers from boxes and instructions is a real pain.  I dont usually even bother anymore.

    Al

  • instructions are the worst imho.. got two manuals with stickers and i'm not even daring to try
  • does anyone know how to get Goo Gone in Europe?
  • my brother ordered it somewhere when he got a kit to fix his Iphone
  • I have a long list of games that need work to remove stickers. I'm too lazy to ever begin doing it.
  • Goo Gone is amazing on stickers. Just bought some myself this week.
  • Originally posted by: blarky

    If there is a price tag, I'll leave it on. I like the nostalgia / historial reference. image


    I like to leave them on to for the same reason
  • I just send them to Buk Fity and for $1.50 per cart he cleans them to as good as they were when they were new...





    In all honesty, I haven't really bothered to do any sort of cleaning on any of my carts/boxes, I've been fortunate to have only run across stickers that are easily removable.
  • Remove! GooGone is my friend image
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