A sealed one is still somewhat of a guarantee that the codes aren't used. Since most of the people who are buying the old CEs is doing it for the codes the value will drop significantly if they codes are useless. Some want to just put them on a shelf, but the value is still in the codes.
Compare it to an NES. You can buy them for somewhere between $100-$200 or something like that. I don't really know. But if you buy one that can't play games it is vastly cheaper and possibly even impossible to sell because it's useless.
In 30 years the game will almost certainly be turned off and at that point they are worthless. As for the pets do you think each one is worth 200 dollars? If so you have answered your question about what to do. I personally would sell them but none of that stuff holds any value to me.
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I never asked what I should do. I was asking what others would do. I also wouldn't say they'd be worthless. It'll always be a collectible item, whether or not WoW is still a game thats playable.
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Why I came here is in the OP.
I have all the Collector's Editions sealed except Vanilla, BC, and WOTLK. Don't have Vanilla because I didn't start WoW from day 1. BC I opened because I needed the disc to play the game and WOTLK I could never find a CE.
As of now, they're a collectable item. As of the day this game is switched off, it's a collectable paper weight. If you need cash, I'd sell them; if not, keep it. But don't think you'll get more for it once the game is switched off, because as many others have said, the digital codes are where the money lies. People just flat out won't pay as much for a pretty cardboard box as they would when the contents of that cardboard box had some pretty pixel utility.
I think you should keep them sealed. When the game dies, they would be of great value for collectors. Also, there is a huge chance they all would be released to buy digitally on the final expansion, like the Starcraft 2 digital content.
FOMO: "Fear Of Missing Out", also commonly known as people with a mental issue of managing time and activities, many expecting others to fit into their schedule so they don't miss out on things to come. If FOMO becomes a problem for you, do seek help, it can be a very unhealthy lifestyle..
Open them.
Tough choice. On one hand, I'd definitely want to sell them because need of money, but on the other hand, I'd probably end up keeping them (i.e opening them and adding to upgrade my acc) it's ofc every dedicated players dream to have all the C.Es.
I sadly only have CATA, MOP and LEG. I regret so much not buying the other CEs back in the day.
sealed doesnt mean it hasnt been open before.
you can reseal this in any store XD
sell that sht for big dollars
I would go ahead and open the MoP one. Given that there was a Deluxe edition for MoP that was available for a few years, its value is extremely low.
The TBC, WotLK, and Cata ones, however, are worth a good amount. Ask yourself this - Do you really, REALLY want to pass up $1k or MORE, just for 3 pets and some FoS? Note that the pets aren't even decent ones for pet battling, and just look somewhat cool.
Personally, I'd open them, hell if i came into a Vanilla CE i'd still open it, those pets are awesome.