Condition is the whole game on the secondary market. Sealed means factory plastic wrap. Opened usually means on sprue or built. Painted means hobby time already spent, and often missing bits. Price each tier on its own.
Sealed (new in box)
Safest for completeness. Best for price alerts because listings are easy to compare. Confirm the edition matches the box art you want.
Opened / on sprue
Fine when the seller shows every sprue and lists missing parts. Discount for risk and for any cut or glued pieces.
Built, primed, painted
Value follows paint quality and completeness, not the original box MSRP. Ask for underside photos and a parts checklist.
How SprueSentry splits the market
On each box page, sealed listings show as price-only rows. Used listings keep live thumbs and condition chips. A painted army never lands in your sealed floor.
When should you buy sealed vs used?
Buy sealed when you need every bit and a clean alert. Buy used when the discount clears the risk of missing parts and you can verify the photos.