Shelf wear on sealed figure boxes
What counts as shelf wear on a figure box?
Shelf wear is the light scuffing, scratching, and edge rubbing a box picks up from sitting on a retail or display shelf. On sealed figure boxes it shows first along the bottom edge and front face, and it's scored on the Box axis — moderate shelf wear typically holds a box at Near Mint.
Shelf wear is the most common reason a sealed figure isn't Mint — subtle, cumulative, and easy to miss until you photograph the box straight-on.
Where it appears
Bottom edges and the lower front panel take the most contact. Sun-facing fronts also fade over long shelf lives, especially on heritage lines like Soul of Chogokin.
How FIGUSCAN scores it
The Box axis (30% of the overall) aggregates scuffs, edge rubbing, fading, and surface scratches across every panel you photograph.
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Frequently asked questions
Is shelf wear a defect?+
It's a condition issue scored on the Box axis. Light wear is normal; heavy or sun-faded wear pushes the grade down.