Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

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Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby brant » Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:36 am

Has anyone else seen a lot of mold or mildew on these Hikari boxes you order from Amazon? I recently got into Hikari, but am finding a bunch of the boxes come this way when shipped from the fulfillment center. I'm not 100% positive it's mold/mildew, but the pattern of where it's located on the boxes leads me to believe it might be. It just kind of collects or grows right around the corners and edges in an odd way. I haven't tried cleaning it off yet, and actually just returned this one because it had so much of the stuff on it. Anyways, it's kinda annoying especially for an "in-box" collector. Ordering off of Amazon is pretty crummy already because you don't get to see any of the boxes, but adding this mold into the mix makes it even more difficult to find a good box. /rant

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby TriFeckTa » Wed Sep 13, 2017 3:44 am

At this point in time i find it a painful task find any of the older hikaris in a good condition box. I don't believe that's mold but i do see it often on older hikari boxes.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby brant » Wed Sep 13, 2017 11:45 am

TriFeckTa wrote:At this point in time i find it a painful task find any of the older hikaris in a good condition box. I don't believe that's mold but i do see it often on older hikari boxes.


Yeah, I'm finding this to be unfortunately true. I've also noticed this "mold" appearing on older Pop boxes as well, but more specifically on the inside of older soft pop protectors. I've tried to cleaning whatever this residue is off with rubbing alcohol, but it never takes all of it off. Kinda frustrating to say the least.

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Sarcasticguy » Wed Sep 13, 2017 11:50 am

Are you certain that's mold? Mold would imply water damage too... my guess is that's just scuff marks.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby acciofunko » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:09 pm

I've got a few hikari that look similar to that, but mine are just scuff marks.
Hopefully it's not mold!

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby brant » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:25 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:Are you certain that's mold? Mold would imply water damage too... my guess is that's just scuff marks.


I am certain it's NOT scuff marks, because those are easy to differentiate. I say mold/mildew because the pattern of this stuff appears to be more organic, whereas scuff marks are more random. It's difficult to explain, but this stuff gathers in almost circular like formations close to the edges and corners. I think mold could also generate from moisture, so it wouldn't necessarily have to be "water damage", but maybe if it was kept in a storage unit or something that was very humid or there was a lot of moisture in the air. Here's another photo of the top.

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Sarcasticguy » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:32 pm

I only said water damage because I feel like with enough moisture to cause that much mold damage, it'd be obvious on the box.

Can you wipe it clean?
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby brant » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:36 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:I only said water damage because I feel like with enough moisture to cause that much mold damage, it'd be obvious on the box.

Can you wipe it clean?


It does not wipe clean.

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby mohawkjones » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:37 pm

That may actually just be scuff marks. Hikari use a matte uncoated finish on the boxes that allows the spot varnish to really pop on the art/graphics. A side effect of uncoated product in general is how it wears, especially when applying so much black ink over such a large white surface. As it rubs it can create that effect, especially if the seller has received it from Funko, sent it to Amazon for Amazon Fulfillment, Amazon shelves it and then pulls it again to pack ship. Lots of hands involved and boxes sliding against each other.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Sarcasticguy » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:41 pm

mohawkjones wrote:That may actually just be scuff marks. Hikari use a matte uncoated finish on the boxes that allows the spot varnish to really pop on the art/graphics. A side effect of uncoated product in general is how it wears, especially when applying so much black ink over such a large white surface. As it rubs it can create that effect, especially if the seller has received it from Funko, sent it to Amazon for Amazon Fulfillment, Amazon shelves it and then pulls it again to pack ship. Lots of hands involved and boxes sliding against each other.


This is what I thought... thanks for clarifying Shawn.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby mohawkjones » Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:42 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:I only said water damage because I feel like with enough moisture to cause that much mold damage, it'd be obvious on the box.

Can you wipe it clean?


If it's scuffing from being uncoated stock with a matte ink than no amount of wiping will get it clean since it's in the ink.

Uncoated stock really soaks up the ink and then if the surface gets rubbed it creates this effect since the top layer gets rubbed off exposing the white stock but the ink beneath it is still exposed. I always have to very careful when specing anything uncoated/matte because of this very issue.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby gospeedracer » Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:48 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:Are you certain that's mold? Mold would imply water damage too... my guess is that's just scuff marks.


I agree I have seen many where it's scuff marks but it looks like the boxes rubbed together all the way down the side or back :freddy3:

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby brant » Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:50 pm

The ink theory is interesting, but I don't think it's true because I've found these similar "patterns" of whatever it is on pop protectors of older pops (4 years old) that have been sitting around for a very long time. Check out this picture. It also has a texture to it when I rub my fingers over it, like a residue. It's not sticky or anything. Also, when this substance makes contact with the Pop window, it somehow rubs off onto the window. I'm almost sure it's the same type of substance I'm seeing on the Hikari boxes.

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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby mohawkjones » Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:45 pm

brant wrote:The ink theory is interesting, but I don't think it's true because I've found these similar "patterns" of whatever it is on pop protectors of older pops (4 years old) that have been sitting around for a very long time. Check out this picture. It also has a texture to it when I rub my fingers over it, like a residue. It's not sticky or anything. Also, when this substance makes contact with the Pop window, it somehow rubs off onto the window. I'm almost sure it's the same type of substance I'm seeing on the Hikari boxes.


Less theory, more practical experience for me. I am a graphic designer and have seen this sort of thing with uncoated papers and matte inks before. Plus I have a closet full of Hikari boxes, from both Funko direct retailers and eBay/Amazon purchases. Seems like the more handled ones from eBay/Amazon tend to have the scuffing issues. Never really gave it a second thought knowing about the printing process and living in a high desert environment with no humidity so no mold issues. Depending on your local environment it could be mold but that would come from storage in a damp area and not unique to just Hikari boxes. I used to live in Florida, never had an issue with boxes there despite being a swamp.

Plastics tend to have this from either scuffing, production residue or chemical reactions over time. Low grade plastics, often used in things like packaging which is designed to be disposable for most things and for items like cheap pop protectors, can have a reaction with air or other plastics and create a "dust" from breakdown. Higher grade protectors with a better plastic are less susceptible to breakdown but it's so hard to tell with them unless you are ordering them from a well known collectors site. The ones I've seen come from Amazon and eBay are all over the place quality wise.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby swind15 » Tue Sep 19, 2017 7:36 pm

A lot of my Hikari boxes have this. Always thought it was just scuff marks on the box :-"
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Teresahbach » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:19 pm

Looks like scuff marks to me :) but I wouldn't know
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby d3postman » Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:01 pm

I concur, I think those are just scuff marks by the looks of it
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby akagalar » Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:12 pm

I don't know for certain by any means, but it looks like scuff marks. I would guess the patterns are due to the unevenness of the cardboard (slightly raised areas would scuff first). But mainly, I believe the paper used is not archival, so it could be just the normal breakdown of the cardboard. Either way, I hope you find some satisfaction with your boxes.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby allcutethings2 » Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:07 am

I can almost guarantee that it's not mold/mildew. I am extremely allergic to both, and have asthma. A few of my Hikari boxes have this type of wear and tear, and I have had no reaction to it. Additionally, there would be more than just surface damage if it was mold or mildew. Just like Pop boxes get shelf wear, this is how some Hikari boxes show shelf wear.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Mister Piggy Wiggy » Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:19 am

Try using a humidifier. It should help.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby akagalar » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:26 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:Try using a humidifier. It should help.


How will a humidifier help if he thinks its mold?
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Mister Piggy Wiggy » Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:50 am

akagalar wrote:
How will a humidifier help if he thinks its mold?


It'll stop mold from forming and releasing spores.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby allcutethings2 » Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:22 am

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
akagalar wrote:
How will a humidifier help if he thinks its mold?


It'll stop mold from forming and releasing spores.


I believe you are thinking of a dehumidifier. Mold loves moisture, so adding a humidifier to the mix would make a mold problem worse, not better, if someone had one.
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby Mister Piggy Wiggy » Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:26 am

allcutethings2 wrote:I believe you are thinking of a dehumidifier. Mold loves moisture, so adding a humidifier to the mix would make a mold problem worse, not better, if someone had one.


D'oh! #-o Oops, my mistake. Yeah, dehumidifier. That. :blush:
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby NCDS » Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:31 am

I think it is scuff marks, some of the trophy boxes scuff that way. However using a dehumidifier won't hurt :)
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Re: Mold/Mildew on Hikari Boxes?

Postby jagpop » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:48 pm

Use some of the silica packs that comes with a lot of items such as shoes. Should help with the moisture.
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