an RC10 in Shrink Wrap?

[XLR8]

Here's a question I've been meaning to post for a while and I just noticed something on ebay that reminded me to go ahead and post it now.
Occasionally I find vintage RC10's posted on ebay with a description that goes something like this: "RC10 kit NIB still in it's original SHRINK WRAP". And there's also been re-released RC10's on ebay in shrink wrap.
I've purchased a few products from AE over the years (vintage RC10's, 12 scale, 10L's, and more recently RTR's, etc) and I don't recall any of these arriving in "shrink wrap". Instead, they've always included a factory seal.

AE factory seal.JPG (31.05 KiB) Viewed 824 times

AE factory seal.JPG (31.05 KiB) Viewed 824 times

Has AE been known to shrink wrap their products or is this something collectors are doing to protect their investment or is it something more nefarious -- to discourage someone opening the box and finding a few bags of rocks replacing the real kit contents?

[scr8p]

The older kits had the seal and were shrink wrapped.

[NomadRacer]

The AE seal is a must have. I believe, might be wrong but isn't the shrink wrap done at the dealer?

[XLR8]

Every AE car I've purchased had the seal. My Dad and I bought RC10's in '87 or '88 and the one box I still have has the Edinger address and it has the seal.
I've checked the parts included in these kits against Rod's "25 Years of the RC10" thread and they are not early Edinger production items (although one of them has 7-rib front tires with no GoodYear logo) so this probably explains why they weren't shrink wrapped.

[RC10resto]

Early RC10's (1984-85) were not shrink wrapped. AE started to shrink wrap sometime in the mid to late 80's. They got rid of their machine about 5-6 years ago to make room in the warehouse. All kits have always had the Seal.

[tamiyadan]

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