Kind of a poll, I guess…
When you get a new kit that is sealed in factory shrink-wrap, do you open it to see whats inside…or no?
PS you can see a review of most any kit made, on the internet…so its possible to know whats in there without peeking.
But I tend to do it anyway…
Always inspected… at the very least to check for inventory and/or damage.
I have to open the box, inspect the parts, and pull out the instructions to read. The excitement of a new kit is too much, I can’t help it! I know I can look at instructions and parts online, but it’s just not the same as picking them up yourself. I do make a convenience copy of the instructions when I’m ready to build, so I can hilight it, note changes in paint colors and such, and keep the original instructions in good shape.
Of course open - nicely, carefully, but I have to see what’s ACTUALLY inside. before I buy I check the reviews so I know what to expect.
Always a good idea. I’ve discovered a couple with missing decals that way.
Gary
I can’t help myself. I go through a kit parts/decals/instructions several times before building so from the postman to my tearing open hands 
I have one exception… I have 1/48 P-51D still in shrink wrap as I’ve built it 3 times already 
Originally a gift for my son-in-law but I changed my mind.
Always open that kit up. First I get that smell. Maybe it’s the cooling styrene maybe it’s the mold release. I like that smell.
Like others have said, check all parts, decals, and PE if included to confirm it’s a complete kit. The instructions are always at the bottom so I pull those out and thumb through it briefly. Then replace them on top of the kit of everything. I’ll pull those back out occasionally to thumb through them again like others would their favorite magazine or catalog.
I’m like a kid on my birthday every time. Have to open that box and check out the sprues. How big is it gonna be? How’s the panel/rivet details?
For me, opening the box is a critical part of the retail-therapy dopamine hit.
I always open the box and check contents,but I usually don’t open the sprue bags.
I no longer have the joy of leaving the shop,sitting in my car,and opening the boxes 
99% of the time, I rip off the cellophane and inspect the contents. I keep the decals and instructions in folders in one of my closets while the kits themselves I store in the non-air-conditioned work room/garage.
You may know what belongs in the box ,
What you don’t know is what’s missing in the box. Over the years i have bought kits missing all sorts of parts including the clear sprue.
Yes, I open it ! If the wife is with me and driving I’ll open it while in the passenger seat.
I put them in some paper or in the instruction book then seal in a ziplock baggie.
Good idea! Why wait to get home? I’ll make hubby drive (as long as the grandchild isn’t with us, parts would be everywhere then 
). Or just open it up in the parking lot and take a sniff before we drive off, we could both open our kits then
absolutely open them! i need to know how they engineered the parts so i can start building it in my mind. Plus, they all need to get washed and rinsed.
I have to open it. Just a few weeks ago I got a Zimi models Stryker Dragoon from EvilBay that had two lower hulls and no upper hull. EvilBay seller got it taken care of so I’m all good but I would’ve been disappointed opening it a year down the road to find that defect.
“Factory Wrapped” may be a myth. Brandon @ Squadron was talking about many of the kit brands they rep. As an example, Eduard kits come broken down; they receive case{s} of plastic, boxes, instructions, decals, and other bits & bobs. They then turn the shipping staff out to box up a kit. They then run the assembled box thru the shrink wrap machine – not a factory process. Many of the European brands they carry are handled similarly
If it’s a “new” kit I open inspect and typically scan the instructions. If it’s a kit that I’ve already built I’ll leave it in the wrap as I know what to expect. This the case such as the Tamiya F-14 Tomcat kits, since I like to build different squadrons
The Master Box figure kits come to me with the box still flat and not shrink wrapped. Seems to work pretty well.
I open each sprue bag with a razor knife. In the past, I’ve fond several parts that have fallen off the tree inside the bag. I’ll set the tree to the side, and check the bag before I throw it away. I put each tree into it own pile(cockpit, engine, landing gear, and ordinance). I’ll take the instructions, and decals, and put them in a safe place.
Lastly are the clear parts. I’ll make sure there are no cracks after they’ve been removed from their bag.
I open and fondle every single kit I buy. Sometimes in the cat before I even leave the parking lot. I am not inspecting, checking, verifying or doing anything else even remotely practical I just plan love seeing and feeling all those sprues, decals and instructions for the first time. I may then pack the kit away for a decade or two but that initial box opening and dig through brings me as much joy as actually building.
