Question #3: from June 9, 2018:

I know my milage may vary,but do you think leaving those tiny rubber bands that hold the figures weapons in their hands on will degrade the figures after a while?

--ABarra9721

My answer from 2018 With commentary from 2025:

Well, YMMV, and yes. Hasbro using the bands to ship figures to the stores can ruin them, resulting in "band hands" when a figure's weapon is rubber-banded in his grasp, especially in 3 3/4-inch G.I. Joe figures. But, if you leave the bands on permanently, it doesn't really matter.

A postscript from the future - the rubber bands themselves did indeed yellow and decay with age. A number of them have since crumbled, so check your figures and see if they're still intact, or discolored, or blown away by dust and wind. Hasbro rarely uses them for action figure accessories, but still uses them to keep Transformers wrapped tight in their packaging.

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