Dealers Searching/Weighing Topps Jumbo Boxes/Packs/Cases??

[Manute Bol]

Is this really common?

I hear more and more, don't buy from this shop they search boxes, they weigh packs, blah blah, so I have some questions.

1) Do Sealed (by topps) Topps Jumbo boxes weigh differently if they have special cards?

2) Do packs weigh differently that have laundry tags etc?

3) What other ways can these boxes cases be searched?

If dealers do that, that's just wrong.

feedback?

[tarheelsnipe]

I won't speculate on the percentage of shady dealers, but it happens. I'll even bet Youtube has some instructional videos. You mentioned some of the tactics in your post. Some others are pack resealers and feelers.

Another problem is that the companies offer "guaranteed" or "on average" per box and per case hits. A dealer will buy several cases of a product, pull the superstar auto, and sell the rest of the boxes and packs either in his store (not smart because word will get around that he's leeching the cases) or he'll have an Ebay account or online store to peddle the less valuable boxes.

[devilshockey1967]

I know of a "show dealer" in my area who buys cases and rips until he hits what he was looking for, and sells the rest at the shows he sets up at, so essentially he is case searching. And yes there are in fact instructional videos on youtube of ways to packsearch.And yes I have seen firsthand guys packsearching with there hands, and some guys bringing in small digital scales into places like Target and Walmart. It turns my stomach. Thankfully I know of a few LCSs that wont let you touch the packs and dont rip. So its safe. But man is it a problem

[GreyDawn]

For pack searching anyways, just look at all the 'hot packs' on ebay. Flooded with them. And there the easily most shady amongst shady practices is the pack re-sealing. Then they are making sure that whatever 'hit' you get is of a crummy player (though the good thing about that is that it deters buying hot packs).

[bjtheman1]

It happens, quite often with many dealers, etc. Pack searching annoys me, so uncalled for. I've never done it and never will.
The wife and I were at Target awhile back and some old guy was packing searching, I bet he searched about 3 boxes and had a few packs he had kept out. I walked up to him and said "you're depriving other honest buyers, kids, & collectors by doing what you are". "I hope you get common auto's & jersey's if any at all".

My LCS where I go is great, they won't allow it and if you're caught youre banned from the store.

[BiGGs1220]

I think it's just another deterrant for people to start collecting...and that's pretty sad. I started collecting (again) about 4 years ago. Packs from wal-mart are one thing, but then you want nicer cards and/or better hits...so you buy at a hobby shop. Then, you want more hits and/or the chance to secure a good box...so you buy a sealed box. I've never gone as far as buying a case, but there's always been that idea of getting the "hot box" or "case hit". But just when I though I'd try a case...I see videos of people like "AddyBall" and others who OBVIOUSLY have some kind of favoritism. Again, it's another form of dettering people. I mean, there's always the chance to get lucky with a great pull...but the more you stop to think about all the set-backs and likely-hood of someone already "tinkering" with your boxes??? I choose to do it for the love of the game, and the aspect of finding up-and-comers.
I'd rather spend $600 (which I've done several times) buying 3,4,5 boxes of different sets and a bunch of packs...instead of chasing a single set. And when it comes to ebay..."beggars can't be choosers". If you just have to save those extra bucks on a box, you can't expect to pull the biggest and baddest cards. Like many guys have already said...auctions there are for spares, leftovers, and probably searched product.

Bottom line is that you gotta have the money to toss around; whether it's cause you don't care about the odds or you're just gonna "flip" your hits...and that's not a hobby to me.

[kornbreadchild]

There are 2 Local Card shops here in Hong Kong. I now stick to one after finding out/watching one of the card shop owners looking for UD hot boxes.

Basically, he opens a case for himself. Then the case or two that is left for box/pack sales, he rips open the first 6 packs of about 10 to determine which are hot boxes or not, if not, those packs get displayed. He does not display a fresh box, he stuffs like 50 in one box to sell individually. Hot boxes, he rips to sell on EBAY.

[xavieronly1]

i can't blame them if they break the case and their first box is case hit already... Not dealer problem, just the card company problem to have case hit, instead of 1:36 insert card.

[NorCal Sports]

I hope it doesn't go on as much as it used to because companies have done a better job at hiding hits.

That being said I'm sure it still happens, you just have to be careful. Find dealers who don't have many single cards and just sell boxes. Chances are they have no interest in the cards themselves.

People buy the hot pack auctions online so I guess there is a market. If people would stop buying them it would take the steam out of it.

I suggest more Autograph cards so its harder to search.

[Manute Bol]

There are 2 Local Card shops here in Hong Kong. I now stick to one after finding out/watching one of the card shop owners looking for UD hot boxes.

Basically, he opens a case for himself. Then the case or two that is left for box/pack sales, he rips open the first 6 packs of about 10 to determine which are hot boxes or not, if not, those packs get displayed. He does not display a fresh box, he stuffs like 50 in one box to sell individually. Hot boxes, he rips to sell on EBAY.

Ok, that's seriously messed up.

That guy should be tarred and feathered.