Those of you who opened a whole case of Heritage (or something else), how did you do? Was it fun?

Estil

As some of you might know I have a real soft spot for 1975 Topps (1971 being a close second but I don't know if it'll ever be within my price range...sigh) and the 2024 Topps Heritage (which covers 1975 Topps) is coming up in a few months. Now I have never in my entire collecting career (bought a few packs here and there in the mid-late 90s; my early 2000s college days is when I got for real serious about it and started collecting complete sets in albums) opened a whole case of anything. In fact I don't think it was until a few years back when I got a couple 1993 Flair cartons (for me and my wife to open together; also one of the first sets I ever bought) and then a carton each of 1987-89 Topps. We did get to do the 1987 but sadly she died before we could do the others. Awhile back I did the 1988's but I'm leaving the 1989 (that along with 1989 Donruss was the first packs I ever got; I was nine at the time) carton for well, a special occasion. When/whatever that might end up being. In all the other cases I took the easy way out and just got the complete set.

So now I'm considering doing a case opening/breaking for the very first time in my collecting career and honestly, I can't think of anything else that would be more qualified than the upcoming 2024 Heritage (there was a January 1995 Beckett article about 1975 Topps (called Mini Sensations) and someone said "opening those packs was a lot of fun" so...). Naturally I won't settle for less than a hobby case as that's where all the good exclusive inserts are. I'm really hoping I might get a fairly big pull or two that might recuperate some of the case cost...maybe?

So for those of you who did do a whole case of Heritage (or something else), how did you do? Did you think it was fun? Most importantly was it several hundred dollars fun? I'm honestly quite torn between doing this and no doubt making nice fun memories or taking the cheaper/easier way out and just getting a set... At least I still have quite a few months to think all this over...

PS: Those flashback insert sets look quite fun/interesting (I was a history/political science major after all); if nothing else I should do a sequence/run of those, maybe?

BBBrkrr

I've done it. Most recently a case of 82 Fleer wax during Covid. (Just wanted the Ripkens, and got a great deal on it.)

It is fun, but it is a lot of work. It gets to be pretty exhausting as you get toward the end. You also have to constantly deal with separating cards however you want so make sure you have a spot with a lot of room to put things.

I'm done with my case ripping days, and that was probably my last one.

Estil

@BBBrkrr said:
I've done it. Most recently a case of 82 Fleer wax during Covid. (Just wanted the Ripkens, and got a great deal on it.)

It is fun, but it is a lot of work. It gets to be pretty exhausting as you get toward the end. You also have to constantly deal with separating cards however you want so make sure you have a spot with a lot of room to put things.

I'm done with my case ripping days, and that was probably my last one.

Yeah it isn't much fun if there's only one big card to pull and you can just get a whole set at BBCE for $70. "Exhausting" (though in this case (pun not intended) you only get 9 cards a pack, 24 packs a carton, and 12 cartons per case) just means you feel more like you're getting your money's worth though, right?

And since Heritage is really popular here, I should have no trouble swapping dupes here right?

jordangretzkyfan

I recently ripped a case of 2022 Topps Heritage High Numbers (1973 design), because I think Julio and Witt are legit. It was fun, but I did it over the better part of three weeks. I would do a box or two at a time and then take a break for a few days. The insert pattern is very consistent, so the rip is an easy one. The hardest part is sorting the base cards assuming you plan to build sets to sell. You will get about 10 base sets and nearly 2 complete insert sets from the case. The value is won or lost based on the one auto or relic card per box. My case had 10 relics (which are worthless) and 2 autos. The key hit was a Red Ink Real One auto of Mike Schmidt numbered to 73. That along with a Trout relic and a pile of Julio and Witt base/inserts were the end result. I bought the case for $500, so I would say I broke even if I sold the cards. I feel I came out ahead, since the rip itself had nostalgic value for me. Dollar wise, it would be a terrible ROI for my time, but return is not why I collect.

I say buy the case and enjoy the nostalgia. If you rip it right at release and post the inserts on eBay in the first month, my guess is you come out slightly ahead. If you wait, the prices will drop quite a bit, since the set builder market shrinks after a few months.

Estil

@jordangretzkyfan said:

I say buy the case and enjoy the nostalgia. If you rip it right at release and post the inserts on eBay in the first month, my guess is you come out slightly ahead. If you wait, the prices will drop quite a bit, since the set builder market shrinks after a few months.

Where would be the best dealer to preorder a case from? Would I be allowed to buy one directly from Topps? Because it sounds like the price will most likely go up as 1975 has always been really popular, so if I do take the plunge, I better do so as soon as pre-orders are available, correct?

craig44

These are my thoughts. I have followed your recent posts about next years Heritage. It certainly seems like a set you have been waiting for for well over a decade. I definitely think you should make it happen. I also think you should enjoy it to the fullest extent. You should make it the furthest thing from "work" or "a job" as possible.

I think you should spread it out. sip it like a fine wine. do a box a week or a couple of boxes a week. make it memorable. something you will have nostalgia for in 20 years. Think about how long you have been waiting for this set!!!!

jordangretzkyfan

I tend to pre-order from BlowoutCards.com, since their initial pricing is usually the lowest available and they always deliver free with no taxes. Topps Heritage pricing typically goes up slowly for the first 6 months upon release and then settles back down at or below initial pricing. The alternative is to wait two years and the cases usually sell below initial cost. This is a combination of set building interest drying up on the secondary market and that some of the redemptions will be near expiry. I would guess the 2024 will remain hotter than other years due to the popular 1975 design and what should be a banner RC crop.

Estil

@craig44 said:
These are my thoughts. I have followed your recent posts about next years Heritage. It certainly seems like a set you have been waiting for for well over a decade. I definitely think you should make it happen. I also think you should enjoy it to the fullest extent. You should make it the furthest thing from "work" or "a job" as possible.

I think you should spread it out. sip it like a fine wine. do a box a week or a couple of boxes a week. make it memorable. something you will have nostalgia for in 20 years. Think about how long you have been waiting for this set!!!!

Oh yes, I am about as super nostalgic as it gets. That's why I haven't sold anything in years because pretty much every time I regret it later. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not even a year or two, but it happens. Did I forget to mention how fun it was recently to look over my original 1975 Topps and other 70s/80s sets I have? That's why I've been so reluctant to jump into the whole Heritage thing as they're easily $400-$500 a set (if you count SPs and the non-serial numbered inserts) and I guess I always figured that kind of money would be better spent working on the originals. Now, I've so far only been able to go as far back as 1974 (except for the commons in my sig that I'm lacking (or at least need upgrades for) and 1973 (got most of the key PSA 7's...just need a really nice raw NRMT+ "near set" to put in binder/pages). So you bet I'm extremely proud of what I've been able to accomplish so far!

Estil

@jordangretzkyfan said:
I tend to pre-order from BlowoutCards.com, since their initial pricing is usually the lowest available and they always deliver free with no taxes. Topps Heritage pricing typically goes up slowly for the first 6 months upon release and then settles back down at or below initial pricing. The alternative is to wait two years and the cases usually sell below initial cost. This is a combination of set building interest drying up on the secondary market and that some of the redemptions will be near expiry. I would guess the 2024 will remain hotter than other years due to the popular 1975 design and what should be a banner RC crop.

I didn't think they did redemptions for Heritage. And who are the top current players I should keep an eye on?

EDIT: Woah Nelly!! $1300 for the 2020 Heritage case?? (remember 1971 is my second favorite 70s set). Even on credit that's way out of my reach! Now $110 for a carton, I remember BBCE had them for that much a little while back. So I guess I can forget about getting a whole case and just settle for maybe getting a carton every month or something?

Now if they was charging the price for what they got going on for 2023 Topps Heritage that would be doable...but that's probably because there's nothing all that special about 1974's.

EDIT: seeing how surprisingly more affordable even "master sets" of 2020 Topps Heritage are Ya know what, fudge it. I'll just take the easy way out and get a set of 2024 Heritage like I always do. To paraphrase Mr Garrison in that one South Park episode about eh, a different subject, it's a little boring this way but it's tried and true.

I am nevertheless still interested and fascinated by case opening experiences the rest of you guys did though!

jordangretzkyfan

Just buying the set is certainly more economical, if that is the needed priority. Plus then you will have the joy of looking through the cards in a binder at a fraction of the cost of a case. I am predominately an unopened collector of the 1970s and 1980s. Something about seeing the unopened packs and boxes and knowing what is lurking inside takes me back to my childhood. Ripping them is fun, but almost never pays out.

I got hooked on the Topps Heritage bug about five years ago. I say buy the set and also two boxes. Should cost a total of $200 ($75/box at release and $50 for a set on eBay). Leave one box sealed and display the other next to your set in a binder. Here is a pic of some of my Heritage for visual inspiration 🙂

In4apenny

Well I am about half way through a case of 92 Upper Deck baseball low numbers. I have 3 more cases I picked up for cheap at the end of 92 from a freight Co Auction, 5 cases for $888.00 out the door. Main card is the Sanders SP of which I have 4 so far. Back in the day I bought a case of 88 Donruss Baseball, most of the way through that one but the cards are cut so bad and off center just finding a good rookie or HOF player is hard. I have a case of 91 UD baseball early date that I might just rip looking for the Jordan but due to Cancer may run out of time. No one else in my family collects or know about the value of my collection so before I exit this planet would have to sell it all. Every day is a blessing, cheers.

Estil

@In4apenny said:
Well I am about half way through a case of 92 Upper Deck baseball low numbers. I have 3 more cases I picked up for cheap at the end of 92 from a freight Co Auction, 5 cases for $888.00 out the door. Main card is the Sanders SP of which I have 4 so far. Back in the day I bought a case of 88 Donruss Baseball, most of the way through that one but the cards are cut so bad and off center just finding a good rookie or HOF player is hard. I have a case of 91 UD baseball early date that I might just rip looking for the Jordan but due to Cancer may run out of time. No one else in my family collects or know about the value of my collection so before I exit this planet would have to sell it all. Every day is a blessing, cheers.

No...please tell me you mean the astrological sign/constellation... :,(

Estil

@jordangretzkyfan said:
Just buying the set is certainly more economical, if that is the needed priority. Plus then you will have the joy of looking through the cards in a binder at a fraction of the cost of a case. I am predominately an unopened collector of the 1970s and 1980s. Something about seeing the unopened packs and boxes and knowing what is lurking inside takes me back to my childhood. Ripping them is fun, but almost never pays out.

I got hooked on the Topps Heritage bug about five years ago. I say buy the set and also two boxes. Should cost a total of $200 ($75/box at release and $50 for a set on eBay). Leave one box sealed and display the other next to your set in a binder. Here is a pic of some of my Heritage for visual inspiration 🙂

Inspiration? You're making me jelly...

In4apenny

@Estil said:

@In4apenny said:
Well I am about half way through a case of 92 Upper Deck baseball low numbers. I have 3 more cases I picked up for cheap at the end of 92 from a freight Co Auction, 5 cases for $888.00 out the door. Main card is the Sanders SP of which I have 4 so far. Back in the day I bought a case of 88 Donruss Baseball, most of the way through that one but the cards are cut so bad and off center just finding a good rookie or HOF player is hard. I have a case of 91 UD baseball early date that I might just rip looking for the Jordan but due to Cancer may run out of time. No one else in my family collects or know about the value of my collection so before I exit this planet would have to sell it all. Every day is a blessing, cheers.

No...please tell me you mean the astrological sign/constellation... :,(

Wish it were true, but no. I have the real thing. Can't take my collection with me, well maybe the 1997 3000GT Twin Turbo 6 speed, putting up the good fight so I have some time. Cheers.

Estil

@In4apenny said:

Wish it were true, but no. I have the real thing. Can't take my collection with me, well maybe the 1997 3000GT Twin Turbo 6 speed, putting up the good fight so I have some time. Cheers.

You're not completely past all hope are you? :,( I hope you do have a special someone of some sort to pass your collection down to.

In4apenny

I am never without hope, never. I have one nephew that has some interest in the collection we will see. Back to question of ripping a case, yes it's still fun for me just what to do with the commons. I have several ideas that I am going to try, Cheers.

PatriotTrading

I'll do a few boxes. I actually just put a 1975 Topps, O-Pee-Chee and Mini submission of 100 cards together. No huge bangers unless the Blyleven comes back a PSA 10.

Estil

@PatriotTrading said:
I'll do a few boxes. I actually just put a 1975 Topps, O-Pee-Chee and Mini submission of 100 cards together. No huge bangers unless the Blyleven comes back a PSA 10.

Maybe that's what I'll do. At least I got a lot of time to think all this over... I do in fact like how OPC's have somewhat bolder colors!