A message to the boards to uphold my reputation
KallMaloneSay
Posts: 390 ✭
Lately things have been a little heated. Last week I questioned JoeStalin and tonight had a online run-in with Basilone. For starters, both of the situations have been handled and the olive branches extended.
The main reason things have gotten to where they are is because I have been accused of being a sleezy card store owner who searches his packs or opens boxes out of a fresh case until I hit the "case card" and sell the rest to my unsuspecting customers. It all started when I posted that I opened two boxes of Sweet Spot Classics and pulled a Clemente pants card and Yogi Berra AUTO. All of a sudden I became the scum of the earth that was ruining the hobby.
So far I am only direct with Upper Deck, so I never received boxes by the case of anything else. Most products I have not opened, usually one pack to put up top as a display for the set so that people can see what they're getting. But I have been a collector of cards as pretty much my first memories since I was about 8-9 years old. Now when I was a kid I did do a little of the cello pack searching. My brother and I would look for 88 Topps Dwight Gooden on the front or the back of the cello packs and we even knew the card that came before him and the card that came behind him every time (does this bring back memories for anyone else?). But I will never in my life open a box and try to feel or bend every pack, get a digital lightweight scale, nor do I receive any special treasure map from Upper Deck that tells me exactly where every AUTO is placed or which box has the super-rare AUTO cut card by position in the case.
As a matter of fact, I opened about six boxes of Bowman Chrome Draft Picks and noticed that in about 70% of the boxes, the Chrome AUTO is in a certain pack. I still sell packs out of fresh boxes, and I make sure that I completely shuffle up the packs so that nobody can nab that pack, nor would I ever just grab that pack and sell the rest of the box.
So basically what I'm saying is that I'm sorry if you're town has a jerk card store owner that pulls all of the evil tricks. I'm not going to pretend that they don't exist, because every business has it's snakes, that's just life. Don't blame me for your store owner being a jerk, it really isn't my fault. Don't blame all card store owners for the WIWAG scandal either. I don't trim cards, reseal PSA slabs, make secret backdoor deals with PSA to ensure that I get a high percentage of PSA 10's, or whatever else you guys claim every single card shop owner in the world does.
As for myself opening wax, I'm going to continue to do so. When you receive a solicitation from Upper Deck or Topps and see the design of the cards and the checklist, it's hard for me not to be excited and count the days until the product comes out. Several of the products I'll crack a box of, sometimes two, and with 2002 Donruss the Rookies maybe 25 boxes since I got them at $17 each and I wanted a few Rios, LaRoche, Catillo, etc (FYI I never got 1 freaking Rios out of all those boxes nor any Prior AUTO's). There are several reasons for me to open a box of a popular product; 1) if I know I have several guys that will work on the set, I can help them fill it. 2) My dollar boxes and half off cases need cards from new products, having all 88 Donruss McGwires in the dollar box or 50% off jersey cards from 2001 Fleer Platinum looks bad after a while. 3) Dude, I love this hobby, which includes ripping a box of wax. It's a rush and we can all dream about the big pull. According to many of you guys, the split second I decided to open a store it became a crime to open a box all of a sudden. Besides, if I was going for the case pull in the SP Legendary Cuts case I go I would've ended up ripping six or seven of the boxes to get a freaking Hal Newhouser AUTO cut which my customer got $125 or so on ebay (opening $700 of wax to get that doesn't seem too profitable according to my math).
In closing, I feel I have been a valuable help to these boards. I'm sure there some of you who can say that I've answered a few questions about the hobby that were somewhat insightful. And I don't think anyone can claim that they were just miding their own business when I all of a sudden jumped down their throat. I might've poked a little comic relief at Deutchergeist when he had his post on "should Robin Ventura be a Hall of Famer?", but I've never drawn first blood in questioning someone's integrity. For those of you who have made it to either my shop or seen me at a show, thank you for the effort and I appreciate the gesture. Heck, when I couldn't get a decent cab co. to get Albe (Aros13?) back to the Treasure Island where he was staying, I closed the shop for 30 minutes and drove him there myself. I will always try to help any of you out and state my opinion freely and honestly. If I am deemed not welcome by the members of these boards simply because I own a card shop, then I'll just leave.
Jason
The main reason things have gotten to where they are is because I have been accused of being a sleezy card store owner who searches his packs or opens boxes out of a fresh case until I hit the "case card" and sell the rest to my unsuspecting customers. It all started when I posted that I opened two boxes of Sweet Spot Classics and pulled a Clemente pants card and Yogi Berra AUTO. All of a sudden I became the scum of the earth that was ruining the hobby.
So far I am only direct with Upper Deck, so I never received boxes by the case of anything else. Most products I have not opened, usually one pack to put up top as a display for the set so that people can see what they're getting. But I have been a collector of cards as pretty much my first memories since I was about 8-9 years old. Now when I was a kid I did do a little of the cello pack searching. My brother and I would look for 88 Topps Dwight Gooden on the front or the back of the cello packs and we even knew the card that came before him and the card that came behind him every time (does this bring back memories for anyone else?). But I will never in my life open a box and try to feel or bend every pack, get a digital lightweight scale, nor do I receive any special treasure map from Upper Deck that tells me exactly where every AUTO is placed or which box has the super-rare AUTO cut card by position in the case.
As a matter of fact, I opened about six boxes of Bowman Chrome Draft Picks and noticed that in about 70% of the boxes, the Chrome AUTO is in a certain pack. I still sell packs out of fresh boxes, and I make sure that I completely shuffle up the packs so that nobody can nab that pack, nor would I ever just grab that pack and sell the rest of the box.
So basically what I'm saying is that I'm sorry if you're town has a jerk card store owner that pulls all of the evil tricks. I'm not going to pretend that they don't exist, because every business has it's snakes, that's just life. Don't blame me for your store owner being a jerk, it really isn't my fault. Don't blame all card store owners for the WIWAG scandal either. I don't trim cards, reseal PSA slabs, make secret backdoor deals with PSA to ensure that I get a high percentage of PSA 10's, or whatever else you guys claim every single card shop owner in the world does.
As for myself opening wax, I'm going to continue to do so. When you receive a solicitation from Upper Deck or Topps and see the design of the cards and the checklist, it's hard for me not to be excited and count the days until the product comes out. Several of the products I'll crack a box of, sometimes two, and with 2002 Donruss the Rookies maybe 25 boxes since I got them at $17 each and I wanted a few Rios, LaRoche, Catillo, etc (FYI I never got 1 freaking Rios out of all those boxes nor any Prior AUTO's). There are several reasons for me to open a box of a popular product; 1) if I know I have several guys that will work on the set, I can help them fill it. 2) My dollar boxes and half off cases need cards from new products, having all 88 Donruss McGwires in the dollar box or 50% off jersey cards from 2001 Fleer Platinum looks bad after a while. 3) Dude, I love this hobby, which includes ripping a box of wax. It's a rush and we can all dream about the big pull. According to many of you guys, the split second I decided to open a store it became a crime to open a box all of a sudden. Besides, if I was going for the case pull in the SP Legendary Cuts case I go I would've ended up ripping six or seven of the boxes to get a freaking Hal Newhouser AUTO cut which my customer got $125 or so on ebay (opening $700 of wax to get that doesn't seem too profitable according to my math).
In closing, I feel I have been a valuable help to these boards. I'm sure there some of you who can say that I've answered a few questions about the hobby that were somewhat insightful. And I don't think anyone can claim that they were just miding their own business when I all of a sudden jumped down their throat. I might've poked a little comic relief at Deutchergeist when he had his post on "should Robin Ventura be a Hall of Famer?", but I've never drawn first blood in questioning someone's integrity. For those of you who have made it to either my shop or seen me at a show, thank you for the effort and I appreciate the gesture. Heck, when I couldn't get a decent cab co. to get Albe (Aros13?) back to the Treasure Island where he was staying, I closed the shop for 30 minutes and drove him there myself. I will always try to help any of you out and state my opinion freely and honestly. If I am deemed not welcome by the members of these boards simply because I own a card shop, then I'll just leave.
Jason
Baseball Card Heaven, the closest card shop to the Las Vegas Strip.
Our current ebay auctions, and of course BaseBallCardHeaven.com
Our current ebay auctions, and of course BaseBallCardHeaven.com
0
Comments
Dont sweat the boards man not everyone is going to get along. I am a store owner also not much on the cards though. People have barked at me on here i just let it roll off my back. no big deal. I am getting more cards now though. but i will not open until hit the case card i presell them so when i get them they ship out. if i dont sell what i order i will bust them onto ebay. Buying boxes on ebay after presale, i will agree with a lot of people there is nothing in those boxes. the guys that sell presale wont have the time to fiddle with the boxes to see the case card they will lose there a$$ then.
Any way i have no beef with you, hope your store does well. ESAY ON THE FIST TO CUFFS THOUGH YOU MIGHT GET A GORILLA WALK IN YOUR STORE!! Or a lot of people dont play fist to cuffs anymore so id calm down on that before you get held up.
Chris
No problem bro.
<< <i>I feel I have been a valuable help to these boards. I'm sure there some of you who can say that I've answered a few questions about the hobby that were somewhat insightful. >>
I agree.
You are fine.
You have always been extra nice
and super helpful to everyone.
Please ignore them few bad apples
that give you a hard time (and remember
that they are probably just jealous of your
success!)
The vast majority here like you just fine!
and I WILL come see your shop IF I can ever
talk my wife into coming to Vegas!
~jeff
said anything? I have said on numerous occasions what an advantage we now have
with a dealer being with us. You can share info with us that we can't usually find out and
judging by your site you are an honest and fair dealer.
We have already said before that if you are a dealer and you bust packs, that accusation will
always be out there. You know it isn't true and that is all that matters. I can say on a personal
level, that if a new product comes in and I know there is a big hit in it, it is more attractive
to me that no one has opened up any- I know the big hit is in there....when dealers pop
a few boxes right off the mail truck then it becomes a bit more chancy...and at todays prices
that is a problem. You are in a sticky situation as far as pulling the beef early on...you need
to sell what is left but if you tell your customers it is dead then you won't sell anything....that is
a moral issue you need to sort out.
There is only one way to be completly fair and that is to not bust what you sell.
I think I can speak for everyone here, you are a welcome addition to this forum and bring intelligent
posts and responses here. There will be people who think you are a crook and there will be many
who don't see you like that, who cares, this hobby is fun most of the time...lets enjoy it!
JS
This makes me think of that new dealer guy in town's comment saying he doesn't sit around and crack cases.I didn't think there was anything wrong with it in the first place.However,I see the consumers point of why it can appear to be a big turn off to hear that a dealer might have tapped the right box and it's possible by the noted statistics project the remainder are the not so good boxes.
To a degree it's a necessary evil (for lack of a better way to put it) for a dealer to own a shop and crack a box or something every now and then, and I would have never nor do I now think there is anything that Jason did wrong by coming here and telling anyone that he opened up boxes he owned and paid for.
How could anyone sit in a card shop you own and not open anything?
Give anybody a bucket of quarters at $100 and sit them in front of a slot machine and tell them they have no business sticking any quarters in the machine.
My Auctions
<< <i>How could anyone sit in a card shop you own and not open anything?
THAT is why I could never run a shop.
I LOVE to open wax, so It would be
like when I tried to sell Lemonade as
as child and sat there on that sunny hot
afternoon and DRANK ALL MY PRODUCT!
It was fun and I enjoyed it, but I did not make a dime!
I meant to say...
<< How could anyone sit in a card shop they own and not open anything? >>
For myself,I think the temptation might be there but I would probably just buy an extra case of something I'm interested in and leave the rest of the store stock alone.
Leave the modern alone and search every corner of the earth for good vintage!
My Auctions
I e-mailed Jason for card shops in Vegas (on a business trip) and he hooked me up with not just his shop, but a couple of others.
Also, I enjoy the perspective on this board from a shop owner.
Ken
- Slowly (Very Slowly) Working On A 1952 Topps Raw Set (Lower Grade)
Jason,
It is admirable that you have come to the board to explain yourself,but as you can see,most people here have already pegged you as an upstanding guy.The fact that you started this thread just goes to show those that might have doubted your integrity.Don't sweat the small stuff.I agree with others that it is nice to have a shop owner amongst our ranks for a different perspective as well as some knowledge on what's up with the new products.I,for one,read your posts with interest to keep up with the new products.
Vic
I think it is great that a card shop owner frequents these boards and gives his point of view. Your opinions are your own. Sometimes they are entertaining and insightful. It is also nice that modern cards are discussed once and a while. Don't go away and keep posting.
Besides I thought you were great on the Man Show.
<< <i>You are in a sticky situation as far as pulling the beef early on...you need
to sell what is left but if you tell your customers it is dead then you won't sell anything....that is
a moral issue you need to sort out.
There is only one way to be completly fair and that is to not bust what you sell. >>
I don't think this is a matter of not busting what you sell because you would have the same problem if in the first few packs you sold a customer got the big hit. What you would have to do is not bust any yourself & then make sure your customers don't tell you what they pull, and that's not going to happen.
what do you do about people busting packs
or even boxes in your store?
same thing happens if you know the big
cards in a case have been hit, right?
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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