Vending box Question.........

tennesseebanker

I am thinking about buying a few vending boxes since the wax boxes I buy have had some very bad gum damage lately. Can someone tell me about how many star cards you would pull from a vending vs wax box? I have heard the quality is better considering thier is no gum. Can some of you Vending box veterans help me out? Thanks in Advance...........

Barfvader

I don't consider myself to be an expert but I have bought a few vending boxes.

I have purchased over the years the following.
Purchased in 1989 - one 1980 Topps contained 2 Perfectly centered Ricky Henderson RC's/Robin Yount few other stars of the time.
Purchased around 1995 - one 1981 Fleer/Box was damaged and 20 cards were no good/Contained many stars but the cards looked like they had been cut with a dull razor.
Purchased in 1989 - two 1981 Topps/Contained Ryan,Schmidt and most stars of the time but NO rookies.
Purchased in 1989 - two 1982 Topps No Ripkens/Contained Ryan,Schmidt and most stars of the time but NO major rookies.
Purchased in 1989 - two 1983 Topps/Contained Ryan,Schmidt and most stars of the time but NO major rookies.
Purchased in 1989 - two 1984 Topps/Contained Ryan,Schmidt and most stars of the time but NO major rookies.
Purchased in 1989 - two 1985 Topps/Contained most stars of the time but NO major rookies.
Purchased in 1989 - full sealed case 1987 Topps/Best way to go contained a good mix of everything.
Purchased in 1989 - full sealed case 1989 Topps/Best way to go contained a good mix of everything.

Condition of the cards were all top notch except for the 1981 fleer.

Major problem is that anyone can just lift the lid on these and cherry pick them.

cardfan07

Depending on how they were handled, you can open a vending box with all corner dings.
Although I have pulled an 81T Baines that got a 9...

CDsNuts

If you are looking for Gem Mint 10s, vending is probably not the way to go. I've opened many of these including full cases, and the problem is usually touched corners. I think the cause is the fact that the blue cardboard boxes Topps used offer very little protection. In my experience, you will get plenty of 9s, often more thn wax and cellos out of a fresh vending box, but they will all have a touched corner, often one that's hard to see, but enough to keep it from a 10.

For example, I recently opened a fresh case of 85 Topps vending, and there's 12 cards that I think have a real shot at getting a 10, and this includes all the stars and even semi stars (Don Baylor & Sparky Anderson for example). I looked at these cards HARD and I can't find anything wrong with these 12. That's 12 out of 12000 cards, or one out of every other box, and I may only get a 10 on 3-5 (You know how PSA is). Also, keep in mind that these boxes were from an unopened case and never handled. However, if I was looking for 9s, I'd probably go bankrupt from the grading fees of sending them all in- probably 200 cards or so.

As far as cherry-picking vending, the cards appear "ribbed" when you open the box, which is nearly impossible to duplicate if the cards have been removed. Look for inconsistencies in the ribbing as a sign that it has been searched. Although with ebay, you're pretty much screwed since the guy who sold it probably won't give you a refund.

I think rack boxes/cases are the way to go if they have never been opened; even though the cards may move some in the cellophane, theres really nothing there to damage the cards, unless the boxes were dropped or thrown. Beware of cello grocery racks; Like cellos from the early 70s, they were wrapped way too tight and usually the corners will be bent, but strangely sharp. Case fresh wax is good too, except for the gum and wax of course, but you will get about the same price on rack.

Lee

Barfvader

I know what you mean about the "ribbed" look (but,and I'm only speaking for the ones I've bought) they don't always look that way. The 1980 box I opened was not that way. It did however half way through it double up with the exact cards and that's how I got two Henderson RC's.

I also remember that I had bought these from a mail order dealer that I also bought a 1986 Donruss wax box from (remember that in 1989 they were going for a little bit) and had NOTHING good come out of that box. The only good card was an Andres Galarraga RC. No stars just commons so there is a good chance that the 1981 to 1985 vending boxes had been picked clean.

Just my opinion it would not be that hard to go thru a vending box and pull one or two good cards out without anyone knowing that it has been done.

And Lee have you ever opened one that was so jammed full that you had to destroy the box just to get the cards out? Seems that depending on how they have been stored, the cards can also get a bit of a bend to them.

As I only have two graded cards in my entire collection of over 200,000 cards I am not an expert as far as the pulling of cards to be graded. But if someone wants to build sets or to just get singles vending can be a good way if you get a well kept, untampered with box.

But as I said,
Just My Opinion.

CDsNuts

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking vending. Just my experience that they don't yield many pristine cards, but plenty of mint ones. Actually, they're great for building mint sets. I have the process of opening them down to a science: I make a razorblade slit on the side diagonally along the perforation, then the box pulls easily apart. The only card you damage is the first one and that's always damaged anyway.

Lee

tennesseebanker

What unopened product would you buy if you wanted the"pristine" cards rack, cello?

Stone193

Vending is hit or miss - having said that, I send Softparade 20 cards out of a 78T vending which yielded me a really nice Moli RC - graded 8 - will be sent back - IMO - it's a 9.

Of the 20 cards, he kept 12 and I believe he got 11 - 9's and 1 - 10.

On the rack vs cello - I'm partial to the rack - cellos can be individually wrapped too tight and you can wind up with a lot of crushed corners.

If properly stored - i.e. no overheating that would melt the gum, I believe you can get the bests cards out of packs - of course factor in some wax problems.

Good luck
your friend
Mike

ldferg

i think your best bet is with rack.

softparade

<< <i>Vending is hit or miss - having said that, I send Softparade 20 cards out of a 78T vending which yielded me a really nice Moli RC - graded 8 - will be sent back - IMO - it's a 9.

Of the 20 cards, he kept 12 and I believe he got 11 - 9's and 1 - 10.


Good luck
your friend
Mike >>



Exactly right Mike! I thank you again

I prefer rack packs over wax and cello. With my obsession of 1978 Topps baseball I have yet to track down any Rack boxes. Baseball Card Exchange has a 3 box rack case up which I look at every time I get paid. I also opened a wax box from BBCE and am very happy with the results. I think I got lucky. Anyway, point me to a 78 Rack box with great credentials and I will be all over it

Stone193

Dan
Have you considered asking them if they would crack the 78T rack case? Perhaps get two other guys to go in with you and they will send each of you a box?

your friend
Mike

softparade

Mike,

Never thought about asking Steve to crack the case although I did ask if he would discount the list price a bit and he agreed to do that. CDsNuts and I have entertained going in on the case ........ no jewels to do it as of yet

I have plenty of grading to do this month thanks to the March special!

tennesseebanker

I was thinking about getting a 1980 vending box from bbc exchange, He has one graded and one ungraded. The one that is graded is a Gai 9, Both are 150.00. Don't you guys think it would be better to buy the graded one and crack it open? Especially since it graded a 9 unopened?

CDsNuts

Yeah, I would venture to say that he pulled the GAI 9 fresh out of a case and sent it in. That one is probably much safer.

Lee

tennesseebanker

However, would I damage the cards trying to get it out of the Gai holder? Has anyone got any experience busting vending boxes out of holders..lol