What does the black X mean?

XanaduNow

The markings on the older Topps wax boxes. Anyone know what it means? BBCE has a box listed and they made it a point to say that it did not have the black X. I've seen quite a lot of the old boxes with that marking. Any clue? Thanks

baseballfanatic

Buybacks.........

lawnmowerman

I think it means they were all opened, picked thru then re-sealed for re-sale

XanaduNow

Okay. Thanks. Meaning ...?

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Okay. Thanks. Meaning ...? >>

Topps buys them back from the dealers that didnt sell the stock they had on hand at the end of the season/year

digicat

Basically, as Steve Hart described it to me... Topps would buy back unsold product from stores and re-offer it at a discounted price. These boxes would be marked with the black X. Boxes marked like this could not be "bought back" again.

XanaduNow

<< <i>I think it means they were all opened, picked thru then re-sealed for re-sale >>

XanaduNow

<< <i>Basically, as Steve Hart described it to me... Topps would buy back unsold product from stores and re-offer it at a discounted price. These boxes would be marked with the black X. Boxes marked like this could not be "bought back" again. >>



Makes sense, thanks. So is there a difference between the quality, etc of the two types? Why point it out?

kingraider75

The quality probably depends on where the boxes were stored. Some are in 1000 degree warehouses, which causes the gum to stick and indent 2 or 3 cards per pack. Although this could happen with non-black X boxes, it seems more prevalent in the X boxes IMO.

BigRedMachine

I also thought the black X boxes could be a combination of more than one box. That dealers could send back their opened boxes (unsold packs) and topps would pack them back up.

Meaning an black x box could have a totally random pattern of cards, which could be good or bad, depending on which card you're hoping to pull.

Anyone know if this is true?

shawn

CDsNuts

Simply put, the buyback boxes were handled more so the cards have a lesser chance of being mint.

Lee

Stone193

I have some X out 88T Dinosaur Attacks and they look perfect.

I think this can vary - depending on how they were returned...by the case or individual boxes?

mike

digicat

Asside from actually opening up the packs, I don't think there's a way to figure it out if you've got the combo-box or the "original" box. I've opened up some Xed out boxes and didn't notice any "unusual" lack of particular cards.

I guess SOMETIMES you'll get a re-packed box, other times, you'll get an unopened box that just didn't sale.

As for the matter of searched packs, considering that Topps did these promotions during the year that the cards were released, most of the KEY rookies in those sets developed after the release date, so if any searching did happen, you might have a hard time finding Dwight Goodens and Jeff Stones in your 1985 Topps baseball box, but no unusual lack of Clemens and McGwires.

onlyanumber

<< <i>I also thought the black X boxes could be a combination of more than one box. That dealers could send back their opened boxes (unsold packs) and topps would pack them back up.

Meaning an black x box could have a totally random pattern of cards, which could be good or bad, depending on which card you're hoping to pull.

Anyone know if this is true?

shawn >>



That's how I took it too. Not just dealers, but the KMarts/WalMarts etc too. They have 5 boxes with 5-6 packs in each and they combine them for return. Topps takes them and adds whatever packs needed to make a full box and resells them at a discount.

fsjeter

<< <i>

<< <i>I also thought the black X boxes could be a combination of more than one box. That dealers could send back their opened boxes (unsold packs) and topps would pack them back up.

Meaning an black x box could have a totally random pattern of cards, which could be good or bad, depending on which card you're hoping to pull.

Anyone know if this is true?

shawn >>



That's how I took it too. Not just dealers, but the KMarts/WalMarts etc too. They have 5 boxes with 5-6 packs in each and they combine them for return. Topps takes them and adds whatever packs needed to make a full box and resells them at a discount. >>



I've never heard of retail X-outs. I purchased an '84 Topps FB X-Out from BBCKid a few years ago and pulled a complete set plus extras. Other than the normal problems (centering, gum & wax stains), everything was fine. I don't think you'll have any problems from BBCE.

Scott

XanaduNow

<< <i>I don't think you'll have any problems from BBCE.

Scott >>



I agree. I just didn't know what the significance of the two were and wondered why they made it a point to distinguish.

"What's the significance?

I.

DON'T.

KNOW!



Sorry.