What does an X mean...

Piman58

.....when found on a wax box? I have read posts where people state that the box did or did not have an X.

Thanks,
Charles

grote15

Topps used to "X" the lid in black marker on its cello and wax boxes at the end of the year to indicate the "final sale" of those boxes and cases to dealers so they could not be returned. Topps did this primarily in 1982, but also in 1983, and in 1984 to a lesser extent.

RobMM77

I think it is when the retailer sends the cards back but im not for sure. I am curious as well

RobMM77

OK grote answered the question. We must have typed and sent close to same time.....

shagrotn77

So why should it matter to a potential buyer if the box has an X or not?

Boopotts

<< <i>So why should it matter to a potential buyer if the box has an X or not? >>




Because they box may be comprised of loose packs that were combined together to make one box.

WinPitcher

They also did it in 1988 too. I have a non sport box with the X.

Steve

80sJunkie

RETAILERS USE TO BE ABLE TO SEND UNSOLD PACKS BACK TO TOPPS. TOPPS THEN REBOXED THE LOOSE PACKS RETURNED AND MAARKED THE BOX WITH AN X THIS MEANT THIS BOX COULD NOTT BE RETURNED FOR CREDIT AND ESSENTIALY ALL 36 PACKS COULD HAVE CAME FROM 36 DIFFERENT BOXES.

stown

WinPitcher

Yes they could have come from 36 different boxes or from one box too. I have seen cases that went unsold, they were opened and each box was x'd out. the case then was sold below sub wholesale.

Steve

grote15

I don't think the X out boxes are necessarily a bad thing, as the packs are still unopened and some of the X boxes are actually fully intact boxes that came out of cases but were never sold. I've bought a few X out 82 Baseball boxes from Steve Hart and they've yielded some really nice cards. In addition, many wax and cello boxes on ebay these days are probably not true full boxes anyway, as most have probably been picked over and cherry-picked. But who can afford to buy a sealed case of boxes from that era?

dontippet

<< <i>I don't think the X out boxes are necessarily a bad thing, >>



I agree. The only negative about the black 'x', in my opinion, is the black 'x'. If you are wanting to keep this box intact as a collectible, the black 'x' may not be the most attractive box to collect. If you are going to open it, I don't see why not.

jradke4

so how about X-out golf balls???

Allen

I don't do much with vintage wax, but would it be unethical to buy an X'ed box and buy an empty wax box that is not X'ed and put all the packs in it? I mean you are not searching the packs or anything, just making the box more pleasing to the eye as most say the biggest downside to the X is the X itself. Questions? Comments? Sarcastic Remarks?

Barfvader

<< <i>They also did it in 1988 too. I have a non sport box with the X.

Steve >>



1988 football as well and also



BTW you can remove the black mess (Look at the above as most of it has been removed) with a bit of work but it leaves behind a stain.

ctsoxfan

<< <i>I don't do much with vintage wax, but would it be unethical to buy an X'ed box and buy an empty wax box that is not X'ed and put all the packs in it? I mean you are not searching the packs or anything, just making the box more pleasing to the eye as most say the biggest downside to the X is the X itself. Questions? Comments? Sarcastic Remarks? >>



Of course, this would be unethical - you are now representing something completely different than what is inside.

I have had mediocre results with these X-out boxes, sometimes good - but often bad. Not as far as card selection, but card quality. The packs are obviously handled more than the packs in a regular box, so there is a higher incidence of cards with dinged corners and edges.