Whats a grocery pack?

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

I just read it is teh rack packs that have each stack of cards individually wrapped in cellophane. True?

I have seen alot of 89 Fleer racks but only one case was wrapped like this.

Rogermnj

They were big for topps in the 80s. From my experience the cards come out HORRIBLE.
I cracked tons of 82-83-84-85-86 topps football and baseball and the corners are all soft.
They are nothing like regular rack packs.

Never saw them for 89 fleer.

Roger-

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

So the wrapped grouping are grocery. Hmm ok. Yeah I agree on the condition. I always wondered why that case was wrapped different. I thought they were experimenting and nevery thought those were grocery until I stumbled upon a 84 OPC rack on ebay. Seller said its rare. So now I know. I always thought the grocery was the jumbo cellos.

PasadenaMudSlide

Similar to three cellos in one package.

Never had any luck with these.

Cokin75

Fleer, Donruss, and Topps also all had "3 wax pack" racks or trays during various years up until the mid to late 80's. Those are called grocery racks as well.

pandrews

i always thought these things were called grocery packs too..

grote15

The grocery racks were produced by Topps starting 1981. Those are the soft plastic racks with three 12-card cello packs inside. Prior to 1981, Topps produced wax trays, which consisted of three wax packs wrapped in cello on a cardboard tray, though I've seen a 1969 wax tray which consisted of 6 wax packs.

BobaFett72

the one pandrews shows is the one I'm most familiar seeing.

Estil

<< <i>The grocery racks were produced by Topps starting 1981. Those are the soft plastic racks with three 12-card cello packs inside. Prior to 1981, Topps produced wax trays, which consisted of three wax packs wrapped in cello on a cardboard tray, though I've seen a 1969 wax tray which consisted of 6 wax packs. >>



1969 wax tray? I'd love to see that. Nothing like good rare unopened packs, eh? Too bad I could never afford those 1970s racks, as they cost about as much as the complete set over at BBCE.

RedHeart54

The last time I saw a '69 tray in auction I think it brought nearly $2500.

grote15

Sweet scans, Red Heart! You just don't see those early trays around anymore!

Edit: BBCE has a GAI 6 1972 tray on his site now for $1,250.

RedHeart54

Those are from a page in Mark Murphy's book. (I have all but the '67 and '69. Something to aspire to someday.) He also has pictures of some incredible football trays including a 1963 six-pack tray and, if you can believe it, a 1957 tray!

I saw the '72 tray as well. I'm drooling to say the least. He also had a 1973 hockey tray for $800 but he must have just sold it because I no longer see it on the site.

basestealer

Fleer racks from the 80's also came 3 wax packs to a rack--I've opened quite a few wax trays and found the condition to be superior to regular wax packs from the box, but that is likely because they stood the test of time better. It's one more safeguard to keep those resealers away. For topps, '79 seems to be the most plentiful for the trays, but I have seen them all the way through '83, and with football cards they made them for an even longer period of time. Come to think of it, I remember quite a few weird packaging scenarios back in the day that I don't see for sale anymore. Maybe they are "rare". My recent trip to WalMart brought back memories as it seems 2007 Topps has gone retro with their packaging; cards sold in gum, and available in at least 3 different ways--wax packs, rack packs, and jumbo packs with carboard backing.

Estil

You guys have no idea how hard it was for me to find some of those packs. 1985 Topps grocery, along with the 1984 and 1985 Fleer three wax-rack packs were very hard to find on Ebay (and I think I paid over $20 at one time for one of those Fleer rack packs a few years back). Are they really that much rarer than other 80s rack packs or is it just me?

Personally, I find the rack packs among the most interesting of unopened packs collectible wise, but the ones from the 70s are too rich for my blood (about the cost of that year's set).

grote15

For topps, '79 seems to be the most plentiful for the trays, but I have seen them all the way through '83


1980 was the last year Topps made baseball wax trays (three wax packs on a cardboard tray wrapped in cellophane). Actually, in 1980 Topps made both wax trays and wax racks (which consisted of three wax packs in a soft cello sleeve, like the Fleer variety of the early '80s). After 1980, the racks Topps made were of the grocery cello variety.

magellan

'84 Football Grocery rack



'81 & '82 Football Grocery racks



'80 Football Grocery rack (3 wax packs)



'79 Baseball Wax tray

RedHeart54

<< <i>1985 Topps grocery, along with the 1984 and 1985 Fleer three wax-rack packs were very hard to find on Ebay (and I think I paid over $20 at one time for one of those Fleer rack packs a few years back). Are they really that much rarer than other 80s rack packs or is it just me? >>



They are. They're not '70s tray/rack pack scarce but they are much scarcer than other versions of mid-80s unopened product . (I too had a bit of a time finding an '85 Fleer wax rack.) I think '84 was the first year Fleer went to a "visible" rack pack and I wonder if that concept sold them more cards as collectors could search for favorite players/teams. (I know I used to do that.) Then again Fleer kept both visible and wax pack versions until at least 1988. I wonder why they didn't just go with one or the other.

Estil

Say, you guys wanna see 'em?

RedHeart54

Love to!