1980-81 Basketball Wax Box Question

leftofdial

About 3 years ago, I really overpaid for a nice 1980-81 Topps Basketball Wax Box. The box sits in my closet, double boxed and bubble wrapped, and isn't really bringing me much enjoyment, and prices have seemed to decrease on it since then. It's time to sell it. (not for financial hardships, but for lack of enjoyment /lots of $$ that I could spend on other things reasons) I have great ebay feedback, but then again, so did the last ebay seller who only got $306 for his box. I have been learning alot since I bought this box, and part of that has been from reading this board all the time, and it's time for me to let this go. I have bought resealed product in the past, and am pretty sure that I now know what's good and what's not, but I'm no Steve Hart by any means. On this box, I think there is a very low possibility that any of the packs have been opened before- they look great and the seller has outstanding rep.
Here are my options as I see them.
1) And not likely to occur from my financial standpoint: Rip the whole box, pray like heck for some 9's and 10's and resell. Downside is I'd need the keys or a lot of high grade cards + grading fees. Upside, tons of fun and the cards would be graded (psa) so no one would have to take my word for anything
2) Send the whole box in for Grading and sell after it's a sealed GAI Box. upside is again, most will value a gai encapsulation over me saying it's legit wax. Con - really isn't one, except for the added $90 (75 + freight ) to have it done and prices for the gai 80-81 boxes aren't exactly setting records.
3) Send the box in to have the packs individually graded , would probably generate the moxt resale, but alot of pack grading fees. and i guess it depends on whether the packs are going to be 7.5's or 9's, and I am still learing how the ins' outs of the pack grading standards.
4) sell the packs unopened on ebay - $20 each is about going rate-
5) Rip the 7.0's and less (and hope) and send in the rest for grading.
6) Sell the box to Steve Hart or Baseball kid or some other internet card powerhouse
I love unopened wax as much as anyone, but would really appreciate any advice about what I should do with this box. I think I can get back more of what I paid by breaking it up - agree or not?

fur72

Wow alot of options here

First, do not sell individual packs on ebay, that will only cause pain.
Second you have to think about the players in the set Bird and Johnson rookie just to name a few you could bust them open and sumbit the good ones.

In my opnion put the whole box for sale either on ebay or sell to one of the unopened pack specialists Steve Hart/Mark Murphy.

ldferg

what are you wanting for the box?

steve is usually pretty good about giving you his opinion on the box....i'd email or call him.

CDsNuts

What did you pay for it?

nam812

<< <i>2) Send the whole box in for Grading and sell after it's a sealed GAI Box. >>



GAI will only encapsulate a whole wax box (the box and packs) if they are witness to the sealed case being opened.

leftofdial

I paid $1200 for it. PS- I have no illusions about being able to sell it for that amount. I could have bought a number of late 70-s early 80's football or hockey that would have done much better, but i mistakenly thought that this box was the equivelant of a blue chip. The way I see it, I'm somewhat screwed and just want to get out with as little of beating as I have to endure. I love to collect unopened packs, but not necessarily unopened boxes, so at this point, I want to get out, save a few packs, ideally make trades with other people for any sport, any wax that I don't have, and not repeat my mistake, or at least not at such a high level.

grote15

2) Send the whole box in for Grading and sell after it's a sealed GAI Box. >>



GAI will only encapsulate a whole wax box (the box and packs) if they are witness to the sealed case being opened.

That was the initial idea, but they no longer adhere to that rule.

CDsNuts

The reason the 80-81 boxes have gone down is that box busters have found not much can be graded due to a combination of bad centering, a lot of black ink splotches, and chipped edges. I busted one about a year ago- didn't get one PSA 10 and the box was very clean. The best you can do is probably get around $700-$800 for the box if you shop it around or put it up on ebay in a store. I wouldn't bother with any type of grading on something like this, but it's still a reallly nice box.

Lee

itzagoner

leftofdial: $306 for an 80-81 Topps Basketball box?!? i think you better check your info....i sold a 1979-80 Topps Basketball box for that amount recently, maybe that is what you are referencing here....a 1980-81 box sold for $765 on eBay a couple weeks ago, still seems kinda low though....i'd think Steve Hart would pay you better than that if the box is squeeky clean....Good Luck

leftofdial

Itzagoner, you are right - my box is a '80-81 and your current auction was for the 79-80 box but there's no way I'm gettting that $1200 back. I think I'll take your guys advice and sell to a reputable dealer that can validate and sell with their rep. It sucks to take the loss but I could buy alot of things that I could actually enjoy versus having this box in the closet.