What is up with all the "Hot Packs" on Ebay?

corvette1340

I don't collect much modern but I sometimes do a search for vintage unopened stuff by typing in "rack", "wax", "cello", etc.. and then listing with highest price first. Last night I was searching for "pack" and a ton of modern "hot" packs came up. I once bought a few boxes of SP Legendary Cuts so I clicked on a few of the 2009 legendary cuts pack auctions. How do these guys tell which packs contain the cut auto's? These packs were going for $80-$100. One of the sellers also offered a guide on how to find the auto/game used/cut hot packs. This doesn't seem very sporting to me.

Are these dealers busting tons of cases of this stuff, selling the hot packs, and then selling all the crappy packs in a stores?

csmtampa

Searching and feeling packs for game used and autographs has been going on for quite some time. There are people who use mini scales, some poke a small hole in the top of the pack, and some who just do a feel test. I have read hundreds of stories of people seeing pack searchers use those different techniques at Targets, Wal Marts, and K Marts. I haven't personally witnessed anyone doing it, but im sure it goes on at every store.

They then sell the packs on ebay, as most of the hits wouldn't sell for more than a buck or two.

There are also others who sell 'hot" packs that put a crap autograph or game used in it, and then reseal the pack.

Just one more problem thats huge in this hobby.

ElToroLoco

I'm sure certain individuals can identify if a cut is in a pack with certain unscrupulous methods. The fist is the electronic scale, weighing each pack and setting aside the heavier ones. Another way is the "feel" method, where an individual molests a pack, feeling for the Topps hologram, for instance.The other way was to open the pack carefully,insert "said" insert and reseal it just as "carefully". I'd bet most are the latter.

mtcards

It is not difficult to do, even with the new tamper/ad cards they insert to throw off the trail. This is the main reason I will noy buy single packs from WalMart or Target or even from dealers anymore. I recently busted open a box of A&G and Spectrum and even though I was going to bust open the whole box, I tried to pick out the "hot packs". Two autos in spectrum, I got both before busting the rest, four Mem/Auto in A&G, I got all four.

I have seen those pathetic losers at WalMart and target, searching packs of junk wax for the "hit". Its really sad, that the two or three bucks they make off of that is worth being a complete DB.