Is it Worth it to Bust Old Football Packs??

colts900

Hey guys I usually just buy PSA graded stuff but am looking to by some old cello/rack packs and hopefully submit some stuff. First of all is it even worth it to buy old cellos and racks or are the odds way against pulling anything good? I am new to this so any information is helpful. What is the best to break for the price: cello, rack, wax? Also I am looking for something relatively inexpensive. What would be some good choices for me to bust and what are some reliable sources to buy packs? Thanks for anyone who can help.

Aric

For the most part, its a losing endeavor but sometimes you hit the jackpot. If you do decide to do some rippin, I would recommend taking part in one of the group breaks here. Its a great way to get single packs that you know are coming from full boxes and get them at the group discount, which is usually 10%.

Racks are generally considered to be your best bet for sharper corners but wax or vending can also give you some gems. Cellos for the most part are wrapped too tightly and usually bend the corners. There are some years where the cellos are not as tight but I'm not sure what years those are. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that.

You could always do like I do and live vicariously through board master-ripper fergie23. Here's a link to his thread. On this page he breaks down his cost vs. return for his 2009 rips. It's not pretty.

Fergie's Rip thread

colts900

Oh alright I see. How often to these group breaks pop up?

colts900

Also if buying wax off ebay how do I look for fakes? And what years would you suggest buying? Looking for the 70s and 80s.

UlyssesExtravaganza

I agree on the cellos being kind of bad news because of being wrapped too tightly. I think it was still an issue going into the late 70s. I remember getting a 76 cello recently and the cards were kind of warped moving toward the gum in the middle. Maybe they can be flattened but I'm probably going to stay away. I think there is some potential to get some good stuff but you're more than likely paying a large percentage of your investment just for the excitement of opening vintage packs. Which in my opinion can be worth it. If you're doing it strictly to get a return on investment, probably a bad idea.

colts900

Ya im getting kind of bored buying cards I wanna open some packs. With 1972 does anybody know how the series work? Also say right now I want to spend 50$ what stuff would you recommend?

fergie23

> First of all is it even worth it to buy old cellos and racks or are the odds way against pulling anything good?

Financially not worth it but it is fun. You are much, much, much better off buying the card you are looking for already graded and in the condition you want. The odds are not good on pulling a card you want that is also in the condition you want especially with 70s and earlier unopened.

>I am new to this so any information is helpful. What is the best to break for the price: cello, rack, wax?

Avoid cellos, too much corner damage from the typical tight wrapping. Folks like racks but they are very easily sequenced so you have to obtain them from a trusted source. Well kept racks typically have better corners than cards from wax and you are more likely to get a run of cards you can submit from racks.

I buy most of my unopened from Baseball Card Exchange http://www.bbcexchange.com/ . I have bought from pretty much every significant unopened dealer there is and Steve Hart from BBCE is the best. That said I have never had an issue with any unopened I purchased from Kruk Cards but they don't have the selection BBCE has.
Avoid random eBay sellers, there is so much resealed garbage sold on eBay that unless you know exactly what to look for which I don't you are likely to get ripped off.

Robb

CarsonPalmer

its fun though!

colts900

Thanks for the help. So what relatively inexpensive wax would you suggest? Can be one pack or a few.

eagles33

i'm not sure what you collect. I collect mostly modern football... its def cheaper to just buy a psa 8ish rookie card off ebay. That being said.. its fun to throw 50 bucks towards a group rip an open a couple packs and take a punt on getting a gem mint 10. I would say only buy from baseball exchange. they are the only place that i trust to buy wax from.. take a look at their website to see what they have. as part of the march rip i bought a pack of 81, 84, and 86 topps and was lucky enough to pull a marino rookie. so you know his stuff isn't searched. There a lot of people on the board that know a ton about unopened stuff.. not sure what you are looking for but i could give you a break down for 1980s football. I would go with 84,86 topps or 89 score. or swing for the fences with 81 topps.

1980- no big rookies.. phil simms.. you pay more for old wax.. better off just buying the individual cards imo
1981- about 15 bucks a pack. - montana, monk, rookies - worth the punt i think. A psa 10 montana could pull 4 figures.. a 9 sells well too.
1982- lt and ronnie lot rookie- usually pretty cheap..less than 5 bucks a pack
1983- never liked this set. there are alot of dp. Marcus allen, jim mcmahon, singltary rookie. cheap packs
1984- one of the best years. marino and elway are the big rookies. Eric dickerson, howie long, darrel green too. about 15 bucks a pack.. when i buy old wax i usually get a pack if available
1985- people seem to really like this set. psa 10's are tough because of the black boarders. Moon rookie and a lot of HOFers. packs are usually pretty cheap.. but no big cards.. unless you get a low pop psa 10
1986- up there with the 84 set. 2 big rookies Young and Rice. the Young card is tough to get in a ten.. also Boomer, kozar, bruce smith, reggie white, andre reed rookies.. less than 15 bucks a pack. one of my favs
1987- getting into the "junk" years cunningham rookie.. i always really liked the look of these cards but not much value
1988- just buy a bo jackson psa 9 for 10 bucks
1989 score- up there with 84 and 86- loaded with HOF rookies troy aikman, barry sanders, thurman thomas, derek thomas, chris carter, deon sanders, michael irvin- about 7 bucks a pack.

stevek

Bust vintage packs for fun, but as for profit - forget about it. The bottom line especially buying vintage packs from any dealer with the intention to bust...if the dealer thought there was a good chance of anything good in the pack, the dealer would bust it. Of course there's always a hope the dealer may have missed something, but the chances of that are slim and none.

That being said, one day when I'm in the mood to be a glutton for punishment and I've got a dime burning a hole in my pocket, I may buy an early 60's high grade vintage pack and rip it just for the yell of it. LOL

ElToroLoco

Here is what $400 got me.....haven't got anything graded but it was exciting!

1959 Topps Cello

UlyssesExtravaganza

<< <i>Here is what $400 got me.....haven't got anything graded but it was exciting!

1959 Topps Cello

>>



Wow. That's pretty. I think I need a cigarette.

RonBurgundy

No.