Help justify my purchasing an unopened box of '79 Topps Hockey

MULLINS5

I've always wanted to add an unopened 1979 Topps Hockey box to my collection, but at $2,600 I'm having a difficult time justifying the purchase.

At special I could pick the box up for $2,340 and the empty box alone sells for about $60, so that leaves me at $2280 to recover if I were to ever crack it open.

And it's hard to put a $2,280 price tag on something that doesn't have $2,280 worth of stuff inside.

There will be one Gretzky and if you're very very lucky it will get a PSA 9, which could bring about $1,200, minus all fees associated in selling and grading (approximately $80) this leaves you still at around $1,000 to recoup.

It's hard to say that unopened is a solid investment because I believe the prices they sell for are a reflection of PSA prices (which are generally go down as pops go up).

So, I'm in no position to get one anytime soon....but it is something I'd like to have....can anybody help me justify making this purchase one day?

Tomi

No. OPC is the hockey co. of choice and Topps is WAY behind. You will most likely never get close to making a profit from the purchase. JMO

MULLINS5

<< <i>No. OPC is the hockey co. of choice and Topps is WAY behind. You will most likely never get close to making a profit from the purchase. JMO >>



Well, the 1979 OPC box runs in the $15,000 price range...

...and the cards tend to be beat up pretty bad (unless you're lucky to get a first print run box).

I'm familiar with only four OPC box breaks, and the one that was from the first print run had gorgeous cards.

The other three boxes were trash.

Tomi

For $2,600 you can get some amazing cards or sets at auction. I just think it's too much for a Topps issue since the Gretzky is the only card worth grading. The set just doesn't have a strong demand and I think it never will. OPC is just way too dominant in hockey. Good luck with whatever direction you go.

Dpeck100

The only way I see this being a good idea is if you plan to keep it sealed for a long time. I am not convinced these older wax packs are going down in value.

There are alot of people that play the lottery in life and with a high end wax packs you at least have something to show for the cost of the ticket.


If you plan to bust it pray you get some rare 10's.

akuracy503

Mullin,

I agree with the guys above, save that money and buy some vintage hockey, the Georges Vezina C55 (sp?) comes to mind!!
Or just keep the box sealed and hope PSA can grade the boxes one day.

ThoseBackPages

Very good thread. and something that i think can apply to other wax as well. ive been thinking about this a lot lately.
in reality, what wax (remember we are talking about actual wax packs, which Topps stopped making in 1991) packs
can you open and top the cost of the pack itself? Throw grading aside, and there arent any, well a '52 high number
i suppose. But nothing within the last 40 years is going to "get your money back" when it comes to ripping one pack.

Buying ONE pack, whats your 'best bet' for the money?

Baseball: 84D comes to mind, if you pop a Mattingly

Basketball: 86F comes to mind, but you better hit the MJ for the $350 price tag
80 Topps? is the Bird/Magic REALLY worth one pop @$32?

Football: 81? is Montana worth a shot @$14? the set is quite large
76 is @$55, better hit the Sweetness

Hockey: '79 is $75

Now go ahead and look at what PSA 7/8's of these rc's go for.

Plenty of PSA 8 Jordans in the $5-600 range
PSA 7 Bird/Magics are in the $125 area
PSA 7 Paytons are $150-$175
PSA 7 Gretzky's are $300ish
PSA 8 Montanas are $90ish


So basically, the price for ripping old wax is for the pleasure of opening something that you ripped as a kid, wish you
had, or wish you were around to do so.

thenavarro

If you want it, and can afford it, and it will give you satisfaction, then that's all the justification you need.

Enjoy the box once you get it.

Mike

MULLINS5

It would definitely be a box to keep unopened.

jswieton

I would buy the box ask if there are any loose packs from another box that came from the same case. Open those packs and see what they look like. If both boxes were from the same case then you can kind of see what kind of card condition to expect if you opened the full box.

Muggyman

You gotta add 1975 Topps Baseball to the mix, right? A lot lot lot of star and rookie cards that would get your money back in a PSA 9.

Actually, what do I know... I have alarms that sound if anyone tries to open my packs!

mikeschmidt

If 1979 Topps Hockey ever receives the international acclaim that the 1982 Wrestling All-Stars set, it will prove to be the best return on investment ever.

Nascar360

Don't waste the time or the money unless you can afford to lose it all. I think all wax is overpriced now since the PSA high grade pulls are factored in to the wax box price. That issue has only a few good hits and you could get a few complete sets for the price of that one box. Even older cards are just cards. You can’t take them down to the grocery store and trade them for food or pay your power bill with.

SidePocket

If you need a reason I would say buy it during tough economic times when collectible values are down.

I don't foresee packs or boxes losing value, since unlike cards they will continue to become rarer as they are opened.

Good luck either way!

EAsports

I would gladly pay $10 for the ungradeable Canucks.

That should help close the gap.

You're welcome.

thedutymon

<< <i>If 1979 Topps Hockey ever receives the international acclaim that the 1982 Wrestling All-Stars set, it will prove to be the best return on investment ever. >>

Reljac

<< <i>
It's hard to say that unopened is a solid investment because I believe the prices they sell for are a reflection of PSA prices (which are generally go down as pops go up).
>>





If there was even a better than 50% chance of making a profit opening wax, there wouldn't be any left unopened. Wax, especially vintage wax, is better left to the treasure hunters. It's a losing venture for a reason. If it weren't a losing venture it would have already been opened, because no one is going to leave money on the table.

Not to mention the particular set you are talking about has a gretzky priced in PSA 10 by SMR at $23,000. Even though only 1 ever has graded at that, treasure hunters like to think they will find the second. Heck... who hasn't opened 2010 Bowman Chrome hoping they are going to get a Strasburg or auto Superfractor...

MULLINS5

<< <i>
I don't foresee packs or boxes losing value, since unlike cards they will continue to become rarer as they are opened.

>>



They can if they are priced too high to begin with.

Nathaniel1960

Buy a real nice set OPC set w/o Gretzky) which can be had for around $100, a graded Gretzky in 5 or 6 centered, three graded packs and an empty box and make a little display. Will cost a lot less than that Topps wax box.

MULLINS5

<< <i>

<< <i>
It's hard to say that unopened is a solid investment because I believe the prices they sell for are a reflection of PSA prices (which are generally go down as pops go up).
>>





If there was even a better than 50% chance of making a profit opening wax, there wouldn't be any left unopened. Wax, especially vintage wax, is better left to the treasure hunters. It's a losing venture for a reason. If it weren't a losing venture it would have already been opened, because no one is going to leave money on the table.

Not to mention the particular set you are talking about has a gretzky priced in PSA 10 by SMR at $23,000. Even though only 1 ever has graded at that, treasure hunters like to think they will find the second. Heck... who hasn't opened 2010 Bowman Chrome hoping they are going to get a Strasburg or auto Superfractor... >>



Most of the Topps Gretzky 9s belong in a 10 holder...chances of another 10 being given is slim to none.

Hallco

I'd try to find a box of 1978s...rip it and see how many Bossy's you can get!

CEOBIDMC

for that kind of money i'd invest in some very nice looking reprints.

sportscardtheory

To be honest, it sounds like a complete waste of money to me. I would take that money and buy two (or maybe even three if you can find some deals) Gretzky OPC rookie PSA 8s.

This is a beautiful card and went unsold at $1,000

FFStinger

I'm sure Boof would think it was a good idea

Frozencaribou

Buying a wax box and not opening it is like buying a a nice meal and not eating it.

mike22y2k

Patrick, Last year at this time I bought an unopened box from BBC exchange to further my Registry set. Luckily I wasn't expecting too much. The cards were in really good shape for this year even though as you know The cards from this year are impossible to find in high grade. Most boxes have only one Gretzky and they usually grade 7. I've never received a 10 for any card from a few different boxes and you would need 2 boxes from two different cases in order to make 0ne set. The return on investment if you were to open it would be about $500 sold raw. When you add in the grading fees for the nicer cards the return on investment would be next to zero.

With All this said.....I would buy it anyways and rip it open. There's no more fun then opening packs.

I will buy any 10 you get for $100 or any 9 I don't have for $50

Good luck

nightcrawler

I like what acuracy said about the Vezina.

Just from my own experience with unopened stuff, I can't help justify a box of 79s.

$2600 would go a long way for a nice Gretzky RC, and there's no garantee at all that you would even find one.


I'm obviously no help here.