Poppa has to think about the Box

Nikklos

I wanted to start a new thread as the last one had my head spinning.

It turns out everyone is right.

All the people recommending keeping the 1970 Topps box intact for the investment value, totally the right thing to do.

Vito's comments particularly hit hard concerning the "rarity" value.

All the people saying to rip the packs are right. Corvette's comments about the thrill of it, etc. are on the mark. I am not one to stick a box in a closet for 10 years. Or, at least, until this debate, I didn't think I was.

I like the pragmatic approach of people like CPAMike. Suss the box out for stars on the back, maybe test a pack.

Even the little side debates regarding what goes on at BBCE. I will say this for Steve at BBCE. I bought a '69 Cello with McCovey showing on the back and it wasn't even mentioned in the description. Last I checked, he is a HOFer.

10 years from now, this box could be worth $10,000 more than I paid for it. Sidenote - Did you know a similar box went for 11k in 2003? Not to get into specifics but that is far more than I just paid. Wow, it is starting to sound like my other investments.

If the box is $10,000 more, it means that what is inside will also be worth more (although maybe not $10k more...but, then again, they could be worth far more than even the $10k. Point is, if a PSA 9 Aaron stays at $1000 for 10 years, this box is not going to appreciate in value. It is only worth a multiple of the average potential of what's inside.

So it goes back to what Vito said about the "rarity" value. To own something that few others have.

Honestly, I could see picking out 4 or 5 of the best packs (hopefully one or two with stars visible on the back), getting them graded and displaying them proudly in that beautiful box - manufactured in the year I was born, by the way.

Luckily, I have an "emergency" pack of 1970 Topps Wax (Series Unknown) coming with the order. I will rip that (for everyone to see) and further contemplate the fate of the Box!

Dboneesq

<< <i>If the box is $10,000 more, it means that what is inside will also be worth more (although maybe not $10k more...but, then again, they could be worth far more than even the $10k. Point is, if a PSA 9 Aaron stays at $1000 for 10 years, this box is not going to appreciate in value. It is only worth a multiple of the average potential of what's inside. >>


Nikk ... I also think you should keep that box sealed. I do not agree with your above statements. A PSA 9 Aaron COULD stay at the same price and your box could go UP in value. As VitoCo stated, it is the rarity of the box/packs which will make it go up in value. For example, take a look at all the penny packs. Some of them have gone up quite a bit. HOWEVER, what's inside probably has not, as all of those cards have BOTH a gum stain AND a wax stain.

I wish you the best with whatever you choose to do with that box. If you rip it all or decide to just rip that extra one you purchased, please post the results.

jeffcbay

I sort of feel like since the box came from BBCE, that makes it a small percentage more valuable than if you bought it from an auction house, or some private seller. That being said, if you were to sell it 10 years from now, you probably won't get the full value out of it, because you don't have the reputation that BBCE has. Any potential buyer won't have the security of knowing these packs haven't been tampered with, unless they were all authenticated (slabbed). Even if you choose to leave it in the cellophane with the BBCE slip of paper in the bottom, there's nothing to say it wasn't re-cello'd. It's sort of like buying a new car I guess, it slightly drops in value when it leaves the dealership.

theskypilot

<< <i>

<< <i>If the box is $10,000 more, it means that what is inside will also be worth more (although maybe not $10k more...but, then again, they could be worth far more than even the $10k. Point is, if a PSA 9 Aaron stays at $1000 for 10 years, this box is not going to appreciate in value. It is only worth a multiple of the average potential of what's inside. >>


Nikk ... I also think you should keep that box sealed. I do not agree with your above statements. A PSA 9 Aaron COULD stay at the same price and your box could go UP in value. As VitoCo stated, it is the rarity of the box/packs which will make it go up in value. For example, take a look at all the penny packs. Some of them have gone up quite a bit. HOWEVER, what's inside probably has not, as all of those cards have BOTH a gum stain AND a wax stain.

I wish you the best with whatever you choose to do with that box. If you rip it all or decide to just rip that extra one you purchased, please post the results. >>



Doug

Not a disagreement with what you said about keeping the box sealed, but in reality Topps did not start shrinkwrapping wax boxes until the early 90's. Whomever this box was bought from sealed it themselves. ( I would keep the box sealed as is by the way). Someone looked at the packs and box to make sure they were unopened already.

JMO

Take care

Dboneesq

<< <i>Doug

Not a disagreement with what you said about keeping the box sealed, but in reality Topps did not start shrinkwrapping wax boxes until the early 90's. Whomever this box was bought from sealed it themselves. ( I would keep the box sealed as is by the way). Someone looked at the packs and box to make sure they were unopened already. JMO
Take care >>



You are correct ... I wrote "keep the box sealed" when I meant "do not rip it". Being 53 I remember buying boxes from the 60s and early 70s and realize that they were not sealed. I misspoke ...

grote15

Steve shrinkwraps all vintage wax boxes after putting his business card on the bottom of the box. If you plan on reselling the box at some point, you will definitely get a premium if that shrinkwrap with the BBCE card is intact.

theskypilot

Doug

Not dissing you. Your one of the stalwarts on these boards (not a whiner or cryer, very objective).

I think many of the neophytes believe that because the box is sealed by STEVE HART (sorry steve, just using use as an example no intended malice whatsoever) or whoever, they came that way from TOPPS.

I guess I was using your quote as a point of reference to spin off of only.

Take Care

jeffcbay

That is one giant annoying signature pic.

theskypilot

changed as per jeff's request

Dboneesq

<< <i>Doug

Not dissing you. >>



I know you weren't. Just wanted you to know that this OLD GUY remembers buying them back in the day and ripping 'em as soon as they were in my hands. Man ... the feeling of handing over $1.20 to the Deli owner and walking out with a BOX of '67s and ripping away to find The Mantle ... those were the days. (HOWEVER, I was lucky to even have $1.20 back in '67, so it didn't happen often.)

Dboneesq

Nice BABE card ... but the pic is still so big!!!!! Make it smaller ... PLEASE.

jeffcbay

<< <i>changed as per jeff's request >>



lol

VitoCo1972

Wow, I never think a message board post on the internet will actually change anyone's opinion. I should go on some political message boards today!

For those that didn't see, I made the case that if you open that box, you'll have what a lot of other people have while if you leave it sealed, you'll have something not very many people have.

In this case, the contents are far less rare than the sealed box. With cards being graded everyday, value in graded cards is always in danger of shrinking. It's true that there could be a big find of these boxes someday that would hurt your value, eventually they will be ripped or put away and your value would be recovered. That's neither here nor there. You can go on eBay all day and find hundreds of PSA graded cards from that set. You can not find that box everyday. Keep it sealed. If you NEED to rip a pack of it, buy a PSA Sealed pack somewhere.

thunderdan

Nikklos, I think you've gotten a lot of sound opinions so far.

I think there's very little chance you'll recoup your cost basis if you rip and submit. Very, very little chance. This is a fairly rare box, and you'll likely realize a better return if you simply hold onto it, especially if you keep it in the BBCE shrinkwrap.

So, if you bought this purely as an investment vehicle, you should hold onto it. However, as Tommy pointed out, some buy boxes for the pure enjoyment of ripping and can afford to do so. The hope is to hit the jackpot and find some Gem Mint HOF cards, but that hope is rarely realized. For some, it's hard to put a price on pure ripping pleasure.

It all comes down to your objective for buying the box. If purchased as an investment, do yourself a favor and don't open it. If for pleasure, however, rip the sh#t outta that bad boy because there will be pleasure to be had in opening those packs, not to mention half the people on this thread will get a major chubby.

Edited to add: if you do decide to rip it, make sure your YouTube video has Devo playing in the background.

Nikklos

Seriously, thank you everyone. I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of the back and forth alone!

I am not going to lie. I loved opening packs when I collected. 20-25 years later (now), I discovered I still love ripping packs. Honestly, I bought this box for the price synergies involved. At this time, there is no premium built in to having a "whole box". Rather the cost per pack came significantly down from when I purchased an individual Series 5th/6th/7th pack from BBCE.

I may really have to go against the majority here.

georgebailey2

edit: I began writing this prior to both Thunderdan's post and nikklos' last post

Hello,

Ultimately, the answer to this question is:

Why did you buy the box?

The assumption is that you clearly had the financial means to purchase something like this with the intent of holding the cards, ripped or unripped, in your collection.

So, did you buy it as:
1) An investment;
2) A collector of unopened material; or
3) A collector of a high grade 1970 baseball set?

To rip or not to rip is only a question for reason 1.
Then it is a best guess determination whether the present and/or future value is higher for #2 or #3.
With regard to the collectors of unopened material, are they more like "type" collectors (happy with a pack) or toy collectors (MIB)? How much more of a premium would a toy collector type pay over a reasonable high end estimate of the ripped and graded cards or over a bunch of graded packs?

In the end, based upon the initial assumption, you can't go wrong either way. Ripping would just be more fun.

hammered

I think you should sell the packs to CU members for $20 apiece and let us bust em!