Contemplating a purchase from BBC EXCHANGE

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 12:37AM

last night I was on the BBC Exchange web site and contemplating buying one of the following:

1978 Topps BB Cello Box ($700)
1978 Topps BB Wax Box ($700)
1975 Topps Mini Wax Box ($1,700

)
1979 OPC Wax Box ($265)

What is everyone's opinions on the bang for my buck. I am definitely popping whatever I purchase and I want to try to make some subs and finally get my 1st 10 on a sub

My understanding is that the Cellos traditionally yield better centered cards than wax, thus should I eliminate the 78 Wax?

I think the 70's OPC stuff is vastly underrated and undervalued and I think the OPC Ozzie may start to cree up as the Topps ones become more and more pricey

cwazzy · July 17, 2012 12:41AM

I opened a few packs of '79 OPC a couple of years ago and LOVED it. I think the OPC are more enjoyable than their Topps counterparts. I think that's by far the best value of anything you listed there. Hell, for that price you might as well get 2 boxes.

shu4040 · July 17, 2012 12:43AM

78 cellos are so tightly packaged, i think the wax would overall yield better cards as the corners will be much better.

royalbrett · July 17, 2012 1:13AM

If you do the 79 OPC, keep me in mind. I am looking for the "non-gradables".

Griffins · July 17, 2012 1:13AM

are mini boxes going for that much now, or was this a misprint?
Charlie Conlon had them for $1300-$1500 for years until he died a few years ago, and then they flooded the market and were going for $800 a box. Have they really doubled in the last year?

grote15 · July 17, 2012 1:34AM

<< are mini boxes going for that much now, or was this a misprint?
Charlie Conlon had them for $1300-$1500 for years until he died a few years ago, and then they flooded the market and were going for $800 a box. Have they really doubled in the last year? >>

1700 is a bit high but 800 is extremely low. Don't recall mini boxes ever going below 1k retail.

grote15 · July 17, 2012 2:10AM

Coincidentally, I pulled an 79 OPC Ozzie Smith from a pack last night!

ThoseBackPages · July 17, 2012 2:25AM

RIP IT, RIP IT GOOD!!!

<< Coincidentally, I pulled an 79 OPC Ozzie Smith from a pack last night! >>

odds that it'll N6? the last one i pack pulled (at last years national) came back N6 lol

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 2:36AM

<< I'd go for the 78 wax. You'll generally get a higher percentage of cards with sharper corners vs the cello counterparts thanks to the tight cello packaging.

As for the dream of finding that perfect Ozzie, OPC or Topps, it's a extremely low probability lottery - so if you go that route try not to think about that slimmest of chances as it'll just disappoint ya.

Whatever you do I suggest you do it quickly as posting a thread here about any new material on BBCE tends to accelerate it's dissapearance

>>

HAHA good point

stangrider · July 17, 2012 2:52AM

Personally I'd stay away from that batch of mini's. From the last group rip the results of ripping them were pretty awful as far as centering goes. If you're keeping the box sealed that's a different story.

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 2:58AM

BBCE prices are too high!! chaz

olb31 · July 17, 2012 2:58AM

<< Coincidentally, I pulled an 79 OPC Ozzie Smith from a pack last night! >>

How did it look?

jeffcbay · July 17, 2012 3:04AM

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons.

grote15 · July 17, 2012 3:13AM

<< 

<< Coincidentally, I pulled an 79 OPC Ozzie Smith from a pack last night! >>

How did it look? >>

A bit OC...maybe 7-8 range..it was first time I pulled an OPC Ozzie from a pack so I was excited, lol...pulled a super centered Fisk also that has a shot at a 10.

cdhc · July 17, 2012 3:34AM

At the prices noted, I would say by far the best bang for your buck is the OPC box. The topps wax in my opinion will have the nicest, cleanest cards, but the chances of pulling a well centered impact card are low and the price is to me becoming increasingly prohibitive with such a low risk/reward probability. If you are buying a box of this stuff, you need to realize you are getting about half a set of NM-MT and MINT cards but with a low liklihood of a PSA 9 or 10 from one of the big fish.

gemint · July 17, 2012 3:56AM

<< are mini boxes going for that much now, or was this a misprint?
Charlie Conlon had them for $1300-$1500 for years until he died a few years ago, and then they flooded the market and were going for $800 a box. Have they really doubled in the last year? >>

Prices are recovering but $1700 is high in my opinion. I don't think they were going that high even before the Conlon cases hit the market en masse. I've bought two boxes in past group rips and I think the last one was $1100. I figure I'll just hang onto them and wait for more cases to be busted and ripped. Eventually unopened minis will become as scarce as other mid-70s unopened product.

grote15 · July 17, 2012 4:00AM

If these mini boxes are from same case as group rip, I would pass as centering was pretty poor on those cards and centering is pretty much consistent throughout case when it comes to 75 minis.

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 4:25AM

Great point on the centering with the 75 Minis. I got 2 packs on the last rip and not a single card I thought would even get an 8.

Leaning towards picking up a 79 OPC box and maybe a 78Wax. According to BubbleBathGirl, the wax seems to yield better quality cards. I would guess Racks are the best

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 4:26AM

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

I'd rather pay a little higher for the peace of mind of knowing I am not getting anything tampered with.

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 5:38AM

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz

dmurphy3mvp · July 17, 2012 6:15AM

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

I do.

If boxes on eBay were such a good deal, don't you think we'd be buying them to turn around and sell on our website?

mattinglymint23 · July 17, 2012 6:30AM

I will only buy unopened from BBCE or from a member on CU who got them from BBCE.
Fast. Fair. Reliable.

Opening 79 in general is a big gamble - but if you are get them from the guys you can rely on.

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 6:53AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

I do.

If boxes on eBay were such a good deal, don't you think we'd be buying them to turn around and sell on our website? >>

C'mon man, Steve is out of reach on a lot of his stuff. I know you have to make a profit but those graded packs are way up there. And you guys buy in bulk not from feebay so don't hand me that. If he came down 20% which he probably won't do, then he would move more product. chaz

gemint · July 17, 2012 7:00AM

<< 

C'mon man, Steve is out of reach on a lot of his stuff. I know you have to make a profit but those graded packs are way up there. And you guys buy in bulk not from feebay so don't hand me that. If he came down 20% which he probably won't do, then he would move more product. chaz >>

To be fair to Steve, if he can sell it for high prices, why lowball it? He's pretty generous with the 10% discount he gives to us for group rips. By looking at the inventory, he doesn't have a problem moving stuff. As he stated in an earlier thread, he's having to increase his buy prices to replace his inventory. He's in business to make money. If his product sat on his website for two years like some eBay BIN auctions, then you'd have a valid point. That's not the case though.

ThoseBackPages · July 17, 2012 7:07AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

I do.

If boxes on eBay were such a good deal, don't you think we'd be buying them to turn around and sell on our website? >>

C'mon man, Steve is out of reach on a lot of his stuff. I know you have to make a profit but those graded packs are way up there. And you guys buy in bulk not from feebay so don't hand me that. If he came down 20% which he probably won't do, then he would move more product. chaz >>

For someone that hates "bottom feeders", you are sounding their trumpet here

cdhc · July 17, 2012 7:31AM

The only items I would say BBCE is 'high' price wise on is the stuff that is nowhere else. I don't see any other 78 Topps wax or cello's around. The price for this older stuff is reflective of quantity and quality provided by BBCE. Take a look at some older Tuff Stuff etc - there at one time was a fairly consistent supply of this sort of material around. Now it is hard to come by.

lahmejoon · July 17, 2012 8:04AM

Aren't the OPC sets smaller than their Topps counterpart and typcially contain most of the starts? If so, I would vote for the OPC box for the fun factor.

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 8:15AM

Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is

ClockworkAngel · July 17, 2012 8:16AM

I am going to just get the 79 OPC box for now.

Would anyone be interested in doing a Group break on the 78 Wax or cellos AND the 75 Minis?

dmurphy3mvp · July 17, 2012 8:21AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

I do.

If boxes on eBay were such a good deal, don't you think we'd be buying them to turn around and sell on our website? >>

C'mon man, Steve is out of reach on a lot of his stuff. I know you have to make a profit but those graded packs are way up there. And you guys buy in bulk not from feebay so don't hand me that. If he came down 20% which he probably won't do, then he would move more product. chaz >>

I really don't think it's possible to move more product, especially since we seem to sell out of everything as soon as we get it! Chaz, you are just one person. You should see how much product thousands of loyal customers (and growing) can absorb in a year.

Whenever I'm in the office, I walk around and check out all the cool stuff and often think, we really should have more product. But then I remind myself, we're not running a frickin' museum here, and most of this is obviously priced fairly, or why would it sell? You should know I keep telling Steve to raise his prices, but what can I say, he's about as fair as they come.

We buy in bulk? Really? 1989 Donruss Baseball wax cases don't count. If anyone knows where we can find pre-1986 unopened, any sport, non-sport, any flavor (wax, cello, rack, vending, etc.), there are serious finder's fees to be earned just for making the introductions. We'll pay them to anyone; even you Chaz. You have no idea how much we kill ourselves trying to chase down even the most remote lead when it comes to vintage unopened. Do you think Steve likes saying dozens of times each week, "Nope, sorry, don't have any in stock. I wish I knew when we'll have it in again."

WalterSobchak · July 17, 2012 8:31AM

<< Would anyone be interested in doing a Group break on the 78 Wax or cellos AND the 75 Minis? >>

I would be in for at least two packs of '78 wax.

grote15 · July 17, 2012 8:42AM

<< 

<< Would anyone be interested in doing a Group break on the 78 Wax or cellos AND the 75 Minis? >>

I would be in for at least two packs of '78 wax. >>

Me too.

cpamike · July 17, 2012 9:51AM

<< 

<< 

<< Would anyone be interested in doing a Group break on the 78 Wax or cellos AND the 75 Minis? >>

I would be in for at least two packs of '78 wax. >>

Me too. >>

I could go for a couple of 78 cellos myself.

jeffcbay · July 17, 2012 10:33AM

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

You don't have to work for BBCE to know you get a quality product and top-notch buying experience from them.

To put my comment into context, back in 2007 when I first started actually using this board on a regular basis, I bought a 1978 Topps Wax Box on ebay for $450 (BBCE had them for $575 back then). At the time, this was a serious chunk of money for me, and when I started ripping into the packs, something didn't feel right, and after some help from the forum I discovered the entire box had been searched. Before this moment, I had no idea that someone would or could actually do this. Long story short, I received a refund from the ebay seller, and bought the box off of BBCE. From that moment on all of my wax purchases have been from BBCE. Every purchase I make, or watch others make, proves to me that they deserve my patronage. Obviously I'm not the only one who feels this way, and it's evident in the fact that they can't keep stuff on their shelves, even at the "high prices" you claim they have.

Chaz, try not to choke on your sour grapes.

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 11:32AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< BBCE prices are too high!! chaz >>

Compared to what? ebay? Yeah, go ahead and buy a box of 1975 Topps Mini on ebay. Have fun with your NM commons. >>

do you work for BBCE???? chaz >>

I do.

If boxes on eBay were such a good deal, don't you think we'd be buying them to turn around and sell on our website? >>

C'mon man, Steve is out of reach on a lot of his stuff. I know you have to make a profit but those graded packs are way up there. And you guys buy in bulk not from feebay so don't hand me that. If he came down 20% which he probably won't do, then he would move more product. chaz >>

For someone that hates "bottom feeders", you are sounding their trumpet here

>>

I'm a business man kid. chaz

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 11:33AM

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz

jeffcbay · July 17, 2012 11:49AM

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal.

grote15 · July 17, 2012 12:02PM

<< 

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal. >>

If you were to say that Steve was giving out two tens for a five, chaz would say no thanks, LOL..

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 12:06PM

<< 

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal. >>

It's my opinion so there tough guy. chaz

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 12:11PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal. >>

If you were to say that Steve was giving out two tens for a five, chaz would say no thanks, LOL.. >>

Bull crap. NO one is disputing that Steve does a great job and provides a good service. I would just like to see his graded stuff on special from time to time. I think it would be really neat if he came down on some of those 60's cello's and packs once in awhile so some of us 'poor folk' would have a shot. chaz

grote15 · July 17, 2012 12:32PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal. >>

If you were to say that Steve was giving out two tens for a five, chaz would say no thanks, LOL.. >>

Bull crap. NO one is disputing that Steve does a great job and provides a good service. I would just like to see his graded stuff on special from time to time. I think it would be really neat if he came down on some of those 60's cello's and packs once in awhile so some of us 'poor folk' would have a shot. chaz >>

You have no clue about his business...most of his new inventory flies off the shelf as soon as he stocks it. It sounds like you want a bargain on vintage 60s unopened packs but maybe they're just out of your price range. You can always rip mid 80s stuff cheap and be happy, LOL..

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 12:52PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Someone just pulled a 81 Topps Cello with Montana on top out of one of their boxes. If that doesn't speak to why those guys deserve a premium for their honest and 100% peace of mind of getting tamper free packs then I don't know what it is >>

Disagree. chaz >>

Then don't buy form them and stop pissing in everyone's cereal. >>

If you were to say that Steve was giving out two tens for a five, chaz would say no thanks, LOL.. >>

Bull crap. NO one is disputing that Steve does a great job and provides a good service. I would just like to see his graded stuff on special from time to time. I think it would be really neat if he came down on some of those 60's cello's and packs once in awhile so some of us 'poor folk' would have a shot. chaz >>

You have no clue about his business...most of his new inventory flies off the shelf as soon as he stocks it. It sounds like you want a bargain on vintage 60s unopened packs but maybe they're just out of your price range. You can always rip mid 80s stuff cheap and be happy, LOL.. >>

Fly's off the shelf huh?? How come I check his cello and pack inventory all the time and see the same ones month after month...run a special once in awhile on some vintage!! LOL!!!

jeffcbay · July 17, 2012 1:01PM

<< run a special once in awhile on some vintage!! >>

They do, once a year on Black Friday weekend. 10% off and free shipping (up to $50). I imagine if you want it cheaper than that, put some ads in some magazines, build a great reputation, and buy them from the source before BBCE does.

llafoe · July 17, 2012 1:05PM

Here's my take away from this thread... we should all end our posts with our first name in lower case. larry

WinPitcher · July 17, 2012 1:05PM

Chaz always complains about everyone's prices, I wonder, when he sells does he give it away?

grote15 · July 17, 2012 1:33PM

<< Chaz always complains about everyone's prices, I wonder, when he sells does he give it away? >>

That's the irony of it, Steve, he'd be holding out for top dollar, LOL..

grote15 · July 17, 2012 1:38PM

Fly's off the shelf huh?? How come I check his cello and pack inventory all the time and see the same ones month after month...

Umm, here's a thought...he may actually have more than one pack from that year and use a stock photo? LOL...

There may be a couple of higher end packs that have been on the site for a while, but the mid to late 70s boxes and boxes do indeed fly off the shelf. Steve also sold a large number of sealed vending cases from the early 80s before the pics were even uploaded to the site...same went for two 67 cello boxes that went for quite a sum. But you didn't see any of that, did you, LOL..

dmurphy3mvp · July 17, 2012 9:34PM

<< 
Fly's off the shelf huh?? How come I check his cello and pack inventory all the time and see the same ones month after month...

Umm, here's a thought...he may actually have more than one pack from that year and use a stock photo? LOL...

There may be a couple of higher end packs that have been on the site for a while, but the mid to late 70s boxes and boxes do indeed fly off the shelf. Steve also sold a large number of sealed vending cases from the early 80s before the pics were even uploaded to the site...same went for two 67 cello boxes that went for quite a sum. But you didn't see any of that, did you, LOL.. >>

Grote said it perfectly. We don't have real time inventory, you can't tell from the website how many we have in stock. And yes, we don't always change the photo of the item on the website.

Wal-Mart used to use the tag line "Every Day Low Prices" - that's how we sell our product. We don't go fishing like an eBay seller trying to get someone to bite on a ridiculously high price. We price things to sell. With the margins we work with, giving even 10% is a huge deal to us.

Simply put, there are many facets of our company that guys like Chaz will never understand.

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 10:31PM

<< 

<< 
Fly's off the shelf huh?? How come I check his cello and pack inventory all the time and see the same ones month after month...

Umm, here's a thought...he may actually have more than one pack from that year and use a stock photo? LOL...

There may be a couple of higher end packs that have been on the site for a while, but the mid to late 70s boxes and boxes do indeed fly off the shelf. Steve also sold a large number of sealed vending cases from the early 80s before the pics were even uploaded to the site...same went for two 67 cello boxes that went for quite a sum. But you didn't see any of that, did you, LOL.. >>

Grote said it perfectly. We don't have real time inventory, you can't tell from the website how many we have in stock. And yes, we don't always change the photo of the item on the website.

Wal-Mart used to use the tag line "Every Day Low Prices" - that's how we sell our product. We don't go fishing like an eBay seller trying to get someone to bite on a ridiculously high price. We price things to sell. With the margins we work with, giving even 10% is a huge deal to us.

Simply put, there are many facets of our company that guys like Chaz will never understand. >>

Seems like I ruffled some feathers....well I didn't mean to....I'll say it again...Steve does a great job....but 10% is not a special. Hey, he can do whatever he wants. I just thought it would be nice to give maybe 15% on some selected items if you buy $150 or $200 worth of product. C'mon, any of you guys that work for him go to business school? It's basic. chaz

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 10:33PM

<< Chaz always complains about everyone's prices, I wonder, when he sells does he give it away? >>

Winpitcher...always have throw in your half a cent....... chaz

chaz43 · July 17, 2012 10:35PM

<< Here's my take away from this thread... we should all end our posts with our first name in lower case. larry >>

Quit copying.......chaz is my moniker. chaz

Contemplating a purchase from BBC EXCHANGE

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