what are "buybacks?"

MrNearMint

I was searching cards on ebay, when I saw a Jordan rookie auto buyback. Was wondering if someone could inform me as what they are?

alifaxwa2

Fleer bought RCs off the 2ndary market, got them signed, re-issued then in packs.

Foo3112

Card companies (most notably Donruss in the past and as recent as Leaf in 2012) buy back original cards from certain years and foil stamp them and provide them with a serial number and re-insert them back into the new packs for collectors to find. Sometimes these cards can even come with autographs.