Where is the strangest place in which you purchased a card?

Stooge

I once walked into an Apple store in a mall in Houston, Texas while on Vacation and was on a new MacBook Pro computer in the store. I got on eBay and noticed that I had a card going off in about 4 minutes that I wanted to buy, so I put a bid in and ended up winning it. After I won it, I cleared out the computer of its recent items so no-one could log on after I left and went about my merry way thinking that was awesome to just walk into a store and randomly just win something on eBay.

Anyone have a strange place in which you have won an item, doesn't have to be a card?

Paul.

Gemyanks10

Hi paul how have you been? :0) There are two different places for me with one being a little more unique than the other. The first and more common one is my job. I have spent countless hours in the past year or so building my set and scouring ebay when things get slow at work. It passes the time by and it's fun at the same time. The more unique incident was when i was on my honeymoon in the dominan republic. The resort we stayed at had a computer room with free wi-fi that you could use at anytime. One morning when the wife was sleeping in i went down to check my email, facebook, etc and decided what the heck i might as well check ebay as well. Sure enough 4sc listed some new cards and i bought a few can't remember which ones exactly but didn't pay until i got back home. It was cool though and that's when i was thinking that i might have a little bit of an addition to pieces of cardboard lol. Other than those two spots, nothing else comes to mind. Have a good one

Jimmy

WalterSobchak

Best I can do is a Buffalo Wild Wings, using my phone.

MrNearMint

Once while having dinner at my in-laws, I got up from the table to "use the bathroom," but I actually got up so i could bid on an item on eBay.

...and I did not win the item.

Im sick, I have a problem!

itzagoner

i've sat at a dinner table, by a resort pool or in a bathroom stall and won something.

but the best strangeness predates my eBay experience. one day while touring Sedona, Arizona with family and friends, we chose a pottery and knick-knack store to look around and i immediately gravitated to the front showcase which had a gorgeous '64 Topps Koufax in it, surrounded by turquoise jewelry and local artifacts.

the only awesome baseball card for sale in that whole freekin town and i found it. astonishing.

Goomba78

<< <i>Once while having dinner at my in-laws, I got up from the table to "use the bathroom," but I actually got up so i could bid on an item on eBay.

...and I did not win the item.

Im sick, I have a problem! >>




Haha, me too & more than once!

bishop

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in 2010.

TheMick6

Al Anbar Provance on the East Fallajuh Iraqi Camp. I spent 13 months (not by choice lol!) saving uncle Sams tax free paycheck. Each month as a gift to myself I'd send an email to one or two dealers I trusted (couldn't get on
eBay out there) and buy something I wanted. When I got home my wife had saved the packages for me to open It was awesome! I did the same thing two years ago at Camp Leatherneck although we had the ability to get on ebay there.

Dboneesq

Thanks for your service Mick6.

YogiBerraFan

<< <i>Thanks for your service Mick6. >>

TheMick6

Your very welcome! I came home and walked in my front door, had my daughter on my shoulders my son clinging to my hip, my wife said "oh yeah I almost forgot Willie, the Mick, Hank and Ted are waiting for you in the closet to". I love that women!

Stooge

Thank you Sir for your service and your sacrifice. I appreciate it.

Paul

digicat

6 or 7 years ago, while jonesing for a quick unopened fix, I bought a couple of rack cases of 1988 Donruss out of the trunk of a guy's car in a Target parking lot.

TheMick6

Now that is the definition of needing a fix lol!! 1988 Donruss racks outta some dudes trunk in a parking lot! Priceless

ReggieCleveland

Not necessarily weird location, but I remember having a moment of clarity while in a bathroom stall at work while I used Google translate to email back and forth with a seller in Argentina and then sent them money for the cards. Modern technology is amazing.

Arthur

itzagoner

<< <i>6 or 7 years ago, while jonesing for a quick unopened fix, I bought a couple of rack cases of 1988 Donruss out of the trunk of a guy's car in a Target parking lot. >>



wow. that's wino territory. like spending $1.99 on a bottle of White Port so you can get the spins, then throw up.

edmundfitzgerald

Any national. Lots of strangers and strange people in general.
However, not as strange as a comic-con.

SidePocket

Thanks Mick6 for your service to this great country! And I'm glad you're blessed with a great family!

calaban7

<< <i>Thanks Mick6 for your service to this great country! And I'm glad you're blessed with a great family! >>



I agree ---- Sonny

runningman

I think you're going to like these two. While I was serving in the United States Marine Corps 1984 - 1987, I worked in the Brig at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The Officer of the day came in to sign the log and saw my Baseball Cards magazine. To make a long story, short, I bought his childhood collection. Later I was transferred and worked at the USBD in Leavenworth Kansas. During a cell search, I saw a stack of cards with an Inmates pictures and on top was a 1988 Fleer Gregg Jeffries. Broke the rules and traded him a Hostess cupcake for it ! So two purchases while working in the military prison system.

yankeesman

Great thread! I have two:

For auction type purchase, I hovered around a pay phone at the now-defunct Casino Magic in Biloxi waiting on a Teletrade (anyone remember them?) auction to end to pick up a 55 Bowman Mantle.

My favorite though is first time I was ever in New York City walking the streets of Manhattan on a Sunday and they would apparently let people just sell stuff on the street on Sundays (or so I was told). I walked up to a guy with what looked like a tv tray table with a few cards on it. I bought a 62 Topps Bob Turley as I am a Yankees fan and we share the last name. Good times.

Skin2

<< <i>Al Anbar Provance on the East Fallajuh Iraqi Camp. I spent 13 months (not by choice lol!) saving uncle Sams tax free paycheck. Each month as a gift to myself I'd send an email to one or two dealers I trusted (couldn't get on
eBay out there) and buy something I wanted. When I got home my wife had saved the packages for me to open It was awesome! I did the same thing two years ago at Camp Leatherneck although we had the ability to get on ebay there. >>



Great stories!

TheMick is a cool dude...and I love the avatar!

frankhardy

I live out in the country, so it is a rare thing to find cards close to my house. About 3 or 4 years ago, I forget how I found out about them, but I heard about a guy that had a couple of Mantle cards. He only lived about 3 miles from my house. He lived in an old mobile home. I went and looked at them. He had a 1954 Bowman Mantle and a 1955 Bowman Mantle. I think they were around VG to VG-EX. I made him an offer and he excepted. Probably about one year later, the mobile home burned to the ground with the guy in in and he died. If I had not bought those Mantles, they would have burned up with him.

I am reminded of that incident every so often. I am a meter tech for out local power company. Sometimes I have to read the meter that is on the property. His wife now lives in a new mobile home on the same property.

Maurice

frankhardy, that's a disturbing story. I'd sell those Mantle cards.

Guru

A couple of years ago I was in Chicago for the U2 concert. I was walking on the Miracle Mile and needed not only find a wifi signal, but a bathroom as well. I found Cheesecake factory, walked up to the person who was taking reservations. I asked for the "Smiths" and then said, "Oh never mind, I see them". I started walk back and then cut to the bathroom...by the way their bathroom was super nice. Took care of business and bought the card.

The second is a bit...well, you may think it's horrible what I did. I was at a wedding that I thought would only be 45 minutes. Turns out it was 2 1/2 hours long. The groom was from Mexico and the bride was from Vietnam. So they had the first round in english, second in spanish, third in Vietnamese. I've never seen anything like that, but I was in the back, excused myself and went outside to make my purchase. I know...horrible. I can already feel a heaping amount of judgement coming my way.

TheMick6

I think it's safe to say everyone here are addicts!! I am currently in Vegas on leave with my wife and what do you think I'm looking for?!?! I can't help it

TheMick6

Hey Skin2,

Anytime you wanna discus saber metrics again I'm ready, love this board because of the different views and opinions and knowledgable fans! You know your baseball that's for sure

MintMoondog

1975. Wing-Dings liquor store near my home. It was a tiny store in a dirty parking lot on a relatively busy street corner. I was 8 years old, and had never been in a liquor store - it had a strange smell that I have not placed since. Amongst all the booze the owner sold a few racks of gum some chocolate and 1975 mini cellos - We didn't have much money then so I can only remember 2-3 purchases - but they were golden memories.

raykasa

my strangest place just so happens to be one of my favorite "card" stories i get to tell: about 8 years ago, i was walking a major flea market in the Central Jersey area, going row by row looking for cards. at the midpoint of the market, i came across a stand that had tarped walls and ceiling (i thought for sun protection) and a weird panel swing door as its entrance. i saw about a dozen guys going through boxes and i thought i saw something catch my eye that was card related. i walk thru the swing door to find 30 some boxes full of adult dvds and vhs and alot of guys "catching up on their collections"! before i could turnaround and walk out, i saw right in front of me a box that was full of baseball cards! This i swear! the vendor yelled at me,"those are my son's cards. He wants twenty bucks for them. take it or leave it." i thumbed through the box to find some chipper jones rookies, 89 donruss schillings, bonds and maddux rookies and a cool run of multiple Boggs, Sandberg, and Gwynn rookies from all three companies. i quickly bought the box, and ran out of there. But i suddenly realized that i was just as excited looking at the cards as the guys looking at the dvds! LOL!

PSASAP

Some guys get turned on by pictures of naked women, others by pictures of men wearing jerseys. Different strokes for different folks.

MrNearMint

GURU,

Don't feel so bad, I would use the excuse of buying a card simply to get out of going to a wedding, I hate weddings. I didn't want to go to my own wedding.

dontippet

On ebay at the St. Louis Science Center in 2000. They had a display of computer for kids with internet hooked up, so I went ahead and purchased some unopened packs.

larryallen73

<< <i>GURU,

Don't feel so bad, I would use the excuse of buying a card simply to get out of going to a wedding, I hate weddings. I didn't want to go to my own wedding. >>



Seriously? When I was single weddings were THE BEST! Love is in the air!

hyperchipper09

Livestock auction, June 1987 Abingdon, Virgina. Picked up a Eddie Murray rookie in the parking lot.

fur72

<< <i>my strangest place just so happens to be one of my favorite "card" stories i get to tell: about 8 years ago, i was walking a major flea market in the Central Jersey area, going row by row looking for cards. at the midpoint of the market, i came across a stand that had tarped walls and ceiling (i thought for sun protection) and a weird panel swing door as its entrance. i saw about a dozen guys going through boxes and i thought i saw something catch my eye that was card related. i walk thru the swing door to find 30 some boxes full of adult dvds and vhs and alot of guys "catching up on their collections"! before i could turnaround and walk out, i saw right in front of me a box that was full of baseball cards! This i swear! the vendor yelled at me,"those are my son's cards. He wants twenty bucks for them. take it or leave it." i thumbed through the box to find some chipper jones rookies, 89 donruss schillings, bonds and maddux rookies and a cool run of multiple Boggs, Sandberg, and Gwynn rookies from all three companies. i quickly bought the box, and ran out of there. But i suddenly realized that i was just as excited looking at the cards as the guys looking at the dvds! LOL! >>




Winner!

Juggs

When I was in college my school played in what used to be called the Sun Bowl in El Paso Texas. My friends and I would go into Juarez at night, because we were dumb, and drink and do stupid gringo type things. One night we decided we'd barter at the stores. We all bought serapes, sombreros, tamales, whatever we could barter. Finally, as the night was drawing down my friend points to a store across the street that had leather bull whips in it. We walked over to barter on the whips when I notice the store had these boxes full of baseball cards. Most were from 87-90 with a few older one's sprinkled in. None of them were in any type of holder so they were all torn up and rounded and abused. But as I kept sorting through them I found about 5 cards that were in top loaders, one of which was an 89 UD Griffey which was pretty off centered. At the time I didn't have that card so I was interested, but the price was written in pesos. I asked what the price was and the guy working at the store told me it was $100. I rolled my eyes and put it back. He said he could sell it for $75, but I would be taking advantage of him. I started to walk away. After about a dozen counter offers, BY HIM, I finally walked out of the store with a 10 foot leather bull whip and a Griffey Upper Deck for $4.

Funny thing was, I never made a counter offer....he kept under cutting himself until I finally said "I'll give you $4 for both".

Carew29

Strangest place i found cards was when i was in 3rd grade. Someone dumped thousands of Brady Bunch cards in the dumpster at my elementry school in 1971. I dove in a took a small stack and i have no idea what happened to them from that point.

yankeesman

<< <i>Different strokes for different folks. >>



No pun intended, right?

orioles93

I bought my Clemente rookie from a guy off of craigslist. I had purchased from him before so this time I went to his house. His house was a little run down, creepy shack along a river. By far weirdest place ive bought a card.