Definition of "searched?"

MrNearMint

In regards to cello and rack packs, does the term "searched" mean that somebody just looked at the top and bottom cards to see if there was a rookie/star card, or does it mean the pack was opened and resealed?

One reason why I ask is because I actually saw a listing on ebay for a rack pack in which the owner actually put "searched" in the listing title lol.

bziddy

Depending on the year...

I assume it means, at the very least, that someone looked at the top and bottoms.

I usually also assume that someone with a knowledge of sequencing could pulled the 'good' racks.

MrNearMint

Thanks for your response.

3BoyzTrading

Keep in mind, with the space in some of those racks, it's easy to slide the cards to the side, one at a time, exposing the card number.

otwcards

There are a myriad of ways a pack/rack/cello can be "searched."

Packs, cellos and racks can be "searched" by knowing the card sequencing and using the top and bottom card(s), when visible, to "predict" the likelihood that certain cards will be above or below the visible cards.

Racks, depending upon the tightness of the compartments, can be physically searched by manually "fingering" the cards to see either the front or back of the cards within the section.

Lastly, "unopened" boxes can be "searched" by looking at the top or bottom cards and removing those with key cards showing and replacing them with "common" fillers while still being sold as a "complete" box.

As with most things in this hobby, know what you need to know and who you are dealing with when making significant purchases.

bziddy

I remember, back in the 1984-1986 time frame...my favorite LCS (my only LCS at that point) got in some 78-80 rack packs. I was checking them out (but sheesh, $6 for a rack pack?) and he walked over and showed me something -- to this day I'm not sure why he did this:

He took a rack, and adjusted the cards in the section and then thumbed thru them and read off the name of every player in one section of the cards.

I'm not sure if it was a general warning about rack packs, or those packs specifically. At any rate, I didn't buy any because that would have taken too big a chunk out of my budget.

twalker

In my experience it means anything that doesn't come straight from a case.

For example, there is a 1978 Topps Baseball Unopened Cello Pack Box for sale on EBAY:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370963751236redirect=mobile

The seller was careful to title that the packs are unopened, as clearly the box isn't.

As for racks you can thumb through every card. You can also tell from the centering of the front and back cards how the rest of the cards will probably be.

LarkinCollector

<< <i>Keep in mind, with the space in some of those racks, it's easy to slide the cards to the side, one at a time, exposing the card number. >>


And chipping the edges of those cards as well. If you see chipping on the top cards, opposite side from the card #, assume there are no hits.

MrNearMint

Thanks for all the great input guys!

corncobb

In this day and age I would just assume all of them have been searched in one way or another.

GR

+1 for the seller being honest though, sounds like somebody trustworthy enough to buy items from

jmaciu

<< <i>In this day and age I would just assume all of them have been searched in one way or another. >>



This is why I treasure my 1980-1985 run of wax Topps baseball boxes from a sealed case that I purchased from BBCE. The provenance for these is rock solid.