If you have an affinity for racks, I seek your input...

galaxy27

To many, I'm sure this is going to seem like minutiae. But let's face it, we all possess idiosyncrasies when it comes to collecting, whether we care to admit it or not. If someone were to ask me what my number one pet peeve is when it comes to this avocation, cardboard with perceptible loading notches on the obverse side of a rack would garner quite a few votes. Especially the money cards.

I'm sure someone is going to inquire as to what a loading notch looks like. Well, I'll be completely honest, I'm too lazy to dig up an exemplar right now. It's around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after a long week, man. Someone kindly oblige me below and I'll email you a cookie.

But now for the info I covet. Say you thoroughly scour this planet and ultimately track down the player of your dreams on top of a rack, only to find the aesthetics being mangled by a dreaded loading notch. I know lots of variables come into play (e.g., rarity & severity), but generally speaking, what type of mindset do you have in such an instance? Do you proceed with a full-fledged drone strike in the waning seconds? Do you pump the brakes? Do you bypass it altogether?

T to tha i to tha a...

Ironmanfan

whats a Loading Notch?

IMF

tmgrnzx9r

<< <i>whats a Loading Notch?

IMF >>



I believe he is talking about the bottom card that looks like it has a peeling effect on the cardboard on the front card.

galaxy27

IMF-

tmg is right. Basically it's where a card (prior to insertion) was snagged at the Topps factory, producing a blemish along an edge:

Dboneesq

If the notch was on the card of my favorite player ... I pass.

rtimmer

I drop my price 15% but still buy it. I know I have at least two Ripken's and I think a Gwynn in my collection.

summerof68

Racks are my absolute favorite and I busted my first rack in 1968. For aesthetic reasons I prefer none of the top facing cards have loader marks and I definitely won't pay a premium for a rack that has a star on top if the star has that unattractive gouge. I'm not too concerned if a card on the back of a rack has a loader mark.

bigdcards

It's a huge drawback for me. I've used it an an excuse to rip older racks a couple of times.

Webb63

I always thought those notches were caused by someone trying to search that cell in the rack….caused by the thumb/finger nail when attempting to slide it away from the card behind it. That's why I am aways leery of racks that have that notch. If it was caused during production, I would be a lot more apt to be OK with it.

BaltimoreYankee

When I collected rack packs, I would pass on any packs that had cards with the loader mark.

grote15

As an unopened collector, the loading marks don't particularly bother me as much as other issues like centering. (If you are planning to rip the rack, and you plan to submit the star card card, that is certainly another story, though loading marks typically only affect the very top card in the rack.) Loading marks from the factory are very common on bottom edge of top cards in rack packs from this era. (They were caused when the top card was "caught" in machine when rack was being loaded/packaged at the factory, and are completely different from fingernail marks.) You also see them less frequently on left edge of top card in cello packs from this era. Often times, when you see a loading mark on top card, there is an extra card in that cell, too.

TNP777

Am I the only one that feels like they were led here under false pretenses?

itzagoner

well, it is tight sweater season.

slum22

Stephen,

I feel your pain. There is a 1981 FB rack with Joe Montana on top on eBay now that has one of these notches and it is a shame as I have been after that rack for a while. Throw in the fact that the seller is great and has legit items and it is especially tough. I pass on these racks especially when the notch is on the star card I want.

ReggieCleveland

<< <i>It's a huge drawback for me. I've used it an an excuse to rip older racks a couple of times. >>



+1

That would really bother me if it were on the card that was the draw. I would probably wait for a better one unless the price was too good. There certainly should be a discount on the price, although I'm not well-versed enough in unopened to presume to know what that should be.

DanBessette

<< <i>Am I the only one that feels like they were led here under false pretenses? >>



Lol nope. I want to see that girl in the tight tee jiggling side to side. Was it Mike who has that gif? Where is everybody's favorite CPA when you need him??

BLUEJAYWAY

20 years ago I had a 69 Topps Clemente with this loading notch issue. At the time thought it was from another cause. Another mystery solved thanks to this forum.

Dboneesq

Dan ... r u talking about POPCORN GIRL?

DanBessette

<< <i>Dan ... r u talking about POPCORN GIRL? >>



No. She's decent, but I mean this gif that looks to be from an infomercial or something. She's saying something, but I always have the sound turned off on my phone.

grote15

<< <i>

<< <i>Dan ... r u talking about POPCORN GIRL? >>



No. She's decent, but I mean this gif that looks to be from an infomercial or something. She's saying something, but I always have the sound turned off on my phone. >>



He's talking about Veronica Belmont, LOL..

DanBessette

<< <i>

<< <i>Dan ... r u talking about POPCORN GIRL? >>



No. She's decent, but I mean this gif that looks to be from an infomercial or something. She's saying something, but I always have the sound turned off on my phone. >>



Mike's post, halfway down page 2 of this thread. I've missed Mike around here.

galaxy27

In retrospect, I have no one to blame but myself for this. I suppose if I'm going to serve one up on a silver platter, the least I can do is help you 'verts get your rocks off.

Enjoy your chichis!