1993 Topps Finest 40 Box Lot

corvette1340 · January 21, 2012 12:51PM

I asked the seller how much he would take for the lot and he says he's already been offered $225/box. Says he'd take $260 + shipping for them. I assume the offer was probably from BBCE since Steve sells them for $295, but I may be wrong. Do the refractors run 1 per box? I don't know much about this set except the refractors go for a lot.

Topps Finest Lot

PhilG · January 21, 2012 12:58PM

The refractor pack can be picked out of the box. So be certain the refractor pack is there. I would demand a sample box before I pay for the 40.

The following is a post on the old Usnet from 2000:

Newsgroups: rec.collecting.cards.discuss Mar 14 2000, 3:00 am
From: "Andy Kimball" <cardd...@go.com> - Find messages by this author
Date: 2000/03/14
Subject: Re: should I open up 1993 finest baseball box??
Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse
Actually, I'm almost positive the odds were 1 in 15 packs.
I remember reading it somewhere (probably the Topps Press release - they
sent out 2 press releases about a month apart - the first was for a 198 card
set (no Piazza) and the second was to inform dealers of their inclusion of
Rookie Superstar Mike Piazza) plus we opened 24 boxes of '93 Finest and it
seemed every fifth box had 2 refractors the rest had 1 -- we got 30
refractors out of 24 boxes, the best of them was Don Mattingly & George
Brett.
-- Andy

Phil

corvette1340 · January 21, 2012 1:01PM

They are factory sealed with the Topps cellophane supposedly.

CDsNuts · January 21, 2012 1:08PM

They are factory sealed with the Topps cellophane supposedly.

There are no markings on the cellophane, so unless they are in sealed cases there's no way to tell for sure whether they were shrink-wrapped at the factory.

Toro · January 21, 2012 4:19PM

That's one heck of a lot. BBCE should get in the action as it's an easy sell.

corvette1340 · January 21, 2012 10:59PM

listing says no reserve, but the seller said he was expecting $260-$275/per and said an offer of $225/per was already there so I'm betting this listing will be shilled or ended early. I have the high bid as of now.

Sean1125 · January 21, 2012 11:14PM

90% chance this will be shilled.

Toro · January 22, 2012 6:33AM

Seems like the offer for $225 each is pretty solid, not many people are sitting on 10K+ for 1993 Finest boxes.

tsalems1 · January 22, 2012 6:42AM

I broke cases of that stuff back in 93. I know a little bit about this product.
Boxes can be resealed. There is no Topps logo on the cello wrap.
People have been known to pick the refractor (1 per box) and refill boxes.
Good luck but I wouldnt take that chance

jeffcbay · January 22, 2012 6:42AM

Only three feedbacks as a seller, one from 2005, 2008, and 2009. This is their only card-related auction. Someone is gonna get these boxes on the CHEAP if it's not shilled.

CDsNuts · January 22, 2012 8:35AM

Only three feedbacks as a seller, one from 2005, 2008, and 2009. This is their only card-related auction. Someone is gonna get these boxes on the CHEAP if it's not shilled.

What's a cheap price for 40 '93 finest boxes with no refractors?

jeffcbay · January 22, 2012 8:39AM

<< What's a cheap price for 40 '93 finest boxes with no refractors? >>

$NAD

TonyC · January 22, 2012 8:41AM

Something is fishy about this, whether it be the shrink wrap, the opportunity for shilling, the seller's background...

What struck me was this part of the description:

FRESH OUT OF 3 AND 6 BOX FACTORY CASES. EACH OF THESE BOXES WAS TAKEN BY MYSELF FROM DIRECTLY FROM FACTORY SEALED CASES BACK IN THE YEAR OF ISSUE. HAVE NO CONCERNS HERE AS TO AUTHENTICITY. THESE ARE 100 PERCENT THE REAL DEAL.

Is it possible this is true? Yes, but how many of us bought 40 boxes worth of product in the early 1990s, took all of the boxes out of the cases, then sat on them for almost 20 years? Just for storage purposes, it is easier to keep the cases sealed.

Also, why would you be selling approximately $10k of wax boxes and be posting your listing from eBay's Android platform? I tend to laugh when I see big ticket items posted with a smartphone.

prthd · January 22, 2012 10:09AM

Dpeck100 · January 26, 2012 4:20AM

I just checked this listing again and it is over $5200.

In the description he states that many more sealed boxes will be listed and they are indeed. Quite a few to choose from.

Good luck if anyone is going after this auction. I checked the watch count and it is at 209. Lot of eyeballs on this one for sure!

handyman · January 26, 2012 4:30AM

how did you check the watch count? I have never seen that before without being the seller?

Dpeck100 · January 26, 2012 4:31AM

Watchcount.com

Just type in 1993 Finest and there you have it

Foo3112 · January 26, 2012 4:32AM

Watchcount.com

handyman · January 26, 2012 4:38AM

Crazy. There is a web answer for everything!!

saucywombat · January 26, 2012 4:43AM

Very unique and exciting lot but I've got to question if there is really any way to get your money back out of it (other than holding and selling in the future)?

The base cards have no market so essentially you are paying a motherload for 40 jumbo box toppers and 40 random refractors (and who knows about the centering?)

Likely only $2000-$2500 in cards. Could end up with Pat Listach, Ron Gant, Cal Eldred and an O/C Nolan Ryan (but the again the elusive PSA 10 Orestes Destrades could be yours).

But if you have the means by all means...

miconelegacy · January 26, 2012 4:46AM

This would be a great group rip if we could guarantee the authenticity....

handyman · January 26, 2012 4:47AM

I agree with all yall.
IT does seem odd he took the boxes out of the case if he never wanted to open them in the first place. If you are paying 10k for this stuff. Id wait for a full case or something.

jeffcbay · January 26, 2012 4:49AM

If it sells for low enough, you could make quick money by parting it out box by box.

Maybe you could sell the individual boxes until you just made your money back, then gamble by opening the rest of the boxes and grading the refractors. Dunno... I don't have that kind of scratch, so I'm just spectating.

handyman · January 26, 2012 4:51AM

But wouldnt he need to check the auth? of them? If so how can he without opening the seal around the boxes?

jeffcbay · January 26, 2012 5:00AM

I suppose you can open one, if it's not authentic, file a SNAD and get your money back.

CDsNuts · January 26, 2012 5:02AM

I wouldn't be surprised to see them go for $12k+.

jackstraw · January 26, 2012 7:35AM

If you notice he has a lot of doubles of players on top. I know its pretty popular to get a box with
a star or a player you collect on top. He probably tried to do a whole set of box tops thats why
they were taken out of the case? I would love a Griffey on top along with a 94 95 Finest and Bowmans Best boxes..
Brett and Gwynn are his biggest names there and a lot of no names... I doubt he would have got doubles in a case
or 2?

handyman · January 26, 2012 7:42AM

"ALL SALES ARE FINAL. "

He should just sell them to BBCEXchange if legit.

Good theory on the box tops I didnt think of that.

Estil · January 26, 2012 2:13PM

Another word of caution to look out for (from Jan 1994 issue of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly) is that people have opened the shrinkwrap from the boxes, removed the Jumbo All-Star card, then reshrinkwrapped the box. So be careful about that also.

CDsNuts · January 26, 2012 2:17PM

He should just sell them to BBCEXchange if legit.

No he shouldn't.

jeffcbay · January 26, 2012 2:33PM

<< I wouldn't be surprised to see them go for $12k+. >>

Already up over $10k, 9 hours left.

Toro · January 26, 2012 2:43PM

If he could make his money on one sale,then he's doing the right thing. I do find it hard for Steve of BBCE to really authenticate a box as being untampered as far as resealed if there isn't a company indentifier on the shrink wrap.

jeffcbay · January 27, 2012 12:29AM

$14,211!!!

saucywombat · January 27, 2012 1:23AM

<< $14,211!!! >>

Someone needs to explain how someone thought $355 a box was a the right price.

TonyC · January 27, 2012 1:26AM

Only two people bid more than $5,111, and both people above that had decent feedback numbers. Whoever won is probably going to piece it out, as the risk/reward of not knowing if the boxes are authentic prohibits any money to be made from opening them.

jeffcbay · January 27, 2012 1:30AM

Especially since the last one that sold on ebay went for $220.46 shipped.

corvette1340 · January 27, 2012 1:30AM

absolutely ridiculous.

corvette1340 · January 27, 2012 4:17AM

Steve sells these boxes for $295 each and someone paid $355 each for 40 boxes from ebay, lol.

itzagoner · January 27, 2012 4:52AM

big green balls.

WinPitcher · January 27, 2012 7:24AM

Does Steve have any?

ThoseBackPages · January 27, 2012 7:36AM

<< Does Steve have any? >>

yep

https://www.bbcexchange.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemid=2233&searchtype=3&search=finest&lotsperpage=25&categoryid=1&displayby=2&pagetype=0&page=0&seo=1993-Topps-Finest-Baseball-Unopened-Foil-Box

Toro · January 27, 2012 9:39AM

If they were in sealed cases, I would understand but still believe they overpaid. Maybe someone is still back in 1993 and paying 1993 prices. Maybe someone with deep pockets wants to relive those days! More power to them if so!

SlAt · January 27, 2012 11:09AM

<< 

<< $14,211!!! >>

Someone needs to explain how someone thought $355 a box was a the right price. >>

Dave,

There is no explanation for that kind of coin getting dropped....that is stupid money if they don't get 4 PSA 10's Refractors of Ryan, Piazza, Destrade, Key, Williams & Hershiser. The base cards sell ok in PSA 10 but not worth this.

The 3 Boxes I have bought since 2006 I spent an average of $200 for and got 2 Key PSA 9's and a Buhner PSA 9 out of I'm a buyer in the $200 Range but not at $355.

-John

gosteelers · January 27, 2012 1:19PM

<< 

<< 

<< $14,211!!! >>

Someone needs to explain how someone thought $355 a box was a the right price. >>

Dave,

There is no explanation for that kind of coin getting dropped....that is stupid money if they don't get 4 PSA 10's Refractors of Ryan, Piazza, Destrade, Key, Williams & Hershiser. The base cards sell ok in PSA 10 but not worth this.

The 3 Boxes I have bought since 2006 I spent an average of $200 for and got 2 Key PSA 9's and a Buhner PSA 9 out of I'm a buyer in the $200 Range but not at $355.

-John >>

John,
I have to say, you did real well with the (3) refractors you pulled from those boxes...tough cards!!! Maybe this box lot has all of the Hershisers and Destrades?

Mark

CDsNuts · January 28, 2012 11:25AM

He should just sell them to BBCEXchange if legit.

Good call. Why get $14k at auction when you can get $9k from BBCE? If I decide to sell my collection please let me know if you're willing to be my consignor.

As far as the price, it's pretty high but when you consider it's probably the biggest hoard of '93 Finest left out there it makes a little sense. I'd be scared s-less that they would've been re-shrinkwrapped, but I guess you could open one at random and figure that out right away. Logic dictates there are probably several SPs in these boxes, since they were actually produced in equal quantities and they have to be somewhere. Why not in a 40 box hoard? It's not like someone was hoarding Orestes Destrade back in the mid 90s or backdooring them from Topps.

handyman · January 28, 2012 4:39PM

Glad I dont collect this carp. Good call nuts.

SlAt · January 29, 2012 6:59AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< $14,211!!! >>

Someone needs to explain how someone thought $355 a box was a the right price. >>

Dave,

There is no explanation for that kind of coin getting dropped....that is stupid money if they don't get 4 PSA 10's Refractors of Ryan, Piazza, Destrade, Key, Williams & Hershiser. The base cards sell ok in PSA 10 but not worth this.

The 3 Boxes I have bought since 2006 I spent an average of $200 for and got 2 Key PSA 9's and a Buhner PSA 9 out of I'm a buyer in the $200 Range but not at $355.

-John >>

John,
I have to say, you did real well with the (3) refractors you pulled from those boxes...tough cards!!! Maybe this box lot has all of the Hershisers and Destrades?

Mark >>

Yeah, I feel pretty lucky with the boxes I have gotten. I hope it was a dealer who bought them and can flood the market with 30 PSA 10's I think I'm about 70 short of completing this set in PSA 10.

-John

1993 Topps Finest 40 Box Lot

Comments