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Monday, October 26, 2015

No Love Lost on Update

Since I began collecting in 1993, I've never purchased more than a random pack of Topps Update.  Keeping in line with this history, I purchased a blaster box then ordered a hobby box cuz that's what I do - throw money away!  I should've left it at retail when I pulled a couple of cards that made me smile:
Cole Saberstats along with Votto and Altuve throwbacks. 
 Oh that was so much fun, I'll buy a 36 pack hobby box or two.  Ever heard of a Buyback Hot Box?  Seeded 1:18 packs so I pulled two TEN?????  Ten recycled cards - some creased, dinged and dented - from one box.  I was cheated out of eight newly minted cards.  Like many of you, I harbor a great dislike for buy backs.  Feast your eyes on these gems:



 
Seriously?  Awful creasing AND a missing corner?  Really Topps?  These are vintage and should be appreciated...blah blah blah.   I'm inclined to return these to customer service as a damaged card claims.  Where do they get this crap?  I'm sure they purchase in bulk from the collector market.  Apparently there is no inspection process.  Cards are stamped, dumped into the great sorting vat, shaken violently then spewn into packing bins.  Inserted randomly, all into the box I'm purchasing.  I hate having these extra buybacks, depriving my hobby friends of their prize pulls. 

There were a few nicer cards in the box:

GOLDEN Pirates
 
Ramos Pink foil/50 and Kendrick Variation

Britton swatch and two Gold foil Bryants!
 
So then I opened a second box, to find four  more barf-backs:

 
Highlights pulled were these:


Correa Gold and a Black combo/64
Variations and Snow camo/99
 
Guaranteed Auto

Thinking it fun to bust these at a bargain $50 per box, I took the bait after 20 plus years.  Hope the rest of you have better luck and more fun with update.  Maybe I can help with your set needs.  At 400 cards, it's too fat for my tastes. 

By the way, if you haven't read my last few posts - albeit weeks apart - then you're missing some prize winning opportunities!  Currently offered is a Rangers Teixeira bobble-head.  Win and give someone a gift they'll remember for years.
 

27 comments:

  1. The Matz auto is a good pull especially right, now I may have to get a box for $50 where'd you find em so cheap?

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    1. Ebay - free shipping too - purchased the day of release to the Hobby market. The seller had ten boxes offered. When I found him, he was down to three.

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  2. If you're interested in unloading those buybacks I believe we could workout a trade.

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    1. I may part with a few of those in the very near future. If so, I'll post them up with you as first dibs. Keep an eye open. I'm also working on updating my need/want lists too. Looking forward to a trade with you. Thanks for reading!

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  3. Big fan of the Reds throwback cards in the update. That Votto has to be one of the best ones.

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    1. If you win the bobble-head, I'll tuck it into the package for you. :)

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  4. Oh crap - I need trade bait for that snow cammo, if it's available. And that Podres buy back is AWESOME! Give it some love, Jules.

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    1. You know what - the snow camo had your name on it from the beginning. ;) I may have become a card snob. Most of the time I don't mind a beat up card as classic as the Podres but also don't pull them from packs. I find them in dime and quarter boxes. I'll try some love but am so tempted to return it to Topps.

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  5. I will take ALLLLL of your 1975 Topps buybacks. ALLLLLLLL of them. Well, in your case the Darrel Chaney anyway. Dindja read my blog? I'm collecting 'em.

    Also, I wouldn't mind that Kendrick variation either. We can work out something, I think. I need to get your northern address anyway.

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    1. I do recall reading about your newest 75-related endeavor. I'll sent Kendrick and the 75 along with a few newer Dodgers I've picked up. Greg, you were my first trade partner and I'll always appreciate your welcoming me into the community.

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  6. Could use those golden Bryants and the Fowler & Syndergaard viariations if they're still available. I still have everything from earlier in the year ready to send + plus a few more goodies from the past few months.

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    1. I haven't forgotten you! We discussed trading about the time I was packing up to move. Let me take a look at your list again to see what's on it. Bryants - I'm keeping for now, or longer. Not sure yet regarding these two variations. I'll keep your request in mind if I do decide to trade them. Thanks for reading and commenting. I hope you're doing well! I'll be in touch soon.

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  7. So you are living in Michigan now as do I. where did you find the retail box. I have yet to find them at Meijer or Target here.

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    1. Found these at a Target in Sterling Heights area. Also saw them in Rochester.

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  8. Love the River City Rakers Pirates card. That would be a fun rainbow to chase. Very nice box!

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    1. Those Pirates are your Matt. Not too fancy but going into the little mailer headed your way.

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  9. Replies
    1. ;) pretty accurate description, if I do say so myself...and I did. Thanks for reading!

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  10. Those buybacks wouldn't be so bad if Topps would stop stamping them. I mean you got a nice smattering of vintage wax too bad no one's looking to finish a set with a foil stamped card. I like Update simply for the fact that it's usually the first cards of guys in their new uniforms and call ups. The only thing I would have done different if I was looking at buying two hobby boxes was opted for one Jumbo. About the same price, but you get one more hit, although it's usually a manufactured relic.

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    1. Yes, the stamp is unnecessary! No stamp, no complaints - from me anyway. A package should be arriving for you today. Thanks for reading - and entering a recent contest!

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    2. I got it today! I totally forgot I entered and I missed your post about it. Thanks for the contest.

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    3. Or at least stamp them in the open space, not on top of the faux-auto or the rookie cup like one I got...

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    4. Stamp out buybacks! I'm on a mission! Thanks for reading, GCA!

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  11. I got seven buybacks out of my box of Update and I thought I'd gotten some kind of hot box (if that's even the right term). Guess Topps is just trying to unload as many of those as possible at this point.

    Looks like we got similar boxes, I pulled those same Correa and Bryant/Russell golds from mine. (I also pulled an Altuve jersey card that has your name on it.)

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    1. Sweet Nick! Thanks for the Altuve! I have a stack for you, several from Update. You may or may not have pulled them yourself. Thanks for stopping by the blog!

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  12. The one buyback I got in the three packs I've bought was a 1977 Jim Mason Blue Jays card. While I would prefer them not being stamped, that Expos card sure looks nice lol

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    1. HI Mike! A 72 Expos - can't go wrong there - and then came the stamping. Thanks for reading!

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