Dollar boxes - what to look for

[MrMet]

So I was at my LCS the other day, and they had .50¢, $1, $2 and $3 boxes with a variety of baseball and some football cards in them. My question is when looking through these boxes, what should I be looking for? I know, since they are a card dealer, they should know what they are doing, and I won't find any major steals, but if I am trying to use cards to flip, or trade for what I want, what should I mostly be looking for? I know the sarcastic answers will be coming, but I hope there are some out there who will actually drop some knowledge and help me out too. Thanks!

 

[longbomberz]

I honestly think you need to do some research on your own so you'll be able to pick out good deals as you see them. There's really not a concise way to answer your question. Some cards of superstars can still be worth very little, but others of seemingly scrub-type players can be worth quite a bit.

All that said, as a general rule I'd look out for RCs of star type players, parallels of inserts and card's #'d to 100 or less.

 

[Lars]

I think it's up to you since the quality of dollar boxes vary from store to store.

If the boxes have the latest 2014/2013 cards, I might try and look for SP's that may have been overlooked and are 'fair game' once 'tossed' in the dollar and under box.

I'd go with 'other people's favorite players' as well if it's in there.

I'd look for any sort of 'parallel' cards, even cheap ones that maybe worth something to someone else, though probably not worth much.

Sometimes best bet is go to town with what you like and if you see something - go ahead and grab it for yourself.

Some places just have crap in them - that unless you are just hoarding cards - there will be nothing you can pull that is going to worth more than the prices listed for the cards in a particular box.

 

[SteelBrad]

No sarcasm here...

You just gotta get your feet wet and learn what sells. You'll be surprised more often than not, and the majority will be bad surprises. But every now and then, you'll snag a card that has been sitting in someone's dollar box for months that you sell for a good profit.

This past weekend I got lucky. Found a Topps Heritage Chrome Black Refractor of a common for $1. Sold it the next day for $30. Same box, there is a Ichiro Heritage Chrome Refractor for $1. It'll sell for over $10. The big scores are rare but they keep you going.

Brad

 

[tonsofcommons]

The best way to optimize profitability is to build a network of buyers, so you have a large web for what you can sell.

It may be beneficial to check out the 90s/2000s insert thread to get an idea of what some people think are worthless may be profitable.

Like others have said, it would be great if we could all just tell you what to look for but there is such a wide variety of answers to that question.

 

[MrMet]

I understand it's hard to say exactly what to look for, but all of your guys responses have been very helpful so far, and I thank you all

 

[Dilferules]

Sandy Koufax autos, Babe Ruth RCs, and one that a lot of people overlook is the 1952 Topps Mantle.

But seriously, in addition to knowing cards inside and out (because ultimately these are cards that dozens have pawed over and not bought, so you have to know better than them to spot a hidden gem), be on the lookout for stuff that other people might miss if they're not paying attention. For example I was rummaging through a quarter box and saw a 2006 Allen and Ginter Mini Andy Pettitte, big whoop. Flipped it over and it was the Bazooka/25 version. Sold it for like $40 or $50. Also saw a common Topps Heritage Chrome card, yawn...except it was 2001 Heritage Chrome. Sold it for $40.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Don't ever assume that a dealer knows exactly what they have in their bargain boxes. The stuff I've found at dime/quarter/dollar boxes at both shows and shops have been some of my biggest scores, and that's stuff I've found that maybe 25 people have already been through. Not every seller is as into the obscure rarities as we are here; if he's just looking to sell quick, he'll notice the Trouts and Puigs but miss the rare SP of a non-superstar player.

 

[ASTROBURN]

Don't ever assume that a dealer knows exactly what they have in their bargain boxes.

^this

And if you see Bagwells, take a pic and text me

 

[chromerookies]

So I was at my LCS the other day, and they had .50¢, $1, $2 and $3 boxes with a variety of baseball and some football cards in them. My question is when looking through these boxes, what should I be looking for? I know, since they are a card dealer, they should know what they are doing, and I won't find any major steals, but if I am trying to use cards to flip, or trade for what I want, what should I mostly be looking for? I know the sarcastic answers will be coming, but I hope there are some out there who will actually drop some knowledge and help me out too. Thanks!

Wrong! One of the many examples I have on this subject was back in the late 90's when Chris Singleton was on fire and had been for some time, I was going thru my shops common boxes and found a few of Singleton's 96' r.c's for a $.25. They were selling for $6-$10 at that time. So to go on what other posters have written, if you do your research, you can most def. find some nice deals. Good luck!

 

[BBCgalaxee]

I could write a book of my bargain box steals.

Never...eeeeeeeeeeever.....think dealers know what they have in there.

You're not going to find a Jeter auto in them, anything BLATANTLY obvious won't find it's way into those boxes...usually... So it's up to you to do home work and spend time reading message boards.

 

[smapdi]

On the other hand, my LCS has $1-$5-$10 boxes filled with 50-cent-$1 cards...

 

[Tom Oates]

Know which sets have serial numbered parallels. The dealers sometimes miss serial numbers when they are printed on the back. I picked up a 2005 Timeless Treasures Griffey that was low serial numbered to /25 if memory serves. It was in the dollar bin. How could I refuse!

 

[tonsofcommons]

Funniest example of dealers not knowing what they have...

I was at a show digging through dime boxes at a dealer's table. This guy has been in the card game for quite a while. I pulled out a 1998 revolution Ripken base card. I knew that the base card booked at $8, so I figured it was a good deal for a dime.

Later, I was looking through the cards and saw it was the premiere date version 1/49. Also found a Jeter 2000 gallery players issue /250 in the same boxes.

I was talking to that exact same dealer a week later and we were talking about finding steals in dime boxes and he said "You aren't going to find those kind of steals in my boxes." I just laughed a little inside.


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[hive17]

It's been my experience that, while dealers may be aware of the inserts, they aren't real good at tracking who is HOT in baseball. I mean, Puig and Trout being on the cover of every publication might clue them in, other exploding guys are missed. Chris Davis in older Bowman for example.

My best pull was a R. A. Dickey Bowman Chrome that the dealer had sitting around for nearly a decade since he opened it.

Right when Pablo Sandoval came on the scene, I found an Elite auto in a 2/$5 bin. Flipped it for about $50.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

My biggest bv find was a 1989 upper deck Joyner promo card (the rarest version) in a quarter box which books $400 or so.

Sent from my HTCONE using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Come to my store. You won't find any steals but a lot of nice stuff and no shortage of cards with $10 bv in my dollar and fifty cents section.

 

[Ashburn Alley]

Come to my store. You won't find any steals but a lot of nice stuff and no shortage of cards with $10 bv in my dollar and fifty cents section.

Man, I miss that sight. The store near me used to have a section like that.

 

[MrMet]

Come to my store. You won't find any steals but a lot of nice stuff and no shortage of cards with $10 bv in my dollar and fifty cents section.

You got any Mets autos hiding in those slots? Haha

A lot of good info here guys, thanks for all the help, it's really appreciated

 

[byronscott4ever]

It never hurts to dip your toes and take a chance at a low price. Look for dealers that have just a few of one sport as they might not know much about other sports. I also try to buy cool looking cards so I don't mind if I'm stuck with them. I feel the biggest draw to these boxes is that people know what the price is up front.