Rip & Flip Conversation - Your thoughts?

[Dilferules]

I feel like you're in the minority - buying product to build the set, etc.

Agree here? Seems to be the only true way to buy product with the intention of keeping outside of hits, which are inevitable.


---
Buying Albert Belle cards! PM me!

I think it depends on the product...with Topps base, Ginter, or Heritage I think there is a pretty large percentage of people who are building the set. Bowman stuff or higher-end stuff, hardly anybody is busting with any thoughts of building a set. I usually build Topps base/update and one or two other sets like Archives, for everything else I open it's just the other reasons (because it's fun opening packs, to get trade bait, and lastly the search for a big hit) plus getting a few cards for my A's collection.

 

[MansGame]

Live example... in an AIC break tonight... can't think of many cards I could hit where I'd keep it. I guess I'm hoping for a high draft pick (1 or 2) and get a monster and can FLIP! God the hobby is gambling...

 

[predatorkj]

I think it depends on the product...with Topps base, Ginter, or Heritage I think there is a pretty large percentage of people who are building the set. Bowman stuff or higher-end stuff, hardly anybody is busting with any thoughts of building a set. I usually build Topps base/update and one or two other sets like Archives, for everything else I open it's just the other reasons (because it's fun opening packs, to get trade bait, and lastly the search for a big hit) plus getting a few cards for my A's collection.

Yes, there certainly are a lot of set builders still busting wax. This is how I end up with most of my partial sets. My LCS has some master set builders that bust a case or so and bring all the extra stuff back. I don't know why they do it this way but it keeps me from paying a fortune so I'm not complaining. But either way it goes, of you're building a master set( minus crazy low numbered stuff of course) it always ends up costing a lot. I pick and choose what I go after. My only main priority is the base set. For that, I do bust some wax but it's minimal for sure.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Without the rip-and-flippers, we wouldn't have singles to purchase.

 

[MansGame]

Without the rip-and-flippers, we wouldn't have singles to purchase.

Totally agree here... I wouldn't even have a fraction of my Belle collection.

 

[MansGame]

I purchased my first box in a LONG time today and totally did it with the intentions of ripping and flipping if anything other than an Albert Belle spiked in T1. Got me thinking about the entire topic again and instead of making a new thread, thought I'd bump this up...

Again, I'm guilty as I think everyone else is of ripping and flipping but I think those people who rip with the intentions of keeping what they get are a rare bread!

 

[mrmopar]

I stopped buying packs because I didn't sell anything from my rips and the price per "hit" or even per card got to be ridiculous, so I just started buying what I wanted/needed. In 35+ years, I have sold a very few number of cards from my collection.

I'm glad that people are there, willing to open packs and sell the singles I want. However, I would like to see everything start at a dollar and let the market decide. It's a bit irritating to see a card listed with a huge opening bid that I feel wouldn't sell for that much even if it started at a buck, those go unsold all the time.

W/O those people though, I probably would have gotten bored and stopped collecting by now.

 

[MansGame]

[MENTION=4047]mrmopar[/MENTION] - EXACTLY! I'm the same way... if it wasn't for people who ripped and flipped, my Belle collection would be next to nothing and I probably wouldn't be in the hobby lol

That all said, when I do buy a box like the T1 today, I'm expecting to pull 25% of the cost of the box at the worst lol.... I've never hit anything big, so not sure why I keep getting my teeth kicked in

 

[AmishDave]

The first time I remember this happening was with '92 Fleer Jumbo's. If the folks didn't see a blue border in there, they didn't care what was in the pack. We got so many cards outta that, because all they wanted were the Rookie Sensations.

I'm torn. I consider myself an old-school collector. I usually keep everything I rip, unless I can parlay it for a PC card. I will only sell, if there is a PC card that needs to be acquired. But at the same time, these folks busting a ton of product, are keeping the market full of cards that we all bid on, buy and want.

 

[SINFULONE]

The first time I remember this happening was with '92 Fleer Jumbo's. If the folks didn't see a blue border in there, they didn't care what was in the pack. We got so many cards outta that, because all they wanted were the Rookie Sensations.

I'm torn. I consider myself an old-school collector. I usually keep everything I rip, unless I can parlay it for a PC card. I will only sell, if there is a PC card that needs to be acquired. But at the same time, these folks busting a ton of product, are keeping the market full of cards that we all bid on, buy and want.

What was so great about the Rookie Sensations?

 

[AmishDave]

What was so great about the Rookie Sensations?

They were 'limited'. You had Van Poppel, Big Hurt, Plantier, etc. Juan Guzman got hotter as well, as he gained attention for the Blue Jays. Jumbo only inserts, which, I'm not sure, but was the first time an insert was exclusive to the type of pack you could buy. They started out like gangbusters and just kept on getting hotter and hotter. One set I'd still love to own, just because of these memories.

 

[SINFULONE]

They were 'limited'. You had Van Poppel, Big Hurt, Plantier, etc. Jumbo only inserts, which, I'm not sure, but was the first time an insert was exclusive to the type of pack you could buy. They started out like gangbusters and just kept on getting hotter and hotter. One set I'd still love to own, just because of these memories.

Sucks for anyone that spent big money on Van Poppel then.I think the UD Jackson autographs in '90 were limited to low series.Those '80s Topps glossy All Star and Rookie cards were exclusive to rack packs I believe.

 

[nkdbacks]

The last box I bought was 2005 Topps Chrome Update (in 2005), and before that, a 2003 Leaf Certified Box. Came out ahead on both of them, so I guess I quit while I was ahead.

I just don't see the point in spending money on boxes when I could be spending that $80 or $100 or whatever it is now on singles for my collection.

I do miss trading, however. Most of my trade bait has been gone for about 6 years now, so I'm pretty much relegated to buying. No funds, then no new cards. I miss the trading aspect that I got from having non-PC cards, but that's about the only thing I miss from buying boxes.

 

[MansGame]

The last box I bought was 2005 Topps Chrome Update (in 2005), and before that, a 2003 Leaf Certified Box. Came out ahead on both of them, so I guess I quit while I was ahead.

I just don't see the point in spending money on boxes when I could be spending that $80 or $100 or whatever it is now on singles for my collection.

I do miss trading, however. Most of my trade bait has been gone for about 6 years now, so I'm pretty much relegated to buying. No funds, then no new cards. I miss the trading aspect that I got from having non-PC cards, but that's about the only thing I miss from buying boxes.

How have you resisted for so long not to buy a pack or box?! Wish I could.


---
Buying Albert Belle cards! PM me!

 

[nkdbacks]

How have you resisted for so long not to buy a pack or box?! Wish I could.


---
Buying Albert Belle cards! PM me!

It's actually pretty easy when I think about how much I had spent on wax and had nothing much to show for it. I'm on a limited budget, so to waste any on wax when I could buy say, a nice Paul Goldschmidt card, seems pointless.

 

[mrmopar]

I rip some cheap oddball stuff now and again, $10 or less mostly and for the fun of it, and it is not frequent, because it's getting harder to find any cheap bargains in unopened anything. However, I have not spent more than $20 on a wax box since the early 00s I'm guessing.

 

[MansGame]

For the guys who rip and flip a lot, what is the rule of thumb for what you're always going to get back from the box at least or on average?

I would like to think 20% of the price of the box is the minimum you'll get back or so?