Oh the old Target adventure

[PitofSteel]

Went to Target tonight with wife and 2 boys. My wife did well what any wife does and was looking at makeup and stuff. I took the boys and headed to where else but the baseball card section. However when i made the turn into the aisle I see a guy standing there with a handful of packs. Im probably a good 5 feet away and I see that its a box of Gypsy queen that he must have just opened the seal off of it. And what is he doing none other then Pack searching the box!!! He didnt see me standing there and I stood there for a good five minutes watching him finger a dozen packs. My 6 year old said to me" Dada what is that guy doing??" I said something that you will never do as long as Im around.

I was pretty ticked off because it was the only box of GQ there so I walked away. My wife said to me at the checkout what is wrong because I had that look of disgust on my face. I said nothing just people ruining the hobby is all. Then I of course being the (insert whatever you word) see a security guy and I say "See that guy over there he is pack searching" The security guy said OH REALLY! And made a bee line to him. We left the store and I didnt see what happened but I know they are pretty strict on it at our target store.

Thought I would share as I was hoping to get a retail box of this stuff.

Oh well thanks for my little rant

Chris

 

[GotMelky]

When I see these guys locally - I always go and stand right next to them and try and make them as uncomfortable as possible. Reaching across them to take packs from the box they are rooting around in, following them around, asking them questions, etc. I also try and make as much eye contact as possible...they usually leave after a few minutes of it. That being said, I never buy loose packs at the retail stores in town.

The thing that upsets me most about these jerks is that it keeps the kids who are new to the hobby from every pulling something cool - and they often damage the cards.

 

[PitofSteel]

When I see these guys locally - I always go and stand right next to them and try and make them as uncomfortable as possible. Reaching across them to take packs from the box they are rooting around in, following them around, asking them questions, etc. I also try and make as much eye contact as possible...they usually leave after a few minutes of it. That being said, I never buy loose packs at the retail stores in town.

The thing that upsets me most about these jerks is that it keeps the kids who are new to the hobby from every pulling something cool - and they often damage the cards.

I agree with you man! Not ony do they not pull something decent but then they have the banged up edges from the bozos nails mangling the pack. And we wonder why the younger generation isnt getting into the hobby.. ho hum..

 

[dbarbos1]

You where much nicer than I would have been.
I would have told him off.

 

[bongo870]

I am glad to hear you did something about it. They really cant say much for molesting the packs but opening up the box is destroying it. so all that work and time and effort for a 1$ gu card i hope was wel worth it. LOL

 

[Meliah]

When I see these guys locally - I always go and stand right next to them and try and make them as uncomfortable as possible. Reaching across them to take packs from the box they are rooting around in, following them around, asking them questions, etc. I also try and make as much eye contact as possible...they usually leave after a few minutes of it. That being said, I never buy loose packs at the retail stores in town.

The thing that upsets me most about these jerks is that it keeps the kids who are new to the hobby from every pulling something cool - and they often damage the cards.

I've only had the chance to "meet" three pack searchers ever.

I do the same thing and just stare at them, makes them rather nervous usually. One other fun trick is to snap a picture of them with your camera phone At that point they either leave or decide to speak to me, which allows me to blast them. I have no problem telling **** they are **** to their face. I admit it's a tab bit aggressive but they really tick me off!

 

[rangersfan1982]

Dang...I didn't know people did that...crazy!!

 

[chieftazmisty]

I've only had the chance to "meet" three pack searchers ever.

I do the same thing and just stare at them, makes them rather nervous usually. One other fun trick is to snap a picture of them with your camera phone At that point they either leave or decide to speak to me, which allows me to blast them. I have no problem telling **** they are **** to their face. I admit it's a tab bit aggressive but they really tick me off!

AS scarey as you are I would drop the box and run away as fast as I could Would probably end up with nightmares also.
Have a great Sir. and be looking in the mail too
Later
The "Beast from the East"

 

[worldwideed]

Personally, I don't even understand this. It's a complete waste of time if you spend more that 1 minute doing it. The average GU DOES NOT sell on ebay for $1, so what are these people doing this for? Honestly most your low numbered parallels are going to be better pull that a standard GU.

 

[PitofSteel]

Personally, I don't even understand this. It's a complete waste of time if you spend more that 1 minute doing it. The average GU DOES NOT sell on ebay for $1, so what are these people doing this for? Honestly most your low numbered parallels are going to be better pull that a standard GU.

And whats funny is the autos are on a regular card so how would you tell the difference.

 

[OriolesFan8]

I haven't had any problems at my local Walmart with pack searchers.

I did go in a few weeks ago and the last two boxes of 2011 Topps Heritage boxes had the plastic cut at the bottom, packs removed and box closed, so not sure if they stole them.

I only buy sealed boxes at retail locations any more to make sure my cards have not been abused.

Todd

 

[Dilferules]

I hate it when they leave those tell-tale fingernail marks on the backs of cards looking for the auto hologram sticker, or crease the cards bending them to find ****** GU. Although it is funny when they suck at it...I've pulled GU that was creased because a packsearcher bent the pack looking for GU...also several years ago I got a Brooks Robinson SPed auto out of Topps Fan Favorites that booked for like $150, with light fingernail marks from a packfeeler on the back. Haha guess he missed that one!
Richard

 

[BiggioDiogu759]

I would have done much much more than you guys...

 

[chaddie84]

I've only had the chance to "meet" three pack searchers ever.

I do the same thing and just stare at them, makes them rather nervous usually. One other fun trick is to snap a picture of them with your camera phone At that point they either leave or decide to speak to me, which allows me to blast them. I have no problem telling **** they are **** to their face. I admit it's a tab bit aggressive but they really tick me off!

You should switch to video mode and catch the rant live!

 

[jwj20]

OH!!! You reminded me of my Target trip yesterday!

The Target on highway 3 and 97 in Glen Burnie, MD is rotten. This was the same place about two years ago I caught a pack searcher and told him to buy the pack if he wanted to see what was inside (said it to my son but loud enough for him to hear). And he cussed me out in front of my one year old. I went and told the loss manager that not only was he damaging the cards by searching them -- he was bending the packs while searching -- but I was also threatened. I was told by the loss manager that he didn't have time to take care of that.

But yesterday...

Target is selling packs of Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Platinum in these 20-30 dollar packages. Inside are two (2) Million Dollar Giveaway Cards. If you lift the package, you can read the codes clear as day. So I find a guy writing the codes down!

Now with my three year old in arm, I said "This is ridiculous. People are such losers." Then my son pointed at the guy and said "You're a loser!" The guy just said I would do the same thing. I said, whatever man. Steal from the kids who buy here. You're a champ. I walked away before he said anything. At least this guy was restrained unlike the other one.

 

[pltcards]

when I had a shop years ago and the big inserts and game used were starting a former member here, who has been banned for years now, starting coming in and feeling around the packs to feel the lucky card. It took me a couple of days to figure out what the crook was up to. That was my first experience with that kind of stuff. There was another shop in our small town where the guy was caught in his back room searching and then re sealing the old Topps packs. When word got out he was toast.
Man the world is full of creeps and goof balls for sure.

I gotta blow the whistle on PitofSteel though too, when he was a kid he used to feel the 87 Topps packs to find the biggest piece of bubble gum. HEHE.

Pat

 

[GotMelky]

If he's writing down the Million Card Giveaway codes - aren't they expired?

OH!!! You reminded me of my Target trip yesterday!

The Target on highway 3 and 97 in Glen Burnie, MD is rotten. This was the same place about two years ago I caught a pack searcher and told him to buy the pack if he wanted to see what was inside (said it to my son but loud enough for him to hear). And he cussed me out in front of my one year old. I went and told the loss manager that not only was he damaging the cards by searching them -- he was bending the packs while searching -- but I was also threatened. I was told by the loss manager that he didn't have time to take care of that.

But yesterday...

Target is selling packs of Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Platinum in these 20-30 dollar packages. Inside are two (2) Million Dollar Giveaway Cards. If you lift the package, you can read the codes clear as day. So I find a guy writing the codes down!

Now with my three year old in arm, I said "This is ridiculous. People are such losers." Then my son pointed at the guy and said "You're a loser!" The guy just said I would do the same thing. I said, whatever man. Steal from the kids who buy here. You're a champ. I walked away before he said anything. At least this guy was restrained unlike the other one.

 

[PitofSteel]

when I had a shop years ago and the big inserts and game used were starting a former member here, who has been banned for years now, starting coming in and feeling around the packs to feel the lucky card. It took me a couple of days to figure out what the crook was up to. That was my first experience with that kind of stuff. There was another shop in our small town where the guy was caught in his back room searching and then re sealing the old Topps packs. When word got out he was toast.
Man the world is full of creeps and goof balls for sure.

I gotta blow the whistle on PitofSteel though too, when he was a kid he used to feel the 87 Topps packs to find the biggest piece of bubble gum. HEHE.

Pat

You know whats funny I think I still have some of that gum in my sock drawer

 

[chieftazmisty]

You know whats funny I think I still have some of that gum in my sock drawer

I think I saw a stick or two of that gum on Ebay was selling for a great price too.

 

[jwj20]

If he's writing down the Million Card Giveaway codes - aren't they expired?

Sorry meant the Diamond Anniversary cards. It's the white ones going on now.