ripped off at Target - buyers beware

[paulisj]

Bought a discounted blaster box of 2011 Allen & Ginter at Target - when I opened it up, I saw every pack had already been opened, and some of the cards had been replaced with some sort of 2012 Olympics cards. Of course, there was nothing decent left.

The box was shrink-wrapped; not sure if there was anything I should have noticed to warn me that there was a problem.

 

[zlw1]

According to topps, since I've had this problem before.
2 important things
1) Blue Topps logos should be on the wrapping
2) Those topps logos cannot be scratched off, or those are stamped on and is repackaged.

That's what I was told when I got two boxes of '05 topps u&h back in late 05 when I ran into that problem.
You can also return the product to target or call topps... either will help you. (make sure to have everything. including wrapping and wrappers and receipt.)

Best of luck
Zach

 

[David K.]

I often go to Target and get their baseball products.....Better be more careful from now on. Best regards, David

 

[cincikid]

What were the numbers on the Olympic cards? I need 12 17 55 87 and 99 to finish the set. I'll gladly trade for those if you got them and try to make a bad situation a little better.

 

[BoomerSooner]

I'd like to know how this keeps happening- at what level is the package getting resealed in wrap? At the local store, which I doubt, or by the distributor, who has to take back from retail all the "damaged"/returned packs/boxes. I know most people assume it's some local guy doing it, but not everyone has access to shrink wrap applicators.

 

[valediction]

I'd like to know how this keeps happening- at what level is the package getting resealed in wrap? At the local store, which I doubt, or by the distributor, who has to take back from retail all the "damaged"/returned packs/boxes. I know most people assume it's some local guy doing it, but not everyone has access to shrink wrap applicators.

They aren't tough to find, or that expensive

http://www.uline.com/BL_2455/Economy-Shrink-Wrap-System

 

[mightydon]

My best guess is a Target employee took the open packs and resealed them in the A&G box as a joke. If the box did not have the blue Topps logo and it was just clear shrink wrap, then yeah, prob some worker who wanted to take the easy way out and resealed the box and put it back out. Just my 2 cents

 

[sandman43103]

When 2012 Goodwin Champions came out, I bought two of the blasters. Both were still wrapped the same, but in the plain clear plastic, unlike Topps with the blue symbols on them. The first box was fine...had only Goodwin cards in it. The second box had opened packs with random hockey cards in them. I took the box and receipt back to Target and got a refund. I asked the guy working in Customer Service if he had seen it before and he stated that it was the third box that month. Turns out, the guy who filled the shelves was resealing boxes he said were opened by customers. He just used the wrapping machine at Target to do it, too.

 

[The G]

I work at Target and we have no control what is put on the shelves We do not stock those shelves. There is an outside company that takes care of all cards, sports and non sports. It's possible a team member did it or a customer. We've had customers buy Ipod's and bring them back in the original packaging only to find no Ipod inside. If we see an opened box we damage it out.---G

 

[Kirbyfan34]

Could also be that they are a guarenteed buy for target as they were when I worked at K-mart and had a situation where a customer was trying to return a box of cards. At that time we would get ours from a Company called Vintage Sports Cards in Dallas and Sporting Goods Associates were in charge of them. I was questioned by the service desk and made the decision that it look like the box had been repackaged, so then the customers asked to speak to the manager and I got chewed out and box when back on shelf.

 

[BoomerSooner]

Most retail store level cards are serviced by local distributors- not by the store themselves, nor Topps/ UD/ etc. Some of these distributors are under contract by the same companies that make those bargain boxes you see- like $20 for 20 packs in a generic box, not branded. They purchase product from a vendor- sometimes a card company, more commonly a subvendor of those- and sell them as they wish- pricewise, package wise, etc. Some go straight on the shelf, some get repackaged..
It might be cost-effective for a local distributor to have a plastic wrap machine, but for me, it's unlikely an individual would go this route. It just doesn't seem cost-effective, as you have the constant cost of the wrap to begin with, the bulk of the machine, and while the people in the stores might not be card experts, they are going to notice repeated returns of card product for the same reasons, and put an end to it, IMO.
I think it's VERY important, that when we get one of these repackaged boxes, to return them to the RETAIL level, i.e. where you bought them, and ask to speak to a manager. They need to understand that this is a business-killer (card business) and you will not purchase from them anymore if this practice continues. these things DO get reported up the corporate ladder- believe me, they do!!

 

[valediction]

I disagree with the "it's unlikely an individual would go this route". It's a $200-300 setup, and if they play it right, it's nearly a no lose situation that pretty much sets them up for free cards

 

[BoomerSooner]

I disagree with the "it's unlikely an individual would go this route". It's a $200-300 setup, and if they play it right, it's nearly a no lose situation that pretty much sets them up for free cards

I understand your point- I'm just thinking that it'd be only a major market sort of scam- the one walmart or target small towns wouldn't pay off long-term- someone is bound to notice and investigate the constant returns, then the constant complaints from buyers. Even larger markets would eventually run out of steam, IMO, things like this are cost-analyzed monthly, and any trend of returns of a particular product sets off alarms. Unless someone didn't think it through, I don't know if it could really pay off- again, it's retail product, not exactly swimming in big hits, unless you market singles, why would you go to all that work to find the one hit out of 20 retail boxes? And would it be big enough to reward you for your investment?

 

[valediction]

I understand your point- I'm just thinking that it'd be only a major market sort of scam- the one walmart or target small towns wouldn't pay off long-term- someone is bound to notice and investigate the constant returns, then the constant complaints from buyers. Even larger markets would eventually run out of steam, IMO, things like this are cost-analyzed monthly, and any trend of returns of a particular product sets off alarms. Unless someone didn't think it through, I don't know if it could really pay off- again, it's retail product, not exactly swimming in big hits, unless you market singles, why would you go to all that work to find the one hit out of 20 retail boxes? And would it be big enough to reward you for your investment?

I agree, this isn't something that would fly long in small town areas. Even the bigger markets, I imagine a guy doing this is doing it as a 'supplementary' scam, likely having multiple other income streams. Buy a few boxes scattered about, take a chance, if you get a hit, sell, if you don't, return for a refund. It's gambling with someone else's money basically. As long as they keep it on a small scale, it's extra profit with minimal risk. Eventually they'll likely get greedy, and once that happens, you are right again, it'll get figured out fast.