Peeking inside a sealed box to look for rare packs?

Tom789 · 01-09-2026, 12:55 PM

I ordered a hobby box of 2025 Topps Cosmic Chrome from one of the Big Three and received it a couple of weeks ago. I did not open the box. Yesterday, I noticed something unusual about the box. The top lid was bent slightly upwards such that there was a small gap on the left and right sides. I was able to use a flashlight to see inside. I saw some blue and silver on the top pack inside, basically confirming that this was not a very rare and valuable "Lunar" box, which has all orange color packs.

I'm highly suspicious that this was done intentionally to look for a rare Lunar box before it was packed and shipped to me. I contacted the seller and I'm not asking for a refund or replacement at this time, but I asked them to look into it and get back to me. I recommend everyone who has a sealed box of this product not from a sealed case you received to check for something similar to the attached picture.

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smanzari · 01-09-2026, 01:15 PM

That stinks - which retailer was it? I feel like Topps should have more sense than to pack the lunar packs with different wrappers; but I guess this could also be done with Bowman and Snack packs and 2025 Heritage High Number (I noticed on boxes with packs in alternate directions had relics where as packs that were "straight" had Autos; though that was limited to a small sample (~12-13 boxes))

SaveMeTheGum · 01-09-2026, 01:16 PM

Of course it was...

Tom789 · 01-09-2026, 01:19 PM

I'll reveal the retailer after I get a response, or if I don't get one in the next couple of days.

cardtrader22 · 01-09-2026, 02:13 PM

I ordered a box direct from Topps and mine arrived in the exact same way yours did.

eastbayak · 01-09-2026, 02:15 PM

Ordered 20 loose boxes from Topps and I think 1-2 arrived like yours (I can confirm later).

dodgerfanjohn · 01-09-2026, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom789

I'll reveal the retailer after I get a response, or if I don't get one in the next couple of days.

I doubt it was the retailer themselves, but very possible one of their employees was doing it. Equally as possible a rogue Topps employee was doing it.

majestik101 · 01-09-2026, 02:26 PM

Nothing surprises me anymore. Obviously that box was tampered with. No other explanation for why the lid was bent up like that, besides to see what goodies and treasures were hidden inside.

Which of the Big Three was it? I'm hoping it's the one I think it is.

ScooterD · 01-09-2026, 02:49 PM

I just bought and opened a box of this from an LCS, and mine was the same… top left corner was lifted w/o breaking the cellophane

sluggerwx · 01-09-2026, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom789

I ordered a hobby box of 2025 Topps Cosmic Chrome from one of the Big Three and received it a couple of weeks ago. I did not open the box. Yesterday, I noticed something unusual about the box. The top lid was bent slightly upwards such that there was a small gap on the left and right sides. I was able to use a flashlight to see inside. I saw some blue and silver on the top pack inside, basically confirming that this was not a very rare and valuable "Lunar" box, which has all orange color packs.

I'm highly suspicious that this was done intentionally to look for a rare Lunar box before it was packed and shipped to me. I contacted the seller and I'm not asking for a refund or replacement at this time, but I asked them to look into it and get back to me. I recommend everyone who has a sealed box of this product not from a sealed case you received to check for something similar to the attached picture.

Attachment 569896

My box directly from Topps looked exactly like this. So, of something is happening, it's happening at an OEM fulfillment center.

HeritageKing · 01-09-2026, 03:34 PM

Why in the world would they make the packs a different color? I mean, cmon.

dodgerfanjohn · 01-09-2026, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeritageKing

Why in the world would they make the packs a different color? I mean, cmon.

So if a breaker opens it, they can declare that its not going to be included in the break and theyll substitute a different box for it, keeping the special box to themselves so they can directly profit?

NYRE2PECT · 01-09-2026, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

So if a breaker opens it, they can declare that its not going to be included in the break and theyll substitute a different box for it, keeping the special box to themselves so they can directly profit?

Literally a Breakers Delight (aka don't break this one)!

ReidDeGoo · 01-09-2026, 05:53 PM

I was skeptical about this myself. I ordered a case from Topps and many came like this. I also bought several boxes from multiple diff LCS post-release date and some were as well.

What I DID notice, was that the (yeah I don't really know how to phrase this accurately so bear with my word salad here) "pop-out-perforated-fold-over-to-display-the-open-box-in-stores-thing" was wayyyy looser/less points of connection/whatever than any box in recent memory. As in, they fully popped out with minimal-to-no effort, for every single box.

That pretty much solidified my opinion that during shipping or moving boxes around, they easily come disconnected, giving the appearance of what you're seeing.

Are there shady people out there who would check before selling and shipping? Absolutely - there's a non-zero chance that's what happened in your situation. But after seeing the boxes and opening them myself, I lean toward it being a production thing, where they "naturally" lost their points of connection at some point before landing in our grubby paws.

I dunno. Good luck with your quest though; please keep us updated!

dodgerfanjohn · 01-09-2026, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReidDeGoo

I was skeptical about this myself. I ordered a case from Topps and many came like this. I also bought several boxes from multiple diff LCS post-release date and some were as well.

What I DID notice, was that the (yeah I don't really know how to phrase this accurately so bear with my word salad here) "pop-out-perforated-fold-over-to-display-the-open-box-in-stores-thing" was wayyyy looser/less points of connection/whatever than any box in recent memory. As in, they fully popped out with minimal-to-no effort, for every single box.

That pretty much solidified my opinion that during shipping or moving boxes around, they easily come disconnected, giving the appearance of what you're seeing.

Are there shady people out there who would check before selling and shipping? Absolutely - there's a non-zero chance that's what happened in your situation. But after seeing the boxes and opening them myself, I lean toward it being a production thing, where they "naturally" lost their points of connection at some point before landing in our grubby paws.

I dunno. Good luck with your quest though; please keep us updated!

What are the chances that this issue that never ever happened before just happens to occur in a product with rare special boxes worth lots of money?

Tom789 · 01-09-2026, 07:37 PM

Original poster here. The seller was Steel City Collectibles and they got back to me, saying the same thing that some responses here have said - that it's a common thing to receive the boxes like this from Topps. So I will accept that and move on.

PuddleMonkey · 01-10-2026, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom789

it's a common thing to receive the boxes like this from Topps.

I'm shocked

mattglet · 01-11-2026, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I'm shocked

01-09-2026, 12:55 PM	#1
Tom789 Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 57	Peeking inside a sealed box to look for rare packs? I ordered a hobby box of 2025 Topps Cosmic Chrome from one of the Big Three and received it a couple of weeks ago. I did not open the box. Yesterday, I noticed something unusual about the box. The top lid was bent slightly upwards such that there was a small gap on the left and right sides. I was able to use a flashlight to see inside. I saw some blue and silver on the top pack inside, basically confirming that this was not a very rare and valuable "Lunar" box, which has all orange color packs. I'm highly suspicious that this was done intentionally to look for a rare Lunar box before it was packed and shipped to me. I contacted the seller and I'm not asking for a refund or replacement at this time, but I asked them to look into it and get back to me. I recommend everyone who has a sealed box of this product not from a sealed case you received to check for something similar to the attached picture.

01-09-2026, 01:16 PM	#3
SaveMeTheGum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NH --> CA --> SC Posts: 16,741 Cardboard_Dynamite CardboardDynamite	Of course it was... __________________ Pay fast. Ship fast. Deal with people honestly. IG: CardboardDynamite

01-09-2026, 02:13 PM	#5
cardtrader22 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MD Posts: 5,009	I ordered a box direct from Topps and mine arrived in the exact same way yours did. __________________ Looking for Orioles & Ravens Bucket: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v358/cardtrader22/

01-09-2026, 03:34 PM	#11
HeritageKing Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,634	Why in the world would they make the packs a different color? I mean, cmon. __________________ #2 Topps Heritage Autograph Collector

01-09-2026, 01:15 PM	#2
smanzari Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: N/A Posts: 10,680	That stinks - which retailer was it? I feel like Topps should have more sense than to pack the lunar packs with different wrappers; but I guess this could also be done with Bowman and Snack packs and 2025 Heritage High Number (I noticed on boxes with packs in alternate directions had relics where as packs that were "straight" had Autos; though that was limited to a small sample (~12-13 boxes))

01-09-2026, 01:19 PM	#4
Tom789 Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 57	I'll reveal the retailer after I get a response, or if I don't get one in the next couple of days.

01-09-2026, 02:15 PM	#6
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 16,599 eastbayak	Ordered 20 loose boxes from Topps and I think 1-2 arrived like yours (I can confirm later).

01-09-2026, 02:26 PM	#8
majestik101 Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Socially Distanced Posts: 45,526 majestik101	Nothing surprises me anymore. Obviously that box was tampered with. No other explanation for why the lid was bent up like that, besides to see what goodies and treasures were hidden inside. Which of the Big Three was it? I'm hoping it's the one I think it is.

01-09-2026, 02:49 PM	#9
ScooterD Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 5,420	I just bought and opened a box of this from an LCS, and mine was the same… top left corner was lifted w/o breaking the cellophane

01-09-2026, 05:53 PM	#14
ReidDeGoo Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 330	I was skeptical about this myself. I ordered a case from Topps and many came like this. I also bought several boxes from multiple diff LCS post-release date and some were as well. What I DID notice, was that the (yeah I don't really know how to phrase this accurately so bear with my word salad here) "pop-out-perforated-fold-over-to-display-the-open-box-in-stores-thing" was wayyyy looser/less points of connection/whatever than any box in recent memory. As in, they fully popped out with minimal-to-no effort, for every single box. That pretty much solidified my opinion that during shipping or moving boxes around, they easily come disconnected, giving the appearance of what you're seeing. Are there shady people out there who would check before selling and shipping? Absolutely - there's a non-zero chance that's what happened in your situation. But after seeing the boxes and opening them myself, I lean toward it being a production thing, where they "naturally" lost their points of connection at some point before landing in our grubby paws. I dunno. Good luck with your quest though; please keep us updated!

01-09-2026, 07:37 PM	#16
Tom789 Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 57	Original poster here. The seller was Steel City Collectibles and they got back to me, saying the same thing that some responses here have said - that it's a common thing to receive the boxes like this from Topps. So I will accept that and move on.