What Would You Do?

[kwalitykontrol]

I’m hoping to get some advice.

I bought a 2003 Bowman Basketball Rookies & Stars sealed box a few years ago on eBay for $1000 and kept it sealed. It was sealed with Topps factory cello wrap with the Topps logo printed on it everywhere.

I recently consigned it to Heritage auctions and it was sold to a breaker. That breaker opened the box only to find it contained 2003 Bowman Baseball Drafts and Prospects and some Bowman flyers. Here is a video of the break:
https://youtube.com/shorts/G_7bkVMLEwM

The Topps logos printed on the wrap matches exactly to my box so it's the same box. Image included. The breaker didn't tamper with it. I don't believe it to be a re-seal. If you were going to re-seal a box, why pick 2003 Bowman Baseball Drafts & Prospects, the equivalent product to Basketball. Any re-sealer would just fill it with any random worthless packs. And why keep the Bowman leaflets in there if it’s a re-seal.

I believe it to be Topps factory error.

Heritage recommended I reach out to Topps/Fanatics, and I did that, but
they basically don't care because they don't guarantee anything sold on the secondary market. It’s also 21 years old so it’s not like they can replace it.

It's years too late to go back to eBay or the seller of the box.

I don’t believe the breaker didn't do anything wrong.

Has anyone else seen this? Could there be more out there like this if Topps messed up.

I'm out $1000. What would you do?

[imbluestreak23]

This is not a Topps mess up.

You got duped in 2003.

Resealing boxes/packs was VERY common in the early/mid 00s, especially when eBay protection was basically non existent.

[kwalitykontrol]

I didn't buy them in 2003. I bought the box a few years ago. The thing that leads me to believe it's a factory error, as I mentioned the packs are also 2003 Bowman Drafts & Prospects, but Baseball. If someone wanted to reseal the box, they would fill it with any old thing, they would not seek out the same exact product from the same year, but for a different sport. The factory wrap on the box with the Topps logo printed would also be harder to fake and re-seal vs generic cello.

[jcardstore]

I'm also leaning towards the box being resealed but there's nothing you can do either way.

Whether it was factory error or resealed you'd never be able to prove it at this point

[asujbl]

Eat the loss

Because there is nothing you can do

It sucks and we can debate what happened but at this point? You’re screwed

[THE(NEXT)LEVEL]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Eat the loss

Because there is nothing you can do

It sucks and we can debate what happened but at this point? You’re screwed

^^^^^ THIS

[mc1]

Bad kwality kontrol, eh?

#ThanksTopps

[ninjacookies]

Still better than GI Joes S1.


Have an outside shot at a Howard or Cano gold. BOL.

[anusinha]

You are most likely hosed whatever the origin of the box. At least you still have sealed baseball packs to sell.

[hermanotarjeta]

Resealed box. Easy to do with the Topps plastic wrap.

Sorry you are out a grand. Sealed wax is a risky venture.

Folks sell empty boxes all the time on eBay for this nefarious purpose.

[Archangel1775]

You got duped

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

You got duped

Agreed.

[ThatGuyPal]

What would you do if your son was at home
Crying all alone on the bedroom floor
'Cause he's hungry?
And the only way to feed him is to
Reseal some Bowman for a little bit of money
And his daddy's gone
Somewhere smokin' rock now, in and out of lockdown
I ain't got a job now
So for you this is just a rip time, but for me this is what I call life
Mmm


I bet that Pokemon case was an error as well, I hear back then it was common for GI Joe packs to mistakenly be put in even in non-reselaed boxes.

[ThatGuyPal]

Also does this count as a "If They Only Knew" box break, at least it could be channel content for you.

[Sonnys88]

Looks to be a resealed box.

I am surprised that Heritage is holding you accountable for the item after they accepted it for consignment and deemed it okay to sell it in their auction.

With unopened product, I would be very leery of consigning to any auction company that would keep the consigner on the hook for the item once it is out of their possession and changed multiple hands. Just too many variables / unknowns that could happen that are not worth the risk. Going through an auction house is supposed to minimize / eliminate the risk...

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by anusinha

You are most likely hosed whatever the origin of the box. At least you still have sealed baseball packs to sell.

Follow me on this one......

If the box is says basketball, the packs are baseball, maybe the cards inside are basketball! Or maybe football. I'm just spitballin' here.

[esoxwaters]

Originally Posted by Promethius88

Follow me on this one......

If the box is says basketball, the packs are baseball, maybe the cards inside are basketball! Or maybe football. I'm just spitballin' here.

I mean, there's a chance. If this truly was a factory error, they might have just loaded the wrong wrappers.

[footfutbol]

A good example of just opening stuff when you get it vs hoarding.

[boxbuster7]

It is 100% resealed