General Forum

I have discussed the pack pirates at my local target and walmart (right next to each other).  I am 100% sure they are doing this.  I brought it to both customer service counters attention last fall after topps chrome came out.  I opened one pack and didnt get any inserts and each pack was supposed to have at least one of the inserts (i think a kris bryant one)  and then bought one topps chrome that had 4 rando allen and ginter cards inserted.  

I then started noticing that on the reciept like you had.  Being a former retail warrior for years, stores can have that put on based on theft reasons.  So if a store was experienceing high theft they could make certain departments that way on the reciept while other stores could not have that.

Recently probably the last 2-3 months every hanger pack that i have bought of heritage has 0 SPs inside and if i am lucky 1 insert.  Usually there are 2-3 inserts + at least 1 SP. now i get nothing.  basic Topps has been better, but i am really having a hard time purchasing anything from the local stores.  Its hard because the LCS is sometimes 2-3xs the price of target/WM. 

I cant tell that they have been opened.  I look for any signs.  Is there something i should be looking for other than obvious glue residue?  there is none of that.  

I don't know how to affect change on the scale of what I'm going to suggest, but I'd say the onus on this should fall on the store as this is obviously different from someone purchasing a lamp and returning it because they didn't like the way it looked in their den. This is product that under normal circumstances should vary greatly between packs. So, I believe the retail stores should be allowed to resell with a label that states the product was returned. This should fall under the same category as returning cassettes and VHS tapes back in the day - and it wasn't allowed unless damaged because of the possibility of making copies.

I only buy factory sealed stuff at Walmart or Target; never packs.   I was in a Target one day and there is this guy sitting cross-legged on the floor "feeling" each of the packs, setting aside a stack and putting back the rest.  I told him he shouldn't be searching packs other people shop here, but he ignored me and kept going.  So I went and got the manager and said this guy is searching through the packs and why would I ever buy cards here.  He wouldn't do anything and said he couldn't do anything.  I said, "Well I guess I'll buy these" and reached for the stack the guy had set aside.  He snatched them up and looked ready to fight me for them. 

I wish I had had the stones to just take the assualt charge and make that guy at least pay a little blood for his mem cards.  

Funny you mention something like that. I came across my first pack-searcher a few weeks ago when I swung in Target for a few things. Guy was absolutely oblivious to me standing there. I finally reached around and grabbed a blaster of Topps flagship, but I was absolutely fuming watching the guy bend cards this way and that way for a cheap thrill. That's why I don't buy loose packs from retail stores if I can help it.

I don't understand it though. Retail memorabilia cards usually go for, what, a few bucks? Seriously, I searched "2020 Topps Relics" on eBay, and the first three results were Bogaerts Heritage, Brett SN25, and a Pete Alonso. Maybe because I think it is one of the most despicable collection actions one can do, but I just don't understand the point of spending so much time for a $10.00 card, when the pack is going to cost you $2.99 or whatever it is anyway.

I'm confused. If they buy the packs, open them, refill them with inferior cards and return them, how does Target re-seal the pack to resell it?

They won't. Normally, when they get returns they send them back to the manufacturing company/distributor for credit. 

However, It's the point that people can buy a blaster, open it up and take all the good cards out, and replace those cards with common cards and then return it for another blaster and keep doing the same thing over and over. 

I've seen people with digital scales weighing out packs. It's pretty wild.

My only hope is that a lot of people that do this end up opening packs with those thick filler cards. 

Ya bro in that pov it is worst policy, but for other product that has to been open to check if there something is missing or not, if something is missing we have to return, but you see the product is already open. In past they dont use to acept the opend pruchased, eventually coustomer gets angry and stared abusing Target policy. so Target made some upgrad like they will accept return of opend and unopend  of certain product. 

In above chat I forgot to add my exprince with Target

I know this may be of topice, But I really wanted to share it with you as you too hate their policy of opend. 

I made pruchase of some  gym equipment from target, i opend it and found that their one part is missing i heck whloe box and search my whole room if it may in room only, But i didnt forun than i disassemble the pruchase and repacked it took to target stor near me , at there the preson seating at window told he want a video proof, which i didn't have. that i should made duing opening product. i got trrigered, and stated arguing with man and told to call his manager, i talked to mannager that in your return policy it is not mention that we have to make video while opening the product. he told me that people are actually make more opend return by saying part is missing. Then after arrguing for an hour he accepted my return. I also started hating their policy until didn't found why they created opend return policy.

Corey I suspect this was happening to the packs i was buying at a local wal mart and target in the DFW area.  In one pack i believe it was heritage i got allen and ginter in another fat pack i got triples of cards.  it was ridiculous.  When i complained to the managers it seemed they didnt care however every time i am near the cards, i do feel like there is all of the sudden an employee that comes over near the cards.  They are probably watching everyone which as a former retail employee, i am glad they are doing that.