90s Pack Vending Machine: Volume 3

[duron]

I've documented this piece of mythical machinery in the past. Every time I leave the supermarket, I take a quick look to see if there are any b-ball packs, and 99% of the time it's other sports/non-sports. It's been this way for YEARS. So the other night I glanced over as I left, not expecting anything, the usual. Oh my Shammgod, what's that on the upper right?
https://i.imgur.com/B35MiFOl.jpg

Oh baby, an entire row of 98 Topps for a buck.
https://i.imgur.com/z453OHxl.jpg

RIP, only 2, the remaining packs in the row were all baseball.
https://i.imgur.com/lLttf0wl.jpg
I love how the packs not only green like Topps cards themselves, but they also turn into Illuminators - the foil completely degrades. Whatever, RR refractor time. I'll settle for an Apparitions...
https://i.imgur.com/3iOGo0Ll.jpg

Now this is a first for me. I've opened a small amount of 90s packs in the last few years, but never saw sticking as bad this, to the point the surfaces are jacked. Both stacks of cards cracked like plastic when I tried to bend the brick out of them.
Oof... Joe got it the worst, took a shotgun to the armpit...
https://i.imgur.com/O94nFH4l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OVyaz6sl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/LF4FDOAl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SMTf16ul.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/U9ONSHbl.jpg

Every single card was damaged, except for...
https://i.imgur.com/LJh1nXol.jpg

BOOM.
Thanks for the L@@K.
God bless.

[pejc300]

Can't believe you didn't buy all of the '88 Topps baseball.

[duron]

Can't believe you didn't buy all of the '88 Topps baseball.

My being clueless about other sports cards would alleviate your surprise.
Worth it? I'll scoop them too.

[pejc300]

My being clueless about other sports cards would alleviate your surprise.
Worth it? I'll scoop them too.

I can't tell if you are joking or not, but the Dumars you pulled (in that condition) is worth more than all of the 1988 Topps baseball cards in existence.

[mc1]

My being clueless about other sports cards would alleviate your surprise.
Worth it? I'll scoop them too.

Sarcasm.:)!

I have a box or two of these. I really hope when I finally open them they arent this bad! Apparitions is a neat insert set found only in retail. Jordan makes an appearance! Too bad they couldnt include him in Chrome.

[drobfan8]

Oh man, brings back memories of videoezy out here in Australia.

I managed to pull a Kemp Generations refractor from a pack of 97/98 topps.

[trmpetyjo]

Looks like some real moisture damage on those cards, I wonder if the vending machine was outside or near a heat vent or something at some point. I opened a box of those about six months ago and there was no damage at all to any of the cards. I would expect the other cards in that vending machine to have similar damage though after seeing those

[duron]

I can't tell if you are joking or not, but the Dumars you pulled (in that condition) is worth more than all of the 1988 Topps baseball cards in existence.

Sarcasm.:)!

I have a box or two of these. I really hope when I finally open them they arent this bad! Apparitions is a neat insert set found only in retail. Jordan makes an appearance! Too bad they couldnt include him in Chrome.

I get that it's smack dab in the middle of the junk wax era, but you both still underestimate the degree to which you're unable to pick up on sarcasm if you are utterly clueless about cards from other sports.

You may still be fine with the RR's when you decide to break, even if all the packs are this badly bricked. The peels will obviously protect the fronts but the backs could still be screwed. Often times inserts will have more separation in the first place. And yea I like the Topps Apparitions even more than the non-ref Chrome versions, nothing beats etched foil, not even Chrome finishes. Picked up the Shaq in a lot not too long ago.

Oh man, brings back memories of videoezy out here in Australia.

I managed to pull a Kemp Generations refractor from a pack of 97/98 topps.

Oh yea, pulling all those 1:144 die-cut Topps Refractors was a trip. I still have the Penny Rock Stars and T-Mac Generations refractors from back then. The Rock Stars are my favorites, my BGS 9 mj rock stars ref along with the Penny will never leave my collection.

[duron]

Looks like some real moisture damage on those cards, I wonder if the vending machine was outside or near a heat vent or something at some point. I opened a box of those about six months ago and there was no damage at all to any of the cards. I would expect the other cards in that vending machine to have similar damage though after seeing those

Yea I was surprised, this is the first time its packs had cards that were completely donezo, but it's also the first time its had 98-99 Topps. Years back it had 99-00 Topps and the packs/cards were fine.

[Jasondr91]

I’d have flipped seeing a wax vending machine like this. Mega awesome this is. To hell with some sh*tty plastic Chinese bling rings......98 Topps out of a vending machine is boss mode unleashed.

[AbraCalabro]

F'ing lol at the packs themselves going green

[charly41]

yeah, just thought the same ...........:doh:

F'ing lol at the packs themselves going green

[salthill]

I’d definitely have thrown my lunch money into that as a kid.

How much are they charging for the modern stuff - eg 2018 Ginter? My LCS had it at $4 a pack last time I checked.

[mikecala98]

I found 1999 Skybox Dominion and 1995 Topps packs in one of these last week. Dominion was totally garbage but the 1995 Topps pack I got a mystery Finest card to peel. That was fun for $1.

[DajuanWagner]

Can you imagine buying one of those packs and then it dropping 10 feet to its doom CRUSHING those corners!!!!!!!!

[Jasondr91]

Can you imagine buying one of those packs and then it dropping 10 feet to its doom CRUSHING those corners!!!!!!!!

My luck I'd hit an awesome insert....and the drop kills the corners.:mad:

[duron]

I’d have flipped seeing a wax vending machine like this. Mega awesome this is. To hell with some sh*tty plastic Chinese bling rings......98 Topps out of a vending machine is boss mode unleashed.

This thing has been sitting in the store forever but after all these years I've only seen it have late 90s b-ball 5-6 times, max.

F'ing lol at the packs themselves going green

Pretty hilarious. Greened and "acetated," there is no escape from Topps deterioration.

I’d definitely have thrown my lunch money into that as a kid.

How much are they charging for the modern stuff - eg 2018 Ginter? My LCS had it at $4 a pack last time I checked.

I think they were $3. Guessing there's a small chance of pulling nice stuff out of that?

I found 1999 Skybox Dominion and 1995 Topps packs in one of these last week. Dominion was totally garbage but the 1995 Topps pack I got a mystery Finest card to peel. That was fun for $1.

Nice, is it a place nearby you shop at frequently?

Can you imagine buying one of those packs and then it dropping 10 feet to its doom CRUSHING those corners!!!!!!!!

My luck I'd hit an awesome insert....and the drop kills the corners.:mad:

The handful of times it's had mid-late 90s b-ball, they were either in the 1st or 2nd row from the top. Can't help but grimace every time they thud onto the bottom.
And yea, that did happen once where a pack landed right on a corner. Entire pack was dinged.

[jmmintz]

I haven't seen your other threads on this - where in the world is this mythical beast? A grocery store?

[Deadshot]

I opened a couple packs of Topps earlier this year and no damage. I agree with the moisture post from earlier. Either way...I would've flipped had I seen late 90s packs in a machine like this.

[duron]

I haven't seen your other threads on this - where in the world is this mythical beast? A grocery store?

Supermarket. I'm convinced it's the same machine that's been there since the actual 90s. Some of the other finds, but like I said they're few and far between.
https://i.imgur.com/Jrj8SX3m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/4PQ5k2Cm.jpg

I opened a couple packs of Topps earlier this year and no damage. I agree with the moisture post from earlier. Either way...I would've flipped had I seen late 90s packs in a machine like this.

Same year Topps? But yea, it'll prob be another 7-8 months until I see something else in there.

[RogerGodahell]

Try to find out who owns this mythical beast :) and restocks it. He's probably got a massive hoard of 90's boxes :eek:

[duron]

Try to find out who owns this mythical beast :) and restocks it. He's probably got a massive hoard of 90's boxes :eek:

It's crossed my mind in the past...

[BigZigBoom]

blizzard photo variations

[cashout]

Last vending machine I used... :)!


https://ludlumdrive.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/img_03705.jpg

[Ajcollectibles]

Lol that’s by me. I usually clean house. I pulled a vin baker insert in one of those topps packs. A humidifier will help break them apart with minimal damage

Edit: I’ve seen the guy who runs the machine multiple times. For years, he never loaded it with basketball, maybe once in a blue. I actually suggested it to him and he occasionally loads it with 89-92 packs of fleet hoops skybox and UD. I was happy and upset at the same time when he started putting collectors choice in there lol

[duron]

Lol that’s by me. I usually clean house. I pulled a vin baker insert in one of those topps packs. A humidifier will help break them apart with minimal damage

Edit: I’ve seen the guy who runs the machine multiple times. For years, he never loaded it with basketball, maybe once in a blue. I actually suggested it to him and he occasionally loads it with 89-92 packs of fleet hoops skybox and UD. I was happy and upset at the same time when he started putting collectors choice in there lol

Wait, you don't mean that literally do you? Where do you live? Lol. If there's another collector in my immediate area I'd be SHOCKED.




So the machine decided to reveal some more Topps packs to me last week, this time 99-00, with a chance for a Prodigy Refractor. What I pulled instead will astound and amaze.

They always seem to be on the upper right. Once again, I was Topps-blocked after thinking there was a full row of packs sitting on the rack. Only 2 left. Again. (Who buys this crap? Should I start blaming Ajcollectibles?)
https://i.imgur.com/jxxZ7pp.png
https://i.imgur.com/rQwFVkx.png
https://i.imgur.com/R9dV0dk.png


But that's all I needed to pull this. Please don't flood my inbox with offers, this RARE beauty is locked up in my pc. Also the base cards didn't stick so harshly this time. Possible good omen for future vending machine packs.

https://i.imgur.com/vy4yrSq.png

[jbarnett83]

That’s some crazy pack luck right there! Awesome pull:flex:

[salthill]

https://i.imgur.com/jxxZ7pp.png


I want that Heritage hanger pack. [emoji2]

I’m also laughing that I’m jealous of another BO’ite’s proximity to a random card pack vending machine.

[TheRoundMound]

@Duron what an awesome Kidd. Is this a Highlight Reels? Somehow looks also like a Refractor. Nice pull.

[duron]

That’s some crazy pack luck right there! Awesome pull:flex:

Lol. Yea, at this point just getting base cards without craters falls under the crazy pack luck category.

I want that Heritage hanger pack. [emoji2]

I’m also laughing that I’m jealous of another BO’ite’s proximity to a random card pack vending machine.

Haha def, I just wish 90s b-ball was in there more frequently. What would be really hilarious is if Ajcollectibles is actually in my area and cleans out this same vending machine. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the possibility this is true.

@Duron what an awesome Kidd. Is this a Highlight Reels? Somehow looks also like a Refractor. Nice pull.

Yea that's a Highlight Reels, super common but they photograph really well.

[RogerGodahell]

Track down the supplier and buy him out.

[ehp6737]

Track down the supplier and buy him out.

Was thinking the same thing

[duron]

So get this, turns out Ajcollectibles was indeed being literal when he said "Lol that's by me."

Knew exactly where this vending machine was just from the pictures, LOL. Wild. Talk about a small world.

[Ajcollectibles]

Small world for sure lol. When you dmed me, I had to double check to make sure you weren’t a random person just trying to locate the hidden stash.

I left those two packs there for you. Glad you got a nice insert out of them. Prior to knowing any collectors were in the area, I just cleaned house. Can you blame me? Most of the stuff stays in There for months. I’ll be sure to leave some stuff and give you a heads up next time around.

To date, I bought 30 91 UD packs, 20 93-94 UD packs, about 25 91-92 Skybox, 15 collectors choice of various years, UD sp 93-94, topps 97-98, topps 95-96, topps 99-00, a few stadium clubs, 89 fleer, 89 hoops, 90 fleer, 90 hoops , 91 fleer. I’ll post wrappers, my remaining unopened packs and pics of my best pulls.

[buckunteer]

this is awesome. I went into an antique shop near me (not near you guys, sadly haha) a couple years ago and they actually had a small card vending machine for sale with some cards in it. All baseball, unfortunately, but even in the 90s at the height of collecting I never saw one. Definitely a hidden gem there for sure :)!

[duron]

Small world for sure lol. When you dmed me, I had to double check to make sure you weren’t a random person just trying to locate the hidden stash.

I left those two packs there for you. Glad you got a nice insert out of them. Prior to knowing any collectors were in the area, I just cleaned house. Can you blame me? Most of the stuff stays in There for months. I’ll be sure to leave some stuff and give you a heads up next time around.

To date, I bought 30 91 UD packs, 20 93-94 UD packs, about 25 91-92 Skybox, 15 collectors choice of various years, UD sp 93-94, topps 97-98, topps 95-96, topps 99-00, a few stadium clubs, 89 fleer, 89 hoops, 90 fleer, 90 hoops , 91 fleer. I’ll post wrappers, my remaining unopened packs and pics of my best pulls.

Lol. I'm still shocked to be honest. We live in such a relatively small town that the odds of someone on the boards actually identifying this exact machine is something I haven't gotten over yet.
And I don't blame you at all, I would've grabbed the packs too. Prior to this thread I was convinced the only other person occasionally hitting up this machine for the 90s b-ball packs was a friend that lives by me.
https://78.media.tumblr.com/af41b816b20c04d8bc02d31793d24802/tumblr_myykuuIUlO1r0fdszo1_500.gif

[duron]

The machine returns:

Aj and I let each other know on IG whenever it gets loaded with b-ball stuff. Thanks to based Aj for the Topps intel.

https://i.imgur.com/TZlQGnNl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fgyQ9JFl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/39H0oBGl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KFkVnvdl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Lu1ztGVl.jpg

[CastleBeachCards]

nice pull

[stangy24]

Sweet pull!

[Deadshot]

Chrome Preview = NICE!!!

[jbarnett83]

Great pull, opened a box of this recently hoping to pull that card but no luck

[siebertb]

I used to buy packs from the King Kullen in Mattituck, Long Island when I stayed on the NOrth Fork for a few summers. Loved that they had it even though it was mostly junk wax. Still fun to buy packs for me and my little cousins

[TFP]

Is there nothing protecting the packs when they fall? Maybe tell the guy to put a piece of foam at the base. Won’t totally protect them from dinged corners, but it’s better than hearing a thud.

[RogerGodahell]

Is there nothing protecting the packs when they fall? Maybe tell the guy to put a piece of foam at the base. Won’t totally protect them from dinged corners, but it’s better than hearing a thud.

If he knew who the guy was im sure they would never end up in the vending machine to begin with.

[duron]

nice pull

Sweet pull!

Chrome Preview = NICE!!!

Great pull, opened a box of this recently hoping to pull that card but no luck

Thanks, it's too bad I couldn't avoid the infamously bad centering of the Preview set, but hey, this was cool regardless.

I used to buy packs from the King Kullen in Mattituck, Long Island when I stayed on the NOrth Fork for a few summers. Loved that they had it even though it was mostly junk wax. Still fun to buy packs for me and my little cousins

Yea this machine is in a Staten Island Shoprite. Def the best pull I've had out of it in like 7 years.

Is there nothing protecting the packs when they fall? Maybe tell the guy to put a piece of foam at the base. Won’t totally protect them from dinged corners, but it’s better than hearing a thud.

If he knew who the guy was im sure they would never end up in the vending machine to begin with.

There's a foam padding across the whole bottom but yea, you still get a thud and dinged corners one in every 4 or so packs that fall.

[duron]

This past week the machine had some 92-93 Stadium Club. Completely forgot that the Beam Teams were only in Series 2. Whoops. $15 dollars in change later, these were the results...

https://i.imgur.com/uBsXdg3l.jpg

Members Choice
https://i.imgur.com/4RzPO8rh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jdxY4gul.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HBfZxSM.jpg

[buckunteer]

still one of the best base MJs produced. Such a phenomenal action shot. Love the bumping of this thread!!! :)!

[SICKMADE]

Man if my local supermarket had packs of cards in it especially the newer topps baseball and the late 90s basketball I would be going to it everyday!

[glassofwater]

Cool. Did you buy all of those 2017 and 2018 update. If not go back and buy them all!!!

[COMCMax]

Love this thread. Do you think the person loading it uses the nicer old packs to draw people back or just loads it up with whatever they get their hands nowon from bulk purchases?

[duron]

Man if my local supermarket had packs of cards in it especially the newer topps baseball and the late 90s basketball I would be going to it everyday!

I'm there often but only focus on the basketball. Essentially ignore everything else but maybe I shouldn't.

Cool. Did you buy all of those 2017 and 2018 update. If not go back and buy them all!!!

Yea? Know nothing of the baseball market. I'll have to check next time I'm there but I think they're long gone.

Love this thread. Do you think the person loading it uses the nicer old packs to draw people back or just loads it up with whatever they get their hands nowon from bulk purchases?

I'm not sure he's that savvy. I have a feeling it's just whatever he grabs on the cheaper side.


Still just hilarious that someone saw one of my pics on here and recognized the machine instantly. He's @marbury3collector on Instagram.