Buyback Autos

Shaz · 05-04-2023, 01:33 AM

Hi Guys,

I couldn't find a lot of info on buyback autos so I have set up a new thread.

I wanted to get the ins and outs of buyback autos.

I do understand that some come with the certificate and some don't - what are the issues/concerns if they don't have the accompanying certificate?

Also a lot of the holograms don't appear in the UD registry - is this of concern?

Any technical info would be appreciated!

frisbeesteve · 05-04-2023, 10:51 AM

I’m a huge fan of buyback autos, generally speaking. I’ll first speak to your questions/concerns, then chime in with some additional thoughts on them.

For resale purposes, buyback autos are always going to be worth at least a little bit more (and maybe sometimes a lot?) if they are indeed accompanied by the certificate. I own several buyback autos, and all but one of them have the correct certificate to go along. Ironically the one that doesn’t, has a certificate that should have accompanied another card. In other words, the guy that I bought it from had inadvertently switched a couple of the cert cards, and wasn’t able to correct this situation. If anyone out there has a cert for a David Robinson buyback auto and doesn’t have the accompanying auto, please message me – I may have a cert for you as well, haha! I’m guessing that a serious collector that knows about the buyback sets (how the player’s auto should look, and other identifying aspects like hologram stickers, embossing stamps, etc.) would be willing to forgo a cert and pay close to if not full market value for the card, but a flipper or dealer may want more of a discount? I’m not bothered at all by the inability to confirm the hologram numbers in Upper Deck’s registry system, but am not sure how most others feel about it.

My love of buyback autos in general, is probably best summarized by the following:

* Usually relatively limited/rare

* Usually interesting card choices, which also often trigger some of that beloved nostalgia, which is one of my favorite aspects of collecting in the first place

* Remind me of IP autos (which I also love insofar as I can actually trust their authenticity), but are much more widely accepted and thus tradeable

* Usually there are stickers (i.e. Upper Deck) or embossing stamps (i.e. Paramount Flashback) that provide additional peace of mind for the authenticity

josun45 · 05-04-2023, 01:27 PM

Here are the three Etan Thomas buybacks I have

Based off the three I have, it appears all three versions of them were stickered at the same time

AAA56550 - AAA56633 for the /84
AAA56634 for the 1/1
and AAA56635 - AAA56642 for the /8

Don't think they were on the online registry.. but I'm not too concerned with anyone faking Etan Thomas buybacks

Shaz · 05-04-2023, 05:19 PM

Hi frisbeesteve,

Thats awesome and very useful information.

Im a fan of the buybacks too but want to arm myself with some technical knowledge before pulling the trigger on some cards. Some of the cards don't have a certificate and I couldn't find on the upper deck register.

Does anyone know why they wouldn't appear on the register?

On a personal note - would love to see your buyback collection. Are you on IG?

frisbeesteve · 05-04-2023, 05:59 PM

I am on IG, but I don't post pics there. Here are some crude thumbnails of my buybacks:

Shaz · 05-04-2023, 06:20 PM

Oh wow!

Love the Lineage and love the 1994 and 1996 SPs - 94 and 96 SP are my favourite sets.

kobebeast2020 · 05-05-2023, 06:46 AM

for the naïve collector what is a buyback auto?

frisbeesteve · 05-05-2023, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kobebeast2020

for the naïve collector what is a buyback auto?

It’s where a card manufacturer such as Panini or Upper Deck, buys back some copies of cards issued in past years (could be base, parallels or inserts), gets them autographed by the player, and then reinserts them into a new and current product.

Usually but not always, buyback autos are serial numbered by hand. They also usually will be found on the product’s checklist that they were inserted into.

advan24r · 05-05-2023, 05:03 PM

Buybacks are seen as more desired for the rookie year when that rookie didn't have any autos made of him/her. I would also be all over them versus 3rd party signers that are authenticated by JSA/PSA/BGS. It's more rare, it's pack inserted and holds a higher premium than a non-auto'd rookie version. Here are just some of mine that I still own and the others I've just sold recently within the past year.

Sorry for the large pictures, I don't know how to link them via image address.

05-04-2023, 01:33 AM	#1
Shaz Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 323	Buyback Autos Hi Guys, I couldn't find a lot of info on buyback autos so I have set up a new thread. I wanted to get the ins and outs of buyback autos. I do understand that some come with the certificate and some don't - what are the issues/concerns if they don't have the accompanying certificate? Also a lot of the holograms don't appear in the UD registry - is this of concern? Any technical info would be appreciated!

05-04-2023, 01:27 PM	#3
josun45 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 105	Here are the three Etan Thomas buybacks I have Based off the three I have, it appears all three versions of them were stickered at the same time AAA56550 - AAA56633 for the /84 AAA56634 for the 1/1 and AAA56635 - AAA56642 for the /8 Don't think they were on the online registry.. but I'm not too concerned with anyone faking Etan Thomas buybacks __________________ Collecting: Michael Bradley (Everything), Denham Brown (Everything), Etan Thomas, Shammond Williams (NBA Cards Only), Current & Former Toronto Raptors (Autos) Last edited by josun45; 05-04-2023 at 01:39 PM.

05-04-2023, 10:51 AM	#2
frisbeesteve Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,682 frisbeesteve frisbeesteve	I’m a huge fan of buyback autos, generally speaking. I’ll first speak to your questions/concerns, then chime in with some additional thoughts on them. For resale purposes, buyback autos are always going to be worth at least a little bit more (and maybe sometimes a lot?) if they are indeed accompanied by the certificate. I own several buyback autos, and all but one of them have the correct certificate to go along. Ironically the one that doesn’t, has a certificate that should have accompanied another card. In other words, the guy that I bought it from had inadvertently switched a couple of the cert cards, and wasn’t able to correct this situation. If anyone out there has a cert for a David Robinson buyback auto and doesn’t have the accompanying auto, please message me – I may have a cert for you as well, haha! I’m guessing that a serious collector that knows about the buyback sets (how the player’s auto should look, and other identifying aspects like hologram stickers, embossing stamps, etc.) would be willing to forgo a cert and pay close to if not full market value for the card, but a flipper or dealer may want more of a discount? I’m not bothered at all by the inability to confirm the hologram numbers in Upper Deck’s registry system, but am not sure how most others feel about it. My love of buyback autos in general, is probably best summarized by the following: * Usually relatively limited/rare * Usually interesting card choices, which also often trigger some of that beloved nostalgia, which is one of my favorite aspects of collecting in the first place * Remind me of IP autos (which I also love insofar as I can actually trust their authenticity), but are much more widely accepted and thus tradeable * Usually there are stickers (i.e. Upper Deck) or embossing stamps (i.e. Paramount Flashback) that provide additional peace of mind for the authenticity

05-04-2023, 05:19 PM	#4
Shaz Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 323	Hi frisbeesteve, Thats awesome and very useful information. Im a fan of the buybacks too but want to arm myself with some technical knowledge before pulling the trigger on some cards. Some of the cards don't have a certificate and I couldn't find on the upper deck register. Does anyone know why they wouldn't appear on the register? On a personal note - would love to see your buyback collection. Are you on IG?

05-04-2023, 05:59 PM	#5
frisbeesteve Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,682 frisbeesteve frisbeesteve	I am on IG, but I don't post pics there. Here are some crude thumbnails of my buybacks:

05-04-2023, 06:20 PM	#6
Shaz Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 323	Oh wow! Love the Lineage and love the 1994 and 1996 SPs - 94 and 96 SP are my favourite sets.

05-05-2023, 06:46 AM	#7
kobebeast2020 Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 1,235	for the naïve collector what is a buyback auto?

05-05-2023, 05:03 PM	#9
advan24r Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5,143 advan24r	Buybacks are seen as more desired for the rookie year when that rookie didn't have any autos made of him/her. I would also be all over them versus 3rd party signers that are authenticated by JSA/PSA/BGS. It's more rare, it's pack inserted and holds a higher premium than a non-auto'd rookie version. Here are just some of mine that I still own and the others I've just sold recently within the past year. Sorry for the large pictures, I don't know how to link them via image address.