Ebay question on what constitutes a complete set.

Steve D · #1 10-24-2020, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim65

If you look at a 1974 Topps Factory Set, it says "Official 1974 Complete Set, over 700 cards" the box does not say "660 cards plus bonus traded cards" I believe that shows Topps intended the Traded to be part of a complete set and however PSA or price guides list them is irrelevant.

Where are you seeing Topps "Factory Sets" from the 1970s?

I started collecting via wax packs in 1970, and started buying cards, from Larry Fritsch, in 1975. "Factory" sets were never seen or heard of, until Topps began issuing them in the mid-1980s. Even the big dealers like Fritsch and Renata Galasso bought 12,000-card cases, and had to hand-collate all the cards into individual sets.

Steve

rats60 · #2 10-24-2020, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve D

Where are you seeing Topps "Factory Sets" from the 1970s?

I started collecting via wax packs in 1970, and started buying cards, from Larry Fritsch, in 1975. "Factory" sets were never seen or heard of, until Topps began issuing them in the mid-1980s. Even the big dealers like Fritsch and Renata Galasso bought 12,000-card cases, and had to hand-collate all the cards into individual sets.

Steve

Topps did a factory set in 1974 for JC Penny's catalog.That was the first year baseball cards were issued in one series. They didn't do it again until 1983.

Steve D · #3 10-24-2020, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

Topps did a factory set in 1974 for JC Penny's catalog.That was the first year baseball cards were issued in one series. They didn't do it again until 1983.

Wow, I did not know that.

Thank you!

Steve

bigfanNY · #4 10-24-2020, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

Topps did a factory set in 1974 for JC Penny's catalog.That was the first year baseball cards were issued in one series. They didn't do it again until 1983.

There was also a 1982 Topps Factory set came in a brown woodgrain box That says "The Complete set Baseball picture cards" No date on outside box. I have one around here somewhere..
J

999Tony · #5 10-24-2020, 10:02 PM

1974 was my second year collecting. I got a ton of those ugly traded cards. Of course they were part of the set as they were in every pack of cards. But I learned a few years ago when I started collecting again that the standard convention is to sell the traded set separately and if sold with the set it is more like bonus cards. An inexperienced collector like I was until recently would not know this.

steve B · #6 10-24-2020, 10:36 PM

The wax boxes all say "all 660 cards in one series"
The box topper ad says "all 660 cards in one series"

Just because they made a special post season set for a large retail customer does not mean the traded were part of the main set.

rats60 · #7 10-25-2020, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve B

The wax boxes all say "all 660 cards in one series"
The box topper ad says "all 660 cards in one series"

Just because they made a special post season set for a large retail customer does not mean the traded were part of the main set.

The box topper ad in later boxes says now includes traded cards. Why did Topps put multiples of traded cards in most packs if they didn't intend them to be part of the set? Most collectors would already have most if not all the regular cards. Topps clearly didn't intend for them to be inserts or chase cards. They wanted collectors to get lots of them.

bigfanNY · #8 10-26-2020, 08:49 AM

As you stated later in the season they inserted Traded cards. A typical Topps marketing strategy to add an insert set. Most boxes did not contain traded cards.
By the way this is a 1982 Topps Factory set and it did not include the traded cards. Now you could argue that there were no traded cards in packs but in 1985 traded cards were issued in wax and as a box set but the Factory sets only included the base set again no traded.

bounce · #9 10-25-2020, 10:46 AM

if it's called a "traded set", why would it part of the "regular set"?

parsing words to say a "complete set" should include both is pretty ridiculous in my view.

sorry to see this happening.

ALR-bishop · #10 10-25-2020, 02:07 PM

Who is in charge of this hobby anyway ? Let's ask them the official position.

bigfanNY · #11 10-25-2020, 02:30 PM

I thought you were at least on the board Al???

Jim65 · #12 10-25-2020, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce

if it's called a "traded set", why would it part of the "regular set"?

When were the Traded cards called a set by Topps? The fact that Topps issued it as part of a complete set tells me all I need to know.

Jim65 · #13 10-25-2020, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce

parsing words to say a "complete set" should include both is pretty ridiculous in my view.

Why is it ridiculous when Topps issued a complete set and it included the Traded cards?

bigfanNY · #14 10-25-2020, 03:07 PM

I disagree on both points 1972 Traded cards are clearly part of the set. One of the ways to tell that is they are on the checklist.
1974 Traded cards have there own checklist because they are an insert set.

Jim65 · #15 10-24-2020, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve D

Where are you seeing Topps "Factory Sets" from the 1970s?

I started collecting via wax packs in 1970, and started buying cards, from Larry Fritsch, in 1975. "Factory" sets were never seen or heard of, until Topps began issuing them in the mid-1980s. Even the big dealers like Fritsch and Renata Galasso bought 12,000-card cases, and had to hand-collate all the cards into individual sets.

Steve

Here ya go

Steve D · #16 10-24-2020, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim65

Here ya go

OK, it appears Topps set the precedent that the "official" 1974 set includes the traded cards. Now, taking it further, since they also issued a 44-card Traded set in 1976, with the same numbering system, the "official" 1976 set would also include the Traded cards.

So, I now agree that anyone selling the set, should say if they are not including the Traded cards in the set they are selling. Having said that, I feel it should still be up to the buyer to verify what cards are included, before bidding. I can see, though, under ebay's rules favoring the buyer, that any seller who doesn't specify that the Traded cards are not included, is opening him/herself to a buyer complaint and possible refund.

Steve

icollectDCsports · #17 10-24-2020, 07:19 PM

Plot twist.

toppcat · #18 10-26-2020, 05:38 PM

74 Traded are Inserts

JollyElm · #19 10-26-2020, 05:50 PM

It comes down to a collector's mindset. At the time, everyone (contrarians aside) saw the Traded set as an entity unto itself. The people buying packs looked at them as a separate set with a separate checklist, like a weird added bonus. Although the word 'bonus' doesn't work too well, because the terribly airbrushed headshots look God-awful. That speaks to me the loudest.

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