Monday, February 1, 2010

Packsearcher caught red-handed

Last Friday, I made a stop back at the Target where I found the 2010 Topps gravity feeder. This time I bought 25 packs to open and some extras for the contest I posted earlier today. At this Target, the card section is at the far end, near the "grocery" end of the store. It is just a few steps from the door and right across from the little snack bar. As soon as I walked in I could see a guy, probably mid-50's in age, pawing at some packs. I think they were Bowman Draft Pick rack packs, but I haven't bought any of those so I'm not sure. He was really working the packs over looking for auto's I guess. I walked past him and stopped, hanging back about 2 steps behind and maybe 5 feet to his left. He didn't realize that I stopped. I watched for maybe a minute and then I did something very uncharacteristic. I challenged him.

I said, "So you're the dumbass that's bending all the cards." He quickly looked back and didn't say anything. He had two rack packs sitting on the top of the shelf that he had already decided to get. I started counting out the 2010 Topps packs I wanted and he saw what I was looking at and tried to deflect my criticism by engaging me in a conversation. He showed me the 2010 Topps Blasters and I said I didn't want them because they had 10 packs with 8 cards and for the same price I could get 10 single packs with 12 cards. I said, "So, you'd rather I bought the blaster because you can't molest those packs? You want me to leave these single packs for you to bend up?" He got really nervous and then I did something that made him move. I turned around to the cashier behind me and asked for the manager. She picked up her little phone and called for a manager and Mr. Douchebagger Packsearcher picked up his two rack packs and walked over to the Snack Bar where he paid for the packs and left. I told the manager what he was doing and that while it probably wasn't illegal, he was bending cards and making a mess of things.

Some people think packsearching is ok. Personally, I don't think it's right because it can damage cards and those people generally leave the card section looking like my son's bedroom. If I ran into some guy doing that and he reacted like he wasn't doing anything wrong and the manager didn't care, I'd drop it. This guy obviously felt like he was in the wrong because he took off in such a hurry. I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with me being 6'3".

I've posted previously about packsearchers and how they don't get it all. Based on some of the posts I'm seeing across the blogs, I'm glad they are missing stuff at your stores as well.

9 comments:

  1. Sorry dude. You definitely made me nervous. Those BDDP rack packs didn't have anything in them anyway. I'm such a moron, I didn't even realize that all the autos are on-card, and pretty much impossible to search.

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  2. Good for you! It's just so low of people to have no consideration of fairness and morals. If I ever see someone pack searching I'll follow your example.

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  3. You're my hero. I hate when people do that crap.

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  4. Beardy, what were you doing down in Dallas? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Either you weren't the douche in question or you are using someone else's pic for your blog. The way this guy was pawing the packs he could tell which guys were wearing cups. Is there something in those packs besides autos that he could see...like a black border or something. Anyway, it was all good fun.

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  5. I search packs! I admit it. But only when the front or back card is clearly visible through the wrapper and if a Cardinal can be spotted.

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  6. Kerry, it's one thing to look at a pack and see what the cards are on the front or back. It's another thing to "F" up the edges of the cards trying to fan them or feel for a "relic". I don't have a problem if the packs are see-through. Just man-handled.

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  7. good show! I didn't realize you were 6 foot three... Am I the only midget blogger out there? That is awesome what you did. My Target does not give a crap about pack searchers. There have been a few heated arguments with the manager... I will probably write about that some day. Anyway, glad you stopped Beardy, err, that random guy from searching at your store. I have not bought a retail pack in six months that wasn't bent. They MUST be stopped!!!

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  8. 6'-3"? I wouldn't have backed down, but then again, I'm stupid that way!!

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