The original message that started this whole mystery box thing rolling is below. If, you have any ideas or would like to maybe start a new box, discuss it here. If you are actually wanting to start a box, contact me and I'll be sure you gain access to start a new thread here. Thanks!

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

Ok. Here's a thought that I've been kicking around- What if a box was loaded up with say 100-200 cards of various star wars & non-sport sets. Suppose that a list of addresses for interested people was created and the box was mailed out. The person receiving the box would have the thrill of receiving something other than bills in the mail, sorting through a box of cards and not knowing what treasure they may find. If they found something they wanted, they would simply remove those cards and replace with something else. Once they were done sorting through the box they would write to a moderator and receive the address for the next person.
Just kinda kicking the idea around. I was thinking of limiting the list of names to say 10-15 with the box ending where it started. A new list could then be made up and the process could start over.Let me know what everyone thinks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CypherBos,

How intriguing!

Sounds like fun to me!

I am exceedingly fond of this idea.

I like it! Are you thinking common cards, inserts, or both?

Count me IN.

I think there shoud be a "suggested list of etiquette"

1. If you take a full set, give a full (nearly set)
2. Don't be a pig.
3. Remember the idea is "SURPRISE!"

Tell where to send my original donation.

We might alsoallow - space permitting, small goodies like pins.

And, to save space, have place holders for full sets. But, maybe not - anonymity is what may make this work.

They do this on the NSU forum - it's called 'The Mystery Box'. It's been a huge hit so far!

Hi there - Count me in if it is going international - If you need stuff to start the box off - I may have some stuff kicking about - Regards MARK

I agree there should be some rules regarding handling of this. It's not a bad idea.

Glad to see this is a good idea. I thought it was an original one, but prophecygirl says they already have one on NSU. Guess it's like they say-all the original ideas are already taken.

prophecygirl if you could fill me in on some details of how that NSU box was started and/or runs that would be great.

I'm thinking the box could be commons, chase, even a set or two depending on how large of a box we wanna make it. Remember, the heavier it gets, the more the post office charges.

Several people have offered donations to start the box. Should we have all the people involved send a donation to start the box and then send the box out to each individual. I was thinking that if I run this, I would load the box with a bunch of stuff and just send it off to the first person. It would be interesting to see how many of the original cards make it all the way around.

The next question is should the box be:
1-ALL Star Wars cards (since it is starwarscards.net)
2-MOSTLY Star Wars with a few other non-sport.
or
3-ANYTHING GOES?

suggestions, suggestions, suggestions.

I can put together a mixture of cards for a donation as well. Another possiblilty- Would anybody be interested in some SW Minis being available in the box?

maybe there should be more than one box?

A star wars cards only box.
A anything star wars and cute box.
A mostly star wars, but all kinds of cards box.
A International light weight items only box.

Weight will definitely be the biggest issue. If the box goes International, some folks might find that they are spending $20 + to send a box to someone overseas, while the person before them spent only $5 to get it to them.

Sounds like a fun project to work on. I can make some small donations to any boxes that get started. I can also create a special forum area similar to the card exchange area, for the posting of the boxes, and tracking where they happen to be at any given point in time.

We did try something close to this on the site once before (remember trading circles) that fizzled after a bit, but it had less sense of mystery to it.

Cathy

Thanks for your input Cathy. Nice to know the boss likes it too. Also, thanks for offering the seperate area for this. That would be great once we finalize the concept. Almost have it worked out I think.

I like the idea of multiple boxes. More chances for more stuff.

Trying to keep it an all cards concept, I suggest the following boxes:

1. Original Mystery Box (OMB)- Any Star Wars card that exists could be in this box. Which ones will you get?

2. Extra-Crispy Mystery Box (HMB)- How'd that get in there? Any non-sport card that you think someone in the group would want might be in this box.

Also a smaller lighter version of each for our overseas collectors. A total of four different boxes.

davelennox wrote:

quote:

I think there shoud be a "suggested list of etiquette"

1. If you take a full set, give a full (nearly set)
2. Don't be a pig.
3. Remember the idea is "SURPRISE!"

I agree with him on these suggestions. Don't take all the promos and chase cards and fill the box with Burger King scratch-offs. If you take good stuff, put good stuff back in. trying to stay as close to a 1:1 ratio as possible. The cards should be ones that you would be willing to accept. Don't put junk in.


NEXT QUESTION- HOW BIG SHOULD THE BOXES BE? 100 CARDS? 200? 500? INPUT. INPUT. INPUT.

Let's say I send

RotS - 20 commons, 2 stickers, 2 tattoos, 1 embossed, 1 etched
Clone Wars - 20 commons, 3 stickers, 2 promos
Heritage - 20 commons, 1 etched, 1 promo, 1 sketch
Evolutions - 1 set
AotC - Silver foil set
Finest f1 f3 f5
Energizer set
Galaxy 3 - 20 commons
ANH WV - 15 commons

That's 126 cards, roughly.

Now, I may have more resources than a trader I know who is 18 and in school. But, that's okay with me. These are extras. We can't really regulate what each person sends.

Any comments on how to send them, how to equitably share them?

$.02

Earl (davelennox)

To me, Earl's suggestions of what he might donate to start a MB sounds like a complete MB already. You could sign up a list of folks, and send out to the first on the list, with the rotating list of names already, and people could take and add, creating mystery (since Earl has already given out what is in it to start) as it passes along.

The bigger questions are probably the little things. Handling of the addresses, labels, etc. Keeping the cards protected inside, especially when you have mixes of standard and widevision.

That sort of little question.

Maybe we should have a list of people willing to be MB starters. They could select the type of MB they want to start, and our MB coordinators can gather names/addresses of people interested in joinging those types of MB's. Once they feel they have a group ready to start, the MB starter can send off the box, and the circle can get started. With members of that box posting notes in the MB forum, and maybe getting to know one another a little bit. Each MB contributor could put a little note in the box too.

And hey, I'm not the BOSS, I'm the HUTT. Or so a certain collector on this site likes to tell me. No really, I'm just providing the place for all the hanging out to happen. I definitely deny being in charge of any of you!

Cathy

Ok. Let's see now. Here is we go. I'll submit this as the 1st draft of the Mystery Box plan of operations. If anyone has any suggestions- feel free to add.

1. On the initial set-up a theme or topic for the box will be choosen as well as the number of cards.

2.People will then be asked to sign up for a spot on the box's rotation. They will need to supply their mailing information and an email address to the box's operator. That list will be printed on a sheet of mailing labels to be included in the box.

3.All of the cards should be placed in 6,9, or other appropriately sized pages and, along with the address labels, placed in a postal box and shipped to the first person on the list.

4.A message stating where the box is heading should be posted. A message should also be posted when it arrives at it's destination.

5.Once the box is received, wanted cards should be removed and appropriate cards should be placed in the empty pockets. Following the 'Rules of Etiquette' posted earlier by Earl.

---Don't tell anyone what you put in the box!! ---

6.The box should be prepped for mailing with the next address label being applied. Eventually the box should end up where it started and possibly started over again.


Let's see what people think of this and maybe we can get one started in the next week or so.

oh yeah. before the box is sent to the next person maybe the sender could check that person's want list for ideas.

Oooh! Coun't me in!

If there is a decent amount of interest in other non sport card mystery boxes...I'm all over that!

Sounds like fun.


(we should throw in our ROTS movie stubs too, see how different they might look)

Further thoughts -

It is probably less expensive if we put our non-US members in a row together.

My thought is that card pages are good. But putting each card in its own little envelope and then into the page is better.

Probably non-commons should go into top loaders.

My theoretical first time starter set may be too big for one person. I was hoping for comment on the kind/number of items I sent.

Vintage box as a separate item?

Foreign box as a separate item?

Shipping rule - box MUST be sent within 5 days. Violaters will receive 1 ton (907.2 kg) of spam.

Earl, let's make it postmarked within 7 days. Some of us have to travel, and are sometimes out-of-town Mon-Fri.

Count me in!

Ok. More thoughts.

As far as protecting the cards how about each common card should be in a penny sleave and each chase, promo, etc. should be place in a sleave in a top loader? All the top loaders could be place in a smaller box or God forbid held together with a rubberband.

A 7 day turnaround from the time the box is received sounds like a good idea.

As far as donations go, I think everyone that is interested should save there cards for when the box makes it to them.

Earl also had a good idea about have an international specific box. Another thought on this would be to have a shorter list of folk so that it didn't take forever for the box to make a cycle around.

Also, Instead of mailing labels being shipped with the box, I suggest a sheet printed with contact info for all of the members of the list for that MB. The top of the box could be covered with a sheet of paper and taped on. Then it could simply be ripped off and a fresh one applied for the next mailing.

Thanks for all the help. I'm hoping that maybe by next weekend we'll have a MB in the mail. Keep the suggestions coming.

As far as international people go...

It's (sometimes) cheaper for me to ship to the states than to Canada for some reason. If your concerned about shipping charges, you should have them mailed out from East to West...or vice versa.

Having said that, I'm not worried about shipping costs at all, if it costs more for me to ship than someone else...I don't mind as long as I can participate.

This is a great idea! we can iron out any bugs along the way. Why can't I use a rubber band? (just kidding)

I don't necessarily want to dismiss the idea of a Misc. Items box (coins, pins, toys, etc). I would be willing to start this one up with a few items... if there is enought interest.

Jen