Childhood or adulthood rip off stories

[RobertGT]

As a 13-year-old kid, I was hot after the "key" Donruss rookies in 1988 (Greg Jefferies) and 1989 (Griffey Jr.). I was pretty successful at convincing my mother to buy dozens and dozens of the Donruss blister rack packs available from both years at the local Shelby's in suburban NJ where I grew up. She bought me enough rack packs from both years to stuff two binders full of cards, with cards jammed into both sides of the vinyl pages. I had maybe 1,000 cards from each year.

I did not pull a single Jefferies or Griffey Jr RC.

It took me many years later to understand why: Some sleazy but clever adult had gotten to the packs way before me, and figured out how to pack search for hot cards inside on the basis of which players were on top.

My first introduction to the sleazy nature of the card business. Still happening today at Targets and Walmarts around the country.