1999 AMAZIN’ METS FROSTED FLAKES CEREAL BOX
Can a cereal box be a collector’s item? Well, collectors are an odd lot so we shouldn’t rule it out. And, hey, it’s in my collection so that means something, right?
Let me state for the record – this box was given to me. It was on the desk of my old boss, I commented on it and she was only too happy to give it to me. Turns out someone offered it to her and she was too polite to say no, so she ended up with the fruitcake. She held onto it until she could re-gift it and was not the least bit sad to see it go.
The box proudly proclaims both “Limited Collector’s Series” and “Premiere Box – Only 250,000 Printed.” My guess is that 100,000 of them are still in a warehouse somewhere, right next to a million cases of 1988-1990 Donruss cards, just waiting for attrition or perhaps for hipsters to decide these are now popular.
There are three of these available on ebay right now. The first one goes for $10.49 (or best offer) and has free shipping. The second one is $6.99 with $12.00 shipping. And the final one is $25.00 (or best offer) with $8.00 shipping.
Methinks the second two guys need to get up with the first guy and figure out who he uses as his shipping company. It shouldn’t cost $12 to ship something that weighs 20 ounces. It used to be that sellers would have low product costs and high shipping because ebay took a percentage of selling price only. But I thought ebay now included shipping in their calculations. Perhaps Doug or JimO or anyone who’s active can weigh in on this.
Regardless, my unopened box weighs a lot more than 20 ounces right now. I’m not sure if the flakes have calicified or petrified or whatever process makes your weight increase five-fold. Still shouldn’t cost $12 to ship.
Anyway, the 1999 team was so fun and it’s nice to have a memento of Edgardo Alfonzo, Rickey Henderson, John Olerud, Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura. The 2015 team was fun, too. Guess I should be on the lookout for something to remind me of them, too.
Never saw one of these– looks like there was another one that featured only Piazza.
Kind of scary that the box is gaining weight as the years pass– I bet if you open it, a bright spooky light will pour out, a la Kiss Me Deadly/Pulp Fiction. Or maggots. Lots and lots of maggots…
ebay started taking a cut of shipping a while back– people were selling items for 99 cents and charging $20 for shipping in an effort to make an end run around the final-item fees.
That ’99 season was special, in many respects more fun than 2000. Closer to my heart, at least.
Not sure how that shipping cost is calculated….its a mystery. Love the item though!