My local shop had a 'mystery variant' box for $30 and it was all junk

I saw this box with a cool cover, and the guy said it had 'high value modern keys'. I saved up for it, opened it at home, and every single book was a dollar bin filler from the 90s. I felt so ripped off, like I just threw my money away. Has anyone else fallen for one of these gimmicks, or know a shop that does them right?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarahhart2mo ago

Honestly, you gotta know what you're getting into with those boxes. It's basically gambling, and sometimes you lose. The shop owner isn't running a charity, he's trying to move old stock. If you wanted a sure thing, you should've just bought a specific book you knew you wanted.

jake_martin167d ago

A buddy of mine who used to work at a shop like that told me they sometimes toss in signed copies or first editions just to keep people coming back, hoping for a jackpot. It's less about moving junk and more about creating that rush of maybe finding gold.

king.lisa2mo ago

Hold up, that's a pretty cold take. Those mystery boxes are often the only way some people can afford to try new authors or genres. The shop owner knows exactly what they're doing, hiding the good stuff to make a quick buck off junk nobody wants. It's not gambling when the deck is stacked, it's just a rip-off.