Well this is an interesting turn of events…
The man who bought a highly sought-after multimillion-dollar case of hockey cards now says he doesn't want them anymore.
CBC confirmed that Ontario-based real estate agent Jack Arshawsky won the auction for a case containing thousands of unopened 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee brand hockey cards — the set that contains Wayne Gretzky's rookie card — for $3.72 million US.
However, Arshawsky says he has not paid the full amount for the cards yet, so they remain in the auction house's "vault."

Read the full article here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/gretzky-hockey-card-auction-winner-wants-to-find-better-home-for-cards-1.7172349

This is bananas. The buyer got into a highly competitive, highly publicized bidding war and ended up with the case of 1979 O-Pee-Chee hockey for $3.7M, and now is having second thoughts?

Apparently he paid $3M but hasn't paid in full, and the cards are still vaulted with Heritage.

I would assume anyone bidding at that dollar amount is pre-vetted, right? Crazy to change your mind on a decision like that... wonder what happened, and what the recourse is?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/gretzky-hockey-card-auction-winner-wants-to-find-better-home-for-cards-1.7172349

After a month at auction, with very little activity over the last two weeks, the bidding went nuts tonight, basically doubling the price in a single day.

Massive result. What happens now? Owner keeps the boxes sealed? Sells them to turn a profit? Opens them to find Gretzky rookies?

https://www.onmantel.com/post/adf44f99-0576-4e8c-bcbd-d2f39c69824e

Heritage has an auction underway for a case of O-Pee-Chee from 1979, which was Gretzky’s rookie year. 

Apparently the seller found the unopened box in the basement. Hell of a find! The bid is already approaching $1M!

27 days left on the sale.

https://sports.ha.com/itm/hockey-cards/unopened-packs-display-boxes/1979-80-o-pee-chee-hockey-wax-box-sealed-case-16-boxes-48-packs-bbce-authentication-only-known-case-from-gretzky-s-rookie/a/50068-80052.s