Lack of Box/Case Break Threads

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FuriousD82

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Maybe it is just me, but has anyone else noticed the lack of box/break "share" threads in Show & Tell forum?

Yes, it is a slow time of year as most people are waiting for Series 1 or the new Cup, but there used to be at least a few posters sharing a box/case break a few years ago, and now there are very few.

Is box breaking too expensive? Dying hobby? Or just lack of interest on these boards?
 
People may be purchasing singles or participating in group breaks instead of paying for the box/case themselves. Seems to be the best way to maximize your dollar in this hobby nowadays.
 
cardboardnostalgia said:
People may be purchasing singles or participating in group breaks instead of paying for the box/case themselves. Seems to be the best way to maximize your dollar in this hobby nowadays.
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Not only that, but it seems like the only box breaks we do see are those that have monster hits. I feel like just about every one I see someone has a big-time hit. I guess for the most part people don't want to show the craptastic boxes?
 
capsfan30 said:
Not only that, but it seems like the only box breaks we do see are those that have monster hits. I feel like just about every one I see someone has a big-time hit. I guess for the most part people don't want to show the craptastic boxes?
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+1

If you check show&tell I could swear that every product has McDavid in every box :)

I for one would appriciate to see more box breaks even if there is no shield or something amazing.
 
Agreed. But to go through the 'effort', well not really too much effort, of posting the craptastic box if not really worth it. Kinda like, hey look at what I got..... crickets.... crickets... lol
 
I think I have done 2 box breaks over the last 6 months and these were the results....

Yep- pretty hard to post pictures of nothing. But then again, they are kind of fun- some people get some nice hits. IMO, they are good in moderation.
 
I used to post my case breaks but it's time consuming and not really worth it in the end. Most of the time, all I end up getting are lowball offers on my hits. I'd rather just list my stuff on eBay at this point
 
frankiefives said:
I used to post my case breaks but it's time consuming and not really worth it in the end. Most of the time, all I end up getting are lowball offers on my hits. I'd rather just list my stuff on eBay at this point
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Agree and most of my breaks are dealt to various LCS.
 
capsfan30 said:
Not only that, but it seems like the only box breaks we do see are those that have monster hits. I feel like just about every one I see someone has a big-time hit. I guess for the most part people don't want to show the craptastic boxes?
Click to expand...

Well I have noticed that some of the people that watch my Box Break channel on YouTube complain that the videos are too long and they just fast forward for the hits. But we're mostly talking about boxes from 1997-2003, there aren't going to be a ton of hits by today's definition. The hobby has become just gambling to most people. Opening a pack or box is like scratching a lottery ticket. If you aren't pulling something with ten autographs it's garbage and gets a .99 BIN on eBay.
 
cardboardnostalgia said:
Well I have noticed that some of the people that watch my Box Break channel on YouTube complain that the videos are too long and they just fast forward for the hits. But we're mostly talking about boxes from 1997-2003, there aren't going to be a ton of hits by today's definition. The hobby has become just gambling to most people. Opening a pack or box is like scratching a lottery ticket. If you aren't pulling something with ten autographs it's garbage and gets a .99 BIN on eBay.
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One of the most sure things to lose money these days is to buy a box of hockey cards and to open it. I can almost guarantee that once you have opened the box, you have lost probably at least 70% of the money.

When scratching a lottery ticket, you usually have a chance (not a great chance, but a chance) to win big. If you open up a tin of The Cup, you have a chance to get a card that is worth like $5 000, but that is pretty much the grand prize. And even then you probably get your money back only 10x the investment.
 
Mauri said:
One of the most sure things to lose money these days is to buy a box of hockey cards and to open it. I can almost guarantee that once you have opened the box, you have lost probably at least 70% of the money.

When scratching a lottery ticket, you usually have a chance (not a great chance, but a chance) to win big. If you open up a tin of The Cup, you have a chance to get a card that is worth like $5 000, but that is pretty much the grand prize. And even then you probably get your money back only 10x the investment.
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Your odds of making money are no different opening MVP or The Cup. The only way to keep your losses to a minimum is to open cases the day or week it comes out and put everything on eBay. If you turnover enough product you may hit something big every once in a while. There really isn't any sustainability with card prices. Even cutting edge innovation in the hobby usually gets flooded out within a couple seasons. I was just looking at Ultimate Collection final prices on eBay last night and several 1/1 shields are selling for less than $100.
 
frankiefives said:
I used to post my case breaks but it's time consuming and not really worth it in the end. Most of the time, all I end up getting are lowball offers on my hits. I'd rather just list my stuff on eBay at this point
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Actually, Frank, yours are the box-breaking threads I used to keep my eye out for as you tended to break what I collect. I know we've done a few deals - would love it if you posted your hits again :)
 
Seems to me that it's been slow for the past 8 or 10 months. Not really sure, TBH. Honestly though, it does seem like fewer and fewer cards I'm looking for have been popping up on eBay and the hobby sites. Does seem like fewer people are opening boxes.
 
FuriousD82 said:
Maybe it is just me, but has anyone else noticed the lack of box/break "share" threads in Show & Tell forum?

Yes, it is a slow time of year as most people are waiting for Series 1 or the new Cup, but there used to be at least a few posters sharing a box/case break a few years ago, and now there are very few.

Is box breaking too expensive? Dying hobby? Or just lack of interest on these boards?
Click to expand...

Box break posts used to generate discussion, trades, sales etc. They don't seem to do that as much in recent months, which reduces interest in writing them. So they don't end up getting written.

It's unfortunate, because I do really like seeing the breaks of other people. It's a really good way to get a feel if a product is good, okay, or total junk. Plus if someone gets something really cool, it might as well be someone in the HI community :)
 
At the moment, I'm mostly opening boxes for my sets projects (UD1 13-14 and Prizm 13-14) and most of the hits are staying with me.

But, when I do open products like ITGU, I take the time to scan and list the stuff on the message boards. But I open those kind of packs maybe 1-3 times per year.
 
Chillychow said:
Actually, Frank, yours are the box-breaking threads I used to keep my eye out for as you tended to break what I collect. I know we've done a few deals - would love it if you posted your hits again :)
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lol agreed! i do really miss your breaks!
 
odjickfan said:
At the moment, I'm mostly opening boxes for my sets projects (UD1 13-14 and Prizm 13-14) and most of the hits are staying with me.

But, when I do open products like ITGU, I take the time to scan and list the stuff on the message boards. But I open those kind of packs maybe 1-3 times per year.
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I agree with this. The 2013-14 products have dropped to the level where it is affordable to break and as long as Panini has the redemption filled they still honor them. Black Friday is my favorite time of year because all the older Panini products are about to be marked down even further.

You can still make money case breaking, but you have to use the whole product and not just the hits. I know it comes as a shock to the manufacturers but THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO COLLECT THE BASE CARDS.
 

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