Which Boxes to Buy?

[Insomniac]

So a few months ago I bought some boxes bundled together on eBay. Black Diamond and another UD brand.

They were the kind of boxes you get at Wal-Mart or Target, go for around $15-20 usually.

I was really dissapointed as I got triples and quadruples of player cards, and out of about 5 boxes not a single jersey/autograph.

So is there a different box I should be buying that will have more of a variety of players and better insert chance?

Or what boxes have the most memorabilia cards in the box? I know I've bought bigger boxes before that had 2 or so, but it seems like these smaller boxes aren't cutting it.

Thanks in advance.

[KangoBass]

Blaster boxes typical have higher odds (much higher). Furthermore they do not inlcude some of the hobby version of cards such as MVP's Gold Scripts or OPC Rainbow cards. They are decent to build basic base sets. I build a majority of my OPC retro cards from OPC blaster boxes that were half off, which brings me to the point, I only buy blasters that are discounted significantly. If not then I rather stick with Hobby packs.

[Insomniac]

Blaster boxes typical have higher odds (much higher). Furthermore they do not inlcude some of the hobby version of cards such as MVP's Gold Scripts or OPC Rainbow cards. They are decent to build basic base sets. I build a majority of my OPC retro cards from OPC blaster boxes that were half off, which brings me to the point, I only buy blasters that are discounted significantly. If not then I rather stick with Hobby packs.

Ok, so I need to look for boxes that say hobby in them?

I have gotten a jersey card in one of the small boxes in NFL ones, but none for NHL. Plus it was getting annoying knowing what player would be in a pack lol.

I've been a big card collector since I was young, but never really knew the difference between boxes, just did packs at a time or jersey/auto cards at shows.

[KangoBass]

You can still get some amazing stuff out of blaster boxes. They just tend to be moon odds. I got a sweet Denis Savard OPC buyback auto from a blaster. But I also bought 50 boxes... Most packs will be marked retail or hobby. Retail packs are cheeper but do not contian certain cards, such as parallels, and most other inserts are going to have higher odds. For example, my OPC blaster boxes had a Winter Classic Jersey card 1:72 packs, where as my Hobby stores hobby box had them 1:36. Also, I could never get an OPC retro rainbow /100 out of a blaster box. If you are looking for better odds Hobby is the way to go but, if you are focusing on some base cards then a blaster box is fine IMO. If you are looking for GU, and auto's I think your money is spent better on Hobby packs/boxes.

[Insomniac]

You can still get some amazing stuff out of blaster boxes. They just tend to be moon odds. I got a sweet Denis Savard OPC buyback auto from a blaster. But I also bought 50 boxes... Most packs will be marked retail or hobby. Retail packs are cheeper but do not contian certain cards, such as parallels, and most other inserts are going to have higher odds. For example, my OPC blaster boxes had a Winter Classic Jersey card 1:72 packs, where as my Hobby stores hobby box had them 1:36. Also, I could never get an OPC retro rainbow /100 out of a blaster box. If you are looking for better odds Hobby is the way to go but, if you are focusing on some base cards then a blaster box is fine IMO. If you are looking for GU, and auto's I think your money is spent better on Hobby packs/boxes.

Thanks alot Kango, really appreciate the info.

[ontheDB]

I'm in a situation like your's Insomniac. Used to collect in the early nineties (first upper decks and opeechee premiers) where the pull of the series was getting "actual" rookie yr cards or holograms (haha). Now it's all about getting the special subsets.

Recently, I wanted to get some, and got a blaster box from Walmart. Didn't realize how bad the odds are. I'm trying to figure out the best hockey hobby box to get (value-wise). From what I've seen, I was thinking the UD artifacts box. They have it on the NHL.com shop for 72$. That's a cheap price i've seen.


Anyone else have any opinions ?

[blueshirtfan2136]

I'm in a situation like your's Insomniac. Used to collect in the early nineties (first upper decks and opeechee premiers) where the pull of the series was getting "actual" rookie yr cards or holograms (haha). Now it's all about getting the special subsets.

Recently, I wanted to get some, and got a blaster box from Walmart. Didn't realize how bad the odds are. I'm trying to figure out the best hockey hobby box to get (value-wise). From what I've seen, I was thinking the UD artifacts box. They have it on the NHL.com shop for 72$. That's a cheap price i've seen.


Anyone else have any opinions ?

Im pretty sure the NHL store only sells retail boxes.

[patsfan84]

go to www.dacardworld.com they sell hobby boxes and retail boxes of most sets and years, hobby box price/hit wise artifacts is good for arounf 100 bucks, get 4 gu with 1 being an auto usually in a 10 pack box, spgu has 6 packs with 6 hits usually unless that has changed??? but runs a lot more