Pack Searcher

[StanChad]

^ The feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see a pack searcher or hear of a patch forger.

Man those guys make me mad

BTW

[thesnake87]

Luckily I don't live in an area where hockey is too popular. Meijer doesn't sell by the pack, they have lots of blasters though usually at half off. Target has less blasters and more retail packs but I haven't seen anyone search there.

And at my LCS, they abide by the glass case idea. You wanna pack, you ask and they give you the one on top of the pile.

If I saw a pack searcher, I'd give him a dirty look and say "dude... You're an (adult/older teen) and your pack searching retail? Who do you think you are? People like you ruin the hobby of collecting, especially for the kids.

[mugmasher]

my local wal mart keeps all of the packs/boxes on a wall behind the registers so you have to tell them what you want..i saw one guy once using a micrometer to measure the thickness of the packs..i was standing there watching saying what an Idiot !!!!

[BillInDallas]

Have you ever got a good "steal" by winning a mis-labled ebay auction? Have you ever made a lowball offer to a seller or made a trade that you knew was well in your favor? In all these cases you are taking advantage of a fellow collector. How is that any less honest than someone who goes to Target and takes advantage of knowing how to feel some packs? Lets not be too hypocritical.

For the record, I have never bid on a mislabeled item, nor do I lowball on offers.

The difference to me is that when a seller lists an item or considers a deal, the responsibility for their protection lies with themselves. They need to check their auction, they need to ask whether the trade is a good one. The buyer of the retail pack is assuming the game is fair and that they shouldn't have to know a secret (remember that the many collectors are not utilizing forums such as these. We only represent a small portion of the hobby.) To me, retail pack searching is akin to an LCS that busts boxes, and when they find the case hit, stock the remainder of the packs into a box and puts them up for sale at full price, knowing full well that the big hit(s) are gone. I would imagine we would all be upset if we knew this was the case.

[mugmasher]

I was going to buy a few packs of Retail artifacts the other day, but now you've got me REALLY tempted. haha

the voice in your head is saying...ANDREW, GO AND GET SOME PACKS NOWWWW!!!!!!!!!

[charvey9]

The difference to me is that when a seller lists an item or considers a deal, the responsibility for their protection lies with themselves. They need to check their auction, they need to ask whether the trade is a good one. The buyer of the retail pack is assuming the game is fair and that they shouldn't have to know a secret (remember that the many collectors are not utilizing forums such as these.

I don't understand why you think a seller/trader should be responsible for protecting their own interests before making a deal, but a buyer does not have the same responsibility when making a purchase.

I guess I'm just not sympathetic for the ignorant, even if that ignorance is a product of youth. Assuming things are always fair is a mistake best learned early. That being said, I see way more youngsters skulking around the cards when I stop by to grab a blaster than I do adults. Everyone seems to be crying for the kids, but likely they contribute to the majority of the issue.

My only real point is that people make way too big a deal out of pack searching. Retail is such a small portion of the hobby, the few boxes that get squeezed at Target are not ruining anything. On a list of things that are truly hurting the hobby, pack searching is low on the list.

[BillInDallas]

On a list of things that are truly hurting the hobby, pack searching is low on the list.

That I can agree to. Hopefully some of the problems we all know are out there will start to subside, but I doubt they will. Money always manages to cause problems.

On a side note, very impressive Lidstrom collection, especially that 08-09 Limited Logos. I just got my first Lidstrom auto with an ITG Superlative piece.

[edthesandwich]

To me, retail pack searching is akin to an LCS that busts boxes, and when they find the case hit, stock the remainder of the packs into a box and puts them up for sale at full price, knowing full well that the big hit(s) are gone. I would imagine we would all be upset if we knew this was the case.

Ah, but this is the case. At least, I'd bet it happens more than LCSs would ever admit. Find the box hit, sell off the rest of the packs. Find the case hit, sell off the rest of the boxes. Who would ever know?

I would consider that a far worse infraction than retail pack searching.

[CSSports]

Ah, but this is the case. At least, I'd bet it happens more than LCSs would ever admit. Find the box hit, sell off the rest of the packs. Find the case hit, sell off the rest of the boxes. Who would ever know?

I would consider that a far worse infraction than retail pack searching.

I agree - but who would ever know?
I went to a LCS and found the sides of the Trilogy packs all rippled...like someone rubbed the side of each pack.....and it was the last time I spent my hard-earned money there....I liked the place and the owner is a very nice person but they trusted their customers too much...leaving the box on the counter for them to play with.....
Sad....they lost a customer that would come back every hockey release....

[v3rs3]

Ah, but this is the case. At least, I'd bet it happens more than LCSs would ever admit. Find the box hit, sell off the rest of the packs. Find the case hit, sell off the rest of the boxes. Who would ever know?

I would consider that a far worse infraction than retail pack searching.

I've talked to some LCS about this before. My question is, why would any owner do that? The only way you're going to get customers to keep coming back is getting those huge hits. If you buy half a box of single packs and get no hits, you're never going to spend your money on packs again. There is one shop here in Columbus that I never go to, they lost a customer who spends a lot of money b/c of this. If you keep doing it you're going to have no customers over an $20-80 box hit.