Greetings. I'm going to start collecting Hockey cards again, I could use some Advice.

[Dispatches]

Hello folks, I'm Adam and as the title says I'm planning on collecting again. I have been lurking these forums for a few days gathering some product/market info. First I must say that this forum is awesome! This place gets some serious traffic. I've posted on many different forums over the years and very few are as busy and fruitful as this one. I searched for "hockey card forum" with Google and it led me here. I'm really excited about getting back into this hobby, and I look forward to participating with the community.

Anyways, I haven't bought any Hockey cards in over 10 years. I started collecting them when I was 9 or 10 years old, sometime during 1995/1996. I stopped collecting around 1999/2000. I have been a big fan of my home team the Detroit Red Wings since early age, I love hockey. But I will share my story another time, I'm anxious to get these cards purchased! I have done a decent amount of research, but I'm hoping for some advice from people who know the products and the market. My money is pretty tight right now, so my options are limited. I'm looking to buy a hobby box in the $50.00 price range. I cant really spend anything over $60.00 shipped total, so $60.00 is my entire budget.

So part of me just wants to collect hockey cards, and part of me just wants to gamble for a card worth good money. So I'm going to try and compromise. To start off I just want to start a small personal collection for myself, I'm not looking to complete sets or anything like that yet. I just want to pick out the cards that I like and go from there. If I get a low serial worth good money I will probably sell it unless I really like it.

Are any of these Hobby Boxes, or other boxes that aren't listed the best for hitting low serial cards worth more money? I'm not really sure what I want to do, so many choices. So what do you recommend?
I have come up with a few different ideas for my purchase. These are sort of in order in terms of which I would buy first, but I don't really know what is better than the other. I planned on doing Purchase 1, or Purchase2, or Purchase 3.

$60.00 Budget.

What would you do if you were me?



ATTN: The post is cut off. I need a post count of 2 to post links which is what most of the post is. I'll post the links in a few minutes.

[Dispatches]

Purchase1 $54.00

07-08 ITG Between the Pipes Hobby Box- $46.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...e-between-the- pipes-hockey-hobby-box

05-06 Fleer Hot Prospects (One)Hobby Pack-$8.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...spects-hockey- hobby-pack-upper-deck



Purchase2 $56.00

07-08 ITG O Canada Hockey Hobby Box- $26.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...canada-hockey- hobby-box

08-09 Upper Deck SP Game Used Hockey (One)Hobby Pack-$22.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...-sp-game-used- hockey-hobby-pack

05-06 Fleer Hot Prospects (One)Hobby Pack-$8.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...spects-hockey- hobby-pack-upper-deck




Purchase3 $56.00

07-08 ITG O Canada Hockey Hobby Box- $26.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...canada-hockey- hobby-box

06-07 ITG Heroes and Prospects Hockey Hobby Box- $30.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...me-heroes-and- prospects-hockey-hobby-box




Purchase4 $58.00

07-08 ITG Heroes and Prospects Hobby Box- $58.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...me-heroes-and- prospects-hockey-hobby-box




Purchase5 $63.00 overbudget but I can swing it.

06-07 ITG Heroes and Prospects Hockey Hobby Box- $30.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...me-heroes-and- prospects-hockey-hobby-box

06-07 ITG Heroes and Prospects Hockey Update Set Box-$33.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...me-heroes-and- prospects-hockey-update-set-box





Purchase6 $63.00 overbudget but I can swing it.

09-10 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Hobby Box- $63.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-1-hockey- hobby-box





Purchase7 $63.00 overbudget but I can swing it.

08-09 Upper Deck Ice Hobby Box- $63.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...-hockey-hobby- box





Purchase 8 $65.00 overbudget but I can swing it.

05-06 Upper Deck Series 2 Hobby Box-$65.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-2-hockey- hobby-box

Would this possibly have Crosby or Ovechkin RCs in them or something?



Purchase9 $57.00

08-09 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hobby Box- $57.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...black-diamond- hockey-hobby-box







Below are some other Hobby boxes, One pack boxes, 3 packs, and singles that I didn't use in the sample purchases above. Please give me some feeback if you would buy some of these.




////UD 08-09 Series1 Hobby Box///////////////// UD 08-09 Series2 Hobby Box/////
///UD 07-08 Series2 Fat Pack Box///////////////UD 06-07 Series1 Hobby Box/////

08-09 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Hobby Box- $51.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-1-hockey- hobby-box

08-09 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Hobby Box- $49.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-2-hockey- hobby-box

07-08 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Fat Pack Box- $55.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-2-hockey- fat-pack-box

06-07 Upper Deck Series 1 Hobby Box- $53.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-1-hockey- hobby-box


UD Be a Player Signature

06-07 Upper Deck Be A Player Signature Hobby Box-$50.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...k-be-a-player- signature-hockey-hobby-box

One Pack per Box/Tin

07-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot Hobby Box Tin-$56.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...et-shot-hockey -hobby-box-tin

06-07 Upper Deck Sweet Shot Hobby Box- $63.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...et-shot-hockey -hobby-box

Single and Three Packs.

08-09 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey (Three)Hobby Pack lot-$7.25
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-2-hockey- hobby-pack-lot-of-3

07-08 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey (Three)Hobby Pack lot-$9.00
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ries-2-hockey- hobby-3-pack-lot

07-08 Fleer Hot Prospects (One)Hobby Pack- $5.50
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...spects-hockey- hobby-pack

07-08 Upper Deck Artifacts (One)Hobby Pack- $13.50
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-ca...ifacts-hockey- hobby-pack





Thanks for reading. I apologize if the format is irritating.

[RGM81]

First off, welcome to the site and welcome back to the hobby!

A $60 budget is pretty tough to work around when it comes to boxes. You may be able to find some older, cheaper boxes but your odds of hitting the big one diminish. Of those, UD1 is going to be the hot product on the market for the next little while, and if you happen to hit one of the big rookies or get a patch or auto, you'll have done very well.

The 05-06 Series 2 box you mentioned has the Ovechkin YG in it. Crosby was in Series 1, and you'll likely never see a box of S1 go for that low. That might be a good option as well.

Whatever you end up taking, I hope it works out well for you!

[hossa18sens]

First of all I'd like to welcome you to the Forum. There are lots of great people here and you have asked the right question to get lots of feedback

Going over your list (impressive) I think I would go for the 09/10 UD1. It looks to have some great hits (The first live RC's of the top big guys) but is new enough that even the lesser guys will be sought after allowing you to get the PC stuff that you want.

Whatever you choose I wish you a huge break.

Good Luck
Chris

[PatsCards]

Welcome to the boards.

I too would go for the 09-10 UD Series 1. Mostly because if you don't get a hit you like, it will be easier to move those cards to get something that you do like.

[TheIronHorse4]

Also I would like to say welcome to the boards. Always good to have an old collector back in the fold.

With the options you have listed, I would strongly suggest what RGM has brought up already. Upper Deck is always a solid product from top to bottom and gives you you're best shot at hitting something solid. None of the boxes listed above is likely to produce a HUGE hit, but a Tavares YG or nice patch will definitely make you a winner. So that being said I would go with a box of 09-10 UD Series I. 05-06 Series II isn't a bad choice either.

[flemingc04]

Welcome to SCF! I also think UD Series 1 is a great choice because it is loaded with great rookies leaving very little for series 2 and the cost is very reasonable.

[geschrocks33]

Welcome to SCF, you will find it's a great site and very easy to develop a great collection with the people on here

For the box selection, I'd also go with 09-10 UD Series 1, that's going to be your best value

[mikpaq77]

Take your money to ebay or here and buy singles of players you want...it's a better way (in my opinion) to spend your money. Unless you have the itch to open some product of course!

[Ray33]

go buy a box of upper deck series 1 09-10 by adding a few more dollars its worth it.