Retail vs. Hobby Shop

[bishop2knight]

I'm still relatively new to the collecting game, so can someone tell me the ups and downs of buying boxes of hobby cards vs buying retail?

Thanks

[HoosierBuddy]

Sure thing!

I've observed that Hobby boxes tend to have better insert ratios, and a better chance of pulling something neat. For instance, if an insert set is seeded 1:24 packs, and there are 24 packs in a Hobby Box, you'll likely get one if you buy the box.

However, if it's 1:24 packs, and there are 8 packs in a Retail Box, you'll have to buy 3 boxes to have an odd-on chance of pulling one. See?

I've also noticed that cards that are serial-numbered in Hobby boxes aren't necessarily numbered in Retail boxes.

While Retail boxes are much cheaper, I've just never had the luck of pulling anything decent out of a Retail box, and I'd prefer to buy a Hobby Box and have a better chance of pulling at least SOMETHING of value, either for my own collection, or for tradebait.

[Travaje]

Retail seems like a ripoff. Kinda like Ebay.

[pr0phet]

I say retail is the best thing to do if you are on a more stricken budget. Retail inserts are usually harder to get to hobby and sometimes you cant even get all the inserts. You will pay much less though and(as long as you buy boxes) get something good here and there. it is very hard now n days to get a good thing out of retail packs cuz of all the ways to feel it. Im comming close to talking to a guy that can just feel packs for the certified stamp on autos sooooooooooooooo...

If budget can allow spending on cards quite freely with hobby go ahead. I have seen jersey cards 3x or better odds to get in hobby then retial.. you may pay more but its well worth it to

Jay

[car7071]

Alot of the good products out there that have really cool cards are hobby exclusives !! For instance Playoff Honors Hidden Gems pullout jersey auto with the auto on the jersey !! Never get nothing like that from retail !! Also Upper Deck SP products all hobby only pay for what you get and if you go with hobby you will pay a little more but what you can get could be a whole lot better than you would ever get from stinking retail !!! car7071