ARTICLE: Why NOT to search packs

By Kyle (Deadshot)

I want to start this article off by saying that I have never searched a pack, nor do I plan to. You will certainly be able to tell that I do not advocate this practice if you read this article.

Unfortunately, in this hobby, we have some people who basically, "cheat" to get better cards. Instead of just buying a pack and hoping there is something good in it, they have developed a way to somehow check inside (be it pressing down hard, slicing the packs open, buying-resealing and returning, etc). Was it worth all of that trouble and guilt just to get an $8 BV GU jersey? Probably not. But much to the dismay of other collector's, you continue anyway.

So how am I to get you to stop this? Obviously saying, "no-no" won't do a thing. I have decided to give a few stories that have happened to some of our very own SCF members. Here is a personal experience I had:

I went to WalMart to purchase some basketball cards, and I decided to buy 2 packs of 2003-2004 Upper Deck Basketball Series 1. One of the packs was just fine, and contained the normal basketball cards. However, the second one contained Nascar cards from 2000 UD MVP. Not only that, but 7 of the cards were the same and there were no well known drivers. I don't know what went on to bring this about, but I was very unsatisfied. I had bought Upper Deck products before, but I have never encountered a problem like this. Maybe someone searched and returned the packs, but I didn't even think someone would do that, as I have bought retail for a long time and have never encountered this before. I emailed Upper Deck anyway, just to see how they would deal with it. They are supposed to send me several packs in the mail, and hopefully those will come soon. I'm not as old as some collector's, and I don't have the money that some do. Message to pack searchers - your hobby is not growing too well with young people (not like it used to). Congrats on soiling it even more. I hope you enjoyed your $3 Lebron insert and .10 cent Scott Pollard cards.

Next, I am going to quote a story from enigma_shadow (I hope you don't mind):

"While on my dinner break from work today, I decided to walk around at the nearby Target. Didn't even plan on stopping by the card section as I wanted to look at the golf clubs. Anyhow, on my way in, I noticed a guy hovering in front of the cards and constantly moving his head from side to side. I decided to go over there and check him out. Comes to find out, he was bending packs and also had a safety pin that he was using to check packs. Well, I walked away and contacted the customer service manager. The CSM got the store manager and both of them confronted the guy. After they escorted him out of the store, the CSM went over to the section and noticed that 20+ packs had been opened by the guy. The store manager came over to thank me for pointing the guy out. He then did something that completely shocked me. He gave me one of those variety boxes with 8 packs and a free mini helmet in it as a reward. I wasn't expecting anything, so I appreciated the gesture. All in a day's work...lol

Oh, the best card I pulled:
2000 Pacific #403 Tom Brady RC

Can't complain, it was free..."

Once again, we see the risk of pack searching. Hopefully this guy gets in more trouble than we know of. He was lucky that nothing worse happened to him. Also, this shows that being honest like enigma_shadow does pay off - and good things happen to good people.

In conclusion, I do not advocate pack searching, and it will only destroy our hobby. If you were on the fence about this issue, I hope that I helped make your mind. Honestly, I do not think that searching packs is worth the risk. But if you want to risk getting caught, ruin an awesome hobby, or feel extreme guilt - then feel free to continue your pathetic practices.