Getting Your Money's Worth Out of Busting Wax

[therock3849]

Since I have been collecting cards and buying boxes, I have always been trying to figure out how one can evaluate a box break and determine whether or not the person breaking the box has gotten their money’s worth. I think dealers and collectors determine their, “money’s worth” on a box in different ways. I’d like to examine several reasons as to why dealers and collectors rip boxes and how they evaluate whether or not they got their money’s worth out of a box.

For dealers, getting their money’s worth will more than likely mean making more money on the box then was initially spent to purchase the box. Dealers can do this by packing out the box or taking a chance and breaking it. More often than not, however, if a dealer decides to break a box, he or she will find that they will not make back the money on the box. Yes, the dealer can sell the singles at a show or in the shop, but the singles and memorabilia cards will only sell if people are looking for those players.

Collectors, like dealers, also want their money’s worth out of a box, but some of their reasons for breaking boxes are different than dealers. I know one thing I like collecting when breaking boxes is the parallels. In my case, I open the boxes that have a parallel a pack or a parallel every other pack. I find it very exciting to try and put the parallel sets together. When this happens, I feel a great accomplishment. Other collectors may look for rookies, or favorite team and individual players. Since I also collect 49er cards, if I open a box and get some 49er rookies, autos, and game used cards, I will be satisfied with the break. For collectors, reasons for breaking a box are all different, but it is enjoyed by everyone.

Even with all of this, why do collectors and dealers break boxes and cases? I know everyone who breaks boxes are looking for the card of a lifetime to either keep or sell on EBAY. All of us dream about ripping the 1/1 auto that will sell for thousands of dollars. In reality, however, I think we know that are chances are very slim…but there is always a chance until the card gets pulled.

I think for dealers and collectors alike, hot boxes definitely help in determining whether or not one gets his or her money’s worth out of a box. Other factors that could help in this determination are pulling patches, low numbered parallels, and a combination of patches and low numbered parallels including press plates, game used, and auto cards.

So how do all of you determine whether or not you get your money’s worth out of a hobby box. I would like to hear your thoughts and ideas about this topic. Does getting your money’s worth out of a high end box differ from getting your money’s worth out of a mid or low end product? What do you look for when ripping boxes?

[Dacubs?]

i know ripping boxes is almost always going to be a losing proposition. That said, I like the whole pack opening experience, it reminds me of being a kid. I am satisfied if any of the following happens when I open a mid level product:
1) I get a gu or auto of a player I collect
2) I get an auto that I know some one else will want
3) my bv of the gu or autos equal 3/4 the cost of the box. yes, I know the sell value will be significantly less than the cost of the box, but like I said, I know its a losing proposition.

When ripping a higher end product...I am satisfied if the bv of the major hit is equal to the cost of the box. I know they higher end stuff is hit or miss, high risk, high reward, but I expect to get something good. Maybe this is why I stick with the mid level stuff, i have lower expectations with them

[thebighurt035]

I haven't been buying boxes lately,a pack here and there is about it now.

But my main reason isn't looking to get the most money out of a box but getting a g/u or auto of the White Sox or HoFer is what I hope to get for my PC and if I don't pull any of them hopefully I have something from the box worth trading for my needs.

Roy