Getting back into the hobby

[Frankfinkle]

Hey everyone. I used to collect like crazy as a kid but after my dad sold all my stuff after a falling out we had, I have been too angry to think about cards. Lately my son has shown interest and I’ve decided to make new memories with him and start over. He mostly likes nba and nfl. Is there any reasonably priced packs/boxes you recommend to buy? I know hobby is better than retail but some of those box prices are crazy. I’ve seen some 2021 nba chronicle boxes for like $15-20. Just looking for advice for type of cards would hold best value going forward. Thanks.

[Kobefan]

Don't know about NFL, but if opening sealed products is your thing, I think now is the worst time to get back into the hobby. In 2020, influencers pumped the singles and sealed boxes to the moon. The singles market has since gone down considerably, but the sealed products are still very expensive, and I don't think there are any value coming from retail boxes, unless you happen to pull something really rare.

[gowizards0]

If you just want to open stuff for fun and get some decent rookie cards, chronicles retail is not a bad option. They do not hold the best value tho lol

[Frankfinkle]

If you just want to open stuff for fun and get some decent rookie cards, chronicles retail is not a bad option. They do not hold the best value tho lol

What would you recommend as something that isn’t $500 for a box that is decent.

[Frankfinkle]

Don't know about NFL, but if opening sealed products is your thing, I think now is the worst time to get back into the hobby. In 2020, influencers pumped the singles and sealed boxes to the moon. The singles market has since gone down considerably, but the sealed products are still very expensive, and I don't think there are any value coming from retail boxes, unless you happen to pull something really rare.

Yea seems like prices are extremely high. I’m sure with apps like whatnot that is also driving up some of these prices. Any decent priced boxes you recommend?

[Harper]

No NBA products are priced appropriately to avoid getting absolutely destroyed 99% of the time. Too many breakers/gamblers. Maybe try NFL??

[Beavers98]

It is really tough right now. I used to open a good amount of Hobby boxes/cases. Had a good friend that I split cases with every few months, But I haven't opened a Hobby box in recent years, as it really is too cost prohibitive, which is sad as opening boxes has always been part of my collecting fun.

As someone else mentioned, Chronicles retail isn't bad as an entry level product. It has all Stars and RC's, which keeps younger collectors engaged. I actually picked up some Hanger Boxes on sale for less that $8 dlvd, basically just to scratch the itch and heck those $1 Rookies become $10-20 pretty quick if they blow up, if possible resale value is a bigger determining factor.

Anyway good luck and keep us posted on your collecting journey.

[Kobefan]

Yea seems like prices are extremely high. I’m sure with apps like whatnot that is also driving up some of these prices. Any decent priced boxes you recommend?

None.

[kingofsnake]

BO is selling 22-23 Revolution Hobby for $90. I gave my brother one for his birthday and watched him rip it - seemed like a pretty fun rip. I was surprised to find a current NBA product for under $100.

[Asian62150]

19-20 NBA wax might be relatively affordable. Zion and Ja have almost zero hype going into the season.

[detroitbball]

Think about 2020-21 Donruss Hobby Box. Can get on Blowout for $220. Will get 10-15 numbered cards including probably three numbered lasers. You will get all the rookies. And close to a complete set. Plus the net marvels inserts have value. And an auto and a mem. They have ten packs of 30 cards per pack so you can easily just open one pack at a time. After 2020-21 they get more watered down but still not horrible. They have a nice “floor” to them so that no matter what you won’t feel like you got totally destroyed. Rated Rookies have been popular for a long time

[hermanotarjeta]

Select H2 is a hobby product with a chance at some nice hits at a decent price.

[discodanman45]

Get your son some credit on COMC. He will have a blast buying cards and they will hold more value at the end of the day.

[wubh]

As others stated, the state of wax is bad. There probably isn't a single hobby product that I would buy at their currently inflated prices (except maybe 22/23 Revolution). And retail is pretty terrible between price hikes and high print runs diluting blasters.

But here are a couple of budget recommendations with what a kid might like in mind, should also be fun for an adult, and won't break the bank. There should be plenty of Youtube rips of each product to get a better idea.

22/23 Revolution Chinese New Year - $55
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2022-23-panini-revolution-chinese-new-year-basketball-hobby-box.html
Cheaper than hobby with virtually zero chances at an auto and no inserts but you should get 1 numbered card per box, some cool cracked ice Chinese NY parallels, and a bunch of shiny base cards.

21/22 Prizm Draft H2 - $43
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2021-22-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-basketball-hobby-h2-box.html
It's college but you get a guaranteed auto with a chance to hit some big names like Cade, Scottie, and Jalen Green, along with a bunch of relative nobodies (but some can still sell well since there's basically no other college product for college basketball fans). And every auto will be shiny and #ed to 50 or less, which is a nice bonus. Plus, you'll get 2-3 #ed and a bunch of silver, red, and blue fast break parallels that look cool. I've opened multiple cases of this stuff at this price point and think it's an awesome value.

21/22 Optic Retail - $68
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2021-22-panini-donruss-optic-basketball-retail-box.html
I really like the full retail box version and usually get at least one each year. You get a full hobby box rip feel for a discounted price. The ceiling/ROI is very low as you probably won't even get a #ed card so most of your cards will be of the dollar box variety but it's a very fun rip between all of the rookies, multiple cool insert sets, and a bunch of silvers/purples.

20/21 Illusions Mega/Tmall - $35/$30
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-illusions-basketball-mega-box.html
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-illusions-basketball-tmall-edition-box.html
Again, another low ceiling product but you get a couple of sweet acetate inserts per box and a more premium feel than Chronicles at only a slightly higher price point. I'd probably go for the Tmall version since they have some exclusives, including low #ed chases and more parallels/inserts than the Megas, despite giving less cards overall and less packs to open.

20/21 Mosaic Tmall - $64
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-mosaic-basketball-tmall-edition-box.html
I believe you get 1 gold wave per box which are beautiful and the top guys may even pay for the box so the ceiling is higher than some others on this list. Plus, you have lots of shiny chromium cards and ~1:5 chance at an auto based on a couple case rips that I've seen.

[drobfan8]

19-20 NBA wax might be relatively affordable. Zion and Ja have almost zero hype going into the season.

I agree.

19/20 Mosaic you can get a box of cellos for around $175.

Seems decent value

[nbahobbyaddict]

If you are dead set on opening packs with your son, it’s going to cost money and be far less likely to hold value. If not, I would highly recommend going after singles of his favorite players because if you are selective, you can get great deals that are much more promising with respect to future value. You are starting out the right way by asking questions here. Also, sorry to hear about the falling out with your dad and him selling your cards.

[oldgoldy97]

As others stated, the state of wax is bad. There probably isn't a single hobby product that I would buy at their currently inflated prices (except maybe 22/23 Revolution). And retail is pretty terrible between price hikes and high print runs diluting blasters.

But here are a couple of budget recommendations with what a kid might like in mind, should also be fun for an adult, and won't break the bank. There should be plenty of Youtube rips of each product to get a better idea.

22/23 Revolution Chinese New Year - $55
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2022-23-panini-revolution-chinese-new-year-basketball-hobby-box.html
Cheaper than hobby with virtually zero chances at an auto and no inserts but you should get 1 numbered card per box, some cool cracked ice Chinese NY parallels, and a bunch of shiny base cards.

21/22 Prizm Draft H2 - $43
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2021-22-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-basketball-hobby-h2-box.html
It's college but you get a guaranteed auto with a chance to hit some big names like Cade, Scottie, and Jalen Green, along with a bunch of relative nobodies (but some can still sell well since there's basically no other college product for college basketball fans). And every auto will be shiny and #ed to 50 or less, which is a nice bonus. Plus, you'll get 2-3 #ed and a bunch of silver, red, and blue fast break parallels that look cool. I've opened multiple cases of this stuff at this price point and think it's an awesome value.

21/22 Optic Retail - $68
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2021-22-panini-donruss-optic-basketball-retail-box.html
I really like the full retail box version and usually get at least one each year. You get a full hobby box rip feel for a discounted price. The ceiling/ROI is very low as you probably won't even get a #ed card so most of your cards will be of the dollar box variety but it's a very fun rip between all of the rookies, multiple cool insert sets, and a bunch of silvers/purples.

20/21 Illusions Mega/Tmall - $35/$30
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-illusions-basketball-mega-box.html
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-illusions-basketball-tmall-edition-box.html
Again, another low ceiling product but you get a couple of sweet acetate inserts per box and a more premium feel than Chronicles at only a slightly higher price point. I'd probably go for the Tmall version since they have some exclusives, including low #ed chases and more parallels/inserts than the Megas, despite giving less cards overall and less packs to open.

20/21 Mosaic Tmall - $64
https://www.blowoutcards.com/2020-21-panini-mosaic-basketball-tmall-edition-box.html
I believe you get 1 gold wave per box which are beautiful and the top guys may even pay for the box so the ceiling is higher than some others on this list. Plus, you have lots of shiny chromium cards and ~1:5 chance at an auto based on a couple case rips that I've seen.

Good write up.

[boxbuster7]

Nice stuff Wubh. 21/22 optic is brutal on secondary. I checked and jalen green is the most expensive RC base card for $1.69

[bloodwings19]

Get your son some credit on COMC. He will have a blast buying cards and they will hold more value at the end of the day.

This and only this. You can find absolute steals, just recently I paid Revolution Galactic RC $5 currently with a COMC monopoly. Or in hockey sold a Jasper Bratt for $25 (not too rare) on COMC then added $20 for a rare JRob autograph (COMC monopoly). All these cards I can sit. A.Luck, F.Tatis, A.Lafffy, S.Strasburg should teach us about investing in cards. Card collecting is a hobby, but sometimes if the buy is so good, you got to purchase. I found a S.Curry NT Rookie Jersey #/25 for $100 on here few years ago. Have fun!!!

[boxbuster7]

Get your son some credit on COMC. He will have a blast buying cards and they will hold more value at the end of the day.

I third this option. COMC is way more fun than opening a box of all base cards and inserts

[wubh]

COMC is a great option since it can also teach responsibility and budgeting if you're starting off his account with a small deposit.

But if it wasn't for packs, I wouldn't be nearly as into this hobby today.

I still remember my first pack (1991 Pacific football that my teacher gave away as a prize) and the first pack that I bought with my own money (93/94 Upper Deck series 2 basketball) so it can be a great way to build memories together and hopefully a cool tradition that you two can continue.

I mean, how cool would it be to keep ripping packs every once in a while with your son throughout your life? That's definitely worth taking an ROI hit compared to singles.

And maybe you can teach him to appreciate having cool cards versus degen ripping and only caring if you get a case hit or top rookie auto while spending outrageous sums of money.

[90sbasketballin]

A mix of what everyone has said.

Get a low-end rip going just for the thrill (HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHRONICLES OF A STRONGER DRAFT CLASS) but best to put the $100 into COMC or eBay and let him buy whatever he wants with the budget.

[Hellcat]

I have a very valuable collection/investment portfolio of cards and have NEVER in my 25 years opened one pack of cards! All singles raw or graded. You want to start your boy off on the right track I strongly encourage you to not rip wax it's very addicting and you lose 90+% of the time.

[jcardstore]

Don't "invest" in cards unless you are prepared for your investment to become nothing. Cards at the low and mid end are not investments.

If you want to have fun with your son pick up some chronicles or even draft. You're not going to make any money but it's still fun to rip packs regardless. If you want to make some memories between you and him it's not going to be buying some singles on ebay and putting them in a box in the closet for 10 years.

You're not looking to start a business or flip cards (I assume based on this post) so just rip whatever is cheapest.

[IronCladLou]

Chronicles. Can't go wrong.

[cms11]

What would you recommend as something that isn’t $500 for a box that is decent.

Probably Prizm retail.

[cms11]

A mix of what everyone has said.

Get a low-end rip going just for the thrill (HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHRONICLES OF A STRONGER DRAFT CLASS) but best to put the $100 into COMC or eBay and let him buy whatever he wants with the budget.

Highly agree with COMC. Can buy a lot of great cards with $100 and save on shipping compared to eBay.

[IronCladLou]

Probably Prizm retail.

Absolutely not. The worst of the retail.

The ceiling is so low

[jetta20162]

I would look for TMALL boxes. Spectra, Obsidian, Crown Royale,... all below $100 and can have nice hits

[IronCladLou]

I would look for TMALL boxes. Spectra, Obsidian, Crown Royale,... all below $100 and can have nice hits

Ceiling heaps better on those, but can still get hosed. That's life though