Want to open a pack a day - what is the best VALUE product for this?

Atomic · 09-05-2023, 09:54 AM

Background: I purchased a case of SP retail to try to do a pack a day opening. Like a little pick-me-up each day. At $1/pack, it was a great value for a daily pack opening. However, the packs were kind of boring with the same inserts in 99% of the packs. I ended up opening multiple packs a day just to try to get something interesting (which defeated the value proposition). 200+ packs opened and I only got a handful of jersey cards and numbered cards. Everything else was base or base inserts.

Request: What is a good value product to buy that has good variability, fun inserts, decent chance to for a nice hit (maybe 1 per box or 1 per every 2 boxes), but doesn't cost more than maybe $3-$5 per pack on sale? Synergy? Skybox Metal? Credentials? Allure? What do you guys consider a fun rip?

BTW, I also purchased O Pee Chee Platinum as a splurge, and I don't see the appeal. The cards are all off-center, some packs are missing cards, and not many fun inserts. Allure has been a much better product than OPC Platinum for me. I miss the days of Ice acetate cards.

JohnnyAppleseed · 09-05-2023, 11:52 AM

21/22 Flagship Retail - $1.50 per pack at this point, each series has a few YGs worth pulling. Higher floor on a per-box basis, but the ceiling is limited. The next best option is...

22/23 OPC Hobby - less than $2 per pack, there are 1/1s and some scarce inserts (such as the blank backs). More recent so newer rookies to keep it fresh. The inserts are a bit more stagnant than flagship though. If you're okay with slightly more per pack...

22/23 Skybox Metal - I'm seeing PMGs fall at about 1 per 4 boxes. The acetate inserts look nice. There are some other scarce hits worth chasing. Though that runs closer to $8 per pack. The final option would be...

19/20 MVP - Solid rookie crop. Chance at some decent autos. Big drawback is the redemptions are expired.

Or mix it up with a blend of this. Different rookie crops, different products, different things to chase.

Atomic · 09-05-2023, 01:19 PM

Thanks @johnnyappleseed I'll take a look. Do you think any retail boxes of Allure or Skybox would be worth it? (No PMG in retail boxes of Skybox, I think.)

And when you say autos for MVP - do you mean real autos or silver scripts?

odjickfan · 09-08-2023, 09:16 AM

I love UD1/2/3 retail at the right price during sales and OPC Hobby for cheap breaks!

anusinha · 09-08-2023, 10:12 AM

You can get a hobby case of 21/22 mvp for around $1/pack. 400 packs and you can get caufield/zegras rookies, redemptions are still valid, and a shot at really rare stuff.

ZappBrannigan · 09-08-2023, 12:44 PM

du Maurier regular with the state of the hobby right now.

SilverSurfer77 · 09-09-2023, 12:57 PM

This sounds like a fun idea!
I love Series1 and 2 but always opt for hobby packs for that chance at hitting an Exclusive or High Gloss, or even clear cut but the odds are slim. I have hit 2 clear cut YG's, but not good players. Retail would be best value for collecting YG's and getting all the big names, plus rare Canvas YG hits. Bonus if you are a set collector.

Seahawks fan · 09-11-2023, 05:48 PM

I would say the most fun would be OPC because you get 3 #d cards per box, chance at OPC platinum previews, Woodys, Printing plates, Blank backs, patches (they are manufactured but are a case hit), Printing plates, etc. The best part is the set is massive with 600 players and you get 1 retro per pack which is also a 600 card set. Making a complete 52 card Deck of playing cards and putting together the sets is actually fun. That being said it's tough to pull something huge so you get what you pay for. They are $60 US for 22/23 per box and the only product from that year that is still at MSRP/Hasn't dropped because it's a solid overall product.

Flasghip is always fun and I would go with Hobby since you never know what you will pull with the clear cut YGs, easter Eggs, Exclusives, Patches, etc. Retail is pretty much a 1 trick pony. Just keep in mind that series 1 hobby generally doesn't have Jerseys/patches/autos but the YG classes are usually better.

09-05-2023, 09:54 AM	#1
Atomic Member Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 5	Want to open a pack a day - what is the best VALUE product for this? Background: I purchased a case of SP retail to try to do a pack a day opening. Like a little pick-me-up each day. At $1/pack, it was a great value for a daily pack opening. However, the packs were kind of boring with the same inserts in 99% of the packs. I ended up opening multiple packs a day just to try to get something interesting (which defeated the value proposition). 200+ packs opened and I only got a handful of jersey cards and numbered cards. Everything else was base or base inserts. Request: What is a good value product to buy that has good variability, fun inserts, decent chance to for a nice hit (maybe 1 per box or 1 per every 2 boxes), but doesn't cost more than maybe $3-$5 per pack on sale? Synergy? Skybox Metal? Credentials? Allure? What do you guys consider a fun rip? BTW, I also purchased O Pee Chee Platinum as a splurge, and I don't see the appeal. The cards are all off-center, some packs are missing cards, and not many fun inserts. Allure has been a much better product than OPC Platinum for me. I miss the days of Ice acetate cards.

09-05-2023, 11:52 AM	#2
JohnnyAppleseed Member Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 720 breadposter	21/22 Flagship Retail - $1.50 per pack at this point, each series has a few YGs worth pulling. Higher floor on a per-box basis, but the ceiling is limited. The next best option is... 22/23 OPC Hobby - less than $2 per pack, there are 1/1s and some scarce inserts (such as the blank backs). More recent so newer rookies to keep it fresh. The inserts are a bit more stagnant than flagship though. If you're okay with slightly more per pack... 22/23 Skybox Metal - I'm seeing PMGs fall at about 1 per 4 boxes. The acetate inserts look nice. There are some other scarce hits worth chasing. Though that runs closer to $8 per pack. The final option would be... 19/20 MVP - Solid rookie crop. Chance at some decent autos. Big drawback is the redemptions are expired. Or mix it up with a blend of this. Different rookie crops, different products, different things to chase. __________________ Looking for 2002 Fleer Fall Classics. 37 Cards remain in the master set: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r3LhpSX8KFjU-MNak1GLt8aOVhMj4GF7pR8gVO-KmJc Link to the album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/162456666@N06/albums/72177720302427237/

09-05-2023, 01:19 PM	#3
Atomic Member Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 5	Thanks @johnnyappleseed I'll take a look. Do you think any retail boxes of Allure or Skybox would be worth it? (No PMG in retail boxes of Skybox, I think.) And when you say autos for MVP - do you mean real autos or silver scripts? Last edited by Atomic; 09-05-2023 at 03:06 PM.

09-08-2023, 09:16 AM	#4
odjickfan Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 1,495 odjickfan	I love UD1/2/3 retail at the right price during sales and OPC Hobby for cheap breaks! __________________ Tradelist: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11IdFTXBFFoAaX6H2aVivPkQ53Eh4XI5g/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106577311251479576706&rtpof=true&sd=true Wantlist: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p25DD9-ZdSr5PobQTfdArgcqS3Ixon4x/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106577311251479576706&rtpof=true&sd=true

09-08-2023, 10:12 AM	#5
anusinha Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,576	You can get a hobby case of 21/22 mvp for around $1/pack. 400 packs and you can get caufield/zegras rookies, redemptions are still valid, and a shot at really rare stuff. Last edited by anusinha; 09-08-2023 at 09:58 PM.

09-08-2023, 12:44 PM	#6
ZappBrannigan Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Biafra Posts: 2,366	du Maurier regular with the state of the hobby right now.

09-09-2023, 12:57 PM	#7
SilverSurfer77 Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 171	This sounds like a fun idea! I love Series1 and 2 but always opt for hobby packs for that chance at hitting an Exclusive or High Gloss, or even clear cut but the odds are slim. I have hit 2 clear cut YG's, but not good players. Retail would be best value for collecting YG's and getting all the big names, plus rare Canvas YG hits. Bonus if you are a set collector.

09-11-2023, 05:48 PM	#8
Seahawks fan Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: USA Posts: 7,867	I would say the most fun would be OPC because you get 3 #d cards per box, chance at OPC platinum previews, Woodys, Printing plates, Blank backs, patches (they are manufactured but are a case hit), Printing plates, etc. The best part is the set is massive with 600 players and you get 1 retro per pack which is also a 600 card set. Making a complete 52 card Deck of playing cards and putting together the sets is actually fun. That being said it's tough to pull something huge so you get what you pay for. They are $60 US for 22/23 per box and the only product from that year that is still at MSRP/Hasn't dropped because it's a solid overall product. Flasghip is always fun and I would go with Hobby since you never know what you will pull with the clear cut YGs, easter Eggs, Exclusives, Patches, etc. Retail is pretty much a 1 trick pony. Just keep in mind that series 1 hobby generally doesn't have Jerseys/patches/autos but the YG classes are usually better. __________________ Always looking for Kam Chancellor and Rare Marcus Trufant cards. I will buy or trade just message me.