Does buying singles support breaking?

Jboff73 · 02-09-2026, 11:11 AM

For many people, the answer to the rising prices, declining hits, and the prevalence of breaking in the hobby today is to move to buying single cards (or at least SAY that you're going to buy singles) instead of opening packs or taking part in breaks.

But how many of those single cards do we think are coming on the market from breaking, versus, say, individuals buying packs, boxes, or cases and then recouping some of that money by selling them on Ebay or some other platform?

Here's my concern. If we really want to see the hobby go back to the way things were and/or punish Fanatics and/or see a decline in pack and box prices again, we would also have to stop buying singles, because people who take part in breaks have to sell at least some of the cards they get in breaks to sustain their buying, or at least justify continuing to do it. I suppose some of just collectors and don't try to resell but how many is that really?

Maybe I'm overvaluing what breaking brings to the singles market, but I think that large-scale Fanatics Live breaking is being subsidized by the singles market. For any true market correction to happen, you would have to also see a collapse of the singles market so that breaking would only be a money-sink, sustainable only by the very rich who have no interest in either selling or getting their money back in any meaningful way. If so, I don't think there will be any change until those collectors are turned off or lose interest.

Am I wrong about any or all of that?

mikejones · 02-09-2026, 11:14 AM

Modern yes. Vintage. No.

hermanotarjeta · 02-09-2026, 11:20 AM

I think if we are collectively over-paying for singles relative to the breaker buy-in prices, then we are encouraging breaking activity.

However, if we are collectively buying singles at prices that are lower relative to breaker buy-in prices, we are not supporting degenerate behavior.

Lowering the jackpot payouts may help to suppress this degenerate behavior in some instances. Then there are those breaker johns who are beyond help and will break regardless if they can redeem their cards for money or not.

Fortunately, not all cards are coming solely from breakers.

If box prices come down, individual hobbyists will simply end up opening more. Ultimately those singles will eventually hit the market.

TBTC Baseball · 02-09-2026, 11:32 AM

If the seller has a bloated store of modern, then probably. If they are selling mostly older stuff, then probably not.

boxbuster7 · 02-09-2026, 12:32 PM

I'd say yes but not to a great extent. most people joining breaks/breaking or even breaking their own boxes are losing so most people breaking frequently have to put new money in

no10pin · 02-09-2026, 01:03 PM

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

boxbuster7 · 02-09-2026, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

I agree unequivocally - I've just shifted my hobby focus to find activities that make me enjoy. I never graded cards in the past but now do that for fun.

I think many people forget that cards are supposed to be a outlet of positivity and not a negative place...

seanrs1 · 02-09-2026, 01:12 PM

I don't buy or open wax, and I only collect singles. But at this point it is all connected. Fanatics, breakers, grading (especially with PSA), selling cards on Ebay, re-packs, buying on ebay and card shows. Its all connected and even if you wanted to only buy vintage singles some of that money probably gets recycled into grading, or buying other modern products. So the answer is yes! The only way to break the cycle is to not participate in the hobby any more.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 02-09-2026, 01:16 PM

I’m a singles buyer and I can firmly say I don’t give a crap if it does or does not help breakers. If I buy card from someone, what they do with the money is their decision. If that person chooses to buy wax for breaks, that’s their call. I don’t care about the raging war wax rippers have with Fanatics. Wax rippers want cheap boxes, with valuable cards inside that they can then sell on their own to make money and keep a few cards on the side. So don’t ask me to feel sympathy for that group. There used to be a lot of meat left on the bones for buying boxes and cases and breakers and Fanatics are taking some of that meat off. It should have been expected. My only connection to the hobby is buying ultra modern singles. I have no plans to leave the hobby just to “send a message,” on someone else’s behalf.

I’ve been a singles buyer since back in the pre-COVID days. I’ve always enjoyed just getting the card I want instead of chasing it in wax.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 02-09-2026, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanrs1

I don't buy or open wax, and I only collect singles. But at this point it is all connected. Fanatics, breakers, grading (especially with PSA), selling cards on Ebay, re-packs, buying on ebay and card shows. It’s all connected and even if you wanted to only buy vintage singles some of that money probably gets recycled into grading, or buying other modern products. So the answer is yes! The only way to break the cycle is to not participate in the hobby any more.

I completely agree with you. I ain’t going no where though

imbluestreak23 · 02-09-2026, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

Agree

You can put your foot down on stuff, but at some point you have to buy something you enjoy buying because you personally enjoy it.

dodgerfanjohn · 02-09-2026, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

Very good response. I agree totally.

Nester99 · 02-09-2026, 02:08 PM

you can never go back.....

Jboff73 · 02-09-2026, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I’m a singles buyer and I can firmly say I don’t give a crap if it does or does not help breakers. If I buy card from someone, what they do with the money is their decision. If that person chooses to buy wax for breaks, that’s their call. I don’t care about the raging war wax rippers have with Fanatics. Wax rippers want cheap boxes, with valuable cards inside that they can then sell on their own to make money and keep a few cards on the side. So don’t ask me to feel sympathy for that group. There used to be a lot of meat left on the bones for buying boxes and cases and breakers and Fanatics are taking some of that meat off. It should have been expected. My only connection to the hobby is buying ultra modern singles. I have no plans to leave the hobby just to “send a message,” on someone else’s behalf.

I’ve been a singles buyer since back in the pre-COVID days. I’ve always enjoyed just getting the card I want instead of chasing it in wax.

Lot of good points here as I think this through myself.

I think I basically agree with the idea that the ultimately each person has to decide how they want to enjoy the hobby now, but that it's probably changed irrevocably from the way it "used to be." Breaking's probably here to stay and since it does such volume, it's going to have an large impact on what Fanatics does. There's no getting around that. Fanatics wants them to be happy and engaged because it's an the easiest way to prop up the hobby for an IPO.

I'm skeptical that collective action would work here, but I suspect that if collectors get more choosy about what they buy and collect, that will probably start to make breaking less appealing to those just chasing profits. Given the staggering profitability of breaking (20x+ on investment according to some of those internal documents) for the breaking companies it would probably take a LOT to make breaking so unprofitable that it would disappear, just because collects decided to stop buying singles.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 02-09-2026, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

Preach!

MiamiMarlinsFan · 02-09-2026, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jboff73

Lot of good points here as I think this through myself.

I think I basically agree with the idea that the ultimately each person has to decide how they want to enjoy the hobby now, but that it's probably changed irrevocably from the way it "used to be." Breaking's probably here to stay and since it does such volume, it's going to have an large impact on what Fanatics does. There's no getting around that. Fanatics wants them to be happy and engaged because it's an the easiest way to prop up the hobby for an IPO.

I'm skeptical that collective action would work here, but I suspect that if collectors get more choosy about what they buy and collect, that will probably start to make breaking less appealing to those just chasing profits. Given the staggering profitability of breaking (20x+ on investment according to some of those internal documents) for the breaking companies it would probably take a LOT to make breaking so unprofitable that it would disappear, just because collects decided to stop buying singles.

Numbers like that are why I often say (somewhat tongue-in- cheek) that Fanatics isn’t charging enough for wax yet. Fanatics has to feel like they’re still leaving meat on the bone, and my prediction is that we’ll soon see them begin to clamp down on, and reduce the number of breakers out there. Not that they can legally stop them, but just that unless you’re a “Fanatics associated breaker” you’re going to pay out the nose (or other body part) for your wax.

Personally, I’ve reduced the amount of singles I buy these days. I’ve been pursuing cards that genuinely interest me instead of casting a wide net and seeing what sticks like I have in times past.

Triple B · 02-09-2026, 05:08 PM

Degenerative gamblers are making the hobby exist as it is. I need them to lose their homes participating in breaks so that singles can be freed, because Lord knows I'm not buying into breaks or breaking boxes or cases.

There won't be any reduction in prices so long as people are gambling, and with the new money coming into the hobby, it'll be another few years before that even begins to decline. You just need to find your way to enjoy the hobby.

NYRE2PECT · 02-09-2026, 05:46 PM

It won’t be much longer until buying new release singles is equal to, or more than, what we used to buy boxes for.

The farther back your collection goes the more this likely true (times many multiples by now for some).

What I pay for some singles now, in relation to what I used to, is comical and/or asinine, depending on your level of optimism/pessimism, but I press on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JoshMN · 02-09-2026, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

espnfanco · 02-09-2026, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole.

I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles.

If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to.

When will people come to their senses? Eventually I think they will and hoping wax takes a big nose dive to affordable pre covid levels. I will continue buying singles and sets... and wait patiently to rip.

auctionjmm · 02-09-2026, 10:03 PM

Idealism rarely works out on a large scale. If you are someone who thinks if we all just take a break for two years and force Fanatics' hand, you will be waiting forever. You will never get enough people to collectively boycott the hobby for the sake of change. That's why you should do what you enjoy. Open a box, buy a single, participate in a break. None of it makes you a bad person or part of the problem.

Tastybrisket10 · 02-09-2026, 10:37 PM

I made a similar comment on a different thread but I have no problem with it. I do think it’s a little naive to make comments “That’s why I buy singles” as if you’re any better of a human being for buying your cardboard intentionally versus gambling for it.

mfw13 · 02-09-2026, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by espnfanco

When will people come to their senses?

Many people have come to their senses and are significantly reducing their wax purchases.

The problem is that collectors aren't Fanatics' target audience....breakers and the gamblers that support them are. And they buy tons more wax than collectors do.

The only way this changes is if you start to see significant numbers of gamblers run out of money, to the point that either they can no longer buy into breaks and/or they can no longer pay as much for a spot in a break.

hermanotarjeta · 02-09-2026, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tastybrisket10

I made a similar comment on a different thread but I have no problem with it. I do think it’s a little naive to make comments “That’s why I buy singles” as if you’re any better of a human being for buying your cardboard intentionally versus gambling for it.

Would the statement “I pay degenerate prices for singles” make break participants feel less targeted?

AM22RC21CR8 · 02-10-2026, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tastybrisket10

I made a similar comment on a different thread but I have no problem with it. I do think it’s a little naive to make comments “That’s why I buy singles” as if you’re any better of a human being for buying your cardboard intentionally versus gambling for it.

Not sure people are claiming moral superiority when they say they buy singles.

02-09-2026, 11:11 AM	#1
Jboff73 Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 233	Does buying singles support breaking? For many people, the answer to the rising prices, declining hits, and the prevalence of breaking in the hobby today is to move to buying single cards (or at least SAY that you're going to buy singles) instead of opening packs or taking part in breaks. But how many of those single cards do we think are coming on the market from breaking, versus, say, individuals buying packs, boxes, or cases and then recouping some of that money by selling them on Ebay or some other platform? Here's my concern. If we really want to see the hobby go back to the way things were and/or punish Fanatics and/or see a decline in pack and box prices again, we would also have to stop buying singles, because people who take part in breaks have to sell at least some of the cards they get in breaks to sustain their buying, or at least justify continuing to do it. I suppose some of just collectors and don't try to resell but how many is that really? Maybe I'm overvaluing what breaking brings to the singles market, but I think that large-scale Fanatics Live breaking is being subsidized by the singles market. For any true market correction to happen, you would have to also see a collapse of the singles market so that breaking would only be a money-sink, sustainable only by the very rich who have no interest in either selling or getting their money back in any meaningful way. If so, I don't think there will be any change until those collectors are turned off or lose interest. Am I wrong about any or all of that? Last edited by Jboff73; 02-09-2026 at 11:16 AM.

02-09-2026, 11:14 AM	#2
mikejones Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: fresno Posts: 5,343	Modern yes. Vintage. No. __________________ Why the hell are you buying Siemian stuff. Dude is done, can't you tell I'm trying to get rid of him because he'll never be our starting QB again....

02-09-2026, 11:32 AM	#4
TBTC Baseball Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: USA Posts: 1,289	If the seller has a bloated store of modern, then probably. If they are selling mostly older stuff, then probably not. __________________ Looking for: 2011 Topps Trevor Cahill - Platinum,and Printing Plates. Cards of players in Throwback/TBTC/TATC/Negro League jerseys. Chipper Jones collector.

02-09-2026, 12:32 PM	#5
boxbuster7 Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 13,475 boxbuster777	I'd say yes but not to a great extent. most people joining breaks/breaking or even breaking their own boxes are losing so most people breaking frequently have to put new money in __________________ Psa 9 > psa 10

02-09-2026, 01:03 PM	#6
no10pin Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 16,986 no10pin no10pin	At some point you have to buy what you want without worrying about the entire hobby as a whole. I don't open boxes much anymore because of pricing. Getting skunked on a $75 box was no fun, but it's absolutely brutal on $300 chrome boxes. I'm not going to feel guilty in any way for buying modern singles. If you are looking for the moral corner of the hobby, you can't buy boxes, you can't buy break spots, you can't grade cards, and now you can't even buy singles? I'm not going to let a bunch of miserable scam artists keep me from enjoying the hobby how I choose to. __________________ Always looking for more George Brett stuff. Need more rookies, low numbered inserts/parallels and on-card autos (no Panini).

02-09-2026, 11:20 AM	#3
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23,630	I think if we are collectively over-paying for singles relative to the breaker buy-in prices, then we are encouraging breaking activity. However, if we are collectively buying singles at prices that are lower relative to breaker buy-in prices, we are not supporting degenerate behavior. Lowering the jackpot payouts may help to suppress this degenerate behavior in some instances. Then there are those breaker johns who are beyond help and will break regardless if they can redeem their cards for money or not. Fortunately, not all cards are coming solely from breakers. If box prices come down, individual hobbyists will simply end up opening more. Ultimately those singles will eventually hit the market.

02-09-2026, 01:12 PM	#8
seanrs1 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,198	I don't buy or open wax, and I only collect singles. But at this point it is all connected. Fanatics, breakers, grading (especially with PSA), selling cards on Ebay, re-packs, buying on ebay and card shows. Its all connected and even if you wanted to only buy vintage singles some of that money probably gets recycled into grading, or buying other modern products. So the answer is yes! The only way to break the cycle is to not participate in the hobby any more. __________________ PC-#1 Ohtani PC-Acuna, Soto, Tatis Jr., JRod, Vladdy Jr. Starting to collect-Judge, Betts, Trout Bag holder-#1 Wander Franco, #2 Tatis Jr.

02-09-2026, 01:16 PM	#9
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 14,217	I’m a singles buyer and I can firmly say I don’t give a crap if it does or does not help breakers. If I buy card from someone, what they do with the money is their decision. If that person chooses to buy wax for breaks, that’s their call. I don’t care about the raging war wax rippers have with Fanatics. Wax rippers want cheap boxes, with valuable cards inside that they can then sell on their own to make money and keep a few cards on the side. So don’t ask me to feel sympathy for that group. There used to be a lot of meat left on the bones for buying boxes and cases and breakers and Fanatics are taking some of that meat off. It should have been expected. My only connection to the hobby is buying ultra modern singles. I have no plans to leave the hobby just to “send a message,” on someone else’s behalf. I’ve been a singles buyer since back in the pre-COVID days. I’ve always enjoyed just getting the card I want instead of chasing it in wax.

02-09-2026, 02:08 PM	#13
Nester99 Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 808	you can never go back.....

02-09-2026, 05:08 PM	#17
Triple B Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 6,305	Degenerative gamblers are making the hobby exist as it is. I need them to lose their homes participating in breaks so that singles can be freed, because Lord knows I'm not buying into breaks or breaking boxes or cases. There won't be any reduction in prices so long as people are gambling, and with the new money coming into the hobby, it'll be another few years before that even begins to decline. You just need to find your way to enjoy the hobby. __________________ Wanted Dead or Alive! 1. 1997 Bowman's Best Jose Cruz, Jr Atomic Refractor Autograph 2. 1997 SPx Jose Cruz, Jr. Grand Finale /50

02-09-2026, 05:46 PM	#18
NYRE2PECT Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Antonio Posts: 8,917	It won’t be much longer until buying new release singles is equal to, or more than, what we used to buy boxes for. The farther back your collection goes the more this likely true (times many multiples by now for some). What I pay for some singles now, in relation to what I used to, is comical and/or asinine, depending on your level of optimism/pessimism, but I press on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Lifelong California Angels fan and Shohei Collector

02-09-2026, 10:03 PM	#21
auctionjmm Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 10,223 auctionjmm	Idealism rarely works out on a large scale. If you are someone who thinks if we all just take a break for two years and force Fanatics' hand, you will be waiting forever. You will never get enough people to collectively boycott the hobby for the sake of change. That's why you should do what you enjoy. Open a box, buy a single, participate in a break. None of it makes you a bad person or part of the problem.

02-09-2026, 10:37 PM	#22
Tastybrisket10 Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: DFW Posts: 211 Tastybrisket10 Tastybrisket10	I made a similar comment on a different thread but I have no problem with it. I do think it’s a little naive to make comments “That’s why I buy singles” as if you’re any better of a human being for buying your cardboard intentionally versus gambling for it.