How often do you get good cards from single packs?

[Mustangfreak]

I've been lurking for a short time, and from what I gathered, it seems a lot of people buy these big expensive boxes of cards and thats where they get the nice cards.

But can you get those cards (Autos, limited editions ect.) cards from single packs?

I'm new to this hobby and I only buy the $5 topps dual packs (thats all they had at the BX) and I never got anything special. My wife got me 10 packs of the opening day topps 2014 and one of them had a Steve Kisheck auto card and I was surprised with it.

I'm just asking to see the likely hood of it. I prefer to buy cards of ebay of certain players. But picking up a few packs every now and then is still fun for me.

 

[smapdi]

It depends on what you call "good" but it's probably fairly rare. You have to be happy with just random stuff and the thrill of possibilities if you open a few packs here and there. For isntance, I've opened about 15 packs of Topps Chrome football this year, 3 or 4 at a time, and gotten nothing that I'd call good. Some colored refractors, but nothing serial numbered, and no autos or anything like that.

Guys on this board, if they are not completely weaned off the unopened product ****, generally default to a full box for the smallest unit worth opening with expectation of getting what's called good by consensus.

 

[Pine Tar]

See here. Sadly he is not going to get this one. But would have been a great hit back on 2008 though.
http://www.freedomcardboard.com/for...-unfortunately-THIS-happened-today-(sad-face)

 

[CollectorsCorner]

Back in high school when I had next to no money I only bought packs. Used to do real well
2004 Tom Brady Hot Prospects White Hot Jersey 1/1 from 1 pack
2006 Reggie Bush SPA Gold Auto Patch from 3 packs
2005-06 Jordan/Lebron Trilogy Dual Auto from 1 Pack although it was a $30 pack
Can't remember the players but I hit a Legends dual auto from sweet spot baseball with 1 pack as well.

I don't trust any of the stores around me enough to buy loose packs anymore but I don't rip a ton either.

 

[joey12508]

got this in a pack at a local deli, got me back in the hobby.

 

[Mustangfreak]

2nd question, if I am only going to be buying cards in packs (other than single purchases on eBay or on here) which packs should I buy? I just moved back to the states from overseas and I have more choices now.

 

[predatorkj]

What you need to do is some research. Figure out what you're looking for, look at all the possible products(cardboard connection gives a pretty good product review with break downs of what you can pull), look at product checklists, and product prices. Take what you want+a product you like+plus a price you are comfortable paying per pack... and buy them.

I say this because I am very picky about busting wax/packs. A lot of times, new products are heavily seeded with rookie or scrub autos and you'll end up spending a ton on a box and get autos worth all of $10. I'm not so big on value, but I would personally at least prefer vet autos or a better chance of a HOF auto or a nice hit. However...I'm unwilling to spend $200 or more on a box when I can just hop on ebay, completely avoid redemeptions or chance, and buy anywhere between 2-10 autos I want for the same price as a box. Or in some cases, one auto or more for the price of a pack. There really are guys I collect where an auto, with shipping, is the same price of a pack.

If you are wanting to just bust randomly without looking, my advice is to just go to a shop and buy one or two packs each of various products. You like one more than another, buy more of it next time. But busting wax is a losing game. It is just so much easier to buy singles. You may not be able to afford everything you want, but you sure the heck don't have a good chance of pulling it anyways. Especially buying packs. These dudes you're seeing are busting cases. Not packs, and most of them not even one box. Food for thought...

 

[finestkind]

I haven't bought any new packs in years. Back when I wasn't making good money like I am now. I started building Topps base sets from packs. And from trading on sites like this one. Once in while I could afford a box of cards or even a vending box for older cards. It was a fun way to do sets. Welcome to the site and the hobby. Thank you for you military service. Where were you stationed at ?

 

[gt2590]

2006 Reggie Bush SPA Gold Auto Patch from 3 packs.

Sure hope you Sold it that year! :lol:

My buddy pulled a Leinart Gold from that set but didn't sell it until years later and it had plummeted...

 

[gt2590]

And to the OP, tons of nice stuff out there, try and do some research and get some Ideas from that.

For a nice start, "base" or "regular" Topps is fun, especially the Jumbo packs. Archives is a cool set and has the best Odds for autographs, even though they probably won't be High $$$ value. If you don't mind them not having the team name and logos on them, Donruss was really cool this year IMO.

And Stadium Club and Tek are pretty pricey for packs but seem to have great cards in there...

 

[swish54_99]

It all depends on what product you buy and how much you want to spend on opening packs. It's really hard to pull an auto/gu from base topps or opening day. If you want the multi-colored patches or bat knobs and that kind of stuff you'll have to spend hundreds on packs where you only get a few cards at a time. Most packs on the back have the odds listed. You might get lucky every now and then but like others have said, most of those "huge hits" come from the guys busting case after case and dropping tons of money into it. Just depends on how much you want to spend. Would you rather spend $25 on 5 loose packs with that "chance" or would you rather take that $25 and get exactly what you want off e-bay or off of a forum like this.

I do both personally. I'll make it over to the nearest card shop every couple months, spend about $50 on loose packs or I'll pick up blasters (never lose packs due to pack searchers) from Walmart or Target to feed my want to open stuff. Other times I'll just buy singles or trade on forums to get what I want. A few highlights from random packs I've got are (mind you this is over 5-8 years and lots of packs):
Shaquille O'Neal auto #/15 from '06 Turkey Red basketball
Ken Griffey Jr auto from '06 UD Ovation (bought 6 packs total of Turkey Red basketball/UD Ovation on the same day and pulled both of them!)
Mike/Giancarlo Stanton auto /500 from '08 BDP from a blaster box from walmart
Mike Trout auto from '09 Bowman Chrome from a blaster box from walmart

I'm sure there's others along those lines but those are some that stick out.

 

[Mustangfreak]

Whats a blaster??

 

[gt2590]

Whats a blaster??

A blaster is a Retail boxed product that has about 8-10 retail packs in it that sell for $20-30. The odds for "hits" like a Game Used jersey card or an autographed card are much higher than in Hobby packs but you can still get them. They sell blasters at retail spots like Target and Walmart and some regional department stores.

Just be careful, they are supposed to be sealed with plastic wrap but sometimes people buy them, take out the packs and return them empty. The store employees don't know enough to check 'em and then some un-suspecting customer buys an empty box...

 

[bongo870]

I do well with single packs. My best would be this one. Bought the last pack just to help clear out there self..

 

[Mustangfreak]

A blaster is a Retail boxed product that has about 8-10 retail packs in it that sell for $20-30. The odds for "hits" like a Game Used jersey card or an autographed card are much higher than in Hobby packs but you can still get them. They sell blasters at retail spots like Target and Walmart and some regional department stores.

Just be careful, they are supposed to be sealed with plastic wrap but sometimes people buy them, take out the packs and return them empty. The store employees don't know enough to check 'em and then some un-suspecting customer buys an empty box...

Thanks!