When I was a kid, one of my favorite memories was coming home from the local pharmacy with a few packs of cards and busting them open on my porch with my friends. A few years later, I was busting full boxes of cards at the dining room table or on my living room floor.
This was only the beginning of my cardboard addiction. By the mid 90's, I was spending a large percentage of my weekly paychecks on wax, wax, and more wax. Sure... I also purchased the occasional single, but most of the time spent at my LCS was in front of the wax boxes.
Eventually I was so far in debt that I had no choice but to quit and sell off most of my collection to help pay the bills. I spent several years away from the hobby, but like any other addiction it was always in the back of my mind.
Fast forward to 2008... and thanks to my students, I was back to my old ways. However... over the past five years I have evolved as a collector. I have specific PC's and sets that I'm building, which means that I have a firmer grasp on my wants and needs. I'm also more responsible with my money than in my youth. My priority is to pay my bills and to put money away for that rainy day.
The days of busting boxes and cases of cards are long gone. These days, I'm more conservative and focused on buying singles and sets.
At least that's what I thought.
Over Thanksgiving break... I completely fell off of the cardboard wagon and went on a Black Friday shopping spree.
Here's what I purchased from Blowout Cards:
This was only the beginning of my cardboard addiction. By the mid 90's, I was spending a large percentage of my weekly paychecks on wax, wax, and more wax. Sure... I also purchased the occasional single, but most of the time spent at my LCS was in front of the wax boxes.
Eventually I was so far in debt that I had no choice but to quit and sell off most of my collection to help pay the bills. I spent several years away from the hobby, but like any other addiction it was always in the back of my mind.
Fast forward to 2008... and thanks to my students, I was back to my old ways. However... over the past five years I have evolved as a collector. I have specific PC's and sets that I'm building, which means that I have a firmer grasp on my wants and needs. I'm also more responsible with my money than in my youth. My priority is to pay my bills and to put money away for that rainy day.
The days of busting boxes and cases of cards are long gone. These days, I'm more conservative and focused on buying singles and sets.
At least that's what I thought.
Over Thanksgiving break... I completely fell off of the cardboard wagon and went on a Black Friday shopping spree.
Here's what I purchased from Blowout Cards:
This week, thirteen boxes and a few random items including Leaf Holiday Packs and a pair of Jon Jones autographs arrived on my doorstep. I'm too embarrassed to say how much I spent.
But I will say that earlier in the week I cashed my parent's birthday check and actually walked away from the casino near my parent's house with more money in my pocket than I walked in with. So the damage wasn't that bad.
Regardless... I dropped more money on unopened product that could and probably should have been thrown into savings or at least spent on something more practical. Hopefully this is a "teachable moment" and in the future I will avoid all Black Friday sales involving cardboard.
But what's done is done. And any feelings of regret will be balanced out with joy as I slowly bust each and every one of these boxes.
Don't worry. I'll share my experience with you, so you too can learn from my mistake.
Happy Hump Day and sayonara!
23 comments:
2009 Topps 206.....nicely done! If you find any Piedmont back mini SPs....I'll definitely deal for them and help out that A's collection of yours......
Sometimes you have to treat yourself. I was also going to say it's probably a little easier now a days with the fraction of product put out to help the old pocket book. I'm looking forward to seeing what you get out of those boxes. I loved loved loved the 2002 T206 set and was pretty excited with Topps brought it back in 2009. And I actually really like the Ticket to Stardom. I know it got panned pretty hard by the collecting community, but I liked it. I didn't like the high price tag so I didn't open too much, but still. And I see at least 3 Pete Rose autos there, nice. I interested in any Brewers you might pull from those Turkey Reds too if you want to do some trading. Hell I'm interested in just about any Brewers insert or parallels you pull from that stuff. Have fun!
No shame. This is a beautiful thing. Of course, those boxes aren't staring me down. Keep me in mind for any cool Tigers finds.
I believe there is a 12 Step program for this.
That's quite an impressive pile of cardboard, btw. I'm sure you'll have fun with it.
Keep me in mind for any Pirates hits or McCutchen base cards you pull. That looks like a lot of fun to bust.
That's a hell of a stack of goodies. Enjoy!
Drool....
At first glance I thought, "Why does he have a stack of CD's on top of his cards?" Should be fun. Can't wait.
No problemo. I'll post the box break eventually. Check back next week sometime.
The Turkey Red boxes are 2012 football... but lmk if you see any Brewers inserts that you're interested in from any of the other baseball boxes.
Sounds good. Unless I pull a Kaline auto (always wanted one of his)... then it's going straight to the PC ;-)
I was doing pretty good... maybe around step 9 or 10. It's back to the drawing board. It should be entertaining for at least a few weeks.
Sounds good. Although... if I pull a Clemente relic, it's going straight to the PC ;-)
As soon as I post the box breaks, let me know if you see anything you can use.
Lol... I'm already experiencing a little buyers remorse. But that will change if I pull a nice autograph for my PC. Either way... the box busting itself will provide a little short term entertainment at the very least.
Thanks... it's taking everything I have to not sit down and go on a box breaking rampage.
;-)
I'm actually going to save those Leaf Holiday packs for last. I bought those with one thing in mind... I want a cornstalk card.
Those are some nice choices. You could have a really nice hit on your hands out of the UD Future Stars. Lineage and the Turkey Red could be a nice roll of the dice too. And you've got 3 Pete Rose Autos for next to nothing. (It's funny but I still haven't pulled the trigger on that one.) I hope the odds fall in your favor and these far exceed expectations.
Thanks. The first three boxes I busted were the Rose ones. Figured I'd play it safe and go with the product that guarantees me an autograph of the all-time hits leader.
I can see you have invested a lot! I wish I had possibility to regret spending that much buying boxes of cards.
But I confess..I only have eyes for that Topps T206 box..I love that set!
Cannot wait to see what you got!
Man, I would love me that on my doorstep!!
It wouldn't have happened without the birthday money and help from the casino ;-)
Each time I pass the stack of boxes in my office... a smile crosses my face. I'm already more than halfway through busting them though.
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