spooner9ball
Verified Trader,
Another Expo has come and gone. I am mostly removed from the "collecting" part of the hobby now. I mostly sell once a month at the local show, and my 250 listings a month on eBay. I crack boxes that I buy at the two Expos, what I get at Christmas, and the odd one if I get the itch. I seldom finish a set. I still reach out and try to help others with their lists, but mostly just slowly dismantle my PC, waiting for the right time to unleash the rest of my Ovy stuff on the masses.
The Expo is a great opportunity to people watch, meat smell, and hang with my brother from another, well, not really my brother, Darren. I am so priced out of the hobby it isn't funny. Watching Youtube box breaks of countless absolute BEATINGS that are downplayed for the sake of clicks is like slowing for a train wreck. How they do this at hundreds of dollars per box is beyond me. But, I have found a peace with that now, and find enjoyment rooting through my own old stuff. There's always a way to enjoy what you love or used to love, if you put in the effort.
So, armed with a list of UD Retail organized in order of "most decent YGs per release vs. price", I walked the show for eight hours and bought my wax at the end.
Here are the results of my breaks. Came home with no vinyl and no singles, but North Of 7 was nice enough to hand us a free Redemption card for our years of purchases, even though we are small time spenders.
2023expop by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
The rest were unimpressive inserts. Rough box, right price point.
2023expog by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
2023expof by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Better break, more fun, nicer looking inserts.
2023expoe by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Redemption pack from cracking an AEW Skybox.
2023expod by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Solid box, better YGs. Again, great price. Retail $55-65 bucks is very tolerable.
2023expoc by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
AEW Hits? I dunno. One numbered card /199. Even at $125 a box, pretty weak, and the base cards aren't even that appealing.
2023expoa by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Golds.
2023expob by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
The hits. Not a great box, compounded by the fact that the four numbered cards all had epic roller streaks right down the center. I am going to email Panini and see if they can help out here, as that really makes for a woof break.
Now the Leaf. $265 a pack, five cards, plus a free redemption pack that could include a player from a wild range of sports. I only follow hockey, so REAL gamble for me as this is like busting the Cup to me, lol. I NEVER spend this much on two boxes, let alone one pack. I usually say I am not a Leaf fan, but I think that is just because I am bitter that old school Between the Pipes no longer exists. This stuff is pretty. No arguing it.
2023expoh by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
2023expoi by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
2023expoj by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
2023expok by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
The next two pics are the same card, front and back, not a booklet just thick as ^&%$.
2023expol by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
2023expom by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Redemption card #1. Phew!!
2023expon by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Redemption card #2. Double Phew!!
2023expoo by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr
Hope you all had fun at the Expo in your own little way. I sure got my steps in!!
Everything except the Hasek is available, BTW, but come with a price, as I haven't even thought about it. If you know me, I'm easy like Sunday morning.
The Expo is a great opportunity to people watch, meat smell, and hang with my brother from another, well, not really my brother, Darren. I am so priced out of the hobby it isn't funny. Watching Youtube box breaks of countless absolute BEATINGS that are downplayed for the sake of clicks is like slowing for a train wreck. How they do this at hundreds of dollars per box is beyond me. But, I have found a peace with that now, and find enjoyment rooting through my own old stuff. There's always a way to enjoy what you love or used to love, if you put in the effort.
So, armed with a list of UD Retail organized in order of "most decent YGs per release vs. price", I walked the show for eight hours and bought my wax at the end.
Here are the results of my breaks. Came home with no vinyl and no singles, but North Of 7 was nice enough to hand us a free Redemption card for our years of purchases, even though we are small time spenders.
2023expop by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrThe rest were unimpressive inserts. Rough box, right price point.
2023expog by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr2023expof by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrBetter break, more fun, nicer looking inserts.
2023expoe by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrRedemption pack from cracking an AEW Skybox.
2023expod by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrSolid box, better YGs. Again, great price. Retail $55-65 bucks is very tolerable.
2023expoc by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrAEW Hits? I dunno. One numbered card /199. Even at $125 a box, pretty weak, and the base cards aren't even that appealing.
2023expoa by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrGolds.
2023expob by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrThe hits. Not a great box, compounded by the fact that the four numbered cards all had epic roller streaks right down the center. I am going to email Panini and see if they can help out here, as that really makes for a woof break.
Now the Leaf. $265 a pack, five cards, plus a free redemption pack that could include a player from a wild range of sports. I only follow hockey, so REAL gamble for me as this is like busting the Cup to me, lol. I NEVER spend this much on two boxes, let alone one pack. I usually say I am not a Leaf fan, but I think that is just because I am bitter that old school Between the Pipes no longer exists. This stuff is pretty. No arguing it.
2023expoh by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr2023expoi by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr2023expoj by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr2023expok by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrThe next two pics are the same card, front and back, not a booklet just thick as ^&%$.
2023expol by Shaun Lindsay, on Flickr2023expom by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrRedemption card #1. Phew!!
2023expon by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrRedemption card #2. Double Phew!!
2023expoo by Shaun Lindsay, on FlickrHope you all had fun at the Expo in your own little way. I sure got my steps in!!
Everything except the Hasek is available, BTW, but come with a price, as I haven't even thought about it. If you know me, I'm easy like Sunday morning.
