( 
)First off, this guide is not promoting packsearching, it is just informing people about it.
Often times when you are at target, walmart, etc, you will come across the card section. Next time you are at a store, take a look at some of the product. Are the packs bent? Are they open? Are there people feeling them right next to you?
All of these are signs of a packsearcher.
Here is how they do it.
2) Fanning
People turn the pack on its side and feel the thickness of each card. Thicker cards generally will have jerseys or patches.
3) Swiping
People will swipe their finger vertically across the card and feel for indentations.
4) Familarization
People will study a product until they know where an auto sticker or jersey will usually be, then they may use the swiping method. Others will just be able to tell by holding the pack.
5) Bending
This method is used after fanning in Donruss products, and others that use many decoys. If someone feels a thick card, they will bend the pack from opposite corners. If they feel little resistance, they know it is a decoy.
There are more advanced methods such as weighing, measuring length and location in a box. These methods will only work with certain products, but if you find a product that works, it will be very successful.
According to US law, A person is allowed to inspect a product before purchasing it. However, they are not allowed to damage the product in any way unless they intend on buying it.
So yes it is legal, but some stores ( Especially hobby shops ) will kick you out if they catch you.
The next question has no definite answer, but here is my opinion on it.
People who need to get jersey or autograph cards from retail so badly are not true card collectors. Real collectors save up for hobby boxes, or just buy sealed retail boxes. The cards you get will rarely cover the cost of most packs. The real owners of these low end jersey cards should be kids, who in most cases can only afford retail packs. So not only are these searchers not very smart, but they also have no integrity or ethics.
Thats just what I have to say.
Thanks for reading, I hope this was helpful. If it was please mark it so.
I will be doing an experiment from a box of cards with many decoys, it will be a guide to see how easy card companies have made it to find good cards.
Mr.Jamesbrown
Twin City Cards
Often times when you are at target, walmart, etc, you will come across the card section. Next time you are at a store, take a look at some of the product. Are the packs bent? Are they open? Are there people feeling them right next to you?
All of these are signs of a packsearcher.
Here is how they do it.
methods
1) The simplest of them all OPENING
2) Fanning
People turn the pack on its side and feel the thickness of each card. Thicker cards generally will have jerseys or patches.
3) Swiping
People will swipe their finger vertically across the card and feel for indentations.
4) Familarization
People will study a product until they know where an auto sticker or jersey will usually be, then they may use the swiping method. Others will just be able to tell by holding the pack.
5) Bending
This method is used after fanning in Donruss products, and others that use many decoys. If someone feels a thick card, they will bend the pack from opposite corners. If they feel little resistance, they know it is a decoy.
There are more advanced methods such as weighing, measuring length and location in a box. These methods will only work with certain products, but if you find a product that works, it will be very successful.
The Big Questions:
Is it legal? Is it ethical?According to US law, A person is allowed to inspect a product before purchasing it. However, they are not allowed to damage the product in any way unless they intend on buying it.
So yes it is legal, but some stores ( Especially hobby shops ) will kick you out if they catch you.
The next question has no definite answer, but here is my opinion on it.
People who need to get jersey or autograph cards from retail so badly are not true card collectors. Real collectors save up for hobby boxes, or just buy sealed retail boxes. The cards you get will rarely cover the cost of most packs. The real owners of these low end jersey cards should be kids, who in most cases can only afford retail packs. So not only are these searchers not very smart, but they also have no integrity or ethics.
Thats just what I have to say.
Thanks for reading, I hope this was helpful. If it was please mark it so.
I will be doing an experiment from a box of cards with many decoys, it will be a guide to see how easy card companies have made it to find good cards.
Mr.Jamesbrown
Twin City Cards
Guide created: 08/25/08 (updated 01/14/09)
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