Sportcard Pack Searching: What Is It & How to Curb It

Sports cards are a lot of fun to collect and/or invest in. Opening packs, boxes and cases are among the most fun and exciting ways to grow a collection. The holidays are a great time to purchase some cards, beit singles, packs or boxes, for someone in your life who you think may like to get into the hobby or already is an avid collector. That said, it's just as great a time to make sure you know a few things about card packs and buying them from anyone but a well known and trusted dealer.

What is pack searching?

Pack searching is the act of using various methods to determine which pack(s) of sports cards (and non-sports!) from a given box contain the cards that are most desirable to people. You may be surprised to know that people use anything from the simplest act of "feeling/bending the pack" for thickness (most special cards are extra thick and the pack doesn't bend quite as much) to actually using more complex techniques, such as, literally, weighing the packs with a mini-scale to determine which ones have a weight different from the norm, thus, possibly containing a more valueable card in them.

Successful pack searchers take the packs of value away from the box. Thus, you may be spending $15 on a pack of cards that has no chance of containing a valuable card that justified the retailers asking price of $15 to begin with. Does that stink for you and the person you are buyin for? You bet.

What can you do to curb it?

1. For starters, think twice before buying packs of cards from retail outlets - these include places like Target, Walmart, K-Mart, Toys R Us, Sports Authority, etc., that do nothing to stop pack searchers. Some stores put their sportscards behind glass cases and you must request that a sales associate assist you with them. Even at that - many times, pack searches have been identified as the very sales person who stock the shelves with the cards! If you are buying retail, stick to boxes that are sealed. Many times you can buy them for as little as $9.99.

2. Don't buy "hot packs" on eBay - As you look around on eBay and other outlets for your cards, you'll most likely come across the listing for "hot packs" - those that the seller guarantees will contain an insert card, game used equipment card, autograph, or serial numbered card. These are the cards that ALL collectors hope to get when they crack open a pack of cards. Is it nice to open a pack and know you are gonna get an autograph? Sure. Just know that by supporting these sellers, you are getting the good card and essentially ensuring that several other people are getting the short end of the stick.

3. Write to card companies (Topps, Upper Deck, etc.) and let them know that you are not happy with the methods they use to pack cards. See thru wrappers on retail packs is NOT helping to detour pack searchers.

4. Buy from hobby dealers - visit your local hobby shop (if you have one - many struggle to keep the doors open!) and buy from them. They are knowledgeable, will help you pick out the right packs for the level of collector you are buying for, will give you the materials you need to protect the cards you buy and most of all, give you the best opportunity to fairly get the good cards! Of course, card shops owners/employees can just as easily search a box of cards as customers at a retail store, but the hobby shop needs your business as a customer to keep the door open. Walmart doesn't. Thus, the chances are far less that your local hobby shop owner is searching his packs - or letting his customers do it!

5. Ask people you see pack searching at stores to stop. Don't just walk by them. Ask them to stop. Tell them that they are ruining the cards in the packs by bending them and pressing them and inform the store manager of the same.

6. Inform others about pack searchers. Believe it or not, there are people who collect cards are unaware of this. Educate them so they too can be aware of pack searchers.

Please, be careful this holiday season when buying packs of cards for your fan/collector. Don't buy the packs that have been slung back into boxes at retail outlets by the pack searchers. They are just sitting there waiting for some poor unknowing person to come along and buy them. If that person was gonna be you and now it's not, then this guide served its purpose!