Retail Card Hunting: Retail Blaster Box Mystery

aaronk333 · 09-02-2020, 10:10 PM

(Sorry, long post with a lot of questions)

This time last year you could walk into any Target or Walmart and buy Donruss blaster boxes, fat packs and hanger packs no problemo.

Even in February these cards were just overflowing from the card section (invading into the unhappy Pokeman card area).

In fact in some card hunting videos from this time that I have been watching the card hunter (looking for Basketball Cards) was cursing at all the overflowing football cards.

But for the entire summer and now into September, there has been little to nothing. I have seen some Score 2020 football packs once! Decided not to buy and came back the next day and all were gone (the case holder strewn aside by other casual rummagers). Yesterday and today I went to 6 different Target and Walmart stores and found some Donruss Prestige Pack holders that were empty but nothing else.

If you go onto Walmart or Target website they will say "in stock" but when you get there... nothing. Either because it was either bought out or some fellow walked around the store with it and dumped into some unknown area (and I must say that the workers at these store have very little interest in your quest for retail sporting cards).

I kinda of had a semi breakthrough at a Walmart today... you see I needed to buy some groceries and decided to check out the card area. Standing there was a curious patron dressed in long pants and long sleeved shirt (I mean it was like 95 degrees today who wears that!) looking at his phone. I went around and spent about 45 minutes buying groceries and waiting in a long line when I was all checked out this guy was still standing there! I mean was he waiting to ambush the guy restocking the football cards and was he willing to wait there for hours and hours to get those cards?

So what exactly is going on here? I see those same blaster boxes that were 2019 Walmart and Target exclusive selling for 4-5 times what they sold for in the store. And i bought a bunch of these and can tell you none of those $9.99-$19.99 boxes are even worth $10. If you buy it your just gonna end up with a couple of random rookie cards and A TON of over printed common cards.

Are people just freaking crazy? Did Donruss stop shipping cards in mass amounts to retail stores? Do you just have to bite the bullet and pay $200 for a hobby box? Am I just missing the release date for Donruss and they dont come out for awhile? Will the blaster fanatic box with Russell Wilson on the cover ever come out for retail???

Vincesanity · 09-02-2020, 10:47 PM

The best ROI in sports cards is the base rookie card PSA 10, start with that and the rest makes sense.

aaronk333 · 09-02-2020, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincesanity

The best ROI in sports cards is the base rookie card PSA 10, start with that and the rest makes sense.

I understand that people want the Joe Burrow and Tua rookie card (Maybe even a Herbert RC). But just look at the fact that 2020 score has been sold out and that doesnt even have nfl players on there 2020 teams. (I mean it has Tom Brady on the cover with his 2019 team! On a side note, Dear SCORE, how can you even call them 2020 football cards when they are still on there 2019 teams???)

So I get that ROI can make cards scarce, but last year a lot of people wanted the rookie card of Kyler Murray but the boxes were still everywhere.

blackbears86 · 09-03-2020, 08:11 AM

consider yourself lucky OP. All the 2020 retail products have been college themed so far.

Soon however, pro themed products will hit the shelves, then you really will see people camping out in stores.

aaronk333 · 09-03-2020, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackbears86

consider yourself lucky OP. All the 2020 retail products have been college themed so far.

Soon however, pro themed products will hit the shelves, then you really will see people camping out in stores.

But is there a website that says when the retail product will enter the stores? I just can't find any answer...

blackbears86 · 09-03-2020, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronk333

But is there a website that says when the retail product will enter the stores? I just can't find any answer...

Unfortunately, no.

Rogue · 09-03-2020, 04:57 PM

Retail cards are not sold through WalMart but rather a distributor, meaning they don't keep an accurate count on what cards are all there and what not, so you can't really count on the WalMart/Target site to say how many is there and what not. If it is up to date and everything, that just shows how much stuff gets stolen.

JeremyNick · 09-03-2020, 06:43 PM

I will say this again.

People and bots were clearing out Prestige Megas and flipping at 2-2.5x

If you think anything will be easy to find in retail this year, I’ve got some bad news for you.

Ebay finna be loaded with $25+ Prizm cellos.

DJ Wenz · 09-04-2020, 09:42 AM

The current retail model is now broken, partially due to the high demand. People are paying the resale price for wax on eBay, which means people will clear the shelf of whatever they find to make a few bucks.

I believe the manufacturers have the capability to go direct to consumer, and make retail something you can buy off of their website in a limited quantity.

Something needs to be done to eliminate the “flipper” who, under the current retail model, is enabled to make 1000’s of dollars selling product to the end consumer. Panini/Topps could just move the price point up a little bit on retail and go direct to consumer themselves. Just my 2 cents

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jscotta1989 · 09-04-2020, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Wenz

The current retail model is now broken, partially due to the high demand. People are paying the resale price for wax on eBay, which means people will clear the shelf of whatever they find to make a few bucks.

I believe the manufacturers have the capability to go direct to consumer, and make retail something you can buy off of their website in a limited quantity.

Something needs to be done to eliminate the “flipper” who, under the current retail model, is enabled to make 1000’s of dollars selling product to the end consumer. Panini/Topps could just move the price point up a little bit on retail and go direct to consumer themselves. Just my 2 cents

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agreed. Not sure about Topps, but Panini will almost certainly go this route in my opinion. Not to ensure more people have access to their product, but if they think they are missing out on some extra money on the secondary market, they will make a change. Just look at FOTL for example.

BSull83 · 09-04-2020, 03:06 PM

I remember reading on the boards somewhere that somebody stocking the shelves for the distributor said they would not be stocking anything that had the Washington Redskins still in it. I know my Walmart has been dry for awhile and I never had a problem going in and getting a box at will.

RustyDawg37 · 09-04-2020, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSull83

I remember reading on the boards somewhere that somebody stocking the shelves for the distributor said they would not be stocking anything that had the Washington Redskins still in it. I know my Walmart has been dry for awhile and I never had a problem going in and getting a box at will.

That sounds like something a rogue snowflake rep would do, not a whole distributor, but stranger things have happened.

Has Panini even said when they will stop referencing the team name?

Why would a distributor drop one whole sports cycle, if that's how they make some of their money, AKA thats their business model?

Just doesnt add up as a whole.

I am not saying its not happening, just doesnt make sense to me.

Anyway here its the same as many others. If you are not there when football or basketball gets stocked, you aren't getting anything except empty displays. Can still find bits of hockey and baseball though, well the last time I went out anyway. That may have changed as well.

glen87 · 09-06-2020, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyDawg37

That sounds like something a rogue snowflake rep would do, not a whole distributor, but stranger things have happened.

Has Panini even said when they will stop referencing the team name?

Why would a distributor drop one whole sports cycle, if that's how they make some of their money, AKA thats their business model?

Just doesnt add up as a whole.

I am not saying its not happening, just doesnt make sense to me.

Anyway here its the same as many others. If you are not there when football or basketball gets stocked, you aren't getting anything except empty displays. Can still find bits of hockey and baseball though, well the last time I went out anyway. That may have changed as well.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-...s-merchandise/

"Following the announcement, Walmart announced that it is discontinuing all products that reference that team's name and logo. Target confirmed to CBS News on Thursday that it is doing the same.

not exactly sure how it applies to cards, but it is happening.

09-02-2020, 10:10 PM	#1
aaronk333 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 21	Retail Card Hunting: Retail Blaster Box Mystery (Sorry, long post with a lot of questions) This time last year you could walk into any Target or Walmart and buy Donruss blaster boxes, fat packs and hanger packs no problemo. Even in February these cards were just overflowing from the card section (invading into the unhappy Pokeman card area). In fact in some card hunting videos from this time that I have been watching the card hunter (looking for Basketball Cards) was cursing at all the overflowing football cards. But for the entire summer and now into September, there has been little to nothing. I have seen some Score 2020 football packs once! Decided not to buy and came back the next day and all were gone (the case holder strewn aside by other casual rummagers). Yesterday and today I went to 6 different Target and Walmart stores and found some Donruss Prestige Pack holders that were empty but nothing else. If you go onto Walmart or Target website they will say "in stock" but when you get there... nothing. Either because it was either bought out or some fellow walked around the store with it and dumped into some unknown area (and I must say that the workers at these store have very little interest in your quest for retail sporting cards). I kinda of had a semi breakthrough at a Walmart today... you see I needed to buy some groceries and decided to check out the card area. Standing there was a curious patron dressed in long pants and long sleeved shirt (I mean it was like 95 degrees today who wears that!) looking at his phone. I went around and spent about 45 minutes buying groceries and waiting in a long line when I was all checked out this guy was still standing there! I mean was he waiting to ambush the guy restocking the football cards and was he willing to wait there for hours and hours to get those cards? So what exactly is going on here? I see those same blaster boxes that were 2019 Walmart and Target exclusive selling for 4-5 times what they sold for in the store. And i bought a bunch of these and can tell you none of those $9.99-$19.99 boxes are even worth $10. If you buy it your just gonna end up with a couple of random rookie cards and A TON of over printed common cards. Are people just freaking crazy? Did Donruss stop shipping cards in mass amounts to retail stores? Do you just have to bite the bullet and pay $200 for a hobby box? Am I just missing the release date for Donruss and they dont come out for awhile? Will the blaster fanatic box with Russell Wilson on the cover ever come out for retail???

09-02-2020, 10:47 PM	#2
Vincesanity Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 2,243 prizmfootball ClassicChrome	The best ROI in sports cards is the base rookie card PSA 10, start with that and the rest makes sense.

09-03-2020, 08:11 AM	#4
blackbears86 Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: maine Posts: 17,314 blackbears86	consider yourself lucky OP. All the 2020 retail products have been college themed so far. Soon however, pro themed products will hit the shelves, then you really will see people camping out in stores.

09-03-2020, 04:57 PM	#7
Rogue Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 121	Retail cards are not sold through WalMart but rather a distributor, meaning they don't keep an accurate count on what cards are all there and what not, so you can't really count on the WalMart/Target site to say how many is there and what not. If it is up to date and everything, that just shows how much stuff gets stolen.

09-03-2020, 06:43 PM	#8
JeremyNick Banned Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 22,801	I will say this again. People and bots were clearing out Prestige Megas and flipping at 2-2.5x If you think anything will be easy to find in retail this year, I’ve got some bad news for you. Ebay finna be loaded with $25+ Prizm cellos.

09-04-2020, 09:42 AM	#9
DJ Wenz Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 42	The current retail model is now broken, partially due to the high demand. People are paying the resale price for wax on eBay, which means people will clear the shelf of whatever they find to make a few bucks. I believe the manufacturers have the capability to go direct to consumer, and make retail something you can buy off of their website in a limited quantity. Something needs to be done to eliminate the “flipper” who, under the current retail model, is enabled to make 1000’s of dollars selling product to the end consumer. Panini/Topps could just move the price point up a little bit on retail and go direct to consumer themselves. Just my 2 cents Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09-04-2020, 03:06 PM	#11
BSull83 Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Montana Posts: 334 bsull83 bsull83	I remember reading on the boards somewhere that somebody stocking the shelves for the distributor said they would not be stocking anything that had the Washington Redskins still in it. I know my Walmart has been dry for awhile and I never had a problem going in and getting a box at will.