General Forum

Hello Team, 

Based on some recent controversy bubbling this up into my streams, the idea of getting involved in breaks has crossed my mind. I'm sure there's a few of you in the know here, so riddle me this:

• Do you participate?
• Is there strategy involved?
• Do you have trusted breakers?
• Other?

Basically, I'm open to any angle/take you would like to provide on the subject as I try and learn. 

Thank you,

James

I guess with my answer of 'no' to the first question it kind of wipes out most of my participation in your quest for information. However, I generally feel that the math never tends to work out for me as a team collector. Sure, I can score a major hit if I get lucky with the break, but what if all I get are base cards? Will the $5 + shipping be worth it, especially since I can get most if not all of the base cards through trades on TCDB?

Since I'm not a parallel, relic or autograph hunter, and since the cost of getting what are likely to be all base cards is rather high in my opinion, I avoid breaks.

My LCS runs breaks through his website (https://www.bitgbreaks.com/). I trust him 100%. I received a 1954 Bowman Mantle in my first break with him on one entry.  He does all his breaks live on YouTube. 
 

I have tried to get into a few breaks on eBay, but I always feel like they are being bid up by shill bidders. I'll see similar slots in earlier auctions, but when I bid, the price seems to just keep rising.  So I have never actually participated in an eBay break. 

I have participated in a few breaks with Layton Sports Cards ( see their website or youtube channel ). However, I pretty much stopped as a team collector ( Phillies) I do not need 20 base cards. Note be sure to see what actually ships from the break, it varies depending on the breaker and product.

IMPORTANT !!!!!!!  Look at the checklist BEFORE buying in, this will help you deceide how likely you are to get a hit.

Youtube is loaded with breakers and I recommend watching some vidoes to see how it is done, and the diffrent methods used.

I can answer this from a slightly different angle as someone who joins in group breaks but also as someone who hosts group breaks.  I think some of the advice already given is sound (especially the part about checking with a set checklist to see how well/poorly your team is represented in a particular product).  I tend to like to do big group breaks when I host (full of a variety of boxes from a variety of years - see my current break which is taking sign-ups now:  https://fanofreds.blogspot.com/2022/01/breakers-club-5-official-sign-ups-now.html).  That being said, I also break for fun and not for profit - I tend to try to avoid the breakers who do it for profit as they are all about the "big mojo hits" while I tend to collect base sets and the occasional insert set.

I join breaks (including breaks from folks on here like NachosGrande and the Frozen Penguin guys) mostly for products I'm not likely to see in retail or older stuff. I'm in it for my PC team, the other random players I PC, and occasionally I pick up teams to help a break fill and get some trade fodder. I haven't had any issues with getting cards, but there are a few ebay and Blowout breakers I avoid because I don't enjoy their breaking "presence". Both of the ones I mentioned from here get a big thumbs up from me though.

Breaks can be super fun and also very disappointing.  It depends on what you collect for one.  Fortunately there is about every kind of breaker you can imagine on FB.  Join some groups and watch some breaks.  This is always fun.  Certain product I have no interest in doing a break and some like Chronicles I have found more fun than I thought.  I love Prizm products, but would mostly like to open a box for a set and then buy the parallels I want.  I don't want a box of Chronicles, just certain players and breaks have been fun.

Some breaks are a set price and some on eBay are auction.  One friend of mine groups Nascar drivers into alphabet groups and then prices them according to the checklist possibilities and the star factor.  I have done very well in some breaks and gotten totally skunked in others.  But I have gotten dibs on several cards pulled by others that didn't fit their personal collection.

And I think that is the biggest point, a fee breaker groups on FB have really expanded my collecting community.  I'm not a big base set collector so trading/seeking/buying here goes in spurts.  I don't do breaks every month, but commicate witching the groups enough to actively BST with many and converse as friends apart from cards with many as well.

Enjoy learning!

Greg

I take part in breaks. But only 1 guy. He is a member here also. I always check my collection to see what I need. Plus he will send all cards not just hits as some breakers do. Plus he lets you stack so you only get 1 shipping charge when you are ready to ship. Although payment for the break is due before the break. Also fun to watch. Definitely watch a few and see how they operate and go from there 

• Do you participate? I have participated when I can the past two years.
• Is there strategy involved? I only look for PYT case breaks that ships all cards.
• Do you have trusted breakers? Layton and Mojo are two that I return to because I know what to expect. eBay break prices tend to fluctuate too much for me.
• Other? As someone that does not buys packs or build complete sets, but only team sets, it's worth it to me to pay a little more.  I do not trade a lot, so breaks work for me as something I listen to in the background.

Appreciate the feedback everyone. I'd be primarily an NBA breaks fella, chasing your World Champion Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis cards. 

Plenty of ideas and avenues to explore based on this feedback.