The Yak Shack Forum

Hey Guys,
  Just wondering what you think about this.......
I'm still looking for some good deals on some HP update boxes.  The best on ebay right now is well over 70 US$, and might even be up to 80.  Their are very few websites aside from ebay that have unopened boxes for sale.  I have found a company - dccsports -  that is offering boxes for 70 US $ and packs for 2.79 $ (in quantities of 4).  This would work out such that ordering 24 packs would be a bit cheaper than just buying a box.  Something about that just strikes me as funny, and I am hesitant to invest in these random packs.  In the past I had heard of dealers who used devices such as a 'pack resealer'.  Essentially, after they look through a pack of cards and pick out the goodies, they fill the pack up with junk and reseal it........
However, I may be sorely mistaken and this could be some sort of urban legend.  
I just can't understand why they would sell the single packs as cheaper......therefore it wouldnt make any sense to purchase boxes.  
If you guys think these packs are safe, I think I'm going to go ahead and purchasete quite a few of them.

I would love to buy a few boxes, 2 or 3.......but I just can't find any for cheaper than 70$ and that doesn't seem worth the return.  
Any ideas?

http://www.dcssportscards.com/harrypotter.html

Hi,

you can buy these boxes on ebay for $65 or sometimes less. But i can only say:

Don´t do it !!! The safest way to lose money is buying boxes of this update set. Sorry, but everyone here who bought boxes or cases has lost more or less money.  :'(

So don´t do it.

Hi.  Here is a Buy It Now on eBay for $55.  I didn't look at shipping though:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22727&item=5948448819&rd=1

As for single packs, some dealers do something called Cherry Pick.  It is a way of telling if a costume or prop is in the pack.  There is also something they can do with a pin to look in the pack to see if there are autos.  There are also people who do open them and somehow reseal them.  Be sure when pbuying something, it says it is sealed, as some people repack boxes as well.

However, I once bought single packs from a website the first time I got these cards and it was the same thing, the box cost more that 24 packs.  Anyway, I bought 6 packs and got a costume.  I also bought single packs off of eBay and got costumes, so it really depends on the seller or store themselves.  As I do not have experience with the store you mentioned, I do not know how they are.  I am sure someone here could help you out, as well as give you sites where you can get boxes.

As for what Tower said, it is true, a lot of people where upset, but I bought 5 boxes and am extremely pleased.  Why?  I am not reselling them.  I love the thrill of opening packs and getting cards for my collection.  Even if the card I get is not worth the cost of the box, the excitement of doing it and opening the packs is worth the money to me.  For example, I do community theatre and my husband yells at me because you don't get paid.  All that hard work for nothing, but when the audience applauds at the end, that is my payment.  Same with these cards, it isn't the money, but the thrill!!

In the end, I guess it is a matter of opinion.  Besides, if you can't afford a triple auto on eBay you could get extremely lucky and find one in a box ;)

If you want a base set as well, definitely go with a box.  However if there are particular cards you want, don't buy a box, but just the cards you want becuase then you will be wasting money trying to get the card you want from boxes.

I personally have gotten numerous boxes and cases of the Update Set from ebay.  I've won boxes as low as $35.00 and cases (10 boxes) for $550.00 (shipping included).  I think if you're patient, something may come for less than what you're currently seeing.  I'll PM you if I see any bargains.  I won't be buying any more boxes! ::)

I have never dealt with dcsssports so I don't know what their practice is.  Maybe another forum member has.

I haven't dealt with them either, but when I had a quick look at the website you posted Emmafan the thing which leapt out at me was 'sealed' ... not factory sealed! :-\
Might not sound much, but it can mean everything as to whether the box has been opened and picked over and the good stuff removed or not.

As I haven't bought any boxes of HP cards I can't say if it's the same or not, but on the Topps boxes of the LOTR cards, the factory sealed plastic around every box had small Topps logos printed all over it. The plastic was fairly thin and fragile and vacuum sealed, so it was easy to see if a box had been tampered with or not.
If it were me ... I would only buy one box and see how I got on with it, rather than buying several and potentially wasting my money.
Again, it depends on whether you're buying for your own collection or to sell ....

Hard decisions and I wish you every luck! ;)

Here's another Buy It Now for $49.99.  Shipping is $8.50 but you should contact the seller to see if she'll combine shipping charges) she most likely will).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73570&item=6144905584&rd=1

I have dealt with her before and she seems real nice.

Anna, did you win HP update boxes for $35, or was it a different set?  I wouldn't mind finding a box at that price, although it depends on the shipping charge, too.

By the way, Artbox used both a round, gray seal on the box and shrinkwrap to seal the boxes.  If either is missing, you'll know the box has been tampered with.

There is a way to find out if eBay sellers are repacking boxes (which can be okay as long as it's disclosed in the listing that the boxes are repacked) or if you truly have a chance at inserts by buying individual packs.  Look through the seller's current listings and feedback (click on the auction number to view the listing) and see if he/she is selling inserts.  If so, then it's likely that the seller cherry picked the boxes and the individual packs probably will not have any inserts.  This certainly isn't foolproof, but it could help you decide whether to take a chance with the auction.

It's possible to find some really good deals on eBay if you're patient, check the listings frequently, and have a bit of luck.  Look through the price guide and you'll see that the prices for most cards have fluctuated quite a bit.  Someone got those cards for low prices.

Here's a BIN auction for a case for $509.95 or bid auction for $499.95 opening bid.  Shipping is $14.00.  I have dealt with this seller also and had no problems.  You may have have to get someone to share the cost with you though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=219&item=6146232419&rd=1

I won three HP Update Hobby Boxes that day (Dec. 19th), 1 for $35.00 and 2 for $36.00 each from the same seller.  The shipping charge was combined at $12.00.  I think they were low priced because it was right before Christmas (people didn't have money to spend on themselves).  It just goes to show that if you're patient a deal will come up! ;D

Did you pull anything good from those boxes? :)

Wow! Thanks a ton for all of your help and info!  
Geez I posted this message, went to class and then came back and already had 8 replies.   This is a grea forum!
To be honest I'm feeling rather tempted by the case.......for 500 dollars it doesnt sound like too bad of a price......I also live close enough to the dealer that I could possibly arrange a pickup........Hmmmmmmmmm

HAHA, I can not believe this........so tempting, and i haven't even opened one pack yet.  Perhaps I should try a box or two first and see what I like/ if I'm carrying any luck.  Either way, I'm certainly planning on saving up for a big case purchase in the future, whether it is POA or GOF.  

Thanks again for all of your suggestions!  If you have any more advice, I could sure use it!

Hi and welcome to the forum from Australia


Like most here i would not recommend buying boxes I brought 2
and one was a dud ( no costume ,auto, prop or creature card)
and the second box was a i brought for less than 4.99 US

So for me the boxes where not worht what i paid
But welcome to the world of harry potter

From those three boxes I pulled:
Costume – Cedric Diggory’ Quidditch Outfit (0542/2173)
Costume – Harry Potter’s Quidditch Outfit (1889/2173)
Costume – Hermione’s Trousers (068/730)
Cinema Film Card – Mr. Weasley and Harry (742/900)
Cinema Film Card – Hermione Punching Draco (131/900)

No autos or props in them! :(

(In case you're wondering how I know what I pulled, I keep a box breakdown list of all the special cards I pull. )

Cool Anna - lots of people have done that here :


http://www.theyakshack.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=830

it's rather a long thread now though as we wrote it and commented on it as we opened our boxes and cases :)

That's a shame that in one box you didn't get anything! :(

Out of the 81 boxes :o I opened, only 1 was a dud.  Although I had quite a few boxes with only a sleeping bag or a Lupin jacket in them!

I'm just a collector like most of you, but I buy boxes like I'm a seller! ::)   Note to self: NO YOU CAN'T BUY JUST ONE MORE BOX!!!

lol i would love to buy more but as most people  on this forum know i  have 6 kids and a hubby and as they say that is where the money goes lol
I have managed to get some good cards thanks to the wonderful forum members .

But my collection is on hold for 3 weeks I have 1 son to put into uni
2 into high school
1 into primary school

and i found out today that the WWE ( world Wrestling Entertainment )
is coming to perth in April

so broke city here I come

Wahay - it's great to meet another collector who was mad enough to buy so many cases :)

It's so much fun opening but you DO have to stop when you are getting the same cards again and again and again :(

MEGA-cool!! 8)
Wonder if Rock will make an appearance! ::)
<-- is a HUGE fan of the WWE ;D

I can only hope but last time i got to meet alot of the wrestlers after the event because some friends and i went to a night club and most of them showed up there.
<<<<<<<<< is a huge fan of Hulk Hogan and John Cena
<<<<<<<<< thanks to a friend i will be getting a front row seat

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo!!!! Excellent!! You'll probably end up with one of 'em on your lap!! :o ;D

I first started watching it regularly when Hogan was still wrestling with the WCW (just before they completely lost the plot).
It took me a while to get into the WWE, especially after all the changes but I've loved the stuff Stone Cold (WHAT?), Angle (the three 'I's) and Rock (Candyass-style) have done.
Mick Foley is another firm favourite too! :P
The person I would give just about anything to see would have to be The Undertaker! :o That entrance of his is something else and gives me chills when I see it on telly. Imagine what it's going to be like LIVE!! :o
I can't be doing with Triple H, nor Flair .... one's too fat and the other's too old! ::) *ugh*
John Cena and Randy Orton ~ young, fit, talented and quite *nummy* .... great to watch too!  ;)

Oh and I'd love to see Rey Mysterio and RVD in action too ~ I adore the high-flyers and I think they are two of the best the WWE have at present .. and that's not to take anything away from the others either, I love watching them too! LOL

I got a bright red 'Latino Heat' T-shirt for Xmas, so I suppose I'll look like an over-sized bottle of Tabasco Sauce when I wear it!! ::)

I hope you have a fantastic time and please please take plenty of pics so I can see them! ;D

Sorry ... got a bit off-topic there didn't I? ;)

But i love the topic

Chirs ( my 18 year old son ) and i have plenty of auto's and pics from last time . the best one was rey we actually got a photo of him with his mask off.

All of the wrestlers where wonderful to chat to as we had most of the smackdown people here.

I would love to meet foley as well.

Wicked ... a pic of Rey maskless!! :o Cool! 8)
I can remember what he looked like from when he wrestled in the WCW ... wasn't he in "The Filthy Animals"?
Hee hee ... he's so quick and his balance is extraordinary! :o
Mind you ... RVD is a force to be reckoned with too. I don't think that man has a bone in his body the way he can bend, twist, stretch and roll ... just not natural! LOL

Foley would be awesome to meet and from what I've read, seems to be genuine *nice* guy.

If Taker is there, you'll have to tell me if his live entrance is as good as it is on screen! ;)

Much as I would love to meet these guys (and gals of course!) ... I'd be completely tongue-tied and not only that ~ I'd be totallly overwhelmed by them too ... I'm only 5 foot tall! HaHaHa!! :P
Being vertically challenged does have one advantage though ... it meant that I could date any of the blokes at school/college without looking daft because they'd all be taller than me! ;) ;D

Have you collected any of the wrestling card sets at all?
The Merlin sticker sets were and are available over in the UK, but I don't ever recall seeing any of the trading card sets for sale ... only seen them on eBay in my travels.
They didn't really appeal enough to bother tracking them down and I don't think many people stocked them here as the WWE isn't as popular as it is in the States. Well that's not strictly true as I know the events they stage here always sell out very quickly, but us Brits don't go as potty over sports cards as our American counterparts appear to do.

We LOVE Potter and LOTR!! ;D