Just be honest...

[Big Chucka]

I have spent the last 4 months watching and participating in dozens of breaks. At first it was exciting and fun but as time went on I realized that many of the Breakers were just like carnie barkers or the stereotypical used car salesman portrayed in the movies. I believe that most people who buy into breaks realize that their chances of making their money back are not great. They do it for the chance and thrill of hitting a big card. That's how I look at it anyway. It's the same as when you go into a casino and play a slot machine, roulette or keno. To many Breakers think they have to OVERSELL the results of a break to get people to buy into the next one or the one after that. During a busy time there are anywhere from 25-50 different people breaking on Breakers.tv or Ustream. About 10 of these Breakers do it on what I would call a large scale. In my opinion, of the 10 "big boys", only a few of them do not insult their customers intelligence by pretending every break is great. Not every box is a great box. Not every serial numbered card, relic or autograph is a great card. Give your customers some credit, just be honest and tone done the full court press. On the other hand, the one Breaker who delivers each and every time without missing a beat is BATESON. He's honest about what was pulled, he gives his customers 100% of his attention when he's breaking and is respectful of their time, he's down to earth and truly appreciates the people who buy into his breaks and he is consistent. After 4 months of buying into breaks and watching hundreds more I can tell you BATESON is the gold standard, no one else is even a close second. I am interested to hear what other people think.

 

[andy]

I don't buy into many breaks but Bateson is one of the more enjoyable ones to watch for sure.

 

[franklinguy52]

Breaks are always a bit of a gamble but I am definitely in favor of doing the group breaks like the ones on this site. In these group breaks all of the money is used and the breaks are fun because it is with a group of friends that the char is as important as the hits and everybody is happy for the people that are lucky enough to hit a big hit.

 

[captkirk42]

I stick mostly with the breaks here in the Zone and those on our sort of big step-sister site TCC, and some breaks on the blogs that I follow. If I don't know the host I don't join. I also try to stick to the lower priced breaks $25/team/slot or less.

 

[redwing40]

I tend to do small group breaks on Card forums, like the one's I host, nothing fancy, just breaking some boxes normally some members just cant afford to buy them selves alone. Group box breaks are getting popular these days, so yes, there are a lot of guys probably out there doing them for profit, etc. TCZ's breaks are more of a family type break with members that have known each other for years, some new, but it's really all about getting that hit for your personal collection, sometimes you hit, sometimes you don't. it's a gamble no matter if your in a Group box break or you buy a box on your own.

As far as BATESON goes, never seen his breaks, but glad you have found a host that suits you! Guess everyone has there preference on the host of breaks and how it runs, if you are hosting and your group fills up each time, guess your doing something right to keep members coming back.

 

[sliqwill]

only boxes ive bought into are when a couple guys get together to buy a case and then send out boxes, ie 6 guys buy into 12 box case and each buys 2 boxes, boxes are sent to the buyers...

ive never bought a team or a player in a group break...

and i would say a good 80% or more you arent going to get a profit on buying a full box and cracking it...sure, you can say that over the past year i busted a ton of blasters, but i do believe in the long term they will turn a profit...my heroes and legends ive sold 3 out of 90 relics that i hite, the rest inserts, base, and sets and i think im around 20% on the flip...the olympics stuff, well i busted 420 blasters and am currently at 65% and change recovery in under 3 months, im sure i have at least 300 of the relic/auto hits, and the past 6 weeks ive sold well over 200 base set parallel golds that were 1 per box that have yielded over $1 per average to where almost 10% recovery has come off of just those...

if you are playing a high end hit or miss product, like early exquisite when it was $1500 a box, and you could realistically end up with about $70 selling the singles on eBay...im sure box prices are down now, but it isnt that uncommon for a 'scrub' auto rookie to go for under $5 dlvd, and the base cards have also crashed, so no longer can you get $5+ out of a base...ill bet you could realisitcally buy a box of 2005 Exquisite today and the flip value be under 30% of what you paid...sure, you could hit a Marino/Montana dual auto with an Aaron Rodgers Patch Auto RC, a Demarcus Ware RC Auto, a John Elway Jersey, and Earl Campbell auto, but risk reward just isnt there

 

[Crpalmi]

Totally agree on your take about breakers trying to oversell the results of their break. I sure hope I never come across that way as I have always tried to take the approach of the advice often times given to rookies which is "act like you've been here before". If you hit a home run, act like you've done it before. If you pull a #1/1, act like you've pulled one before. It's fine to get excited over a nice pull but the folks that are joining group breaks know what they're doing, no need to insult their intelligence by overselling a single color jersey of Michael Egnew. Sorry Egnew collectors... just saying.

While we're venting... my pet peeve is any breaker that has the camera on them as if they're the focus of the show. Sure you want to be entertaining but I bought into the break to see the cards and if all I see is a video of you with an occassional glance at a card from 6 feet away, I will reserve the right to mutter inaudible curse words at the screen.

In the end, nobody is perfect. I've had feedback that they hate my voice as it's too nasaly, I smack my lips too much, I use the same bad jokes break after break (looking at you Isaiah Pead), etc., but if you find a breaker you are comfortable with stick with them... the loyalty will be appreciated more than you probably realize!

 

[Mike]

Well said, @Crpalmi. If I could like that post more than once, I'd definitely do it.

 

[captkirk42]

I agree about the camera being focused on the face of the host. If I want to watch a talking head there are plenty of videos on youtube on any subject you can think of and all their rebuttals.

The ultimate camera angle for a break is focused on the hosts hands as if you are showing the secret of an up close slight-of-hand street magic trick.

 

[Breaker4310]

I get into select breaks I am a panthers fan so I get in cheap. I know I am pitching in on costs. Since 2011 the odds are terrible for a vet auto of Cam Newton. I love my hits but yes never gonna get rich. I would rather razz for a card that may be higher end. I argued with a man that I was a collector he said not if you razz. I told him I am the black hole of the razz because either it goes in my collection or trade bait or into my friends collection. There too it is a risk but I only pay what I feel safe losing.so either way it is a risk.

 

[packman80]

First break I did was a white guy who was trying to pretend he was a gang banger by talking like one. Too loud of rap music going on. Messed around for 1o minutes trying to get his girlfriend to open up packs and when she did she touched the auto with her fingers. Neither of them could say the names of most of the players. Never went in with a break that guy again safe to say. Instead found a guy who runs a card shop and does these. He is much more pro then the other guy. But I guess you have to just keep trying till you find someone you like and trust.