Corrections: The person who bought and fixed up a used CT scanner and Industrial Inspections, the business offering this as a service, are two different entities. Apologies.
Interesting topic. I returned to the hobby a year ago after almost 3 decades on the sidelines. Who knew I’d learn about “what is a parallel?” and radiology? The integrity of 1987 Fleer Rak Paks seem safe…for now.
Chris here - HAHAHA!! I miss the simple days of trying to see what cards were in 1989 Donruss Rack Packs and my mom telling me not to cheat. It's all come a long, long way!!
As someone that does CT and radiography for research, I am not shocked by this, but I think it's use is limited. As long as the system can provide the image resolution it would be possible. For scanning sealed boxes/cases/packs, I would have a number of questions on how the system acquires the image and how the image is reconstructed as I have not seen as many images I would need to determine if I can ultimately discern what the card is within a stack of cards (outside of gross features where you can distinguish a logoman vs other cards, for example). I would be really sceptical if the system is a standard CT, but micro-CT would be possible (and more expensive). Operation of the x-ray systems is highly regulated at the state and/or federal level, and that will also limit access and limit how cheap it can eventually get. What these folks have shown so far tells me it can work and scans of individual cards is possible, but a large stack of cards in a box will not really work outsides of some gross shapes (which still would have potential value). And the person saying the card has to be flat tells me they do not understand the image reconstruction process at all and how to correct for curved surfaces. Also, please don't ask ChapGPT about radiography - those answers were imbecile.
I was thinking the same thing. If the card was amongst other cards, it would be difficult… With that said, i find a scan more probable than some breakers hitting repeatedly, but i also don’t believe in the magic bullet theory and still wonder what happened in Vegas…
@@TheProfessorsDugout Chris here - thanks for this perspective. Glad to hear from someone who has experience in the field. This whole thing is so concerning and frustrating and sad.
Couldn't they just put a fake card on top of every pack, that's basically just an ad card, displaying an image of a possible hit in that product? Wouldn't that make it impossible to know if that's a real hit, and not just an ad card. If they CT scan reveals a hit in every case/pack it would be pointless to use.
Chris here - I think what were wondering is if it already is among some bug auction houses and resellers, but only not just coming to our attention. You're right though. And it has wax collectors like Phil and Jeff very concerned, bordering on freaked out.
I have a ton of wax. This is disturbing news but I will say this affects hobby boxes far more than retail I'd say. Hobby usually has the bigger hits and more autos etc. The manufacturers need to take steps to prevent this in the future from occuring somehow.
Phil, I know it may be tough but not just you but others like you have earned the trust. It may be a different issue in the future from where we all get wax from. Great show and discussion gents
Absolutely sucks for the good guys which is why it's important to nail the bad ones and/or fix the system. I can't see it affecting Philmington either but what about other legit folks who have yet to build a reputation as good as Philmington has? They get tarred. Hobby shops who rely heavily on sealed wax may be impacted to various degrees. This is really shit news.
A friend of mine was a CT scanner repairman for a major CT scanner maker. I am pretty sure he would have been able to fix most broken CT scanners. This is why I don't by wax or open packs.
This is tough to hear (But as always a top notch video guys!). I do not purchase or sell super high end product but do worry about other fallout this could cause. If companies alter the packaging, they will have to do so in a way where boxes and cases are postal shipping friendly. I also collect hockey and worry about all the sealed ‘23-24 Upper Deck Product with Connor Bedard cards; definitely will not be purchasing anything on that end now. Love the comment Chris about 1990-91 score with the Jagr rookie, that may end up being the only non blaster type box that I open going forward. Let’s see where this goes, it will be interesting …
@@Briguycollectables Chris here - you’re right! Finding those Bedards would definitely be where the time and effort. I love that score set. Ripping a box is so much nostalgia, it’s almost overwhelming.
@@SpitballinCards For me, that same year brought my all-time favourite set - The inaugural Upper Deck Hockey offering. I am still blown away when looking at those cards. I was in University at the time and if I was able to scrounge $5 for a pack of Upper Deck and another five for a beer at the school pub (Which like all the other poor students, I would nurse all night long) that was a success!
Maybe there is some sort of material, even a small as a stamp, that could change in a certain type of way IF it’s exposed to that type of scanner, thus indicating it has been scanned
ct scanners use xrays but then again we are exposed to radiation every day so it would be interesting to see how they modify dose necessary to set off the "stamp"
@@SpitballinCards 100% I was just thinking theoretically. if the card companies take a stance against this they could line their newer packaging with composite materials that we use in radiation shielding. combining it with certain patterns could inhibit accurate views of products
It’s actually terrible for old wax. PMG’s have foil numbering, I wanna say superfractors do too. On a similar note, I own a CT scanner if you guys wanna come by and see how this works
Yeah anything from the 90s on is fair game for finding specific cards. Have you tried the CT scanner for anything similar? It is hard to use for cards? A lot of calibrating?
Appreciate the discussion. I have a good amount of old sealed wax including things like 2009 topps sterling baseball. Definitely has me worried if I want to sell in the future.
We need to see a demonstration of this on UA-cam. I can see how CT scan can reveal a hit in a single pack but im not buying that the hit can be seen in a unsealed hobby box. If you are scanning a hobby or jumbo box, the hit pack is usually located in the middle of the box so how can you identify the hit if it is buried between several packs? I guess the most vulnerable products are probably high end where there are only a few packs per box. I can see this hurting ebay sales of single hobby boxes. All the more reason to support your local hobby shop, at least there is some comfort knowing they buy directly from the mfg. Its a good thing the CT scanning story is out there because it should force the card makers to start putting in measures to prevent it.
Chris here - I'm sure we'll see images online soon. I think a video was advertised to hit UA-cam on Sunday. As far as you LCS - you trust them? Any chance they have a scanner and are only selling the boxes they already know don't have big cards??
Excellent point by poster. If you believe for one second LCS’ will not employ this tactic, you’re not seeing the forest through the trees. They are about making money first and foremost. Here’s how they’ll do it: they will scan for hits, extract the hit and sell those in their showcases. Then, the boxes that don’t have hits will be the ones they either sell to customers and/or use for single pack sales. Maybe not every one of them because of the cost of having a CT scanner but it will 100% happen.
realistically they wouldn't need to line the packs in lead specifically. most modern "lead" aprons are not actually lead but a composite material to protect employees from radiation doses. I imagine it would still add some level of cost to packs in general though.
I see that the end is near for buying packs from retail, LCS and subscription boxes! Prices of the single cards WILL drop with less trading going around plus one's unopened boxes would be nested in their storage bins for many more years to come
I’m worried about purchasing a case from an online dealer. Do you guys think it’s possible to crack open a case, scan the boxes, keep what’s good, replace with a crappy box, and repackage?
It may have to get to the point of no more retail, no more breakers, card shops only carry singles, no product. All breaks will be done by fanatics live, and when you buy a box it's randomized and broken live, and cards sent to the purchaser, no more unopened boxes going out the door
@@SpitballinCards i'd be curious to go down the rabbit hole and see if the industrial inspection domain/owner can be traced to fanatics some how some way.
Looks like it’s time to rip some packs. In the case of the 18 bowman, could you hypothetically tell there was a Shohei auto or just the color of the parallels?
It's actually fraud and it's punishable by a felony and at that box.Travel across state lines.We're gonna hit him with a rico act , so you warn him. Kids don't like to see their daddy being handcuffed while they're all laying on the floor. With their hands-on their head and their legs cross face down on the floor and they take the phones and they don't get them back.@SpitballinCards
Chris here - I'm glad you're loving the hobby! Me too! You're right, scammers will always look for something. Hopefully Topps can add protection to their packaging.
I think wax might be dead to me. I just can't justify the cost/value that Fanatics is offering. Bummed because I was looking forward to ripping some chrome and finest. But, the increased checklists, increased prices and decreased value just makes it a no for me. And, with the proliferation of breakers, Fanatics won't see any reason to change until we start to see a drop in demand for breaks and their bottom line becomes affected. Great video, guys. Keep 'em coming!
@@greatscott526 Chris here - I’m right there with you. Can’t justify the cost. I’m hoping stadium club will remain affordable. Or at least reasonable. That’s always a fun rip!
Good Subject to bring out,could the Card Companies who make Millions of Dollars, Philmigton took the words out of my mouth, with Protective Film on the inside of the Boxes.
I’ve always thought at least in todays era that there’s no way topps or panini wants a 1/1 or top rookie case hit to be pulled by a random person with no social media and not posted about or shown being pulled. To what exten they’d go if any idk but I also wonder if they do make and send loaded boxes out but don’t even tell the influencer/breaker so they can honestly say they don’t receive them
Chris here - It seems to me that the negative hit from a plan like this being discovered and made public knowledge would FAR FAR FAR outweigh any benefit. I could be wrong though
@@SpitballinCards I guess it's better than nothing but I personally would not pay a premium for a fellow human being/self proclaimed expert to prevent me from getting scammed. Especially when he messed up on such a huge case - pokemon 1st edition.
Good stuff guys. re this technology... Any engineer type could probably fire up the machine...at that point you just tweak the kVp and mAs (the two main parameters for radiation dose and image quality) and keep taking pictures until you like what you see. It shouldn't be hard tbh.
There are imaging centers with CT scanners in every other shopping center. People will likely ask the technologist to scan these after hours when the patients are gone or on the weekend. A CT scanner takes up an entire room and you also need the software and display monitors etc etc.
For me, I am just re-entering the hobby after being absent for 30 years. Initially,I came back into it VERY skeptical because I was starting ALL OVER after just having my entire childhood collection of Bo Jackson cards stolen. I wasn't so much concerned over the value of the cards as I was the loss of SO MANY memories!!! I came back into the hobby, not thinking so much about the overall cost of ripping packs. Recently though I have started to do my homework by watching all the content I can about the hobby and opening packs as fun as it is, it just doesn't from a financial standpoint make sense. So I am pivoting now to off-load the stuff I do have and try to make what $$$ I can back and then solely focus on my PC. I am deciding to do this because of the manipulation of this hobby. This is the world we live however. It SUCKS!!!
@@ScottieP11 Chris here - I’m so sorry about your Bo Jacksons. He was one of the best, most fun players to collect in the late 1980’s. The good(ish) news is you can probably re-acquire them all for less than you had hoped they would be worth today. The 1987 Classic Auburn Football/baseball card is one of my all time favorite cards. I also want it say that your new strategy is 100% spot on. Yes. I miss ripping boxes and packs but I don’t miss the shit results. It’s just so much more cost effective to buy the cards I want. Thanks for watching and commenting! Good luck with your PC! Who do you collect mostly?
As long as no one is scanning Topps Flagship Hangers, it won't affect me, lol. People will always try to game the system, hopefully Topps/Panini take it seriously and research if it is truly a problem and act accordingly if so for future products. Maybe lead lined cases for Flawless and NT to fight off scanners and Superman.
@@mnplumberman I think there’s something fishy about PSA pulling a Ohtani rc auto cracked ice at the National with the Backer from the Blez channel and then proceeded to graded it a psa 10 and gave it a 30, 40k evaluation I believe they’ve know about this scan stuff and used a local friends medical equipment cause there rich and saw it and brought it to the National …. The hobby is a monarchy
I would say one “potential” positive would be if you like to buy sealed wax or vintage TCGs, it can prevent scams. Like when Logan Paul bought the sealed 1999 Pokémon booster box but was filled with GI Joe Packs. If ran through the scanner would of easily caught that those are not Pokémon packs. But of course, like you highlighted people will take advantage of the tech and scan for the hits. Definitely a lot more negatives than positives.
Sucks. I love buying and holding sealed wax. Just the rush of having it, its sealed, its paid for, and could be dealt if need be or just rip. Options are endless.
I'm sure the card companies will eventually tamper proof their packs from scanning. As for the ones that have been holding onto modern sealed wax with 1/1s us collectors want...start ripping that stuff.
@@KrakenHunterCards No chance. The beauty is the fact it remains sealed. I'll keep my 800 plus boxes sealed . I will sell at some point If a high number 52 Topps box were found, it would fetch more than a Mantle PSA 10. None completely sealed are known to exist
Can you get this message to Tpott? We need him investigating Backyard breaks hitting 26 downtowns in one case break! Wanna talk about loaded cases! The odds are impossible for this to happen! The hobby is in a dark place.
Why wouldn't Breakers buy a ton of product scan them keep the best hits for themselves or their buddies and then sell the extra stuff to the regulars...
Here's a better idea, still auction the hot box spots off with your buddies bidding as high as possible to win. Now when folks overpay for the spots in a booboo box they feel like they got a deal. 😉
Scanner will not ruin the Hobby. Breakers and Fanatics raising prices and giving less HAS already ruined the hobby into a FLIP QUICK GAMBLING GAME. Spare Us the CT Scanning. That is a result of paying to much for Crap cards.
@@paulmouradjian6045 Chris here - you’re right about the box prices. Nobody should be dropping $200 for a hobby box of 2024 topps chrome. It seems insane!
That's a great idea! I'm totally going to send my Pokemon sealed box just so I can get my re-sealed box back only after having a few same pack replacements because it just so happens they found the chase card inside my box but now it's not my find - it's theres 😢 & the best part of this service is that they'll even charge you for being that dumb 😂
I work in Biotech and pretty much everything we use is sterilized, some by Gamma Irradiation. There is a sticker on the inner bag that turns a certain color to prove it was Gamma Irradiated and it is sterilized. I can see Companies that applying a sticker that turns a certain color if it was exposed to CT radiation (X-Rays). It would have to be inside the box or not be readily available to 'replace.'
@SpitballinCards the same kind of foil that they are using this to find. What wasn't mentioned anywhere is the fact that it's only picking up what that first top card would bs. It's not seeing more than 1 card in a stack.
All the manufacturers need to do is to incorporate cellophane on the boxes and foil on the packs which "expose" when they come into contact with X-Rays, problem solved. They haven't and even today, Topps has a new release that is not available to the public even if you order it immediately upon it loading up on their website. I could get the product in my cart but before I could click to check out the item was out of stock. Every distributor got their full order and now we have boxes going for twice the original cost or more on the exact same day... because Topps understands the joy of collecting.... What a joke. I don't want to buy a box for twice the cost and especially not since they have all likely been scanned. If Topps really wanted the collectors to actually enjoy of collecting Topps would put collectors first. This could easily be done by having a simple raffle, limit the # of boxes an individual can buy and to broadcast the raffle online for all to view but Topps has no interest in the collector. Topps wants to reward it's buddies and make every collector pay for their buddies to earn. Everybody should stop buying any new product until they put the collector first. Clearly Topps has garbage at the top and garbage is what we get. "Joy of collecting"... more like the Joy of Greed. I can't wait for this industry to die and for a honest company to resurrect it because it sure doesn't seem like Fanatics will be making any actual improvements, just more garbage.
@@SpitballinCards I am less concerned about a box costing $200 but rather when they cater to people who only buy the $200 to flip it immediately for more (I stop going to these shops... so I don't go to any). If the product is in so much demand that it instantly sells out then the distributors/shops/flippers should have equal chances as the collectors. A 2025 boycott of all licensed product and anybody who buys it (shops, breakers, etc.) would do the trick but I don't expect people to have the fortitude to pull this off. They need to be Bud Lighted but worse. The collectors could make the Topps/License purchases a huge loss for a billionaire. Until the CT scanning issue and putting collectors on an equal footing no one should buy any product IMO. Boycott 2025!
@@SS-pc6dg a boycott is an interesting idea but also likely impossible. There are too many card addicts (myself included) who would probably go insane if nobody was ripping anything! But you’re right - the only way anything from Fanatics changes, is if they get hit in the wallet.
@@SpitballinCards Rip Pokemon... hahhaa. The distributors get product at a discount and the shops get product from the distributor at less of a discount. The shops then inflate the price to "market value" and this can be 2-10x the original retail price "available" from Topps/etc. directly. The shops are a major source of the problem but so are the people who patronize them. This can easily be fixed in a number of ways and the easiest would be to resolve it directly from Topps/etc. but thus far they have taken no action. Either collectors boycott any shop who inflates the cost of a new product (say within a 12 month timeframe and then the shops may charge market value) to any price above the original retail price Topps offered to the public and/or Topps dictates the sale price distributors and shop owners may charge (the original retail price offered by Topps) for a period of time (12 months seems reasonable) or they get no future product. What Fanatics has done is a clear-cut monopoly and it should be addressed just as Microsoft etc. were years ago. Also, my method of protecting wax from CT Scanning throws a huge wrench in shipping as most cargo is checked multiple times to insure nothing nefarious is in the containers (especially international shipping) and these methods are one in the same as what we are trying to stop. Fanatics could cause a golden era for cards if they made the hobby more friendly, transparent, accessible and fun but it looks like greed and naive thinking will kill the market in short order. Say some desirable product comes out, everybody interested in buying the product enters the raffle and the raffle is held live on YT or some other platform? It would add another layer of excitement to the hobby which collectors are already addicted to (ultimately it is the gambling itch people are addicted to). I know I am critical but I am only critical if I have a better way/solution to the issue. If you you are critical and don't have any proposed answers/solutions, I consider it b!tching.
i dont trust pre recorded box openings. say a sh!t eater opens the box and pulls a huge hit. what stops them from stopping the video and starting over with another box. its like being able to preview every box you have and decide weather you want to keep it or not.
This is a easy fix all they got to do is put one of them covers they have you use when you go under an X-ray machine at the hospital. Take a piece & wrap the packs up in it???
Me putting my favorite base cards in magnetic holders while the rest of the world pre-scan boxes for hits 😢 when I was a kid I couldn't afford the expensive cards and now that I'm old I still can't 😅
Have been waiting for this episode since news started breaking. Feel almost crushed for @Philmington when he talks about the potential demise of his RC pack business. If I was back home I'd offer to take him to the Nines and get him wicked ripped on some Sammys 🍻🍻🍻. (The chain of 99 Pubs still exists, yeah? 🤣)
My 2018 update boxes 😢 I still have faith! No way every other person is gonna own a CT scanner 😂 don’t think it’s really even worth it unless it’s older or way expensive stuff
@@SpitballinCards 100% I can see the downfall b4 the upraise tbh! But it’s just better for people like me trying to collect my PC but it’s always nice to see your cards go up then down or sealed stuff! But I remember two 2-3 years ago when I first came back I couldn’t buy a Soto a wanted but now I can 😂
This really is a very old topic... and I'm surprised it's just now being talked about. I remember many years ago someone found some unopened tobacco/cigarette packages in a house or barn... and was having an X-ray machine check to see if it contained a tobacco card or not.... and I was like worried then about what it could mean for collectors.... fast forward 20/30 years, and here we are.
They have stickers that can detect radiation..maybe they could put a sticker on boxes that would show if they've been scanned or tampered with..no sticker ..no sales
Might destroy the value of keeping wax unopened . Have to assume anything older than a few months old is "leftover". Only buy to open now. Last year's product contains nothing but duds.
Also, how in God’s good & eternal name did no one mention how at risk 2021 Bowman Chrome Sapphire wax is now?! There are Jarred Kelenic’s out there that are so gorgeous, valuable and sought after that they can damn near bring a ceasefire to Gaza, and now dbags can potentially rob the world of the opportunity to pull them. Kids in this hobby will be worse off because of this CT scanner nonsense, not to mention a potential last peace in the Middle East ffs 😫
@pocketfullgold I know you know that all that matters 😆 let the sheep 🐑 waste their money whats the old saying? A fool and his money are easily parted! If they ever read the description, it says either used or repacked. That's why there is always the same garbage 🗑
So, I’m gonna say that these mini scanners are the only thing that might be practical to use. The price of CT tubes are not cheap by any means. Even portable units are probably $80k + and then require proper alignment after installation. Units in a hospital are most likely inaccessible to all but the trained personnel who have limited access. You just don’t walk into a radiology dept and ask a friend to scan a case of cards. The product would most certainly be too thick and dense to get a decent result. Packs and boxes may get results, but reading 1,000 slices all takes a trained eye.The rad tech would get fired if caught using any of this equipment for personal use. The Medical Device Act would also make it difficult to buy anything new for non medical use, possible, but costly. Now our cards in this hobby are gonna be more costly to purchase.
Like all scandals, it usually goes back way before being found out. This could have been happening for a decade who knows. You are talking about potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, no way someone just figured this out
The solution is already in place with Aluminum Boxes with Promotional Advertising Cards and Decoy Cards. CT and MRI Technology can always be countered with Metal. Panini, Topps and Upper Deck already package Aluminum Boxes (Cheaper than Tin or Steel). 🤓🌎
For the majority anything Chrome is out reach now Topps upped prices and NBA NFL prizim has been for a while. Only wax affordable to many is the ones without any value to collect 😑
@@NinjaSquirrel30 you never know which boxes could be worth the most 20 years from now! But you’re right, current wax prices are just ridiculous. Chris here - and I laughed when I saw the topps chrome prices. Just lunacy.
It’s such a shame I feel like a lot of the wrong people got into the hobby during covid. first it was the crazy resellers on eBay buying up all the retail during Covid and upcharging 10x on the boxes and now we have these guys using CT scanners to go through boxes.
About the statistically impossible amount of 1/1 cards being opened. I'd say that they were sent loaded boxes because they wanted those cards in circulation and not unopened or in some old dudes sock drawer for decades. The 1/1 they definitely want those out and on ebay asap.
@@caolanhogeweide6555 Chris here - I understand your reaction but I’d topps was caught doing this, it could potentially be the end for them. In all seriousness. So I just don’t see the reward outweighing the risk for them. It’s a much better story for topps to have regular people pull the cards. Just my thoughts. Thanks for watching!
No chance, none. Why would they give two shits about them being on eBay? They get zero of that money once they’re out of the pack. If anything you’d think they’d want to withhold them to keep people buying wax. Which is where they’d make money. Though this also will not happen because it’d be stupid to do so. Gotta give up on some of the conspiracies here.
@@jacobfain6504 Chris here - I am NOT a fan. I don’t understand it. Braves are paying Soler $28mil through 2026. But ozuna has a team option for next year and Acuna, Harris, and Kelenic are all locked in for 4 more years. I don’t understand the thinking. And I’ll always love Matzek. Hopefully I’m wrong.
It should be assumed that all boxes that can be acamned, have been scanned. The value of these sealed boxes are already down and will continue to decline in price.
It's dismal. This news won't impact me much because I vowed not to break anymore wax 4 weeks ago after getting trashed on a hobby box of Donruss soccer and a box of 2023 Bowman Draft. In fact from my last 5K spent breaking sealed wax the best card might be worth $50. I've put most of it down to high print runs and shocking roi's but you have to wonder.
@@1stBowman Chris here - sounds like you’re joining us singles hunters. I just can’t handle the roi on boxes and breaks. Too much of a gamble. If I need that thrill, I’ll buy a raw card off eBay!
@@SpitballinCards Yeah I'm done....hopefully. I don't get the same enjoyment from singles but opening has become a downer as well as a complete waste of money. We'll see.
@@1stBowman there is something satisfying about hunting down the specific card you need and buying it. Especially when you get it for less than the cost of a box!
Without CT, why would you still the EV on breaks is really bad. Your cost to reward is low. The odds are so bad. Many basic autos are like 1:11, but there's 100-300 players. That's 1:1100-3300. If a pack was $5, The best base auto would have to be worth $5500-16,500 min. Not even the best players are. Not many packs are even close to $5.
nothing I have is scanned. lol or will ever be scanned by me. many people exist like me and some have not even still heared of scanning that own sealed products. go by someone's trustworthiness and don't buy from shady people
It's just one more thing to add to the list. Money is driving the ingenuity of scammers and criminals in the hobby. It will only get worse. Big money no repercussions.
If you really want to know what is in every box or pack is to use a MRI machine. It can see layer by layer and see things in more detail than a CT scanner can. You are welcome.
Corrections: The person who bought and fixed up a used CT scanner and Industrial Inspections, the business offering this as a service, are two different entities. Apologies.
I still do not think you have the facts correct still, you really need to give a more succinct clarification.
@@cardprofessor7 indeed
I'm like Dr. Phil.... I stay away from loose packs and loose women..... bravo fella's for opening the eyes up to this issue.
@@simondaughtry4619 we all try to be like Phil!
Depends how much bourbon I've had.
Well-said. Phil is our North Star...
@@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin Peter North?
@@Bazookatom 💯
It is sad that a bunch of ‘grown’ men with too much time & money could take a hobby like sports cards and ruin it so thoroughly.
@@LibertyNickelCollector Chris here - I couldn’t agree more
Really sad. And frustrating.
A bunch of greedy grown men.
@@1stBowman 💯🤬🤬
Manufacturers need to do better.
Interesting topic. I returned to the hobby a year ago after almost 3 decades on the sidelines. Who knew I’d learn about “what is a parallel?” and radiology? The integrity of 1987 Fleer Rak Paks seem safe…for now.
Chris here - HAHAHA!!
I miss the simple days of trying to see what cards were in 1989 Donruss Rack Packs and my mom telling me not to cheat. It's all come a long, long way!!
As someone that does CT and radiography for research, I am not shocked by this, but I think it's use is limited. As long as the system can provide the image resolution it would be possible. For scanning sealed boxes/cases/packs, I would have a number of questions on how the system acquires the image and how the image is reconstructed as I have not seen as many images I would need to determine if I can ultimately discern what the card is within a stack of cards (outside of gross features where you can distinguish a logoman vs other cards, for example). I would be really sceptical if the system is a standard CT, but micro-CT would be possible (and more expensive). Operation of the x-ray systems is highly regulated at the state and/or federal level, and that will also limit access and limit how cheap it can eventually get.
What these folks have shown so far tells me it can work and scans of individual cards is possible, but a large stack of cards in a box will not really work outsides of some gross shapes (which still would have potential value). And the person saying the card has to be flat tells me they do not understand the image reconstruction process at all and how to correct for curved surfaces.
Also, please don't ask ChapGPT about radiography - those answers were imbecile.
On the 2018 Bowman case - I wouldn't worry based on what I have seen so far.
I was thinking the same thing. If the card was amongst other cards, it would be difficult…
With that said, i find a scan more probable than some breakers hitting repeatedly, but i also don’t believe in the magic bullet theory and still wonder what happened in Vegas…
@@TheProfessorsDugout Chris here - thanks for this perspective. Glad to hear from someone who has experience in the field.
This whole thing is so concerning and frustrating and sad.
Couldn't they just put a fake card on top of every pack, that's basically just an ad card, displaying an image of a possible hit in that product? Wouldn't that make it impossible to know if that's a real hit, and not just an ad card. If they CT scan reveals a hit in every case/pack it would be pointless to use.
@@spacemoose4726 that’s an interesting idea. I think what we’ve heard is that you can see each card at messy in some detail.
Pretty sad if this CT scanner thing becomes prevalent in the hobby. Kills wax holds. Another excellent video boys thanks
Chris here - I think what were wondering is if it already is among some bug auction houses and resellers, but only not just coming to our attention.
You're right though. And it has wax collectors like Phil and Jeff very concerned, bordering on freaked out.
Jeff here: as someone who likes sealed wax, this is tough news. Thanks for watching!
I have a ton of wax. This is disturbing news but I will say this affects hobby boxes far more than retail I'd say. Hobby usually has the bigger hits and more autos etc. The manufacturers need to take steps to prevent this in the future from occuring somehow.
Yeah this is scary news for us folks who like sealed wax.
Chris here - agreed.
This is just such disheartening news.
Phil, I know it may be tough but not just you but others like you have earned the trust. It may be a different issue in the future from where we all get wax from.
Great show and discussion gents
Thanks for watching! Good point about Phil having built extensive trust with his customers.
Absolutely sucks for the good guys which is why it's important to nail the bad ones and/or fix the system. I can't see it affecting Philmington either but what about other legit folks who have yet to build a reputation as good as Philmington has? They get tarred. Hobby shops who rely heavily on sealed wax may be impacted to various degrees. This is really shit news.
@@1stBowman exactly right! Suspicion will be everywhere. Almost everywhere.
A friend of mine was a CT scanner repairman for a major CT scanner maker. I am pretty sure he would have been able to fix most broken CT scanners. This is why I don't by wax or open packs.
Chris here - yeah, my concern on this issue is growing by the day.
This is tough to hear (But as always a top notch video guys!). I do not purchase or sell super high end product but do worry about other fallout this could cause. If companies alter the packaging, they will have to do so in a way where boxes and cases are postal shipping friendly.
I also collect hockey and worry about all the sealed ‘23-24 Upper Deck Product with Connor Bedard cards; definitely will not be purchasing anything on that end now. Love the comment Chris about 1990-91 score with the Jagr rookie, that may end up being the only non blaster type box that I open going forward. Let’s see where this goes, it will be interesting …
Appreciate the watch, sad this video had to be such a downer. Just wanted to make sure everyone is aware.
@@Briguycollectables Chris here - you’re right! Finding those Bedards would definitely be where the time and effort.
I love that score set. Ripping a box is so much nostalgia, it’s almost overwhelming.
@@SpitballinCards For me, that same year brought my all-time favourite set - The inaugural Upper Deck Hockey offering. I am still blown away when looking at those cards. I was in University at the time and if I was able to scrounge $5 for a pack of Upper Deck and another five for a beer at the school pub (Which like all the other poor students, I would nurse all night long) that was a success!
@@Briguycollectables I remember her upper deck set too! Who was the biggest rookie that year? Bure? Lidstrom?
Maybe there is some sort of material, even a small as a stamp, that could change in a certain type of way IF it’s exposed to that type of scanner, thus indicating it has been scanned
ooh, I like that idea. I wonder...
@@hipdave1427 Chris here - love this idea!!
ct scanners use xrays but then again we are exposed to radiation every day so it would be interesting to see how they modify dose necessary to set off the "stamp"
@@frankgeyer6715 If there's a way to game the system, you know someone will figure it out.
@@SpitballinCards 100% I was just thinking theoretically. if the card companies take a stance against this they could line their newer packaging with composite materials that we use in radiation shielding. combining it with certain patterns could inhibit accurate views of products
It’s actually terrible for old wax. PMG’s have foil numbering, I wanna say superfractors do too. On a similar note, I own a CT scanner if you guys wanna come by and see how this works
Yeah anything from the 90s on is fair game for finding specific cards. Have you tried the CT scanner for anything similar? It is hard to use for cards? A lot of calibrating?
@@dr.gaberosenthal5319 yep, exactly. How can we buy any older wax without assuming someone has scanned it now??
Great video. Makes me think vintage wax will go up in value. Since it was done prior to serial numbers etc. thoughts?
Interesting point. I think that old wax, say pre 1980 is already pretty pricey, but I wonder if it gets an even bigger boost. Thanks for watching.
@@cscottriffle Chris here - you don’t think it can be scanned hunting for Mantles and Ryans??
@@SpitballinCardsno it cannot sir. Fellow wax collector with access to a scanner.
@@andrewhead523 interesting - glad to hear it
Appreciate the discussion. I have a good amount of old sealed wax including things like 2009 topps sterling baseball. Definitely has me worried if I want to sell in the future.
Jeff here: sorry man, crappy news for guys with wax. Thanks for watching and let us know what you decide to do with your bigger wax…
@@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin my plan was just to keep all of it, but certainly have future value in mind. Unfortunate. 😔
@@Forthefunofthehobby Chris here - yeah exactly. What assurances can I buyer have that the box wasn’t scanned. It’s really sad to think about.
We need to see a demonstration of this on UA-cam. I can see how CT scan can reveal a hit in a single pack but im not buying that the hit can be seen in a unsealed hobby box. If you are scanning a hobby or jumbo box, the hit pack is usually located in the middle of the box so how can you identify the hit if it is buried between several packs? I guess the most vulnerable products are probably high end where there are only a few packs per box. I can see this hurting ebay sales of single hobby boxes. All the more reason to support your local hobby shop, at least there is some comfort knowing they buy directly from the mfg. Its a good thing the CT scanning story is out there because it should force the card makers to start putting in measures to prevent it.
Chris here - I'm sure we'll see images online soon. I think a video was advertised to hit UA-cam on Sunday.
As far as you LCS - you trust them? Any chance they have a scanner and are only selling the boxes they already know don't have big cards??
Excellent point by poster. If you believe for one second LCS’ will not employ this tactic, you’re not seeing the forest through the trees. They are about making money first and foremost. Here’s how they’ll do it: they will scan for hits, extract the hit and sell those in their showcases. Then, the boxes that don’t have hits will be the ones they either sell to customers and/or use for single pack sales. Maybe not every one of them because of the cost of having a CT scanner but it will 100% happen.
I miss turkey red and Cracker Jack sets. Topps needs to do those in chrome
If we're getting Cactus Jack sets, I don't know why Fanatics would say no to Cracker Jack!
Yup I’m DONE buying wax or any sealed product NO breaks etc everyone would be best served to stop as well
Sadly, this is tough to argue against.
The prices for a box are what's killing the hobby.
100% totally agree! Just buy the card you want!
realistically they wouldn't need to line the packs in lead specifically. most modern "lead" aprons are not actually lead but a composite material to protect employees from radiation doses. I imagine it would still add some level of cost to packs in general though.
Chris here - surely Topps will come up with something and then Fanatics will charge us all to hell and back.
I see that the end is near for buying packs from retail, LCS and subscription boxes! Prices of the single cards WILL drop with less trading going around plus one's unopened boxes would be nested in their storage bins for many more years to come
@@MikelineTV Chris here - news like this isn’t good for any part of the hobby, sadly.
BANN IT!!! If you see it done,at your local retailers, call security right away!
@@CORE1.8MINISTERIES Chris here - nobody will be doing this in public! Well behind closed doors
I’m worried about purchasing a case from an online dealer. Do you guys think it’s possible to crack open a case, scan the boxes, keep what’s good, replace with a crappy box, and repackage?
@@Wolf-rc1tf Chris here - I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible?
Sadly.
Great episode and people suck. Also glad no Paul Goldschmidt. Hopefully Scottie picked up some Halloween houses instead of Goldy
😂Thanks for watching! We’ll surely get the update when Scott gets back 🎃
@@timmccray7507 Chris here
Goldschmidt > Halloween houses
For a number of reasons - some regulatory and some not - CT scanners will likely stay expensive for a long time to come.
@@rzaakir Chris here - looks like around $2k on eBay. I think.
@@SpitballinCards I'm pretty sure if you see something for 2k it's a part of a scanner or a scanner for parts.
@@rzaakir So I shouldnt buy it??
Haha I kid.
Thanks!
Short answer "no", long answer "no"
@@Pilts82 one has a “but,” and the other has an “if.”
It may have to get to the point of no more retail, no more breakers, card shops only carry singles, no product. All breaks will be done by fanatics live, and when you buy a box it's randomized and broken live, and cards sent to the purchaser, no more unopened boxes going out the door
@@meliachapman7162 Chris here - I sincerely hope NOT!
"Pandora’s box is open. If some people have access to this technology, you should too." pretty much sums it up.
@@LouSassole-fv8tq Chris here - I hate these hobby manipulations. It was supposed to be simple. But nothing is.
@@SpitballinCards i'd be curious to go down the rabbit hole and see if the industrial inspection domain/owner can be traced to fanatics some how some way.
@@LouSassole-fv8tq Interesting. Let us know what you come up with...
Looks like it’s time to rip some packs. In the case of the 18 bowman, could you hypothetically tell there was a Shohei auto or just the color of the parallels?
$300K rip party 🎉
@@Philmington I’ll bring the homemade gauc and sangria
@@FreddyFind I’ll bring bourbon!
Manufacturers are going to end up putting metal strips in boxes. They might end up doing that.
@@controversialcardchannel you mean Topps?! Yeah they will have to do something.
But it’s too late for older stuff.
It's actually fraud and it's punishable by a felony and at that box.Travel across state lines.We're gonna hit him with a rico act , so you warn him. Kids don't like to see their daddy being handcuffed while they're all laying on the floor. With their hands-on their head and their legs cross face down on the floor and they take the phones and they don't get them back.@SpitballinCards
This is a fantastic hobby I just got back into 2 months ago. Thieves always will try. Measures will be taken.
Chris here - I'm glad you're loving the hobby! Me too! You're right, scammers will always look for something. Hopefully Topps can add protection to their packaging.
I think wax might be dead to me. I just can't justify the cost/value that Fanatics is offering. Bummed because I was looking forward to ripping some chrome and finest. But, the increased checklists, increased prices and decreased value just makes it a no for me. And, with the proliferation of breakers, Fanatics won't see any reason to change until we start to see a drop in demand for breaks and their bottom line becomes affected. Great video, guys. Keep 'em coming!
@@greatscott526 Chris here - I’m right there with you. Can’t justify the cost.
I’m hoping stadium club will remain affordable. Or at least reasonable. That’s always a fun rip!
The backdoor(yard) break just hit a multiple downtown in just one case of Optic lol
@@waynohasleftthebox947 Chris here - not shocking. I trust topps more than panini but maybe that’s wishful thinking.
Good Subject to bring out,could the Card Companies who make Millions of Dollars, Philmigton took the words out of my mouth, with Protective Film on the inside of the Boxes.
@@baseballbrownie2317 hopefully fanatics will start doing something to block the imaging.
Even if it - gasp - costs them a little money!
I would pay to watch Chris attempt to use a CT scanner
😂
@@RatedRookie Chris here - just kiss my sperm count goodbye!
This makes me sick on every level. But retail boxes $30-$100 proably won't be affected... if they have much of anything anyway.
@@markinnes4264 Chris here - good point. Sadly.
I’ve always thought at least in todays era that there’s no way topps or panini wants a 1/1 or top rookie case hit to be pulled by a random person with no social media and not posted about or shown being pulled. To what exten they’d go if any idk but I also wonder if they do make and send loaded boxes out but don’t even tell the influencer/breaker so they can honestly say they don’t receive them
Chris here - It seems to me that the negative hit from a plan like this being discovered and made public knowledge would FAR FAR FAR outweigh any benefit.
I could be wrong though
Ebay has been flooded with listings of dynasy sealed boxes this week I guess this is why
@@rickyboyd5315 Chris here - yeah I’d stay the hell away. How will ever know which were scanned already??
@@SpitballinCards Or resealed. I think the resealing is a bigger issue than people think. Low risk, high reward.
@@1stBowman Chris here - and I don’t trust the BBCE wrapping at all.
@@SpitballinCards I guess it's better than nothing but I personally would not pay a premium for a fellow human being/self proclaimed expert to prevent me from getting scammed. Especially when he messed up on such a huge case - pokemon 1st edition.
@@1stBowman Chris here - agreed. That company lost all credibility as far as I’m concerned.
Good stuff guys. re this technology... Any engineer type could probably fire up the machine...at that point you just tweak the kVp and mAs (the two main parameters for radiation dose and image quality) and keep taking pictures until you like what you see. It shouldn't be hard tbh.
Hey man, Chris here - yeah i think you're right. We're just hearing about this so it must have been going on FOR YEARS
Crazy man the hobby is getting crazy
@@luckypetercardcollector Chris here - it’s getting absolutely nuts.
Manipulation after manipulation
There are imaging centers with CT scanners in every other shopping center. People will likely ask the technologist to scan these after hours when the patients are gone or on the weekend. A CT scanner takes up an entire room and you also need the software and display monitors etc etc.
Doesn't "repacking" involve pulling the best cards and repackaging the rest?
@@cryptonite8495 Chris here - I think that description is pretty accurate
So you're saying, "Never buy wax from a dentist".?.?.?
Chris here - if that situation every presents itself, I would pass.
For me, I am just re-entering the hobby after being absent for 30 years. Initially,I came back into it VERY skeptical because I was starting ALL OVER after just having my entire childhood collection of Bo Jackson cards stolen. I wasn't so much concerned over the value of the cards as I was the loss of SO MANY memories!!! I came back into the hobby, not thinking so much about the overall cost of ripping packs. Recently though I have started to do my homework by watching all the content I can about the hobby and opening packs as fun as it is, it just doesn't from a financial standpoint make sense. So I am pivoting now to off-load the stuff I do have and try to make what $$$ I can back and then solely focus on my PC. I am deciding to do this because of the manipulation of this hobby. This is the world we live however. It SUCKS!!!
@@ScottieP11 Chris here - I’m so sorry about your Bo Jacksons. He was one of the best, most fun players to collect in the late 1980’s. The good(ish) news is you can probably re-acquire them all for less than you had hoped they would be worth today.
The 1987 Classic Auburn Football/baseball card is one of my all time favorite cards.
I also want it say that your new strategy is 100% spot on. Yes.
I miss ripping boxes and packs but I don’t miss the shit results. It’s just so much more cost effective to buy the cards I want.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Good luck with your PC! Who do you collect mostly?
As long as no one is scanning Topps Flagship Hangers, it won't affect me, lol.
People will always try to game the system, hopefully Topps/Panini take it seriously and research if it is truly a problem and act accordingly if so for future products.
Maybe lead lined cases for Flawless and NT to fight off scanners and Superman.
We need some Kryptonite for cards!
@@mnplumberman Chris here - my stadium club rips are also probably safe.
Not worth scanning to see a couple Jonah Bride autos.
@@SpitballinCardstake the sealed product in and find the best hits in the whole case leave y’all with nuthing
@@beauhowlett that’s the concern, right??
@@mnplumberman I think there’s something fishy about PSA pulling a Ohtani rc auto cracked ice at the National with the Backer from the Blez channel and then proceeded to graded it a psa 10 and gave it a 30, 40k evaluation I believe they’ve know about this scan stuff and used a local friends medical equipment cause there rich and saw it and brought it to the National …. The hobby is a monarchy
This gives all new meaning to the notion of "providing more transparency." So....rip it all!?
Jeff here: Yeah, that's taking it verrrry literally! Might be time to rip my stash...
@@PeepsWaxPacks Oof, it does indeed!
I would say one “potential” positive would be if you like to buy sealed wax or vintage TCGs, it can prevent scams.
Like when Logan Paul bought the sealed 1999 Pokémon booster box but was filled with GI Joe Packs. If ran through the scanner would of easily caught that those are not Pokémon packs. But of course, like you highlighted people will take advantage of the tech and scan for the hits. Definitely a lot more negatives than positives.
@@Moon3PO Chris here - it’s insane that happened!
I guess it could work for that. But the issue you mentioned is the greater concern.
i would outline the inside of the case boxes with small thin sheets of led. Not the packs or hobby boxes.
@@thomasb6169 Chris here - oh man. Hopefully there’s a non-toxic solution
Goldin used a scanner in their show to verify iPhones. Another great show gentlemen!!
Oh really!? Wonder how much they’ve used it on cards 🤔 Thanks for watching and commenting
@@JR-OLR that’s really interesting.
Chris here - I wonder if they’ll take that episode down. Certainly there’s an implication…
Sucks. I love buying and holding sealed wax. Just the rush of having it, its sealed, its paid for, and could be dealt if need be or just rip. Options are endless.
Jeff here: right there with you. This news is a kick in the stomach.
I'm sure the card companies will eventually tamper proof their packs from scanning. As for the ones that have been holding onto modern sealed wax with 1/1s us collectors want...start ripping that stuff.
@@KrakenHunterCards Chris here - I’d love to see some older boxes get ripped??
@@KrakenHunterCards No chance. The beauty is the fact it remains sealed. I'll keep my 800 plus boxes sealed . I will sell at some point If a high number 52 Topps box were found, it would fetch more than a Mantle PSA 10. None completely sealed are known to exist
So we will know what packs have the elusive very hard to find future hall of famers of closers?? That would be worth investing in if so.
Lolol
🤣
@@HarperBomb 😂😂
👏👏
Can you get this message to Tpott? We need him investigating Backyard breaks hitting 26 downtowns in one case break! Wanna talk about loaded cases! The odds are impossible for this to happen! The hobby is in a dark place.
@@jeffreyfarmer9173 Chris here - I’ll send Tpot to your comment.
That break sounds gross. Like they’re not even hiding it?!
Why wouldn't Breakers buy a ton of product scan them keep the best hits for themselves or their buddies and then sell the extra stuff to the regulars...
@@lastcalll2291 Chris here - exactly. This is exactly what May start happening or may already be happening some places. We don’t know.
They will
A very real possibility. Sadly.
Here's a better idea, still auction the hot box spots off with your buddies bidding as high as possible to win. Now when folks overpay for the spots in a booboo box they feel like they got a deal. 😉
Scanner will not ruin the Hobby. Breakers and Fanatics raising prices and giving less HAS already ruined the hobby into a FLIP QUICK GAMBLING GAME.
Spare Us the CT Scanning. That is a result of paying to much for Crap cards.
@@paulmouradjian6045 Chris here - you’re right about the box prices. Nobody should be dropping $200 for a hobby box of 2024 topps chrome. It seems insane!
For Topps chrome update to find the 1st RC auto patch it’s crazy.
yeah that would be a huge find!
@@fliplife67 yep - finding the Skenes Debut Patch Auto would definitely pay off. Hugely
Bonkers.......gotta give it to who ever thought of this tho, straight nutty
@@Wicky952 💯💯💯
That's a great idea! I'm totally going to send my Pokemon sealed box just so I can get my re-sealed box back only after having a few same pack replacements because it just so happens they found the chase card inside my box but now it's not my find - it's theres 😢 & the best part of this service is that they'll even charge you for being that dumb 😂
Chris - right? Can you imagine letting your box out of your hands and leaving it with people like this??
My question is who will be the first to have a promo code for a pack scanning service? Haha
Good question!
If people can’t trust it, they won’t buy it and the hobby will suffer
@@andrewb8017 yes indeed. The hobby will suffer
I work in Biotech and pretty much everything we use is sterilized, some by Gamma Irradiation.
There is a sticker on the inner bag that turns a certain color to prove it was Gamma Irradiated and it is sterilized.
I can see Companies that applying a sticker that turns a certain color if it was exposed to CT radiation (X-Rays).
It would have to be inside the box or not be readily available to 'replace.'
Makes you think if that bowman box that blez and Psa opened at the national (Ohtani atomic auto was pulled from) was CT scanned.
@@nunzi83 Chris here - can’t help but consider it, right??
Makes you question all of those Big Event openings, right?
For boxes or packs, simply using a foil cover will do it. It'll just show that front cover
@@richardbianco9674 you sure?
What kind of foil?
@SpitballinCards the same kind of foil that they are using this to find. What wasn't mentioned anywhere is the fact that it's only picking up what that first top card would bs. It's not seeing more than 1 card in a stack.
“It’s a circus out here” 🎯
@@blakeknower the hobby manipulations just keep getting worse and worse.
All the manufacturers need to do is to incorporate cellophane on the boxes and foil on the packs which "expose" when they come into contact with X-Rays, problem solved. They haven't and even today, Topps has a new release that is not available to the public even if you order it immediately upon it loading up on their website. I could get the product in my cart but before I could click to check out the item was out of stock. Every distributor got their full order and now we have boxes going for twice the original cost or more on the exact same day... because Topps understands the joy of collecting.... What a joke. I don't want to buy a box for twice the cost and especially not since they have all likely been scanned. If Topps really wanted the collectors to actually enjoy of collecting Topps would put collectors first. This could easily be done by having a simple raffle, limit the # of boxes an individual can buy and to broadcast the raffle online for all to view but Topps has no interest in the collector. Topps wants to reward it's buddies and make every collector pay for their buddies to earn. Everybody should stop buying any new product until they put the collector first. Clearly Topps has garbage at the top and garbage is what we get. "Joy of collecting"... more like the Joy of Greed. I can't wait for this industry to die and for a honest company to resurrect it because it sure doesn't seem like Fanatics will be making any actual improvements, just more garbage.
@@SS-pc6dg Chris here - the greed is definitely a problem. Wax has gotten stupid expensive. Almost $200 for a chrome hobby box with 1 auto?! Insanity.
@@SpitballinCards I am less concerned about a box costing $200 but rather when they cater to people who only buy the $200 to flip it immediately for more (I stop going to these shops... so I don't go to any). If the product is in so much demand that it instantly sells out then the distributors/shops/flippers should have equal chances as the collectors. A 2025 boycott of all licensed product and anybody who buys it (shops, breakers, etc.) would do the trick but I don't expect people to have the fortitude to pull this off. They need to be Bud Lighted but worse. The collectors could make the Topps/License purchases a huge loss for a billionaire. Until the CT scanning issue and putting collectors on an equal footing no one should buy any product IMO. Boycott 2025!
@@SS-pc6dg a boycott is an interesting idea but also likely impossible. There are too many card addicts (myself included) who would probably go insane if nobody was ripping anything!
But you’re right - the only way anything from Fanatics changes, is if they get hit in the wallet.
@@SpitballinCards Rip Pokemon... hahhaa. The distributors get product at a discount and the shops get product from the distributor at less of a discount. The shops then inflate the price to "market value" and this can be 2-10x the original retail price "available" from Topps/etc. directly. The shops are a major source of the problem but so are the people who patronize them. This can easily be fixed in a number of ways and the easiest would be to resolve it directly from Topps/etc. but thus far they have taken no action. Either collectors boycott any shop who inflates the cost of a new product (say within a 12 month timeframe and then the shops may charge market value) to any price above the original retail price Topps offered to the public and/or Topps dictates the sale price distributors and shop owners may charge (the original retail price offered by Topps) for a period of time (12 months seems reasonable) or they get no future product. What Fanatics has done is a clear-cut monopoly and it should be addressed just as Microsoft etc. were years ago. Also, my method of protecting wax from CT Scanning throws a huge wrench in shipping as most cargo is checked multiple times to insure nothing nefarious is in the containers (especially international shipping) and these methods are one in the same as what we are trying to stop. Fanatics could cause a golden era for cards if they made the hobby more friendly, transparent, accessible and fun but it looks like greed and naive thinking will kill the market in short order. Say some desirable product comes out, everybody interested in buying the product enters the raffle and the raffle is held live on YT or some other platform? It would add another layer of excitement to the hobby which collectors are already addicted to (ultimately it is the gambling itch people are addicted to). I know I am critical but I am only critical if I have a better way/solution to the issue. If you you are critical and don't have any proposed answers/solutions, I consider it b!tching.
Don’t buy any packs that are glowing green 😂😂😂
hahahaha - this hobby is heading in a dangerous direction
14:42 walk with a mirror phil, lol. that smile from chris is scary 😂😅
💯
@@forpetesake20 I was chuckling about trying to edit just the line “I will Inevitably die” into a reel or a short.
Maybe….
@@SpitballinCards it was a smile worthy of mister burns' approval
@@forpetesake20 thats high praise!
i dont trust pre recorded box openings. say a sh!t eater opens the box and pulls a huge hit. what stops them from stopping the video and starting over with another box. its like being able to preview every box you have and decide weather you want to keep it or not.
@@forpetesake20 agreed! It’s got to be live!
Live or bust!
This is a easy fix all they got to do is put one of them covers they have you use when you go under an X-ray machine at the hospital. Take a piece & wrap the packs up in it???
Me putting my favorite base cards in magnetic holders while the rest of the world pre-scan boxes for hits 😢 when I was a kid I couldn't afford the expensive cards and now that I'm old I still can't 😅
Not good for sealed wax. Buying singles is and has been the way to go
Have been waiting for this episode since news started breaking. Feel almost crushed for @Philmington when he talks about the potential demise of his RC pack business. If I was back home I'd offer to take him to the Nines and get him wicked ripped on some Sammys 🍻🍻🍻. (The chain of 99 Pubs still exists, yeah? 🤣)
Yeah our guy Philmington definitely gets hit hardest by this news.
I’ll take a $5 gift card to Texas Roadhouse please
My 2018 update boxes 😢 I still have faith! No way every other person is gonna own a CT scanner 😂 don’t think it’s really even worth it unless it’s older or way expensive stuff
Chris here - its just gross. And anytime things like this come out, people walk away from the hobby. And that's a net loss for all of us.
@@SpitballinCards 100% I can see the downfall b4 the upraise tbh! But it’s just better for people like me trying to collect my PC but it’s always nice to see your cards go up then down or sealed stuff! But I remember two 2-3 years ago when I first came back I couldn’t buy a Soto a wanted but now I can 😂
@@hawksprizepicks6570 very true!!
There are definitely more Acunas in my price range now. Though there are several reasons for that unfortunately.
@26:13..... Ok, I thought you were a Dr.....
Hahaha 😂
@@simondaughtry4619 😂😂😂
I'm planning a Heat level heist on the Rudy vault. Who's coming with?
@@slimthumbtak Chris here - I’m here for any and all HEAT references!
Incredible movie!
I believe it was two different people, one who bought CT and demonstrated and another opportunistic group
I see pinned comment now sorry
@@foundthingsifound Thanks!
Breakers started to ruin the hobby, but this killed it. I’m not buying any boxes anymore, just single cards.
@@TheAirborne82 Chris here - that’s the smartest approach anyway!! 👏👏
Jeff here: sad that it came to this, but I'm right there with you
This really is a very old topic... and I'm surprised it's just now being talked about. I remember many years ago someone found some unopened tobacco/cigarette packages in a house or barn... and was having an X-ray machine check to see if it contained a tobacco card or not.... and I was like worried then about what it could mean for collectors.... fast forward 20/30 years, and here we are.
@@asylum9644 we’re slow to catch up!
No doubt it’s been going on for awhile now.
But it’s finally getting the attention that’s needed.
They have stickers that can detect radiation..maybe they could put a sticker on boxes that would show if they've been scanned or tampered with..no sticker ..no sales
Second time this has come up, love the idea!
@@briansteeler7146 Chris here - I’d love it if they could do this!
Very cool idea. They could possibly integrate it into the branded box wrapping… Like that it would changed color if scanned
Very cool idea. They could possibly integrate it into the branded box wrapping… Like that it would changed color if scanned
At that point, people can still scan packs.
This is why I don’t buy boxes or packs anymore. I only buy singles that I want. I got tired of scammers
@@NikkisCards 👏👏👏
Exactly what we all SHOULD be doing!!
Might destroy the value of keeping wax unopened . Have to assume anything older than a few months old is "leftover". Only buy to open now. Last year's product contains nothing but duds.
sad and frustrating
@@SreyAun-sd1eb exactly the fear right now
Also, how in God’s good & eternal name did no one mention how at risk 2021 Bowman Chrome Sapphire wax is now?! There are Jarred Kelenic’s out there that are so gorgeous, valuable and sought after that they can damn near bring a ceasefire to Gaza, and now dbags can potentially rob the world of the opportunity to pull them. Kids in this hobby will be worse off because of this CT scanner nonsense, not to mention a potential last peace in the Middle East ffs 😫
Very true, and Jazz Chisholm is also trending 😎 🔥
@@theseatownfunkpodcast1332 Chris here - I LOL’ed at this! Thanks for making me laugh about this!
@@Philmington great time to buy chisolm
@@SpitballinCards To SELL Chisholm you mean!
I’ll be shocked if big breakers are not already this or something similar for years. There is too much money in the hobby.
Chris here - this has absolutely been going on for years. Every big hit we've seen at the National now just looks extremely suspicious.
Haven't you ever noticed
Every breaker is a cheat and fraud. Every single one. You are a total fool if you buy into breaks.
@pocketfullgold I know you know that all that matters 😆
let the sheep 🐑 waste their money whats the old saying? A fool and his money are easily parted!
If they ever read the description, it says either used or repacked. That's why there is always the same garbage 🗑
Back yard breaks just opened a case of optic football and hit 26 downtown’s which are traditionally case hits
@@OPTICXPROTOTYPE 🤮🤮🤮🤮
Imagine exposing yourself to radiation for cardboard cards
@@OPTICXPROTOTYPE 😂😂😂😂
No it’s not dead. It is extremely lame that this is a thing now though.
EXTREMELY LAME
So, I’m gonna say that these mini scanners are the only thing that might be practical to use. The price of CT tubes are not cheap by any means. Even portable units are probably $80k + and then require proper alignment after installation. Units in a hospital are most likely inaccessible to all but the trained personnel who have limited access. You just don’t walk into a radiology dept and ask a friend to scan a case of cards. The product would most certainly be too thick and dense to get a decent result. Packs and boxes may get results, but reading 1,000 slices all takes a trained eye.The rad tech would get fired if caught using any of this equipment for personal use. The Medical Device Act would also make it difficult to buy anything new for non medical use, possible, but costly. Now our cards in this hobby are gonna be more costly to purchase.
thanks for watching! Chris here - I can find some used CT scanners on ebay for under $2k. Whether they work or would work, I don't know.
It's gonna destroy the price of unopened especially new products. Vintage cards may not be affected.
@@joshpitts25 Chris here - what about vintage sealed?
If you scan a 52 Topps pack you can probably see the outline of the cards and tell if the mantle/mays/robinson etc is in the pack
@@dylanl3845 yep, I bet you can!
Like all scandals, it usually goes back way before being found out. This could have been happening for a decade who knows. You are talking about potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, no way someone just figured this out
Jeff here: totally agree 🤬
@@tedjerdee1028 Chris here - I think you’re exactly right. People
Have been doing this for along time.
The solution is already in place with Aluminum Boxes with Promotional Advertising Cards and Decoy Cards. CT and MRI Technology can always be countered with Metal. Panini, Topps and Upper Deck already package Aluminum Boxes (Cheaper than Tin or Steel). 🤓🌎
@@gameinformationpokertheory Chris here - yep! There are definitely things Topps/Fanatics can do. Let’s hope they respond!
This is getting really ridiculous and totally blown out of control!
For the majority anything Chrome is out reach now Topps upped prices and NBA NFL prizim has been for a while. Only wax affordable to many is the ones without any value to collect 😑
@@NinjaSquirrel30 you never know which boxes could be worth the most 20 years from now!
But you’re right, current wax prices are just ridiculous. Chris here - and I laughed when I saw the topps chrome prices. Just lunacy.
It’s such a shame I feel like a lot of the wrong people got into the hobby during covid. first it was the crazy resellers on eBay buying up all the retail during Covid and upcharging 10x on the boxes and now we have these guys using CT scanners to go through boxes.
Chris here - yeah its gross. Infuriating.
I wonder if this is how some sellers on ebay sell hotpacks. Some how the know which pack have parallels (not just relics)
@@stevenbetge6538 great question!
Chris here - I assumed they weighed them, but I never really understood.
About the statistically impossible amount of 1/1 cards being opened. I'd say that they were sent loaded boxes because they wanted those cards in circulation and not unopened or in some old dudes sock drawer for decades. The 1/1 they definitely want those out and on ebay asap.
@@caolanhogeweide6555 Chris here - I understand your reaction but I’d topps was caught doing this, it could potentially be the end for them. In all seriousness.
So I just don’t see the reward outweighing the risk for them.
It’s a much better story for topps to have regular people pull the cards.
Just my thoughts.
Thanks for watching!
No chance, none. Why would they give two shits about them being on eBay? They get zero of that money once they’re out of the pack. If anything you’d think they’d want to withhold them to keep people buying wax. Which is where they’d make money. Though this also will not happen because it’d be stupid to do so. Gotta give up on some of the conspiracies here.
As a person who doesn't buy wax to begin with, I for sure will not be buying any wax now.
Sounds like the wisest move. Sadly.
@@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin forgot to mention the Soler/Braves reunion Chris, how do you feel about it!?
@@jacobfain6504 Chris here - I am NOT a fan. I don’t understand it.
Braves are paying Soler $28mil through 2026. But ozuna has a team option for next year and Acuna, Harris, and Kelenic are all locked in for 4 more years.
I don’t understand the thinking. And I’ll always love Matzek.
Hopefully I’m wrong.
@@SpitballinCards Hopefully works out for y'all man. Good luck on rest of season 👊🏼
It should be assumed that all boxes that can be acamned, have been scanned. The value of these sealed boxes are already down and will continue to decline in price.
It's dismal. This news won't impact me much because I vowed not to break anymore wax 4 weeks ago after getting trashed on a hobby box of Donruss soccer and a box of 2023 Bowman Draft. In fact from my last 5K spent breaking sealed wax the best card might be worth $50. I've put most of it down to high print runs and shocking roi's but you have to wonder.
@@1stBowman Chris here - sounds like you’re joining us singles hunters. I just can’t handle the roi on boxes and breaks. Too much of a gamble. If I need that thrill, I’ll buy a raw card off eBay!
@@SpitballinCards Yeah I'm done....hopefully. I don't get the same enjoyment from singles but opening has become a downer as well as a complete waste of money. We'll see.
@@1stBowman there is something satisfying about hunting down the specific card you need and buying it. Especially when you get it for less than the cost of a box!
This year has been bad. Far less value in any box unless you're an influencer
@@GGonmyown Chris here - wax prices up and values are down. Not good
Why would you ever buy into a break ever again?
Good question! But should we assume EVERYTHING has been scanned?? I'm not there yet (Chris, btw)
Without CT, why would you still the EV on breaks is really bad. Your cost to reward is low. The odds are so bad. Many basic autos are like 1:11, but there's 100-300 players. That's 1:1100-3300. If a pack was $5, The best base auto would have to be worth $5500-16,500 min. Not even the best players are. Not many packs are even close to $5.
@@AdamP-n5j Chris here - you're exactly right. Buying boxes at these prices makes ZERO sense. None.
I think the breaks are safe it is in their best interest to have hits. I would be more concerned to buy unopened wax not from the manufacturer
nothing I have is scanned. lol
or will ever be scanned by me.
many people exist like me and some have not even still heared of scanning that own sealed products.
go by someone's trustworthiness and don't buy from shady people
It's just one more thing to add to the list. Money is driving the ingenuity of scammers and criminals in the hobby. It will only get worse. Big money no repercussions.
Chris here - hopefully we can create some repercussions.
But we must let the free market….blah, blah, blah.
@@boko7436 exactly - until the products stop selling, this will continue.
If you really want to know what is in every box or pack is to use a MRI machine. It can see layer by layer and see things in more detail than a CT scanner can. You are welcome.