Above is a 4 box break that we did. Kelly is behind the camera and my fat ass is in front of the camera. Nothing real spectacular was pulled and we will rate the boxes soon.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
4 Box Opening Video
Above is a 4 box break that we did. Kelly is behind the camera and my fat ass is in front of the camera. Nothing real spectacular was pulled and we will rate the boxes soon.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Retro Box Break - 2006 Benchwarmer World Cup Soccer
2006 Benchwarmer World Cup Soccer
24 Packs Per Box
5 Cards Per Pack
120 Cards Per Box
What We Pulled:
Base Set (72 Cards) - 72 100% Set Completion
Duplicates: 37 Cards
18 Rare Hi-Number Cards (Odds 1:3 Packs): (8) Shay Lyn, Carrie Stroup, Katie Lohmann, Costello Twins, Katarina Van Derham, Jaime Bergman, Brande Roderick, Cindy Margolis
30 Autograph Cards (Odds 1:24 Packs): (1) Tiffany Kyees
12 KISS Cards (Odds 1:288 Packs): (0)
12 F/X Foil Racer Cards (Odds 1:12 Packs): (2) Kerri Kasem, Annamarie Lytle
12 Soccer Jersey Swatch Cards (Odds 1:288 Packs): (0)
6 Soccer Ball Piece Cards (Odds 1:2400 Packs): (0)
Our Thoughts:
This was a typical Benchwarmer Product. You get women dressed in bikinis and short shirts stirking suggestive poses. Most of the pictures have the women posing with a soccer ball in this release. There are no stats or anything about the women besides their names on the card. On each card you get a frontal shot and a shot from behind of the model.
When released this box cost between $50 and $80. I thought it was high then and I would really think that it is high now. After a while looking at the bleached blonde models with plastic surgery gets old and that is what I thought after opening half of the box. Benchwarmers needs to spice up their releases and I do have a few suggestions if they are looking at a 2104 World Cup release. It might not spice up looking at the peroxide blondes, but it might give you something else to look forward to. First, get ladies from 8 different countries (5 each) and have them wear the soccer jersey of their nation in the photo shoot. It might bring out a different element in trying to find different cards. Next, I would have full body shots of the models. Enough of cutting the picture at mid thigh. For the background, I would put the flag of their nationality. If you are going to do a World Cup Edition again, it might behoove Benchwarmer to include women from different countries, not the same models that are used year after year from California. Like I said, it might not really change what the cards are, but those ideas might cause the set to appear different to people. if you can find the box for between $10-$20, you might want to pick it up.
Box Value: 2 out of 5.
24 Packs Per Box
5 Cards Per Pack
120 Cards Per Box
What We Pulled:
Base Set (72 Cards) - 72 100% Set Completion
Duplicates: 37 Cards
18 Rare Hi-Number Cards (Odds 1:3 Packs): (8) Shay Lyn, Carrie Stroup, Katie Lohmann, Costello Twins, Katarina Van Derham, Jaime Bergman, Brande Roderick, Cindy Margolis
30 Autograph Cards (Odds 1:24 Packs): (1) Tiffany Kyees
12 KISS Cards (Odds 1:288 Packs): (0)
12 F/X Foil Racer Cards (Odds 1:12 Packs): (2) Kerri Kasem, Annamarie Lytle
12 Soccer Jersey Swatch Cards (Odds 1:288 Packs): (0)
6 Soccer Ball Piece Cards (Odds 1:2400 Packs): (0)
Our Thoughts:
This was a typical Benchwarmer Product. You get women dressed in bikinis and short shirts stirking suggestive poses. Most of the pictures have the women posing with a soccer ball in this release. There are no stats or anything about the women besides their names on the card. On each card you get a frontal shot and a shot from behind of the model.
When released this box cost between $50 and $80. I thought it was high then and I would really think that it is high now. After a while looking at the bleached blonde models with plastic surgery gets old and that is what I thought after opening half of the box. Benchwarmers needs to spice up their releases and I do have a few suggestions if they are looking at a 2104 World Cup release. It might not spice up looking at the peroxide blondes, but it might give you something else to look forward to. First, get ladies from 8 different countries (5 each) and have them wear the soccer jersey of their nation in the photo shoot. It might bring out a different element in trying to find different cards. Next, I would have full body shots of the models. Enough of cutting the picture at mid thigh. For the background, I would put the flag of their nationality. If you are going to do a World Cup Edition again, it might behoove Benchwarmer to include women from different countries, not the same models that are used year after year from California. Like I said, it might not really change what the cards are, but those ideas might cause the set to appear different to people. if you can find the box for between $10-$20, you might want to pick it up.
Box Value: 2 out of 5.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
2012 TNA Impact Wrestling Reflexxions Box Break
2012 TNA Impact Wrestling Reflexxions Box Break (Box #2366/2400)
Box Contents:
20 Packs Per Box
6 Cards Per Pack
What We Pulled:
99 out of the 99 card set - 100% Complete
13 Duplicates
1 Checklist Card
2 Parallels - Jeff Jarrett #/40, Magnus #/40
Inserts:
1 Event-Used Ring Mat Autographed Card Blue - Velvet Sky #/25
1 TNA Reflexxions Silver Autograph - Anarquia #/99
1 TNA Reflexxions Gold Autograph - Christy Hemme #/50
1 Premium Reflexxions Foil Card - The Immortal Battles The Icon #/10
This is different than what we usually purchase. We thought outside the box and were pleasantly surprised. The second pack brought us the Autographed Event-Used Ring Mat of Velvet Sky numbered out of 25. We liked the style of the cards which you can see by the single autographed cards. The reverse mirror picture along side the regular picture does the Reflexxions name proud.
If I were designing the set, I would have made the Autographs in their own subset instead of being a parallel of the base set. I did like the fact that there are hardly any inserts in the set. You have the Premium Reflexxions Foil Set, and the Jeff Hardy Art Cards. It would be nice if the autographs were on card. There is no reason that you cannot have these autographs on card. Almost every Thursday, these wrestlers are located in Orlando, Florida putting on a wrestling show on Spike TV. How difficult would it be for Tristar to coordinate with TNA to get these wrestlers to sign cards on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday on a week that they are in Florida? Or take a weekend of a PPV that TNA has and have them sign for an hour or two around their schedules for TNA. Float them an extra $100 for the privledge to have them sign on card and make your product just that much better. TNA also included pieces in this release. There are singles, doubles, triples, and Quads if I read right. There are no stated odds in receiving a card with pieces.
The parallel sets are too big for this set. There are parallel foil cards for the base set and the foil cards numbered to 1, 10 and 40. The Autograph Sets are numbered to 1, 5, 25, 50, and 99. The Event-Worn Memorabilia Cards are numbered to 1, 5, 25, 50, and 199. The Event-Used Mat Autograph Cards are numbered 1, 5, 25, and 50. The colors associated with these parallels are purple, red, blue, gold, and silver. If there is anything that we here at KBee Cards dislike the most about card is the large amount of parallels that are out there and this product has way too many.
Overall, we liked the design and the layout of the cards. And even though we didn't pull the most popular stars like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Kurt Angle, and Jeff Jarrett to name a few, we feel like we did receive autographs that would make us want to try again on a box of these cards. The fact that you can get a complete set and have a few left over for the base set doesn't hurt either. Hopefully Tristar does decide to include a few insert sets that are strictly Autographs instead of parallels that have signatures and to eliminate the large number of parallels that are in their products. However, I won't hold my breath for that one.
Box Value: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.
Friday, April 13, 2012
2011 Topps Gridiron Legends Box Break
2011 Topps Gridiron Legends
Box Contents:
18 Packs Per Box
8 Packs Per Pack
What We Pulled:
112 out of 165 cards - 67.9% Complete
2 Duplicates
15 Parallel Cards
Inserts:
15 Total Insert Cards
Aspiring Legacies (1:5 Packs) (4) - Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley, Jerrel Jernigan, Shane Vereen
Gridiron Legacies (1:4 Packs) (5) - Tony Gonzalez, LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan
Legendary Combos (1:10 Packs) (2) - Calvin Johnson/Titus Young, Adrian Peterson/Christian Ponder
Aspiring Legacies Relic (1:10 Packs) (2) - Delone Carter, Colin Kaepernick
Aspiring Legacies Relic Parallels (1:250 Packs) (1) - Andy Dalton
Autographed Rookies Base Redemption Card (1) - Anthony Castonzo
Our Thoughts:
I started hanging my head with the first pack that I opened when seeing the Delone Carter Aspiring Legacies Relic. And when I finished the box, that disappointing feeling that I had was still there and it grew throughout opening the packs of this box. I hadn't done my due diligence before buying this and I assumed that something that has the name Gridiron Legends would focus on the legends of the NFL. But this product doesn't do that. It throws some legends in the base set cards and doesn't worry about them anymore. I am starting to hear more and more rumblings from collectors about Topps products not being very good. This is a fine example of that. If you are going to use the word legends for this product, then label it as Topps Future Gridiron Legends or something similar. But the title for this release gives images to the collector of something different.
As for the base set cards, I do like the design. It is a simple yet effective design and Topps also put on old time logos for the legends. The Rams and Chargers both had the football helmet with their logo on it for the Legends for their teams and the newer logos for the players of today. I also like the fact that the Rookies in the set are an actual part of the set. In the Carolina Panthers team run, Cam Newton is included around the veterans. They don't make them the high number cards and insert them 1 out of every 4 packs or something like that. As for the insert cards, they look like base set cards that Upper Deck put out at least a decade ago. On one edge of the card, the card is colored in the team colors and the player is on the rest of the card. Reminded me of Upper Deck Game Gear cards from 2001 I believe. The relic cards are nothing special. The Dalton is a gold card numbered out of 50. And as always, I do not like redemption cards in a product. The card companies need to understand that it is like laughing at the collector. You don't have enough respect for us to actually get players to sign beforehand and have the signatures ready to insert even though planning of this product probably started at least a year earlier? I also like that if you are trying to complete the set, that almost 70% of the base set is in one box. If I do decide to buy another box, the completeness of the set is almost guaranteed. If it doesn't happen, I will be one or two cards away from the set and that is an easy fix.
Overall, It isn't the worst box that I have ever opened, but it really isn't one of the best either. If you can find a box for around $50, then you might want to buy it. But when this product came out at more than $100 a box, then I am sure that people felt cheated. The Hits included aren't impressive and the insert designs remind you of base set cards from yesteryear. And in future releases of this product, I would hope that Topps pays attention to the word Legends in the product name. If this was from a fledling company, I would say that it was an adequate product. From Topps, I expect something better.
Box Value: 1.5 out of 5 Stars.
Box Contents:
18 Packs Per Box
8 Packs Per Pack
What We Pulled:
112 out of 165 cards - 67.9% Complete
2 Duplicates
15 Parallel Cards
Inserts:
15 Total Insert Cards
Aspiring Legacies (1:5 Packs) (4) - Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley, Jerrel Jernigan, Shane Vereen
Gridiron Legacies (1:4 Packs) (5) - Tony Gonzalez, LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan
Legendary Combos (1:10 Packs) (2) - Calvin Johnson/Titus Young, Adrian Peterson/Christian Ponder
Aspiring Legacies Relic (1:10 Packs) (2) - Delone Carter, Colin Kaepernick
Aspiring Legacies Relic Parallels (1:250 Packs) (1) - Andy Dalton
Autographed Rookies Base Redemption Card (1) - Anthony Castonzo
Our Thoughts:
I started hanging my head with the first pack that I opened when seeing the Delone Carter Aspiring Legacies Relic. And when I finished the box, that disappointing feeling that I had was still there and it grew throughout opening the packs of this box. I hadn't done my due diligence before buying this and I assumed that something that has the name Gridiron Legends would focus on the legends of the NFL. But this product doesn't do that. It throws some legends in the base set cards and doesn't worry about them anymore. I am starting to hear more and more rumblings from collectors about Topps products not being very good. This is a fine example of that. If you are going to use the word legends for this product, then label it as Topps Future Gridiron Legends or something similar. But the title for this release gives images to the collector of something different.
As for the base set cards, I do like the design. It is a simple yet effective design and Topps also put on old time logos for the legends. The Rams and Chargers both had the football helmet with their logo on it for the Legends for their teams and the newer logos for the players of today. I also like the fact that the Rookies in the set are an actual part of the set. In the Carolina Panthers team run, Cam Newton is included around the veterans. They don't make them the high number cards and insert them 1 out of every 4 packs or something like that. As for the insert cards, they look like base set cards that Upper Deck put out at least a decade ago. On one edge of the card, the card is colored in the team colors and the player is on the rest of the card. Reminded me of Upper Deck Game Gear cards from 2001 I believe. The relic cards are nothing special. The Dalton is a gold card numbered out of 50. And as always, I do not like redemption cards in a product. The card companies need to understand that it is like laughing at the collector. You don't have enough respect for us to actually get players to sign beforehand and have the signatures ready to insert even though planning of this product probably started at least a year earlier? I also like that if you are trying to complete the set, that almost 70% of the base set is in one box. If I do decide to buy another box, the completeness of the set is almost guaranteed. If it doesn't happen, I will be one or two cards away from the set and that is an easy fix.
Overall, It isn't the worst box that I have ever opened, but it really isn't one of the best either. If you can find a box for around $50, then you might want to buy it. But when this product came out at more than $100 a box, then I am sure that people felt cheated. The Hits included aren't impressive and the insert designs remind you of base set cards from yesteryear. And in future releases of this product, I would hope that Topps pays attention to the word Legends in the product name. If this was from a fledling company, I would say that it was an adequate product. From Topps, I expect something better.
Box Value: 1.5 out of 5 Stars.
Friday, February 24, 2012
2011 Sweet Spot NCAA Football Hobby Box Break
2011 Sweet Spot
What We Pulled:
Packs Per Box: 4
Cards Per Pack: 8
Base Set Completion: 22 out of 100
Redemptions: 1
2011 Sweet Spot Football Sweet Spot Rivalries Book Card Varied #'ing CD #SSR-WJ
Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker
Inserts: 7
Todd McShay Scouting Report (2) - Torry Smith, Mark Ingram
Chris Mortensen Retro Report (2) - Brian Bosworth, Bo Jackson
Sweet Spot Sweet Beginnings Autographs (2) - Colin McCarthy, Cecil Shorts
Sweet Spot Rookie Signatures (1) - Ryan Kerrigan
Our Thoughts:
While this would never be considered our favorite Upper Deck product that they put out each and every year, the product is unique due to the Rookie Signatures that they have. I am disappointed in not being able to collect a set of base set cards unless you purchase 5 boxes of this product. That is a major complaint that I have for each and every card manufacturer. I understand that base set cards aren't what the true hardcore collector wants, but completing a 100 card base set should not require that you spend lots of money to do it. This product is the lower end of the one autograph per pack sets, so there should be more value to the product to entice people to buy it. One way to do that is to make the base set easier to obtain.
I do like the fact that the inserts are 1 per pack. Having Todd McShay and Chris Mortensen scouting reports as the inserts does bring a sense of the big time. Almost everybody that follows sports on even a casual level knows about Chris Mortensen and Todd McShay has been a real fine analyst for ESPN for the past couple of years. A big thumbs up for Upper Deck in having those two insert sets.
As for the one autograph per pack gimmick, it is an OK one, but it needs to be rethought. Not the one autograph per pack, but who they are including in the autographs and how they are devising the autograph sets. Maybe do the Top 50 college players in your set as 1st Round Talents. The next 25 as Building Blocks For Success and the last 25 as your Rookie Signatures. I would also do a College Hall of Fame subset of Autographs. As for the autographs on the helmets, the quality control on those leaves something to be desired. Maybe figure out how to put the helmet up further on the card and put the auto below or something. Because I did open a second box and the Christian Ponder signature on the Florida State helmet is a C and a line then a P and an arc. I expect more form the autographs than that.
Overall, while there are some drawbacks, there are some redeeming qualities about the product. I don't need the NFL logo and team symbol on a card to enjoy the product. And the fact that using the college teams for players does make the set seem a little more unique isn't a bad thing. And while I don't like redemptions, I can understand that some have to be included if the item is too big to be included in the packs. If Upper Deck can figure out how to make the autos on the helmets look better, then this product could be one of those that I look forward to each year when it is released.
Box Value: 2.5 out of 5 Stars.
What We Pulled:
Packs Per Box: 4
Cards Per Pack: 8
Base Set Completion: 22 out of 100
Redemptions: 1
2011 Sweet Spot Football Sweet Spot Rivalries Book Card Varied #'ing CD #SSR-WJ
Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker
Inserts: 7
Todd McShay Scouting Report (2) - Torry Smith, Mark Ingram
Sweet Spot Sweet Beginnings Autographs (2) - Colin McCarthy, Cecil Shorts
Sweet Spot Rookie Signatures (1) - Ryan Kerrigan
Our Thoughts:
While this would never be considered our favorite Upper Deck product that they put out each and every year, the product is unique due to the Rookie Signatures that they have. I am disappointed in not being able to collect a set of base set cards unless you purchase 5 boxes of this product. That is a major complaint that I have for each and every card manufacturer. I understand that base set cards aren't what the true hardcore collector wants, but completing a 100 card base set should not require that you spend lots of money to do it. This product is the lower end of the one autograph per pack sets, so there should be more value to the product to entice people to buy it. One way to do that is to make the base set easier to obtain.
I do like the fact that the inserts are 1 per pack. Having Todd McShay and Chris Mortensen scouting reports as the inserts does bring a sense of the big time. Almost everybody that follows sports on even a casual level knows about Chris Mortensen and Todd McShay has been a real fine analyst for ESPN for the past couple of years. A big thumbs up for Upper Deck in having those two insert sets.
As for the one autograph per pack gimmick, it is an OK one, but it needs to be rethought. Not the one autograph per pack, but who they are including in the autographs and how they are devising the autograph sets. Maybe do the Top 50 college players in your set as 1st Round Talents. The next 25 as Building Blocks For Success and the last 25 as your Rookie Signatures. I would also do a College Hall of Fame subset of Autographs. As for the autographs on the helmets, the quality control on those leaves something to be desired. Maybe figure out how to put the helmet up further on the card and put the auto below or something. Because I did open a second box and the Christian Ponder signature on the Florida State helmet is a C and a line then a P and an arc. I expect more form the autographs than that.
Overall, while there are some drawbacks, there are some redeeming qualities about the product. I don't need the NFL logo and team symbol on a card to enjoy the product. And the fact that using the college teams for players does make the set seem a little more unique isn't a bad thing. And while I don't like redemptions, I can understand that some have to be included if the item is too big to be included in the packs. If Upper Deck can figure out how to make the autos on the helmets look better, then this product could be one of those that I look forward to each year when it is released.
Box Value: 2.5 out of 5 Stars.
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