It was basically an impulse purchase on Black Friday.

For the first time in a few years it seemed to me like there actually were Black Friday sales. I wasn't planning on buying anything, but something said why not. The next think you know I'm paying a nearly $500 tab for 11 boxes of Upper Deck product.

I've been buying on ePack, and I've picked up single cards here and there, but I really couldn't tell you the last time boxes were cracked in this house. Several years, probably pre-covid.

Shipping was quick. The fedex box was the size of a toaster . . . Where is the rest of the order? That's $500 worth of deeply discounted boxes now? I was expecting a box at least the size of a toaster oven.

Thor Love and Thunder was the first product to get opened. Dang, those cards are nice. You don't get the feeling of the quality of a card, or the effects of the foil when looking on online. It felt like I really must have been missing out on something on ePack.

Next up was Shang Chi. $19.95 a box. I hit an Awkwafina autograph in the 3rd pack and didn't really pay attention to the rest of the box. But a solid start . . . It wouldn't last.

Moon Knight.
Dr. Strange.
She-Hulk.
Women of Marvel (2024).
Hawkeye.
Space Jam.

A few boxes in to breaking I started to get bored. Out of 11 boxes that Awkwafina autograph was the only autograph/sketch. There may be something else somewhat valuable (aka a low-numbered parallel) in the rest of the cards. Many of the Shang Chi cards of the cards have damage. In the end I sleeved four or five Shang Chi cards. The rest sit in a stack. . . I'm contemplating throwing them away.

Eventually the cards from the other boxes will be gone through, but they won't make sets so they won't be sorted. A few cards are probably worth hanging on to, but for the most part not so much.

Personally when most of the boxes don't have an autograph or sketch or something of that nature they just aren't fun to open unless the cards themselves are nice. I enjoyed opening Thor and Women or Marvel. . . and Space Jam actually wasn't bad, but the rest. . . not as much.

It seems 'cheap' Marvel/Upper Deck boxes may be around for a while. . . More will likely wind up on my porch, but I'm sort of ambivalent to it. I will buy on ePack mainly because it is easy to do, although prices of physical UD product can frequently be found for significantly cheaper than ePack.

Sort of strange that the hobby has ended up here. . .

I hear ya. I didn't buy a single UD non-sport box all year.

Black Friday did present a few opportunities. The one thing I wanted to open was Thor: Love & Thunder for a crack at a Portman auto, albiet a very small chance. When I could get a case for $707, I bought my first UD product of the year. I also bought my first pack on e-pack as well. Was able to grab a case of Spider-Man No Way Home for $357.

Well, e-pack was still a disappointment after I opened the boxes. 2 common auto's, no PMG, and the big case hits were all the wrong name. I did get some spidey low numbered parallels which will bring in a some decent money, but not sure once I sell off everything (not one card for the PC), I might get back my $357.

This was a $1100 case. I can't imagine opening this up at that price. I probably had one of the crappier cases, but still. 2 auto's per case for $1100, ouch.

The Love & Thunder I've only opened 2 boxes so far, but hit a nobody auto. So I am only guaranteed 1 more auto. Ouch for trying to acquire the Portman.

UD needs to find a way to infuse more return in these boxes. Rittenhouse cases, and I have opened a couple of dozen over the years, still get you at minimum, 1 main character auto in the case. Heck, even Cryptozoic cases you use to hit a main character every case.

It was sad the Spidey case couldn't deliver a main cast auto. What a disappointed case even at $357. Putting in manufactured patches as "hits" are crap with little value.

I will continue to stay away from UD cases in the future, unless they are blown out. But even then, like Shang Chi cases below $300, you stand to lose as who buys Shang Chi base sets and inserts?

UD makes it really hard for me to want to open their product.

Remember that UD lost the Marvel license and won’t release anything shortly.

I had a chance to buy Wandavision, Falcon & Winter Soldier, Shang Chi, What if and a few other releases for $30/box and passed on the deal. Can’t build sets, no good inserts.

Sorry that they lost the license with whatever impact that has but some other company could do better.

Good luck on the rest of your Thor case, Chilly!

You are absolutely right though -- the full price on these is a challenge with so few hits.

Upper Deck has done a good job of getting those bigger 'lottery' hits though -- the Portman for example will cover the cost of a case if you hit one. They've managed to do that in a lot of products.

I've bought Shang-Chi on ePack at various times. I got lucky with a single box that yielded a nice autograph. You are right though -- who is collecting base sets and inserts from this set? I have no idea how many I have on ePack right now, but if I'm throwing away the cards that are already in my house I'm certainly not going to pay to ship the base/inserts I have on ePack.

One other thing I've noticed about the new Marvel Studios sets from UD -- most of the single cards being sold are being listed in China.