1/1 ePack Hockey Cards Controversy: What’s Right? The Must-Have 2023-24 Metal Universe Cards!

[@abg7750]

Pretty simple: if you don't like epack, of course you don't want big cards on epack because it means you can't pull it. If you buy on epack, you'll want big cards on epack because it means you can pull it. This has been ongoing ever since epack was launched but for some reason this year people decide now's the time to raise a stink about it. A couple years back, someone opened like 8 boxes of Ultimate on epack and hit a Stutzle rookie shield and both the Matthews 1/1 black auto parallel and Gretzky 1/1 black auto parallel. This didn't make any waves because why would it? But those are three massive cards out of the most expensive product UD has on epack. I believe the only exception they've made to the "random allocation" is the Bedard 1/1 gold outburst, because it's the only card they've explicitly stated was allocated for physical hobby boxes. They're not going to change unless they fold epack entirely.

[@ieatunicornwithpeanutbutte6017]

I went to the Montreal Card Expo on Saturday around 11AM; it was jam pack. The parking was full. I feel like it was bigger than 6 months ago, they opened the whole space. The only booth not busy was the KSA grading lol

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Love to hear about card shows being full of people. Thanks for adding to the convo!

[@KMAN_CORNER]

There are also cards that are exclusive to EPACK like game dated moments

[@tcsfoodblog]

I love the trading on epack. So much easier than selling on ebay and buying the ones i want or finding people to trade with and mailing it.

[@salvatoredibrita1028]

I love epack because bases aren't useless there- they are sought after and can be traded to build a silver or rainbow speckle parallel (the rainbow foil is gorgeous and might be my favorite card parallel, by the way). I wonder if upper deck would consider a mail-in program to exchange the same number of physical base cards as needed on epack for silver or rainbow foil to give physical base cards value.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Good point!

[@SpaceWhalesSC2]

Loud Phil I NEED the link to the $80 CAD Parkhurst Champions!!!

[@KMAN_CORNER]

Here's my take on EPACK I am currently living in Europe where there's no card store I like how you can earn achievements and you can foil the base and young guns.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Yes, outside of North America...ePack is much, much more valuable. Appreciate you chiming in!

[@Millicurie551]

Have you priced out shipping for your cards?

[@gregdavis7047]

Please Phil is no ambassador for Canada, his lack of Canadian knowledge is worrisome. He has great hobby knowledge and opinions which I appreciate. Me and all my friends in Canada have watched the NHL series on Amazon Prime.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

hahahahaha. Don't worry, I didn't buy the notion that nobody there watched it. What did you think?

[@theloudcollector]

lol of course it is!! Good to know man thanks!! Looks like I need to watch more tv and get up to speed!

[@IraKates]

Ben Berry runs the massive ePack group on FB which is one of the tightest running hobby groups out there.

[@theloudcollector]

That’s what I’m sayin!!!

[@IraKates]

@@theloudcollector this is the rare time we're going to agree ;)

[@theloudcollector]

@@IraKates lol 🤝 ❤️

[@Millicurie551]

Hey guys great episode! I no longer buy the expensive shipping argument for epack. Check out how much it costs to ship a handful of cards to Canada. It's getting very expensive and slow as hell. Guys over in Europe and Australia are just selling their cards instead. The trading environment and software is brutal and broken. My last 20 trade requests were so lopsided it was frustrating. So if upper deck starts putting huge cards on epack they need to invest some back into the software.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Appreciate hearing about your experiences. I wonder when the last major update was....

[@sportsfix6975]

When you look at the price of Allure compared to OPC Platinum..it's pretty close. $29 per pack for Allure- $32 per pack Platinum cdn currency for 2023-24.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Good observation!

[@KevinS-v5p]

A while back I asked a question regarding the Gold Outburst in E-pack situation, but I used Devon Levi as an example. It's pretty messy in the hobby at the moment. I believe they should NOT be available in e-packs. Cheers and great show!

[@KevinS-v5p]

Forgot to mention you kindly answered the question on the show :). Thanks!

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

thanks for the kind words about the show!

[@fliplife67]

There is the Connor Bedard 1 of 1 out there U know how messed up that it will be if that’s pulled on Epack I believe they will be a lot of pissed off people who would want refund for opening series 2 live.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

UD has said the Bedard is in a hobby box

[@fliplife67]

@@hockeycardsgongshow That’s good to hear so theses boxes can stay overpriced.

[@chuckm4nd3r]

On McLaren!

[@78rlewi]

Let's Gooooo!

[@zachlenentine2844]

3 separate retros is to much, agreed. I would be fine with the RC's getting a 97 98 retro PMG as that is the iconic version and believe that will far outshine any of the other bedsys

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

I totally agree with you on this - Josh

[@ryanmoss]

Couple things: S2 is only $40-50 more now at DA, not $100. Also for the 1/1 as Phil mentioned before about buy backs, Upper Deck should have a checklist for 1/1s for epack and hobby so that people looking to collect a certain players 1/1 don’t waste time or money chasing it in the wrong product. It would also solve a lot of headaches for collectors and UD.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Thanks for the update on the pricing...hadn't seen that and I like the checklist idea!

[@ryanberkley2807]

First episode of FaceOff was behind the scenes with Nylander and Pastrnak. Holy F Bombs!

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Yeah lol....not a family show :)

[@SteveAutio]

Never knew epacks are where some of the big cards go…definitely makes opening boxes even worse for what you’re paying. Thanks for the info!

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Glad you found the information useful!

[@2centhockeycards]

Habs = short for Les Habitants (Montreal residents). I do think you mentioned this on a previous episode.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

we probably did lol

[@KMAN_CORNER]

You really should bring Ben Berry on as mentioned to go deeper into EPACK

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

We'll look into it for sure!

[@CraigsCards]

Great show as always, awesome way to start the week...and Lewi repping the Papaya! Gongshow F1 in our future? #TeamYuki

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Thank you Craig! Lewi loves his F1 and McLaren that's for sure.

[@78rlewi]

Gotta love the Papaya brother! Thanks!

[@ojibwe_86]

Put Premiere and The Cup on e-pack! Let’s do it!

[@ugghhhyoutubeisawful646]

omg, thanks for the epack bit, i dont bother with it but i def. am curious (esp. thankful for the bit about the epack eco sys and transferring to comc). ps-live in asia and whoever said it nailed it: the box delivery $$$ is ridiculous (plus taxes too).

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Happy that you found the information useful!

[@sportsfix6975]

The Capitals used to give out a free pizza slice if they scored 7 goals...The fans would be chanting "Pizza! Pizza! throughout after they scored 6..urging them to score the 7th..it was actually pretty funny😅

[@AHarvey4]

I’m wondering if giordano would count towards the Seattle mount rush more. I know he got most his points elsewhere but was a big player to play there. Not many cards sold in the last year but he probably use to have a hobby market. Go Leafs Go

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

It's so tough with only three years of franchise existence. I think you could almost nominate any decent player for them lol.

[@STFB-1]

I think it's something like 30% of the print run is allocated to e-pack. If e-pack charges hobby prices, then why shouldn't 'some' 1/1s be found there? I've considered buying some 23/24 S2 hobby packs there BUT it's more expensive than buying at a local store or 3rd party. Exchange rate for us Canadians sucks badly.

[@doomedandconfused411]

Line of the episode... Josh: "In 30 years, all of our peripheral vision may go away" Phil: Concerned "Really, that's dangerous" and immediately after: "Did you guys hear Shane Pinto got 3 goals last night?" LMAO

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

lol....that's a good one.

[@2centhockeycards]

I never noticed it on the Noyz Boyz cards but is it a coincidence that the word "Thunder" is right by Wayne's butt? What kind of noise are we talking about?

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

hahahahaha I hadn't noticed that either.

[@jvac1129]

I don't think any 1/1 should be on e-pack. People paying hundreds/thousands a dollars on boxes are chasing for Big Hits. Just doesn't seem fair. Do they disclose what cards are on epack?

[@tcsfoodblog]

It wont be helmets. It will be skates that players personalize

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Ahh yeah, kind of like the Cleats in the NFL....I could see that.

[@teddo997]

Has anyone pulled the Bedard 1 of 1 bounty card yet? I haven't heard anything

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

From what we know, it has not been pulled!

[@78rlewi]

I can't confirm nor deny 😉

[@teddo997]

@@78rlewi don't play with my emotions!

[@78rlewi]

@@teddo997 🤣

[@78rlewi]

@@teddo997sorry, that wasn’t very nice. But if I had there would be signs!

[@JamieBazowski]

I know most people will not agree with me. But I prefer if most 1/1 gold outburst cards on are epack. This way they can at least be tracked. Imagine the Bedard yg 1/1 being pulled buy someone that has no idea what the card is.....and nobody finds out if it is actually pulled or not.

[@bammmroasted1170]

I haven’t listened yet but absolutely not! 1/1 big cards should NOT be in Epack

[@jamesmccormick7657]

The new Amazon series I think is awesome. Especially McJesus episode

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

I am not that far yet....can't wait!

[@stillonly25cents67]

wish epack didn’t do away with combining 10 of the same free daily digitals for a physical version …. would probably help bring more people (back) to the platform …. maybe increase it to double (20) since they transitioned the combos to the paid digital base

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

When did they make that change?

[@stillonly25cents67]

@@hockeycardsgongshow 17-18 series I believe was when they introduced the purple digitals to the daily free packs that could not be combined unlike before