[rjcj2017]

It doesn't really bother me, other than I'd rather have Topps put more emphasis on value in what you get out of the average pack or box.

For example, I do almost all retail.

Other than Gypsy Queen and occasionally Allen & Ginter and Platinum, the odds on pulling "hits" out of almost all of their products is slim and none (like with flagship blasters).

I would much rather pull a jersey or auto than some color swap variation.

[yooper419]

It doesn't really bother me, other than I'd rather have Topps put more emphasis on value in what you get out of the average pack or box.

For example, I do almost all retail.

Other than Gypsy Queen and occasionally Allen & Ginter and Platinum, the odds on pulling "hits" out of almost all of their products is slim and none (like with flagship blasters).

I would much rather pull a jersey or auto than some color swap variation.

Quick question... do you find retail packs/boxes have fewer auto/relic hits than hobby boxes from card stores?

[rjcj2017]

Quick question... do you find retail packs/boxes have fewer auto/relic hits than hobby boxes from card stores?

In terms of insertion ratio, yes.

But I will say, I have pulled waaaaaaaay better cards out of retail than hobby.

Over the years I have pulled the following autos out of retail:

Bryce Harper (2011 Bowman Chrome, the reason I joined this site!)
Kobe Bryant 2010 Donruss auto (out of single pack in Target mixer back in 2013!)
Kris Bryant 2015 Elite die-cut/10
Anthony Davis "Prestigious Picks" 2012-13 rookie auto out of 13 loose pack-searched packs
Jason Kidd/10 out of 2013-14 Hoops jumbo pack
Andrew Wiggins out of 2015-16 Donruss blaster
Lonzo Ball 2017-18 Prizm auto
Rhys Hoskins 2018 GQ indigo auto/150 out of blaster

Those are probably the biggest ones.

By and large, I stay away from the retail products that offer either no hits (Topps flagship blasters, for example), and have found generally speaking that Panini is way more generous with hits.

GQ and Platinum are pretty good for baseball autos.

[hempick]

I *almost* exclusively bought retail in 2017 and I have to say that I pulled some fantastic cards.

Topps Allen & Ginter Aaron Judge framed mini auto out of a blaster
Topps Gypsy Queen Aaron Judge auto out of a blaster (that I bought from Dave and Adam's Card World!)
Topps Gypsy Queen Aaron Judge green back parallel (print run of 50) out of a blaster (ALSO from Dave/Adam's)
Topps Gypsy Queen Joe Musgrove auto missing nameplate (/35)
Topps Gallery Andrew Benintendi auto out of a collector/mega box
Topps Gallery Jose Altuve blue auto parallel (/50) out of a collector/mega box (x2)
Topps Gallery Kenta Maeda 1/1 red parallel out of a hanger pack
Topps Walmart Holiday Cody Bellinger auto out of a blaster
Topps Fire Didi Gregorius auto out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Luis Severino patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Kris Bryant patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Tyler Austin patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Willie McCovey 1/1 inferno parallel out of a collector/mega box

I think the best thing that I got out of hobby stuff this year was:
Topps Gold Label Cody Bellinger framed auto (/100)
Bowman's Best Gleyber Torres monochrome auto (/125)
Bowman's Best Aaron Judge auto
Topps Chrome Yoan Moncada Freshman Flash auto (/99)

That said, when I quit the hobby (well...I quit collecting baseball only) in like 2002 or 2003, you couldn't pull ANYTHING out of retail. IMO, it has gotten much, MUCH better. You can actually get 1/1s and great autos out of retail now and that is awesome.

[rjcj2017]

I *almost* exclusively bought retail in 2017 and I have to say that I pulled some fantastic cards.

Topps Allen & Ginter Aaron Judge framed mini auto out of a blaster
Topps Gypsy Queen Aaron Judge auto out of a blaster (that I bought from Dave and Adam's Card World!)
Topps Gypsy Queen Aaron Judge green back parallel (print run of 50) out of a blaster (ALSO from Dave/Adam's)
Topps Gypsy Queen Joe Musgrove auto missing nameplate (/35)
Topps Gallery Andrew Benintendi auto out of a collector/mega box
Topps Gallery Jose Altuve blue auto parallel (/50) out of a collector/mega box (x2)
Topps Gallery Kenta Maeda 1/1 red parallel out of a hanger pack
Topps Walmart Holiday Cody Bellinger auto out of a blaster
Topps Fire Didi Gregorius auto out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Luis Severino patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Kris Bryant patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Tyler Austin patch auto (/25) out of a collector/mega box
Topps Fire Willie McCovey 1/1 inferno parallel out of a collector/mega box

I think the best thing that I got out of hobby stuff this year was:
Topps Gold Label Cody Bellinger framed auto (/100)
Bowman's Best Gleyber Torres monochrome auto (/125)
Bowman's Best Aaron Judge auto
Topps Chrome Yoan Moncada Freshman Flash auto (/99)

That said, when I quit the hobby (well...I quit collecting baseball only) in like 2002 or 2003, you couldn't pull ANYTHING out of retail. IMO, it has gotten much, MUCH better. You can actually get 1/1s and great autos out of retail now and that is awesome.

Yep.

I know that a lot of the hobby only folks don't like to see retail hits, but what do you think pays for all those hobby hits?

Yes, all the crap flagship blasters where you get nothing but base cards and the occasional Brooks Robinson or Steve Carlton insert.