Working the National wrapper redemption lines Part II: Panini

The wrapper redemption programs at the National Sports Collectors Convention are a challenge, a pastime and a must-do for many attendees every year.

But there are drawbacks, too, hence that challenge part. There can be long waits -- depending on how long the lines are and, more importantly, how early you got in them -- and there's the possibility that your line could get cut off before land your treasures.

But the wait can be worth it with the surprises in your packs -- or your boxes you grab to get said packs -- and that's what Buzz opted to try a few times this year. Now up? The Panini America program.

There were a number of options for getting in on the Panini wrapper redemption program this year, but I opted for the one that delivered the most packs the cheapest -- and that was a $65 box of 2018 Donruss NASCAR cards that yields not one but five packs. Only the much-pricer Vertex football boxes got you more (six) with this one.

I arrived at the company's booth early and was told that the wrapper receptions would start in about 15 minutes at 9:30, so I checked out a few other displays and took a few of the pics you've seen here on The Buzz in that time being. The line had started to form and then I moved back that direction just in time for a new posted time to be written on the board ... 11 a.m.

That change gave me a disappointed chuckle (I was here early ... and then on time again!) but that's wrapper redemptions for you. I carried on with other business and then was back in a building line about 10 minutes before that with my Panini sticker on my box ready to get my silver promo packs. About 15 minutes later, I was through the line -- and I realized not long afterward I realized I should have done two boxes since the NASCAR box yielded plenty. I also realized on my walk back to my lucky ripping table from before that one of my packs was a thick one, so that seemed like a win.

These packs are just two cards and my first pack included (as best I remember it) a Tom Brady base card and the Kyrie Irving (/99) parallel. The next pack? It was merely two base cards -- "Uh-oh, that's possible," I thought -- but the parallel pattern re-presented itself with a base and a Bo Jackson (/299) parallel and then a base and a Lionel Messi parallel (/25) that was the rarest of the bunch. My final pack? The thick yielded a parallel (/49) version of an Alvin Kamara jersey card. You can see everything from my packs below. I didn't want to sit and rip all of my NASCAR packs right then, so I sorted out the thick packs just to see what those yielded was the relatively impressive three-color firesuit card of Dale Earnhardt Jr. It was a strong start followed by a Chase Elliott tire card -- also impressive-looking as you'll see in a future Buzz Break here -- and the box actually over-delivered with two autographs once I ripped the rest. (It was only guaranteed to include one.)

I did check back in on potentially doing another round of this one later in the afternoon but the second posted time didn't work out for me. Looking back, I probably should have made it work as these delivered pretty well.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

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