Fanatics Just Changed How We Buy Hobby Packs

Fanatics is experimenting with a completely different way to buy hobby packs—and I spent $100 of my own money to see what it’s actually like.

The cards are physical, the pack opening happens digitally, and collectors can immediately ship, vault, or sell what they pull. That convenience could make hobby products dramatically more accessible—but it also raises some interesting questions about how easy ripping should become.

Timestamps

00:00 Why this could change hobby collecting

03:23 How the digital hobby pack actually works

04:05 I turned $100 into about $7

09:06 The biggest advantages for collectors

12:19 The problem with making ripping this easy

The episode ultimately argues that accessibility is a genuine benefit—especially for collectors without easy access to hobby shops—while acknowledging the spending risks created when buying packs becomes nearly frictionless.

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Rob Hefley

Klendathu