Are Power Packs Worth It?

"Are Power Packs worth it?" is the single most common question I get — in live chat, in DMs, in comments under every video. It deserves a proper, honest answer.

I open GameStop Power Packs live on stream every week. My streams are sponsored by GameStop — every penny of that sponsorship goes directly back to the community. I'm not going to pretend I'm a neutral observer — but I'm not going to lie to you either. The truth is more nuanced than "yes" or "no."

The Honest Answer: It Depends What "Worth It" Means to You

If your definition of "worth it" is "will I make money?" — then honestly: probably not, most of the time. This is true of nearly every mystery product in collectibles, from booster boxes to sports card breaks. The house always has an edge. Around 40% of pulls come in below what you paid — that's the nature of mystery collecting, and it's how the platform works. The other 60% meet or exceed the pack price.

If your definition of "worth it" is "will I have a good time, get a real collectible, and walk away with something I can hold?" — then yes, Power Packs deliver that consistently. Every single time.

What You're Actually Paying For

When you buy a Power Pack, your money covers:

• A real, PSA-graded card — authenticated and slabbed by PSA before you ever open the pack
• Professional vault storage — insured, climate-controlled, zero handling risk
• The reveal experience — especially live on stream with a community
• Zero grading costs — submitting to PSA yourself costs $20–$150+ per card
• Zero shipping risk — already in the vault; no postal anxiety
• No sales tax — Power Packs purchases aren't taxed at checkout

When you factor in the cost of buying a raw card, submitting to PSA, waiting weeks, and paying return shipping — a $25 Starter starts looking reasonable as a package deal, even if the card's market value comes in under the price.

The full head-to-head — Power Packs versus a booster box, with the actual numbers — is covered in a dedicated guide: Power Packs vs Traditional Pack Ripping →

Who Power Packs Are For

Great for:

• New collectors who want their first PSA slab without navigating grading
• Entertainment buyers who treat it like a night out — budgeted fun, not investment
• Community-focused collectors who enjoy live reveals and shared experience
• Casual collectors who want a hands-off way to build a graded collection
• Gift buyers who want to give someone a real collectible reveal moment

Not ideal for:

• Pure investors looking for guaranteed returns — buy singles with a specific thesis instead
• Budget-conscious collectors who'd rather spend $25 on specific raw cards they've researched
• People who don't enjoy mystery products — if the gamble stresses you more than it excites you, this isn't your format

The Entertainment Angle Is Real

A lot of reviewers miss this part. Power Packs aren't just a product — they're an experience. When you book a pack opened on a live stream, you're getting:

• Your name called out on camera in front of the community
• A real-time reveal with chat reacting as it happens
• The chance of an insane hit that creates a moment everyone remembers
• A shared experience with other collectors

Compare that to buying a single card on eBay. The eBay card might be a better "deal" on paper — but there's no story attached to it. Nobody remembers the card they added to their cart on a Tuesday afternoon.

The Smart Way to Approach Power Packs

1. Set a budget before you start. Treat it like entertainment — a cinema ticket, an arcade visit, a night out. Don't spend what you can't afford to lose.
2. Start at Starter or Silver. Don't jump straight to Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Lunar before you understand the format.
3. Watch a few streams first. Free to do. Get a feel for the energy and community before spending.
4. Don't chase losses. If your first pack doesn't hit, that's normal. Don't buy three more trying to "make it back."
5. Use Instant Buyback if you want guaranteed liquidity. Power Packs offers to buy the card back at 90% of Card Ladder value, minus a 6% fee — roughly 84% of market. Offer lasts 7 days.
6. Enjoy the card you get. Even a modest PSA 8 is a real, authenticated, professionally graded collectible. Most collectors would've loved to receive one as a kid.

My Take

Power Packs are worth it if you go in with the right expectations. They're entertainment with a real, tangible asset attached. Treat them that way and you'll have a great time. Treat them as an investment vehicle and you'll be disappointed — same as any mystery product in any hobby.

And here's the part the cynics miss: even your worst Power Pack outcome is a real, authenticated PSA slab sitting in an insured vault. With Power Packs, you always walk away with a genuine collectible. That doesn't make them a guaranteed winner — it makes them a fundamentally different product from pure gambling.

Whether Power Packs count as gambling is a question worth taking seriously, with both sides examined honestly. Read the full breakdown →

Want to See for Yourself?

The best way to decide if Power Packs are for you is to watch a stream. It costs you nothing. Show up, hang out in chat, watch some packs get ripped. If you catch the bug, you can book your own.