Topps Project 2020 is the worst product since 1991 Fleer

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by fjdlrw

I've picked up the Clemente and Gwynn so far this week. Now I'm debating on the Sandy and Big Hurt from today. Unlike most, I really like the Siff Clemente. I kind of wish that one would have the foil parallel.

right on!

[Shinjoy]

Originally Posted by ChutneyGrey

Anyone know which artists have been going card to card for the most part?

My guess based on posts, discussion, etc:
Efdot, Jamieson, Beck, Taylor, JK5, Chang, Don C,

vs those that have done it ahead of time for the most part?

Thiele, Rochester, Grotesk, Ermsy, Baller, Vides

I'd guess that's right, although my understanding is that Rochester batched them: cards up to Gooden before the set began, cards starting with Ichiro after the set started (and he saw the early cards). And, Thiele revises and revises, so that I'm not sure if he's ever finished. He's still working on his Ted Williams card somewhere.

Don C and OMA's work processes are on my MOST WANTED list. There has to be an interview somewhere in which they talk about the set?

[BigEd]

I'll try not to turn this into a ***** session, but I'd like to tell you why I deal with Matt instead of Topps. I'd really like to support the artists directly, but I can't bring myself to go buy direct from the company. There is no semblance of customer support and the various issues many others and I have experienced are too numerous to recount. Here is just one:

Case study, not related to Project 2020
I bought a single card of Derek Jeter Chrome Retrospective #2 on 6/18. My window to submit a problem with PayPal is 12/15, so I opened a case. Topps continues to churn out these cards, despite numerous delays that have now almost reached six months. If I send an email, nothing ever happens. Heaven forbid if I try to call them.

Am I sure I'll receive the card eventually? Absolutely. But what if I get the wrong card or what if it is significantly damaged and my window to submit a claim has passed? I don't have the time or energy to chase them down and I don't enjoy spending money on a complete crapshoot.

So I choose to deal with Matt for all my P2020 needs. He is passing through a good portion of his bulk discount and he is essentially offering to deal with any and all crap that Topps throws at him on my behalf. Thank you, Matt. I wish Topps had half of your ability to run a business.

[fjdlrw]

Originally Posted by BigEd

I'll try not to turn this into a ***** session, but I'd like to tell you why I deal with Matt instead of Topps. I'd really like to support the artists directly, but I can't bring myself to go buy direct from the company. There is no semblance of customer support and the various issues many others and I have experienced are too numerous to recount. Here is just one:

Case study, not related to Project 2020
I bought a single card of Derek Jeter Chrome Retrospective #2 on 6/18. My window to submit a problem with PayPal is 12/15, so I opened a case. Topps continues to churn out these cards, despite numerous delays that have now almost reached six months. If I send an email, nothing ever happens. Heaven forbid if I try to call them.

Am I sure I'll receive the card eventually? Absolutely. But what if I get the wrong card or what if it is significantly damaged and my window to submit a claim has passed? I don't have the time or energy to chase them down and I don't enjoy spending money on a complete crapshoot.

So I choose to deal with Matt for all my P2020 needs. He is passing through a good portion of his bulk discount and he is essentially offering to deal with any and all crap that Topps throws at him on my behalf. Thank you, Matt. I wish Topps had half of your ability to run a business.

Yes! That was my biggest reason, along with the discount, to purchase my P2020 cards (since card #115 or so) from Matt's site. He gets two thumbs up from me, especially after reading story after story about Topps absurd customer service practices.

Hope you get your Jeter card soon. I had no idea that those have been delayed so long.

[Silas Barnaby]

Originally Posted by BigEd

So I choose to deal with Matt for all my P2020 needs.

[kabrune2]

Originally Posted by BigEd

I'll try not to turn this into a ***** session, but I'd like to tell you why I deal with Matt instead of Topps. I'd really like to support the artists directly, but I can't bring myself to go buy direct from the company. There is no semblance of customer support and the various issues many others and I have experienced are too numerous to recount. Here is just one:

Case study, not related to Project 2020
I bought a single card of Derek Jeter Chrome Retrospective #2 on 6/18. My window to submit a problem with PayPal is 12/15, so I opened a case. Topps continues to churn out these cards, despite numerous delays that have now almost reached six months. If I send an email, nothing ever happens. Heaven forbid if I try to call them.

Am I sure I'll receive the card eventually? Absolutely. But what if I get the wrong card or what if it is significantly damaged and my window to submit a claim has passed? I don't have the time or energy to chase them down and I don't enjoy spending money on a complete crapshoot.

So I choose to deal with Matt for all my P2020 needs. He is passing through a good portion of his bulk discount and he is essentially offering to deal with any and all crap that Topps throws at him on my behalf. Thank you, Matt. I wish Topps had half of your ability to run a business.

I thought about opening a claim on the Jeter #2 as well, then when I hunted down the transaction it was for $10 or so for a 5-pack, I used my Topps Points and had forgotten. So there really isn't a remedy for me other than to sit here with my thumb up &^^

[ThoseBackPages]

i guess im fortunate to not have had any issues with Topps

[ThoseBackPages]

i see nothing wrong with buying from a second source seller, i just didnt want to support them getting their topps backdoor deals

[BigEd]

Originally Posted by fjdlrw

Yes! That was my biggest reason, along with the discount, to purchase my P2020 cards (since card #115 or so) from Matt's site. He gets two thumbs up from me, especially after reading story after story about Topps absurd customer service practices.

Hope you get your Jeter card soon. I had no idea that those have been delayed so long.

Originally Posted by Silas Barnaby

Originally Posted by kabrune2

I thought about opening a claim on the Jeter #2 as well, then when I hunted down the transaction it was for $10 or so for a 5-pack, I used my Topps Points and had forgotten. So there really isn't a remedy for me other than to sit here with my thumb up &^^

I used some Topps points from when I bought P2020 direct because I really liked the card, so I really hope I get it and don't have any issues.

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i guess im fortunate to not have had any issues with Topps

I hope it stays that way for you and I sincerely hope they figure this stuff out so that everyone can have your experience. I should say that I often don't have issues, but this is just one of a number of cases where it is just absurd.

[BigEd]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i see nothing wrong with buying from a second source seller, i just didnt want to support them getting their topps backdoor deals

I jumped on the Topps Now bandwagon in 2016 and immediately latched on with Joe May. When he started getting all sorts of deals and access for his massive purchases (mostly Platinum status), I spent some time thinking about it and ultimately decided that I didn't mind. That said, I can completely understand your perspective and respect your position. It's definitely not for everyone.

[blakejamieson]

Originally Posted by blitzaceod

Hey, does anyone know if Blake still takes send ins for signing his cards? I have some from 3 or 4 months ago that I meant to send and just found them again.

Yes I will take cards to sign (TTM for free) until early 2021. I will give ppl who order my last card plenty of time, so will prob end up cutting it off around March 2021. After that, I will likely charge a small fee for TTM black autos (since it takes me and my staff time to process and get them shipped back out). I do plan to keep black TTM autos very reasonably priced, even after the free period ends.

[blakejamieson]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Blake's Thomas is one of Blake's Top 3 cards, imo. Clean & Different w/ homage to the NNO. Love the different take.

Thank you!

[blakejamieson]

Originally Posted by KnoxVegas Matt

Blake's Frank Thomas is incredible. I didn't think he'd go away from the full body taking a knee, but I love it. Well done Blake!

Appreciate it!

[UGLI baby]

You've been crushing it lately, Blake!!

[blakejamieson]

Originally Posted by 1000 Sport Zonk

Rock solid three cards today. Great color!

Blakes last three cards have been my favorites of all of his cards: Clemente, Gwynn, and Thomas. Nice solid bold Portraits. His Frank Thomas is interesting in that it seemingly features no painterly strokes whatsoever (like his Koufax).

This Ted Williams from Chang is maybe my favorite of hers, big fan of the more mustard yellow used with the red burts, and putting more space between his portrait and figure works with her script.

Efdot bringing us Carnival Koufax is maybe the most fun looking card of Sandys. Blob looks great in the corner with its toes bursting out of it cleats, and I love the chalky texture or more natural looking paint textures added as well. Not so hot on the watermark style Dodgers logo in his portrait however.

Hot Cards!

Appreciate it! I actually painted Thomas at the same time as Koufax, hence the similar styles. There was a a bit of confusion as to which card Topps was going to drop first, so I needed to have them both done at the same time.

Just one more to go, and Gibson is going to be a fun one for me. That will have the 1:20 foil chance, and I think will be one of the last few cards in the set.

[ThoseBackPages]

Yea, its very saddening to see the Blake Marathon come to an end. Bob should be amazing!

[UGLI baby]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

Yea, its very saddening to see the Blake Marathon come to an end. Bob should be amazing!

It's almost over for real this time, Johnny.

[par578]

Originally Posted by ChutneyGrey

I ordered four cards from him back in JUNE, totally forgot about it until I got a shipping notification two weeks ago tomorrow. Haven't received the cards and the tracking shows they haven't been mailed yet.

I am still waiting for four cards as well. Obviously not going to happen.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by UGLI baby

It's almost over for real this time, Johnny.

amen johnny, 10 drops left

[Oliroller]

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would care what kind of special perks a second hand seller like Matt may get from Topps. If I can get a card for $16 or $17 from him instead of $21 from Topps, isn't that what matters?

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Oliroller

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would care what kind of special perks a second hand seller like Matt may get from Topps. If I can get a card for $16 or $17 from him instead of $21 from Topps, isn't that what matters?

its the principal, really

but if one is concerned about is saving every single dollar, then i could see why they'd have no problem with it

[dbpsooner]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

its the principal, really

but if one is concerned about is saving every single dollar, then i could see why they'd have no problem with it

The principal of two people coming together for each other's benefit? I am way lost here.

[Oliroller]

If I order 100 cards from Matt and 100 from Topps, it saves me $400-$500. He gives me much better customer service than Topps does. If the price was identical I would still order from Matt because he actually responds to questions/concerns. I guess everyone has their reasons, but I dont get it.

[ChutneyGrey]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i guess im fortunate to not have had any issues with Topps

I've had issues when I order the 5 or 10 card packs, six times have received the wrong card and didn't bother even trying to fix it. I've been able to make trades to get cards I was supposed to get or pick up a few I didn't initially order. If I would have known about Wheeler earlier however would have gone thru him for sure.

[BigEd]

When someone writes a blog post and links to an Amazon product, they're required to disclose if they are an affiliate and will be receiving a commission in the event of a sale. I don't mind if someone gets perks as long as it's disclosed, but I can understand that someone might see it as being used to achieve something more than they personally deserve. Again, it's not for everyone. Personally, it is unquestionably worth it to save a couple dollars and not have to deal with Topps directly.