Topps out---Fanatics in

[gamboooler]

Buying UD doesn't preclude buying Topps. Buying UD might/probably precludes them buying Panini. With UD you get Jordan, LeBron, Tiger, Gretzky, NHL, etc. With Topps you get the name and the brands. It makes sense to go for both if the price is right.

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

today?

All Ive heard (secondhand) is "coming soon". They wanted to announce this first but had to rush out the Topps news before the MUDS vote.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

Yes. Could be another eTopps failure.

Etopps Lasted longer than most companies.

[imbluestreak23]

Upper Deck would be great! No need for Panini in any sports as far as I'm concerned.

Bring on 2004 SP Top Prospects again and USA autos! And of course EXQUISITE MLB AND MJ!

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Hearing from the inside that Fanatics has a plan in place to buy out UD, official announcement is coming.

Hope they reread the lawsuit UD lost against the league and Topps.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

Lackluster design is a factor in that very few people may end up missing Topps. Of course it's unlikely anyone at the negotiating table even mentioned design but they must have realized that, aside from the diehards who will never accept anything without a Topps logo, Fanatics won't need to try very hard to sell cards.

I mentioned QC because Topps should have been shoring up their diamond (MLB). Instead, we see them branching out into replica toys which are irrelevant to all but a small number of collectors.

Up until a few weeks ago, Topps was going to be a public company. And public companies need keep income flowing in. The mego deal is dumb, but it’s income. And was planned months ago.

[SearchPatrol]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Hearing from the inside that Fanatics has a plan in place to buy out UD, official announcement is coming.

What a fantastic move by Fanatics if true. This is the most important purchase they could make after securing all the different sports licenses. So far, very impressed by what they are doing and saying. Trying to be part of the entire card chain. They really should work out a deal with Topps though. I'm sure it's being discussed. Getting the infrastructure of e-packs is huge. This allows them to have complete control of sales and marketing. I just hope when they sell packs on the new e-pack system, packs are CHEAP. Keep people buying & selling on the site. Let them trade up to get physical cards and make the inserts Special. They could still sell sets and boxes at retail, so this shouldn't change much. Also, make sure to do things like UD is doing now with 2021 Football, you can't sell out of packs.

[rcmb3220]

Originally Posted by SearchPatrol

What a fantastic move by Fanatics if true. This is the most important purchase they could make after securing all the different sports licenses. So far, very impressed by what they are doing and saying. Trying to be part of the entire card chain. They really should work out a deal with Topps though. I'm sure it's being discussed. Getting the infrastructure of e-packs is huge. This allows them to have complete control of sales and marketing. I just hope when they sell packs on the new e-pack system, packs are CHEAP. Keep people buying & selling on the site. Let them trade up to get physical cards and make the inserts Special. They could still sell sets and boxes at retail, so this shouldn't change much. Also, make sure to do things like UD is doing now with 2021 Football, you can't sell out of packs.

You can hope for cheap, but that isn’t going to happen.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Hearing from the inside that Fanatics has a plan in place to buy out UD, official announcement is coming.

Would be big news for Non-sports if true. As a Marvel Masterpieces collector, not sure what to think about this.


UD also has the rights to the old Fleer/Skybox brand. Fleer Ultra, Flair, Metal Universe PMGs, and what not.

[armyatc22]

Originally Posted by gamboooler

Buying UD doesn't preclude buying Topps. Buying UD might/probably precludes them buying Panini. With UD you get Jordan, LeBron, Tiger, Gretzky, NHL, etc. With Topps you get the name and the brands. It makes sense to go for both if the price is right.

Or all 3…they can afford it

But having the big UD names will be huge

[MoreToppsPlease]

UD will never come back as a brand…because anyone who knows cards knows UD tried to screw the MLB. Resurrecting the UD brand makes MLB look very weak.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by SearchPatrol

What a fantastic move by Fanatics if true. This is the most important purchase they could make after securing all the different sports licenses. So far, very impressed by what they are doing and saying. Trying to be part of the entire card chain. They really should work out a deal with Topps though. I'm sure it's being discussed. Getting the infrastructure of e-packs is huge. This allows them to have complete control of sales and marketing. I just hope when they sell packs on the new e-pack system, packs are CHEAP. Keep people buying & selling on the site. Let them trade up to get physical cards and make the inserts Special. They could still sell sets and boxes at retail, so this shouldn't change much. Also, make sure to do things like UD is doing now with 2021 Football, you can't sell out of packs.

Yeah a company with an absolute end to end monopoly isn't going to sell you what you want for cheap. Its like saying "yay, there's only one oil company and they own everything from the oil fields to the gas stations, I hope they sell it to me for cheap"

[SearchPatrol]

Originally Posted by rcmb3220

You can hope for cheap, but that isn’t going to happen.

The problem for Fanatics are 2 fold.

1) Nobody Needs cards.
2) Already millions and millions of cards in circulation.

Fanatics needs to keep the people who are in the hobby and grow the hobby.
They won't endear people by jacking up prices. They would then collect cards from the past instead. They need to price cards were people will collect new Fanatic cards along with earlier cards. There are plenty of options for people in the collecting world. Fanatics knows this.

[3kingsofcards]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

UD will never come back as a brand…because anyone who knows cards knows UD tried to screw the MLB. Resurrecting the UD brand makes MLB look very weak.

I think it’s more about $ than what was done in the past. Otherwise there would be loyalty to Topps IMO. The group from MLB negotiating these deals weren’t around when the issues with Upper Deck occurred.

[SearchPatrol]

Originally Posted by JRX

Yeah a company with an absolute end to end monopoly isn't going to sell you what you want for cheap. Its like saying "yay, there's only one oil company and they own everything from the oil fields to the gas stations, I hope they sell it to me for cheap"

The hobby is nothing like the gas stations. I haven't bought a pack in 8 years. So much product is already out there, people will never run out of cards to buy.

[SearchPatrol]

Also, what do new companies sometimes do when they enter a new business? They sell things cheap to get you in the door and for name recognition. Just like Black Friday sales. I believe the 1st year for Fanatics, to get good name recognition and goodwill, they will have cheaper priced cards. Very comparable to Topps, maybe even cheaper. For how long that anybody's guess.

[premium1981]

Lock in your 2025 exquisite baseball now. They will be blazing hot! I just locked in a case.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by 3kingsofcards

I think it’s more about $ than what was done in the past. Otherwise there would be loyalty to Topps IMO. The group from MLB negotiating these deals weren’t around when the issues with Upper Deck occurred.

Manfred was the chief counsel for the league. He SUED upper deck.

[base set]

Originally Posted by SearchPatrol

The problem for Fanatics are 2 fold.

1) Nobody Needs cards.
2) Already millions and millions of cards in circulation.

3) They just agreed to pay the Leagues and the Player Associations more money than previously.

[3kingsofcards]

Originally Posted by ewokpelts

Manfred was the chief counsel for the league. He SUED upper deck.

Ah, I didn’t realize that. Perhaps under new ownership they would be okay dealing with them again.

[chezball]

Think the UD news is BS but time will tell.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

UD will never come back as a brand…because anyone who knows cards knows UD tried to screw the MLB. Resurrecting the UD brand makes MLB look very weak.

Originally Posted by ewokpelts

Manfred was the chief counsel for the league. He SUED upper deck.

None of this matters after an acquisition. The brand didn't get sued. The brand didn't try to screw over MLB. The people in charge of the brand did.

Buying a poorly managed company and turning it into a winner again would be a badge of honor for Fanatics or anyone for that matter.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by JRX

It also means the death of all topps brands. For everyone buying sapphire or mojo refractors, people may not care as much about them 10 years from now

Like the last year of Topps basketball?

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

UD will never come back as a brand…because anyone who knows cards knows UD tried to screw the MLB. Resurrecting the UD brand makes MLB look very weak.

Originally Posted by 3kingsofcards

I think it’s more about $ than what was done in the past. Otherwise there would be loyalty to Topps IMO. The group from MLB negotiating these deals weren’t around when the issues with Upper Deck occurred.

I don't think MLB/MLBPA cares. They just care about the money as dumping Topps shows.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

None of this matters after an acquisition. The brand didn't get sued. The brand didn't try to screw over MLB. The people in charge of the brand did.

Buying a poorly managed company and turning it into a winner again would be a badge of honor for Fanatics or anyone for that matter.

They should buy Enron.