Can someone explain to me why the Disney Topps chrome cards are selling for a crazy A

[PrinceVegeta]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

My local shop had a case and two dudes who usually open higher end football and basketball cracked the whole case.

They didn’t leave any for the Disney collectors.

lord have mercy

[Tim]

Sorry for the delay - life happens and I'm not glued here like I used to be.

Man oh man what a shame so many bitter and resentful people have taken over this site. I don't post much any more for that reason (not talking about you dynaetch). We have someone with 7 posts snarking it up at me because I was a day late responding. So I wonder how much that person has contributed to this community in his other 7 posts? And then there's herman what's his name who lashes out at any chance toward anyone that he thinks is a "flipper," even though I tried to help him in the bb thread recently. Listen, I get it, the resentment is real and valid since the losers came onboard during the pandemic. Things have changed for the worse for both collectors and dealers. Breakers have hurt our hobby. None of this justifies the constant bitterness and snarkiness by so many disgusted hobbyists. I've been a collector and dealer for 40 years and have seen a lot; if you can't adapt to the changing landscape you will be left behind to wallow in your own bitterness.

Now with that said, I LIKE the Disney Chrome release as a collector and, yes, as a dealer too. The cards are beautiful. The QC is excellent. I like Disney so I like the set. The parallels are stunning. It over delivers (5 hits per box, not 4). I DO think a gorgeous color parallel counts as a hit and think 5 hits per box is fantastic.

I agree the autos are silly but that kinda adds to the folksiness; I think they should have had each auto be handwritten instead of a facsimile though. Just b/c sports guys are selling this doesn't mean that is who is collecting it. This is a legit non-sports card release and yes, a lot of my sales are going to new collectors who most definitely are not sports card flippers. As I mentioned in the other thread, I think the fact that it's a well known product line from the #1 trading card manufacturer in the world will add to the collectibility of this product - this is not some Chinese company that no one has heard of.

As far as comparing it to recent releases that eventually tanked, what about Galaxy Chrome SW from 2020? That one sure didn't tank.

I broke two cases and several loose boxes; so I am not super heavily invested in this release; I won't make a fortune if it takes off and I won't get hurt if it tanks. But I do believe in it and am enjoying breaking it and sorting it. If it ends up tanking, it won't be the first time I have been wrong; I'm not driven by an ego that needs to be "right" about everything. But I am passionate about how much I am enjoying this product... there simply has not been much to get excited about in the non-sports (or sports) world for a long time.

Now you can all go back to your complaining.

[cjbblue]

Actually 8 posts, 9 with this one.

You mention new collectors are buying this, but how did new collectors find out about this product? It doesn't matter if it is from Topps, people that aren't already collectors have no clue what Topps is and I can't imagine the average Disney fan will ever hear about this or really any other Disney releases, unless the way they are being promoted changes drastically moving forward.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by PrinceVegeta

lord have mercy

They were sorely disappointed in the product. Especially after paying close to $700/box.

Their “best “ hit was a Mickey purple refractor.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by cjbblue

Actually 8 posts, 9 with this one.

You mention new collectors are buying this, but how did new collectors find out about this product? It doesn't matter if it is from Topps, people that aren't already collectors have no clue what Topps is and I can't imagine the average Disney fan will ever hear about this or really any other Disney releases, unless the way they are being promoted changes drastically moving forward.

Most disney collectors have no clue what topps chrome is.

It’s all the sports guys who are trying to capitalize on a “new” product line.

All I hear about is potential for grading, trying to pull a superfractor, and how much the singles and boxes can be flipped for.

Very few Disney collectors know or even care what a superfractor is.

It’s all the card guys getting their next profit fill as it’s been tough, really rough in the last year for sports cards and new product lines.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Tim

Sorry for the delay - life happens and I'm not glued here like I used to be.

Man oh man what a shame so many bitter and resentful people have taken over this site. I don't post much any more for that reason (not talking about you dynaetch). We have someone with 7 posts snarking it up at me because I was a day late responding. So I wonder how much that person has contributed to this community in his other 7 posts? And then there's herman what's his name who lashes out at any chance toward anyone that he thinks is a "flipper," even though I tried to help him in the bb thread recently. Listen, I get it, the resentment is real and valid since the losers came onboard during the pandemic. Things have changed for the worse for both collectors and dealers. Breakers have hurt our hobby. None of this justifies the constant bitterness and snarkiness by so many disgusted hobbyists. I've been a collector and dealer for 40 years and have seen a lot; if you can't adapt to the changing landscape you will be left behind to wallow in your own bitterness.

Now with that said, I LIKE the Disney Chrome release as a collector and, yes, as a dealer too. The cards are beautiful. The QC is excellent. I like Disney so I like the set. The parallels are stunning. It over delivers (5 hits per box, not 4). I DO think a gorgeous color parallel counts as a hit and think 5 hits per box is fantastic.

I agree the autos are silly but that kinda adds to the folksiness; I think they should have had each auto be handwritten instead of a facsimile though. Just b/c sports guys are selling this doesn't mean that is who is collecting it. This is a legit non-sports card release and yes, a lot of my sales are going to new collectors who most definitely are not sports card flippers. As I mentioned in the other thread, I think the fact that it's a well known product line from the #1 trading card manufacturer in the world will add to the collectibility of this product - this is not some Chinese company that no one has heard of.

As far as comparing it to recent releases that eventually tanked, what about Galaxy Chrome SW from 2020? That one sure didn't tank.

I broke two cases and several loose boxes; so I am not super heavily invested in this release; I won't make a fortune if it takes off and I won't get hurt if it tanks. But I do believe in it and am enjoying breaking it and sorting it. If it ends up tanking, it won't be the first time I have been wrong; I'm not driven by an ego that needs to be "right" about everything. But I am passionate about how much I am enjoying this product... there simply has not been much to get excited about in the non-sports (or sports) world for a long time.

Now you can all go back to your complaining.

What exactly is going to drive singles prices up in the Disney universe?

In sports, if a player does well on the field, it creates more demand for their cards.

What will create hordes of new dumbo topps chrome collectors besides the sports guys wanting to get singles “for their kids”?

I agree with you that the product is nice, but over $700/box nice to collect? I think that’s what most people are skeptical about.

[PoPCulture]

Living in North Central Florida, I know a lot of Disney enthusiasts and collectors of all different types of items. The 1 thing I can guarantee you with most Disney collectors is that when they see a $100,000 price tag on a Dumbo card it won’t drive them toward the product. It will make them care less or not at all.

[fabiani12333]

I think these new-product hype-cycles and collective pump-and-dumps in the hobby have reached a point of diminishing returns. Many of the people who entered the hobby during pandemic bubble have wised up -- they aren't so easily tricked into buying price-inflated stuff anymore. And there just aren't enough new entrants into the hobby to trick either.

I think flippers are going to have to adapt or die -- it's the way of the world.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Tim

And then there's herman what's his name who lashes out at any chance toward anyone that he thinks is a "flipper," even though I tried to help him in the bb thread recently.

Hermano -- any relation to Herman Munster?

The flipper mash ♫

[pjs2000]

Pumpers and dumpers.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Tim

Sorry for the delay - life happens and I'm not glued here like I used to be.

Man oh man what a shame so many bitter and resentful people have taken over this site. I don't post much any more for that reason (not talking about you dynaetch). We have someone with 7 posts snarking it up at me because I was a day late responding. So I wonder how much that person has contributed to this community in his other 7 posts? And then there's herman what's his name who lashes out at any chance toward anyone that he thinks is a "flipper," even though I tried to help him in the bb thread recently. Listen, I get it, the resentment is real and valid since the losers came onboard during the pandemic. Things have changed for the worse for both collectors and dealers. Breakers have hurt our hobby. None of this justifies the constant bitterness and snarkiness by so many disgusted hobbyists. I've been a collector and dealer for 40 years and have seen a lot; if you can't adapt to the changing landscape you will be left behind to wallow in your own bitterness.

I dont think it's bitterness and resentfulness as much as just people being realistic (and maybe tired of) having seen this sort of thing over and over...it has become pretty common in nonsports- we went through the Marvel PMGs skyrocketing, Star Wars Sapphire, and the other recent shiny Disney sets, among others.

There's not a lot of use going back and forth on it though, it's just something you can wait and check back in (say a year or two out) and see what happens. I fully expect there to be a deflation in prices like those other set, but if Im wrong I'll happily admit it as well.

If someone likes the look of the set and wants to collect it- great! Im just skeptical it's traditional Disney collectors collecting these or buying boxes to open- it's card people, from both sports and nonsports, and opening boxes is generally a gambling thing going for low numbered cards, and singles prices are often propped up to keep the hype going in the short term, as well as boxes up. Are there really that many Disney character collectors out there?

Im not trying to be a debbie downer, and sure it's fun to get excited about new releases. Just being realistic for what I think this is. The unfortunate side effect of this, is like SW Sapphire 1 or those other examples, well-meaning collectors who buys let's say a Dumbo red refractor for like $3k, will lose a lot of money in terms of value if the product falls or crashes. It's a risk they should know though. (it's possible in new hype releases like this not all sales are legit either, and people can be misled by fake comps).

I agree with you though it's not a place to get angry/bitter about other people's opinions, everyone is entitled to their own and sometimes we just disagree.

[DynaEtch]

edit: nvm. I'm going on too much about it. I say just...collect what you like!

Im a Disney fan myself and just think it'd be nice for a regular ol Disney nonsports release that didnt cost like $700 a box subject to the hype crowd. Maybe something above the level of the cheapo Lion King UD set or old school Beauty and the Beast Pro Set...something between that price level and what we're seeing for Disney Chrome. Also something with sketches, autos, or relics.

[N8theGR8]

Seeing 1-box breaks online totaling $1000/box. Insane. Would love to have a box or even bust a few packs…but not at these ridiculous prices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ricebellypanda]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

edit: nvm. I'm going on too much about it. I say just...collect what you like!

Im a Disney fan myself and just think it'd be nice for a regular ol Disney nonsports release that didnt cost like $700 a box subject to the hype crowd. Maybe something above the level of the cheapo Lion King UD set or old school Beauty and the Beast Pro Set...something between that price level and what we're seeing for Disney Chrome. Also something with sketches, autos, or relics.

There's plenty of cheap Kakawow Disney products. Hot box

[KhalDrogo]

This is the stupidest pump and dump of the last four years. Immediately IG block for anybody posting this garbage. Unbelievable how desperate people have become.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

This is the stupidest pump and dump of the last four years. Immediately IG block for anybody posting this garbage. Unbelievable how desperate people have become.

The hobby has definitely jumped the shark with this product.

Disney trading cards featuring Goofy and Donald Duck are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become.

[Archangel1775]

I'm in a few Facebook groups and just saw a random comment about "Getting into the Disney space" to sell these cards on Whatnot. What's happening is these are going "viral" in the card community and it's now a game of hot potato.

[jbettis32]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

The hobby has definitely jumped the shark with this product.

Disney trading cards featuring Goofy and Donald Duck are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become.

You can apply this theory to all sports or non-sport cards too....

Football trading cards featuring Brady and Mahomes (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

Basketball trading cards featuring MJ and Lebron (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

TCG trading cards featuring Charizard and Pikachu are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

So the hobby should be ......

[Rictor]

Trading card bubble/crash made the news today:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/...outlook-2024-1

Downward trend for the last 2 years for all collectibles following the rise during the pandemic. I think the real crash is still to come though. Right now the economy is still doing fine. Higher interest rates and inflation have slowed spending, but we haven't seen a housing crash/big bank failure/auto industry failure trifecta like we did back in 2008. The next housing crash/lending scandal could come any day now. If people couldn't afford their loans before housing prices jumped 300%, they definitely can't afford them now. How many millions of people are behind on the loans taken out in the last couple years?

All the banking restrictions put in place during the Obama years to prevent another home lending banking scandal were removed during the Trump years, so once again banks are giving out loans left and right to people who can't afford them at huge interest rates and then bundling those garbage loans together and passing them back and forth like the latest hot trading cards to see who gets stuck with them when the bottom falls out.

[Raymond23]

There are a lot of “real” collectibles for Disneyphiles to spend their money on that they won’t even notice this. By “real”, I mean stuff sold by Disney at Disney parks or their official stores and manufactured by Disney. So, stuff that is made by a third party (even with a legit Disney license) will get ignored.

Could trading cards be the next big thing with the Disney crowd? Sure. But this isn’t it.

Here’s how it could happen. Disney hires (not license) Topps or UD to make a set. Heck, let’s pretend it’s this one. It’s only available on Disney property. Only one store per park sells them, and they have a limited quantity available each day. Each park has a specific insert set or parallel exclusive to that park. Disney sets up trading centers at every park. Hand written autographs on card by Disney cast (costumed character actors are already trained how to sign Mickey or Goofy for kids). Tie it in with other collectibles (redemption cards for exclusive pins not otherwise available for example, maybe exclusive character meet and greets, collect wrappers for exclusives such as reproduction lithographs, etc). Maybe add park used Disney costume cards and ultra rare genuine animation Cels. Numbered parallel cards (including 1/1 superfractors) etc. Tie in what Disney already does to market collectibles to their customers and add in features that collectors enjoy. That might result in a real card collecting boom in the Disney market.

This current release is a money grab and a pump & dump. Parallels are not hits (unless /10 or less). I watched Sapphire breaks and was reminded of ripping SW-TFA chrome blaster boxes for $20 and getting 2-3 parallels and a medallion card and I felt like I got ripped off at that price point…

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

The hobby has definitely jumped the shark with this product.

Disney trading cards featuring Goofy and Donald Duck are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become.

Originally Posted by jbettis32

You can apply this theory to all sports or non-sport cards too....

Football trading cards featuring Brady and Mahomes (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

Basketball trading cards featuring MJ and Lebron (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

TCG trading cards featuring Charizard and Pikachu are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

So the hobby should be ......

What fabiani is saying here is kind of comically true...but I do get the subsequent point as well. Heck it's second nature in marvel cards to have high end costumed character cards (not even talking about MCU auto cards, but comic cards)- cards of Spiderman or Wolverine like PMGs that can go in the tens of thousands. A 2013 Marvel retro green pmg spidey can go north of $100k...if that's not high end, I dont know what is. It's a card of a costumed superhero.

But is there a difference between that and Dumbo, Goofy, and Donald Duck? I think so. On a more superficial level someone might try to argue superheros are 'cooler' in some sense, not as much a kids thing as much of the Disney (eh..it's still superheros and also I enjoy Disney and Im definitely not a kid). I think a fundamental difference is the history of the hobby. Disney cards have been sporadic at best in the past, mostly random cheapo sets, until these flashy new sets. General Disney collectors arent the primary target of these as noted, it's the card people.

Marvel cards have a more continuous history going back to the 90s, many like me were kids collecting them at the time. Cards back in those days for me equaled Marvel cards, or baseball cards. So marvel cards grew to be thing to be collected, and not just action figures/comics/statues being notable collectibles for Marvel. There is a whole collecting hobby based around it: people going for all the master sets, people who like art, character collectors, and so forth. That is what gives marvel cards the value they have (talking primarily to the base/parallel/inserts...autos from MCU and sketches have some added intrinsic value beyond that). Since the Disney doesnt have the autos, sketches, or relics....is it associated with a similar level of master set collectors, character collectors, etc? I dont think so...not nearly to the level of something like Marvel at least.

Perhaps it just needs more time to build, more annual sets from Topps or even UD....but idk it just seems artificial right now and thrown at us. It's a gambling/flipping game more than a collecting thing. One reason I like marvel cards is the original commissioned art for sets like Masterpieces (surely SW has these types of sets too)- paintings and so forth, it's about the art. But in Disney it looks like they just take a screen still image of the character and superimpose it onto generic design card (this is actually the type of Marvel card I dont like, which does happen in many newer UD sets).

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by jbettis32

You can apply this theory to all sports or non-sport cards too....

Football trading cards featuring Brady and Mahomes (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

Basketball trading cards featuring MJ and Lebron (non auto, non GU, #/10) are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

TCG trading cards featuring Charizard and Pikachu are being promoted as high-end, expensive collectibles. At some point you've just got to realize how silly it's become....

So the hobby should be ......

There's tradition with those cards. They became valuable organically over time. The most valuable cards are decades old. The valuations of the new TC Disney cards are largely the result of manufactured hype and a pump and dump scheme by flippers.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

What fabiani is saying here is kind of comically true...but I do get the subsequent point as well. Heck it's second nature in marvel cards to have high end costumed character cards (not even talking about MCU auto cards, but comic cards)- cards of Spiderman or Wolverine like PMGs that can go in the tens of thousands. A 2013 Marvel retro green pmg spidey can go north of $100k...if that's not high end, I dont know what is. It's a card of a costumed superhero.

But is there a difference between that and Dumbo, Goofy, and Donald Duck? I think so. On a more superficial level someone might try to argue superheros are 'cooler' in some sense, not as much a kids thing as much of the Disney (eh..it's still superheros and also I enjoy Disney and Im definitely not a kid). I think a fundamental difference is the history of the hobby. Disney cards have been sporadic at best in the past, mostly random cheapo sets, until these flashy new sets. General Disney collectors arent the primary target of these as noted, it's the card people.

Marvel cards have a more continuous history going back to the 90s, many like me were kids collecting them at the time. Cards back in those days for me equaled Marvel cards, or baseball cards. So marvel cards grew to be thing to be collected, and not just action figures/comics/statues being notable collectibles for Marvel. There is a whole collecting hobby based around it: people going for all the master sets, people who like art, character collectors, and so forth. That is what gives marvel cards the value they have (talking primarily to the base/parallel/inserts...autos from MCU and sketches have some added intrinsic value beyond that). Since the Disney doesnt have the autos, sketches, or relics....is it associated with a similar level of master set collectors, character collectors, etc? I dont think so...not nearly to the level of something like Marvel at least.

Perhaps it just needs more time to build, more annual sets from Topps or even UD....but idk it just seems artificial right now and thrown at us. It's a gambling/flipping game more than a collecting thing. One reason I like marvel cards is the original commissioned art for sets like Masterpieces (surely SW has these types of sets too)- paintings and so forth, it's about the art. But in Disney it looks like they just take a screen still image of the character and superimpose it onto generic design card (this is actually the type of Marvel card I dont like, which does happen in many newer UD sets).

If not for the early-to-mid 90s Marvel card era, the Marvel card market might be very similar to the DC card market -- as in, nearly non-existent. Upper Deck's Marvel card lineup is primarily based on the 90s brands they acquired through Fleer.

This TC Disney product is in the midst of the artificial hype cycle. The goal is to create a market for it and then dump the cards at inflated prices on suckers. Just like the Marvel PMG pump-and-dump scheme of 2021, once people buy into the hype, prices become sticky due to bag holders not wanting to take a loss. But over time prices steadily drop as people sell and accept reality.

These hype cycles and pump and dump schemes are really played out at this point. People in the hobby are wiser now. There isn't the easy money or high number of new entrants to trick into buying pumped up cards like there was in 2020.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

If not for the early-to-mid 90s Marvel card era, the Marvel card market might be very similar to the DC card market -- as in, nearly non-existent. Upper Deck's Marvel card lineup is primarily based on the 90s brands they acquired through Fleer.

I pretty much agree. If that 90s situation was reversed, and all those sets featured DC and not Marvel, I think it's very possible this forum would be filled with DC-set threads. The impact Skybox/Fleer made on the hobby was enormous and basically established the hobby. DC doesnt really have that*...nor does Disney, again besides the sporadic cheapo sets.

*: ok it has some, like Batman Forever Metal, but nothing to the level of several sets per year like what marvel was doing. I was a kid in the 90s, and DC was barely on my radar at all.

[jdandns]

It wasn't for Skybox not trying with DC, as they made quite a few sets with them, they just weren't nearly as popular as the Marvel issues.
Superman and Batman focused series did OK, and were surely the equivalent of Spidey as a great subject for dedicated sets, but DC didn't really have a "hot" team to base multiple sets on like Marvel had with X-Men, and also couldn't get an annual "flagship" set going like Marvel did, even during the non-sports boom, with DC Cosmic Cards petering out after only 2 sets.

The 90's standouts for me were:

1."Kingdom Come" widevision with Alex Ross art
2. DC Villains
3. The Sandman
4. Batman Master Series
5. DC Legends Powerchrome

With the exception of Kingdom Come and Sandman, they were all available for discounted prices not long after release, with the Batman Master Series in particular being an especially poor seller at release.