Thanks Topps (Bowman Chrome)

[jhssketchcards]

I get it. Stuff happens. Print lines, defects etc with Chrome cards. I’m sure we all have a nice story of pulling a great card only to be deflated seeing the dreaded print line, dinged corner, dented edge and so on. Base chromes and non-numbered refractors I’ve seen countless times this happen with.
I took a chance and busted a 2025 Bowman Blaster and behold, the best card I pulled is a nice Charlie Condon 1st Bowman Chrome refractor /499. It was a nice little consolation from an otherwise forgetful blaster, so I was excited for 2 seconds when I put it into the light.

Looks great… but-

Can’t see it well, but a hairline scratch angling down to towards the • in between Prospects


Roller scuff from outside his elbow to just past the border

Nice juicy dimple #1

and his ugly little sister further down.

Like I said, I get it. I’m sure the factory workers at Fanatics are highly skilled card guys who take tremendous pride and care when handling trading cards, especially serial numbered ones, but c’mon Topps. Do better.


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[BraveAtlanta]

I bought one of Charlie’s Shimmer refractor cards this week. Yep, two print lines on it…one horizontal and one vertical.

[Osfan81]

Originally Posted by BraveAtlanta

I bought one of Charlie’s Shimmer refractor cards this week. Yep, two print lines on it…one horizontal and one vertical.

Conspiracy theory alert...they're just doing it so the price of PSA 10s goes up. That way, when singles of PSA 10s are sold, the value is higher creating more demand for the unopened stuff. Believe that machiavellian nonsense, and I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. hahaha...Weaponized incompetence.

[OhioLawyerF5]

It's not factory workers, it's machines. And machines don't give a crap what you think about whether your card is "gem worthy."

[jhssketchcards]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

It's not factory workers, it's machines. And machines don't give a crap what you think about whether your card is "gem worthy."

True, but a worker handles the cards, especially the rarer cards at their print facilities. QC should notice this before insertion. As much run-off as they do on this stuff, it’s not hard to say “let’s scrap these and do another 50-100. But ultimately no one cares at these companies about quality of product. That’s why we get relics and autos of back up players and guys who are out of the league before product hits the streets.


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[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

True, but a worker handles the cards, especially the rarer cards at their print facilities. QC should notice this before insertion. As much run-off as they do on this stuff, it’s not hard to say “let’s scrap these and do another 50-100. But ultimately no one cares at these companies about quality of product. That’s why we get relics and autos of back up players and guys who are out of the league before product hits the streets.


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I am looking at blown up images with red arrows pointing at the defects and can hardly see them (other than the dimples). I wouldn't expect a QC spot check to catch it.

Cards aren't going to be gem mint out of the pack. We shouldn't expect it. Minor blemishes should be expected.

It's just unrealistic expectations that is the issue here, not a lack of caring about QC. They pump out millions of cards. A few dimples or roller marks here and there is completely normal and to be expected. It is not an indication they don't care. If they didn't care, you would know it. And you wouldn't need to add red arrows to your pictures to show it.

BTW, I'm just busting your chops. Not trying to be a jerk or start and argument.

[sammyjankis]

Grading ruined the “hobby”.

[bub838]

https://www.topps.com/support/produc...ct-submissions

[hermanotarjeta]

If they did too well, every card graded would be gem mint and there would no longer be a premium for a PSA 10. There would no longer be upgrading your collection or extending your chase for your perfect copy.

We don’t want that, do we?

[tonedef2oo8]

Lmao yeah bro they need a guy to go every card with a magnifying glass . ��

[tonedef2oo8]

Originally Posted by sammyjankis

Grading ruined the “hobby”.

More specifically entitled people and greed did all that.

[Picklepete]

Originally Posted by tonedef2oo8

More specifically entitled people and greed did all that.

100% ..

[SaveMeTheGum]

If every card comes out of the pack a 10, what's the point of grading.

[boxbuster7]

that one should get a psa 11

[JUNKWAX]

I mean I see what you are talking about, but these are raw cards you bought. The fact that they were in a pack does not change that. If you want a 10 you should buy a 10. There is a reason they command a premium.

[jhssketchcards]

First of all I don’t grade. I sell to people here to buy what I want or sell elsewhere. If they decide to grade that’s fine of course. Interesting points though… say you pull a 2026 Topps Black Caglione RC next spring. I’m sure a nice dented corner or print line would be totally acceptable as “part of it“ according to you guys right? You send it to Topps for a replacement. No way you just accept it as part of the risk right. But I’m sure you guys don’t grade cards either…

So does the same hold true of a card you buy here is delivered dented or damaged you just accept it as USPS having lazy workers? No way any of you just accept USPS carelessness.


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[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

First of all I don’t grade. I sell to people here to buy what I want or sell elsewhere. If they decide to grade that’s fine of course. Interesting points though… say you pull a 2026 Topps Black Caglione RC next spring. I’m sure a nice dented corner or print line would be totally acceptable as “part of it“ according to you guys right? You send it to Topps for a replacement. No way you just accept it as part of the risk right. But I’m sure you guys don’t grade cards either…

So does the same hold true of a card you buy here is delivered dented or damaged you just accept it as USPS having lazy workers? No way any of you just accept USPS carelessness.


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Strawman. A dented corner is not the same as a print line/scratch/dimple and you know it. These defects are so common that I don't even disclose them in eBay listings.

A dented corner is not normal and rarely happens. If you had shown us a picture of a dented corner, we would have told you to replace it and everyone would have been in agreement.

Your second point is a completely different situation as well. Shipping carriers are not printers. There is not a "norm" for wear and tear when transporting something from point A to point B. A well-protected package with proper casing should not be damaged by a shipping carrier. Their entire system is built on keeping packages safe. If a card shipped in a toploader with a bubble mailer arrives dented, that means it got caught in a machine or run over by a forklift or something that is not natural, and of course we would be upset if that happened and have a right to request a return or insurance claim.

[boxbuster7]

I feel like there is a amount of damage out of the pack a card can have and this crosses the line

I agree with the op