2025 Topps Chrome Update

[Bob Ross]

Actually impressive how fanatics can make the hobby a little worse each day.

Rather astounding.

[IronCladLou]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

That’s some great news for the box flipper bois and middlemen! What a hobby!

We all saw this from the start - fanatics will be judge, jury and executioner. Making the hobby great again!

It is a great day for the breaker degen. A great day.

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by atomic619jd

I have no proof, but I have 2 thoughts based on observations over the years.

1. There's something about the way shipping works. It's not that they have allotment of certain cases that they make sure go to certain breakers.... but it's more to do with all of preorder shipping. These tend to be loaded with bigger, lower numbered cards.

Something about the order in which cases get loaded into the warehouse and then grabbed for presale shipping. My local LCS doesn't get a high amount of volume anymore, but the few cases they do get prior to release to be ready for release day always seem to be loaded with monster cards... then future waves of the same product they receive tend to be less and less impressive in terms of what comes out of them.

2. Pure volume. They received TONS of cases preorder and probably opened close to 100 cases yesterday? It's a numbers game. And if any part of my first hypothesis is correct... the preorder cases seem to be more fruitful based on how the product comes off the line, gets packed, stored and shipped out the door.

Either way... would LOVE to see a full audit done by a 3rd party company to see if my first point has any truth to it

Some don't, but I definitely agree that the first wave of preorders always seem to have more hits in them than subsequent waves. I think pure volume is also a factor, but also think that they definitely seem to funnel the hits to the bigger breakers. I think a little of all three is true.

[ObanMontecristo]

IMO, Chrome Update has become the epitome of the garbage put out by Fanatics…. terrible checklist, overloaded with crap autos and parallels, awful quality, waaaaaay overpriced. Yet somehow, people stand in line with money in hand because it’s shiny and they want to chase the debut patches (but if you’re lucky to hit one, it’s likely a no-name). Can’t wait til people wise up

[ctau00]

Originally Posted by Stech36

I pulled the super auto of one of those 4 guys haha.

Sorry... but at least its on card. I pulled one super that year, a Superstar Sensations insert from Chrome of a guy named Judge.

[livfreely]

Originally Posted by Funkster

Some don't, but I definitely agree that the first wave of preorders always seem to have more hits in them than subsequent waves. I think pure volume is also a factor, but also think that they definitely seem to funnel the hits to the bigger breakers. I think a little of all three is true.

This! If I miss the preorder I am hesitant to purchase on release day. BUT with what I have been seeing, this is hot garbage


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[seanbros55]

After purchasing 30+ cases between 2016-2022, I PROUDLY haven’t purchased anything from Topps/Fanatics since 2023 Series 1. And that’s not changing anytime soon. They’ve managed to destroy and suck every bit of enjoyment out of this hobby in 3 short years.

Well done.

[HoggieHunches]

Michael Rubin and Fanatics are poison to the entire industry. Greedy. Snakes in the grass. Can never be taken at their word.

Things are pretty gross in the hobby right now.

[MotorboatJones]

Yeah. Update Chrome is horrible

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

https://x.com/BarbellBreaks/status/1999281126783729744

https://www.reddit.com/r/sportscards..._own_breakers/

Writing was on the wall. People with a brain cell knew this was coming. You think the big breakers are safe, they're not. Fanatics is only using them for the time being until they start breaking themselves.

[blackbears86]

saw blasters for $40 a pop in one of my local stores today. I left it sit.

[Stech36]

1 jumbo and 1 hobby. Could have been a lot worse


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[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by mikejones

Writing was on the wall. People with a brain cell knew this was coming. You think the big breakers are safe, they're not. Fanatics is only using them for the time being until they start breaking themselves.

Right. Why doesn't Fanatics simply employ their own people and run breaks on Fanatics Live themselves? Or are the break companies (mama, layton, etc) on Fanatics Live already considered Fanatics employees, technically?

[sandyfrank]

Originally Posted by IronCladLou

Kurtz Debut is out. Now drop price please

Is this true?

EDIT - I just saw the story now on Baseball America, was pulled by a what not breaker - redemption from a Jumbo Hobby Box.

[Bob Ross]

All of the big sites asking $700-724.95 is truly appalling.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Right. Why doesn't Fanatics simply employ their own people and run breaks on Fanatics Live themselves? Or are the break companies (mama, layton, etc) on Fanatics Live already considered Fanatics employees, technically?

They're basically contracting out their breaking service -- they don't have to do it themselves. They treat breakers like franchisees and dictate the terms to them and have no liability. The breaker is responsible for staffing, overhead and running breaks.

Fanatics will eventually have an ePack-type of service, though -- they'd be stupid not to.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

All of the big sites asking $700-724.95 is truly appalling.

$30 blackjack table for thirty guys at once - sausage mania!

Are we having fun yet?

BOOM!

[weatherwarrior]

I buy a lot of dumb ish on the regular. But I couldnt bring myself to pony up for a jumbo.

Had some leftover money from an ebay gift card and went on ebay live for a couple of minutes.

Bought 2 packs. 1st pack was a Coby Mayo negative refractor


Second pack was these three.
Nacho alvarez /8 auto
Cam smith hyper
Marcelo Mayer aqua wave auto redemption

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[PuddleMonkey]

Do you chew your fingernails or purposely cut them that short?

[weatherwarrior]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Do you chew your fingernails or purposely cut them that short?

Thats not me lol. That was the breaker guy on ebay live with GCB...

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[IronCladLou]

Originally Posted by weatherwarrior

I buy a lot of dumb ish on the regular. But I couldnt bring myself to pony up for a jumbo.

Had some leftover money from an ebay gift card and went on ebay live for a couple of minutes.

Bought 2 packs. 1st pack was a Coby Mayo negative refractor


Second pack was these three.
Nacho alvarez /8 auto
Cam smith hyper
Marcelo Mayer aqua wave auto redemption

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You never miss! Well done

[kyle1707]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Isn't collusion fun?

It’s a dirty scummy place all these new buyers will slowly figure it out

It’s not the brightest group. As you all can see it’s going to take a while

300 hobby
600’delight
800 jumbo

How to lose all your money very quickly

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

saw blasters for $40 a pop in one of my local stores today. I left it sit.

Sadly, that’s as cheap as you’ll find it.

[johnlocke36]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

https://x.com/BarbellBreaks/status/1999281126783729744

https://www.reddit.com/r/sportscards..._own_breakers/

"i'm beyond upset about the direction this hobby is going" means I'm upset Topps (and a few select breakers) are going to make all the money as the middle man so I can no longer profit and get free money simply by being the middle man.

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Do you chew your fingernails or purposely cut them that short?

lol so gross


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