First Buzz: 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards

[PDCCollectibles]

Originally Posted by Eckstein197

People aren’t angry at you, they’re just tired of your constant complaints. If you ran a data check on all your posts, odds are a majority of your posts are negative. When you bash every little thing, people don’t take you seriously. So when a big problem happens like the wood mini debacle, people just don’t listen to you because they are tired of hearing it from you. If you weren’t so negative all the time, when you post something people might actually listen and agree with you.

Exactly this....always negative with 'must be a Topps employee pumping up this product', or 'product is trash' or 'front loaded again' ..I could go on. Although, as a Phillies fan, I do think your comments on the regular baseball/Phillies thread are plausible

[Copeskey45]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

In terms of 2019, I’m curious what the stained glass minis and box topper rip cards will look like. It’s good to see they tried something new in a couple areas.

I am as well. This is a product that Topps can really use creativity with.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Is it possible all last year’s woods were inserted into a single box? Sounds like something that would happen in this “off-beat” product.

Sorry if this was already discussed.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

I agree with this. I do think some sort of action should be taken. It wouldn’t make everyone happy, but something is better than nothing at all.

I don’t agree that this is the “cost of doing business” as you previously stated. I work for a large manufacturing company that is publicly-traded and there’s no way we would say “we don’t know”, “sorry, but it’s the cost of doing business”, or “our third party vendor did it, so not our problem”. That would be wrong. I also disagree that they couldn’t make a statement if they found the packer screwed something up. They should absolutely tell the truth. Disclosure is important.

Inserting them in the 2019 release as you mentioned would be better than nothing and would make the product even more popular. Doesn’t make whole those who purchased 2018, but that would be for those folks to decide whether or not that bothered them enough to not buy anymore.

Maybe I watch too much Shark Tank, but there have been many folks on the show who shared situations where they lost 100K on an order because the manufacturer made a part wrong, and the money was gone, so they had to cancel pre-orders or put product on back order and inform the customer that they couldn't deliver on time or whatever. My understanding, again from the show, is that manufacturers get away with this kind of stuff all the time, and companies like Topps who rely on them end up screwed. That's the only reason I am giving Topps the benefit of the doubt here because I feel like they might have been screwed by the manufacturer and do not have a solution.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by scottagibson

Completely agree... what he's saying here is true regardless of what is posted in other threads by HK.

Where he loses me is on the solution. He complains without offering a reasonable solution. How does Topps "fix this"? Theres 3,500 cases of Ginter, 350 of which should have contained a wood mini. So "fixing this" means what? That 10% of all Ginter buyers get compensation from Topps? How does Topps decide which 10% to offer that to? Clearly the cards were either lost by the packer, or they were all inserted into a small run of cases that hasn't been opened yet. There is shared blame there. I just don't know what kind of solution anyone could expect from this other than what I proposed earlier which is to reprint them for this year's release. And even then, I'm not sure HK would be content because he would say that doesn't help last year's buyers.

[kyleuk21]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

Maybe I watch too much Shark Tank, but there have been many folks on the show who shared situations where they lost 100K on an order because the manufacturer made a part wrong, and the money was gone, so they had to cancel pre-orders or put product on back order and inform the customer that they couldn't deliver on time or whatever. My understanding, again from the show, is that manufacturers get away with this kind of stuff all the time, and companies like Topps who rely on them end up screwed. That's the only reason I am giving Topps the benefit of the doubt here because I feel like they might have been screwed by the manufacturer and do not have a solution.

We don’t make a collectible product, so maybe there’s a difference there. But yes, we make mistakes at times: shipping incorrect material, product defects, unexpected delays in lead times, etc. it’s a big deal to make that right, though. We deal with recurring customers, so no one would buy from us if we caused people to lose money and never compensated in one way or another.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

We don’t make a collectible product, so maybe there’s a difference there. But yes, we make mistakes at times: shipping incorrect material, product defects, unexpected delays in lead times, etc. it’s a big deal to make that right, though. We deal with recurring customers, so no one would buy from us if we caused people to lose money and never compensated in one way or another.

i think that's why its not pertinent to this conversation

[kyleuk21]

When is the checklist expected? I thought it was two weeks before release but I might be making that up.

[kyleuk21]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i think that's why its not pertinent to this conversation

It was pertinent to the comment of a problem with manufacturing or packing causing folks to lose money and a product being incorrect.

However, I do agree that our product is sold to businesses primarily while the largest customer base of cards is simply individuals. If people still use pwcc and use grading companies after all the fraud uncovered then I don’t see people boycotting Topps for a screwup or at least not enough to put a dent in their earnings.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

When is the checklist expected? I thought it was two weeks before release but I might be making that up.

tends to be the wednesday before release

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

It was pertinent to the comment of a problem with manufacturing or packing causing folks to lose money and a product being incorrect.

that is true.

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

tends to be the wednesday before release

This...........

[PDCCollectibles]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

Is it possible all last year’s woods were inserted into a single box? Sounds like something that would happen in this “off-beat” product.

Sorry if this was already discussed.

In my opinion, I think this is what happened....few cases out there with all the Wood Mini's....

[coltsnsox07]

For what it's worth, Blowout shows they're sold out of Ginter cases and boxes...

[Hockey24xx]

Originally Posted by coltsnsox07

For what it's worth, Blowout shows they're sold out of Ginter cases and boxes...

Yeah despite all the noise I think Ginter will sell well. Even with the missing wood mini's last years boxes are still $125+

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Hockey24xx

Yeah despite all the noise I think Ginter will sell well. Even with the missing wood mini's last years boxes are still $125+

i agree.

for the remainder of 2019, all wax will be helped out by having the cour four RCs in the base set

[PDCCollectibles]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i agree.

for the remainder of 2019, all wax will be helped out by having the cour four RCs in the base set

Yup, having these RC's, the 2nd half of the season with HH, TC, TU, then BD, look to be moving right along when it usually slows up.

[Bo Jackson]

Having been out of the hobby for a lot of years, it is overwhelming to jump back in and see all of the different products that are being offered currently. I must say though, that Ginter is one of the best looking series of cards available in my uneducated opinion.

I personally think too many people place too much emphasis on the potential to make money with cards, and it causes them to lose sight of the basic enjoyment of collecting.

When my youngest decided to collect cards, it reminded me of the excitement I had as a child when I started collecting. I began shopping ebay to find single autographed and game used cards of the players he likes, and had (have) no idea if the cards I am buying him are worth more, or less than the prices I am paying. I am buying based on who he likes, and based upon the aesthetic appeal of the cards alone.

With that said, I will be a buyer of these cards because they are great looking in my opinion. There are money market options for investment purposes. Collecting cards will remain an enjoyable hobby for me.

[HeritageKing]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

Where he loses me is on the solution. He complains without offering a reasonable solution. How does Topps "fix this"? Theres 3,500 cases of Ginter, 350 of which should have contained a wood mini. So "fixing this" means what? That 10% of all Ginter buyers get compensation from Topps? How does Topps decide which 10% to offer that to? Clearly the cards were either lost by the packer, or they were all inserted into a small run of cases that hasn't been opened yet. There is shared blame there. I just don't know what kind of solution anyone could expect from this other than what I proposed earlier which is to reprint them for this year's release. And even then, I'm not sure HK would be content because he would say that doesn't help last year's buyers.

You want me to come up with a solution too? LOL

How about topps showing up with the balls to say there was a mistake, sorry, a BIG MISTAKE. That they alone are responsible for what is in the product, and that this is what we are doing to make sure this never, ever happens again.

Here is what topps said:

...umm yeah there looks, i mean, there might be a problem with the woods, we think...hey they could be all stuck together in one pack or case?

They not only didn't give an answer to why this happened, but they used it as a marketing ploy to get people to buy more product!

Ask yourself what are the odds of a heavily opened product like ginter, NOT yielding a hot "box" or case by now? It has been a year now and nothing.

The solution starts with topps admitting they were in the wrong and were sorry for screwing thousands of long time loyal customers out of thousands of dollars. Not to mention all the wood 1/1 collectors who have collected their favorite player since 2006.

It is obvious that there are heavily invested collectors here who want to believe there are no problems with the hobby. I can also include in that group those who pre bought product who don't want to see this product tank, but the pressure we put on topps now will pay off in the future. I really don't see how you all can just turn the other cheek AGAIN.

[Eckstein197]

Originally Posted by HeritageKing

You want me to come up with a solution too? LOL

How about topps showing up with the balls to say there was a mistake, sorry, a BIG MISTAKE. That they alone are responsible for what is in the product, and that this is what we are doing to make sure this never, ever happens again.

Here is what topps said:

...umm yeah there looks, i mean, there might be a problem with the woods, we think...hey they could be all stuck together in one pack or case?

They not only didn't give an answer to why this happened, but they used it as a marketing ploy to get people to buy more product!

Ask yourself what are the odds of a heavily opened product like ginter, NOT yielding a hot "box" or case by now? It has been a year now and nothing.

The solution starts with topps admitting they were in the wrong and were sorry for screwing thousands of long time loyal customers out of thousands of dollars. Not to mention all the wood 1/1 collectors who have collected their favorite player since 2006.

It is obvious that there are heavily invested collectors here who want to believe there are no problems with the hobby. I can also include in that group those who pre bought product who don't want to see this product tank, but the pressure we put on topps now will pay off in the future. I really don't see how you all can just turn the other cheek AGAIN.

Quick question: Does Topps pack out their own products or is there a third party that packs out all the products with a contractual agreement with Topps?

[salthill]

Originally Posted by Eckstein197

Quick question: Does Topps pack out their own products or is there a third party that packs out all the products with a contractual agreement with Topps?

The latter

[Eckstein197]

Originally Posted by salthill

The latter

That’s what I thought, just wanted to confirm.

So if the problem was that the third party did not package it out, it makes sense from a business/contract stand point that Toppa did not come out and blame the company that packs it out. That company essentially holds all of Topps profit. Mistakes happen, it really sucks but there is no way to make this situation right. If it starts to continually happen that’s when there will be massive problems

[salthill]

Originally Posted by HeritageKing

How about topps showing up with the balls to say there was a mistake, sorry, a BIG MISTAKE. That they alone are responsible for what is in the product, and that this is what we are doing to make sure this never, ever happens again.

Yes. Instead they took the usual approach of ignoring everything until it calms down again.

[Tim]

Missing 1 of 1 Fords in Stellar as well - hard to give topps any benefit of the doubt.

[coachnip13]

Originally Posted by HeritageKing

The solution starts with topps admitting they were in the wrong and were sorry for screwing thousands of long time loyal customers out of thousands of dollars. Not to mention all the wood 1/1 collectors who have collected their favorite player since 2006.

You're completely unhinged.

There were supposed to be 350 wood minis. Not "thousands". "Thousands" of customers didn't get screwed.

There were over 8,000,000 A&G cards printed in 2018. Something happened to 350 of them. At the packing house. But somehow Topps, and "Topps alone", is responsible.