Topps Finest X-Men ’97– Q1 2025 - Page 14

kakarot12 · 02-26-2025, 02:13 PM

Already got my email for the 2 boxes I put in for. That was fast.

Kobefan · 02-26-2025, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brobocop

Maybe I'm in the minority but these cards just don't look good to me. Watching breaks, it seems like a product that should have been sub-$100, and even then, you'd be coming out behind. Considering true hits are few and far between, I don't get how the pricing on this is that close to WWE Chrome, which had a ton of numbered hits and two on-card autos per box.

May be not the majority, but not the only one. I'm not a fan of this set, the art is poopoo.

aricha729 · 02-26-2025, 02:19 PM

Opened my two boxes from the initial rip today, first box had an xfractor /97 and second box had a laser refractor to /199 plus an xfractor auto /97. Didn’t get any big name characters for these hits and definitely agree with the price point, even for $130 it’s a bit of a stretch.

aricha729 · 02-26-2025, 02:19 PM

Opened my two boxes from the initial drop today, first box had an xfractor /97 and second box had a laser refractor to /199 plus an xfractor auto /97. Didn’t get any big name characters for these hits and definitely agree with the price point, even for $130 it’s a bit of a stretch.

The Chad · 02-26-2025, 02:22 PM

i got an email a few minutes ago that i got picked for the fanatics drop, i had entered it today (maybe around 11ish). 2 boxes

ATLOTP · 02-26-2025, 02:22 PM

I ripped a box. /97, /199, /199. so I beat the odds but it still wasn't worth $130 imo

Sickleclaw · 02-26-2025, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brobocop

This break is just criminal. 15 spots at $24 each, meaning they are making $360 for the box. The same box that MSRP was around $129. Unless I’m missing something, this is absolute insanity and anyone spending $24 for a spot should have their money controlled like Brittney Spears once did.

Yeah, welcome to the world of breaks sadly, and how much they can make money hand over fist.

KevinCaptiva · 02-26-2025, 02:29 PM

Just got the email from Fanatics for the product drop for 2 boxes.

baseballcarding · 02-26-2025, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainCityShecks

Is this due to the new breaker culture we live in? So many breakers need product for cash flow that EVERYTHING somewhat desirable is insanely tough to purchase? This must be it.

They are literally doing 10 case breaks right now. Ridiculous how much money they make especially since they charge per character.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

eastbayak · 02-26-2025, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrominator

What kind of bot are you using, EastBay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastbayak

PM me.

Haha, I received a couple PMs and wanted to address this before it actually gets out of hand.

The only bot I use, which is free, are my own 2 hands.

RainCityShecks · 02-26-2025, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

They are literally doing 10 case breaks right now. Ridiculous how much money they make especially since they charge per character.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly. This happened w/ Topps Chrome Update Sapphire Baseball as well. Sold out in less than 30 seconds or so (so if you spun out you were toast). In the next hour breakers were breaking cases of the stuff. I was abso-@$#@-lutely furious.

glorbgorb · 02-26-2025, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

I have to say hearing breakers doing 10 case breaks today just irritates me how I couldn’t get a single box at msrp. I guess it just is what it is but how does this help the hobby long term? Or maybe this is the only way to help the hobby long term?

I mean, this seems to be the collective sentiment as soon as we heard Topps was getting the license and UD was out.

finfangfan · 02-26-2025, 03:05 PM

It doesn’t look like my box made it onto the FedEx truck today so I will probably have to wait until tomorrow to crack.

Bob Ross · 02-26-2025, 03:43 PM

Does anyone have the case count loaded today?

baseballcarding · 02-26-2025, 04:43 PM

Bored at work so hopped back on whatnot for a min. Someone asked how much for a box from a breaker and he said $350 and he shouldn’t even do the price that low. When is this breaking madness going to stop?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

aricha729 · 02-26-2025, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

Bored at work so hopped back on whatnot for a min. Someone asked how much for a box from a breaker and he said $350 and he shouldn’t even do the price that low. When is this breaking madness going to stop?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think that’s the part of these whatnot streams that drive me the most crazy. The Breakers are setting these insane dome box prices and then when they auction off random wheel spots or characters they start freaking out if any spots sell below the inflated number they want each spot to go for. I don’t know if they understand how annoying it is to be scolded for spending money on their break because it’s “too low.” I was watching some Topps Chrome WWE breaks the other day and it was obnoxious.

finfangfan · 02-26-2025, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

Bored at work so hopped back on whatnot for a min. Someone asked how much for a box from a breaker and he said $350 and he shouldn’t even do the price that low. When is this breaking madness going to stop?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably not for awhile. It seems like a pretty smart business model to merge social media/streaming with direct sales of product. You sell product to the people who are able to generate the most hype and who have a financial interest in your product being successful. They also have more reach than your traditional brick and mortar store.

EDIT: don’t get me wrong… I find the whole influencer model annoying but I can’t say it’s not profitable for Topps and can totally see why they are doing it.

RainCityShecks · 02-26-2025, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kakarot12

Already got my email for the 2 boxes I put in for. That was fast.

From Topps or the Fanatics drop?

baseballcarding · 02-26-2025, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aricha729

I think that’s the part of these whatnot streams that drive me the most crazy. The Breakers are setting these insane dome box prices and then when they auction off random wheel spots or characters they start freaking out if any spots sell below the inflated number they want each spot to go for. I don’t know if they understand how annoying it is to be scolded for spending money on their break because it’s “too low.” I was watching some Topps Chrome WWE breaks the other day and it was obnoxious.

We might have been watching the same break. I don’t know why but I like to watch breaks when I’m at work. I was watching some wwe chrome break and the breaker was literally getting upset wondering what he has to do to sell the spots at a higher rate or something. Like he was doing the buyers a favor. He was still making a ton of money on each spot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fabiani12333 · 02-26-2025, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

I have to say hearing breakers doing 10 case breaks today just irritates me how I couldn’t get a single box at msrp. I guess it just is what it is but how does this help the hobby long term? Or maybe this is the only way to help the hobby long term?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

I mean, this seems to be the collective sentiment as soon as we heard Topps was getting the license and UD was out.

The group breaking model is how the card manufacturer squeezes the most value out of their products. Without it, trading card products would worth a fraction of their current values.

But average people don't want to gamble on trading cards. And they don't have the desire or ability to spend significant amounts of disposable income, or max out their credit cards, participating in breaks. So, it's not a way to sustainably grow the market size of the "hobby" -- it's just a way to squeeze addicts and suckers out of more money.

Sickleclaw · 02-26-2025, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballcarding

Bored at work so hopped back on whatnot for a min. Someone asked how much for a box from a breaker and he said $350 and he shouldn’t even do the price that low. When is this breaking madness going to stop?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

350 and its hurting his wallet to get 'only' 3x profit lol.

fabiani12333 · 02-26-2025, 05:23 PM

At least Upper Deck has ePack, which allows for virtual pack opening. Fanatics relies on group breakers and Whatnot to distribute and promote their products. Marvel has effectively downgraded their trading card licensing by switching to Fanatics.

Plus, at least Upper Deck was commissioning original artwork for their Marvel sets and had Marvel trading card brands that dated back to the peak of non-sports cards in the early-to-mid 90s. Topps is starting from scratch and just going to go the cheap route by using recycled artwork.

Chrominator · 02-26-2025, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Haha, I received a couple PMs and wanted to address this before it actually gets out of hand.

The only bot I use, which is free, are my own 2 hands.

I was just being facetious. Glad you landed a few

finfangfan · 02-26-2025, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

At least Upper Deck has ePack, which allows for virtual pack opening. Fanatics relies on group breakers and Whatnot to distribute and promote their products. Marvel has effectively downgraded their trading card licensing by switching to Fanatics.

Plus, at least Upper Deck was commissioning original artwork for their Marvel sets and had Marvel trading card brands that dated back to the peak of non-sports cards in the early-to-mid 90s. Topps is starting from scratch and just going to go the cheap route by using recycled artwork.

I don’t think it’s a downgrade. Topps obviously outbid UD so it’s more money in Disney’s pocket. More money = licensing upgrade as far as Disney is concerned. I assume Topps will keep renewing the Marvel license and it will be a decade + until UD gets another shot.

fabiani12333 · 02-26-2025, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I don’t think it’s a downgrade. Topps obviously outbid UD so it’s more money in Disney’s pocket. More money = licensing upgrade as far as Disney is concerned. I assume Topps will keep renewing the Marvel license and it will be a decade + until UD gets another shot.

Short-term financial upgrade, but perhaps a long-term financial decline.

Upper Deck helped build up a customer base for Marvel cards in recent years. The Fanatics deal upends that market and fundamentally changes Marvel cards and how they are distributed.

Topps/Fanatics will target the gambling market and neglect the collector market Upper Deck helped build -- it means possibly fewer end-consumers in the long run.

02-26-2025, 02:22 PM	#330
The Chad Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 2,656	i got an email a few minutes ago that i got picked for the fanatics drop, i had entered it today (maybe around 11ish). 2 boxes __________________ Looking for: Rare Ernie Banks Allen & Ginter Cards 2014 Topps High Tek Ernie Banks Blue Dots Diffractor #/5 Follow me on Instagram: ispendtoomuchoncards

02-26-2025, 02:29 PM	#333
KevinCaptiva Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sketchfield USA Posts: 170	Just got the email from Fanatics for the product drop for 2 boxes. __________________ Fan of the NY Giants, Mets, Rangers, Knicks, St. Johns Redmen, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. http://sketchcollectors.com/gallery.php?user_id=746 WTB: Viceroy Carnival Sketches James Linares

02-26-2025, 02:13 PM	#326
kakarot12 Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,085 jrc12	Already got my email for the 2 boxes I put in for. That was fast.

02-26-2025, 02:19 PM	#328
aricha729 Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 446	Opened my two boxes from the initial rip today, first box had an xfractor /97 and second box had a laser refractor to /199 plus an xfractor auto /97. Didn’t get any big name characters for these hits and definitely agree with the price point, even for $130 it’s a bit of a stretch.

02-26-2025, 02:19 PM	#329
aricha729 Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 446	Opened my two boxes from the initial drop today, first box had an xfractor /97 and second box had a laser refractor to /199 plus an xfractor auto /97. Didn’t get any big name characters for these hits and definitely agree with the price point, even for $130 it’s a bit of a stretch.

02-26-2025, 02:22 PM	#331
ATLOTP Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 808 snuurd	I ripped a box. /97, /199, /199. so I beat the odds but it still wasn't worth $130 imo

02-26-2025, 03:05 PM	#338
finfangfan Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 10,812	It doesn’t look like my box made it onto the FedEx truck today so I will probably have to wait until tomorrow to crack.

02-26-2025, 03:43 PM	#339
Bob Ross Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 4,894	Does anyone have the case count loaded today?

02-26-2025, 04:43 PM	#340
baseballcarding Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 447 805sportscards	Bored at work so hopped back on whatnot for a min. Someone asked how much for a box from a breaker and he said $350 and he shouldn’t even do the price that low. When is this breaking madness going to stop? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-26-2025, 05:23 PM	#347
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 11,264	At least Upper Deck has ePack, which allows for virtual pack opening. Fanatics relies on group breakers and Whatnot to distribute and promote their products. Marvel has effectively downgraded their trading card licensing by switching to Fanatics. Plus, at least Upper Deck was commissioning original artwork for their Marvel sets and had Marvel trading card brands that dated back to the peak of non-sports cards in the early-to-mid 90s. Topps is starting from scratch and just going to go the cheap route by using recycled artwork.