Topps Project 2020 is the worst product since 1991 Fleer

[williemayshayes]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

still waiting for him to reach into his Brett/Ripken bag of talent

Hope he gives us a teal/navy Griffey to blow some minds.


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[MCyganik]

Originally Posted by RyanSwinger

Jeter JK5 > Williams Grotesk (and its not even close)

I’m glad you like the JK5 Jeter so strongly then! I personally like the Grotesk much more today. Which means at least between the two of us, Topps made an interesting pair in which we can partake in online discussion.

[MCyganik]

Originally Posted by williemayshayes

Siff Griffey
Calling my shot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Too soon for him (or anyone) to do a Kraken Ken Griffey in honor of the new NHL team?

[dOubleO]

Originally Posted by ClevelandIC

Trout Naturel Print Run Guesses? 12,500 here

I would say under 12K since Naturel is not really a fan-fave

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by dOubleO

I would say under 12K since Naturel is not really a fan-fave

where are tomorrows cards?

[ClevelandIC]

Originally Posted by dOubleO

I would say under 12K since Naturel is not really a fan-fave

That would be surprising but I wouldn't hate it. I got my 5 for my sets!

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by WJL Sports

It's a marketing decision that I've made with an understanding of the risks involved with pre-selling. There's a constant misconception that what I'm doing resembles the artist autograph editions. They can sign the cards when they get them in hand. So they can sell them as they come in. I can only get cards signed by Trout when he is available. So if I was waiting to sell each card until right before he signed them, I would be selling 4-5 cards at the same time. As much as I've gotten feedback about pre-selling ("holding on to collectors money for an indefinite period of time" as you put it), I've also gotten feedback asking me to space out my releases. I can't do both. I've chosen to space out the releases so that I can deliver these cards as soon as possible while spacing out the releases.

I'm only "holding on to collectors money" if collectors choose to buy these. I'm being very transparent and forthcoming about the expected timelines. If they sit on my website unsold, then I'm not holding anyone's money. I'm simply making these available on a certain date.

What is the "expected timeline" for Friday's autograph to be signed and shipped?

Again, I understand the decision, I'm just not sure I agree it's the best one, but I am most definitely not someone you need to listen to.

I think the majority of people spending money would prefer to spend it knowing they will be getting what they purchased sooner than later. I doubt very many people would rather give money not knowing when an item will arrive simply to "spread out" their purchases. But I could be wrong.

As I understand it, you're not out very much money, if any, if you wait until you know when he will sign to sell these. However, selling them now puts our money in your pocket for an indefinite period of time, and that feels awkward to me.

[ThoseBackPages]

how much are these autos?

how many are being sold?

how long is the wait? six months?

i see where Matt is coming from in not wanting to provide an interest free loan for a few months


ETA: this is not like dealing with a $20 topps P2020 pre-order and having to wait months for it to arrive

[WJL Sports]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

What is the "expected timeline" for Friday's autograph to be signed and shipped?

Again, I understand the decision, I'm just not sure I agree it's the best one, but I am most definitely not someone you need to listen to.

I think the majority of people spending money would prefer to spend it knowing they will be getting what they purchased sooner than later. I doubt very many people would rather give money not knowing when an item will arrive simply to "spread out" their purchases. But I could be wrong.

As I understand it, you're not out very much money, if any, if you wait until you know when he will sign to sell these. However, selling them now puts our money in your pocket for an indefinite period of time, and that feels awkward to me.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm running my business this way as I have visibility into the challenges and costs that others don't as well as the aggregated feedback from customers. If I get to a point of requiring suggestions or advice, I will certainly let you know as I know you're running a successful operation yourself.

I hope you'll choose to continue to purchase my cards in the future, maybe when they are closer to the release date. But I understand if you don't.

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by WJL Sports

I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm running my business this way as I have visibility into the challenges and costs that others don't as well as the aggregated feedback from customers. If I get to a point of requiring suggestions or advice, I will certainly let you know as I know you're running a successful operation yourself.

I hope you'll choose to continue to purchase my cards in the future, maybe when they are closer to the release date. But I understand if you don't.

You're sorry I feel what way? That it feels awkward?

You said, "I'm being very transparent and forthcoming about the expected timelines".

When can we expect Friday's offering to be signed and shipped?

[CardFarmer]

Originally Posted by BigEd

Vides Griffey was #148, so we're not too overdue. Do we know what's dropping tomorrow?

Griffey is actually the most overdue of all players, followed by George Brett. Greg Siff is also overdue, so maybe a Siff Griff?

[buzzardsroost]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

You're sorry I feel what way? That it feels awkward?

You said, "I'm being very transparent and forthcoming about the expected timelines".

When can we expect Friday's offering to be signed and shipped?

The other day he said it may be November before they can get signed

[WJL Sports]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

how much are these autos?

how many are being sold?

how long is the wait? six months?

i see where Matt is coming from in not wanting to provide an interest free loan for a few months


ETA: this is not like dealing with a $20 topps P2020 pre-order and having to wait months for it to arrive

43 card (/1,/5,/10,/27).

The wait is uncertain. That's my point. They will be signed no later than November. It's possible they will be signed earlier. But people would complain just as much if I overpromised and underdelivered. So, I'm making it a point to be as conservative as possible in my estimates. Once again, we're talking about the best player on the planet, during a global pandemic, during a heightened tensions baseball season, while his wife is about to give birth to their first child any day now. There is nothing like this going on in project 2020. There is no other active player. There is no one else offering MLB authenticated items. There are challenges here that, to be honest, you probably don't comprehend the complexity of. For me to make any guarantee about timelines would set myself up for coming up short. I'd rather tell you the worst case scenario and the pleasantly surprise you.

To be clear, I'm not questioning Matt's lack of interest in not wanting to "provide an interest free loan" even if I don't necessarily agree with the wording. I'm beginning to offer the product for sale. If customers don't want to buy them, they will sit. Then they can buy them right before they are signed. Everyone wins.

[hammertime]

Maxed out my Discover cashback rewards in the first month...time to borrow the wife's card.

[BigEd]

Originally Posted by CardFarmer

Griffey is actually the most overdue of all players, followed by George Brett. Greg Siff is also overdue, so maybe a Siff Griff?

I consider 20 cards as due, so I say a little overdue, but he's definitely the next one up. If my records are correct, Mo is just a little behind (edit: you're right, it's Brett and then Mo).

Siff, Cartoon, Fucci, Saladeen, and Taylor are the next artists up. Efdot is dropping Cal tomorrow, so my guess would be any of those artists doing Griffey. Taylor usually posts a preview, so my money is on Siff or Cartoon.

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by WJL Sports

43 card (/1,/5,/10,/27).

The wait is uncertain. That's my point. They will be signed no later than November. It's possible they will be signed earlier. But people would complain just as much if I overpromised and underdelivered. So, I'm making it a point to be as conservative as possible in my estimates. Once again, we're talking about the best player on the planet, during a global pandemic, during a heightened tensions baseball season, while his wife is about to give birth to their first child any day now. There is nothing like this going on in project 2020. There is no other active player. There is no one else offering MLB authenticated items. There are challenges here that, to be honest, you probably don't comprehend the complexity of. For me to make any guarantee about timelines would set myself up for coming up short. I'd rather tell you the worst case scenario and the pleasantly surprise you.

To be clear, I'm not questioning Matt's lack of interest in not wanting to "provide an interest free loan" even if I don't necessarily agree with the wording. I'm beginning to offer the product for sale. If customers don't want to buy them, they will sit. Then they can buy them right before they are signed. Everyone wins.

Hence our concern(s).

For what it's worth...Thank you for bringing us additional P2020 MLB Authenticated Trout autos. I'm looking forward to receiving the two I've already purchased and will be paying attention to the remaining 18 as they are released.

[Ra3]

@wjl sports - so full disclosure - i haven’t purchased any of your cards yet, but i’m interested in two or three of the trout autographs by a couple of artists soon to come. i was looking at some of the photographs on your instagram and it looks like a great process but i have a question/observation , which if you’re not willing to answer, i totally understand, but:

it looks like you have a number of different cards that you took to the mid- july mike trout signing, and you reference ermsy, rochester, baller and thiele in one of your post hashtags, as well as making a comment about having 250 cards organized for the signing. there are also pictures of a baller card in the suitcase and pictures of a lot of other cards. i would guess these are not just ermsy and fucci cards, right? it also looks like the fucci cards were being prepped for signings, with the numbering already laid out on the backs of the cards. and i would think that these are the cards you brought to the signing? did trout sign only the ermsy cards? that would be kinda strange to bring all those cards there and not have trout sign 80% of them. is this more a matter of inventory control where you don’t want to release the other already-signed cards until the thiele cards sell?

like i said, not a problem if you don’t want to answer because it’s your business practices, but i was just curious about the signings and how they work, because i’ve never been involved in one. and like i said, there are some artists coming up that i’m enthusiastic about.

[BigEd]

Originally Posted by WJL Sports

43 card (/1,/5,/10,/27).

The wait is uncertain. That's my point. They will be signed no later than November. It's possible they will be signed earlier. But people would complain just as much if I overpromised and underdelivered. So, I'm making it a point to be as conservative as possible in my estimates. Once again, we're talking about the best player on the planet, during a global pandemic, during a heightened tensions baseball season, while his wife is about to give birth to their first child any day now. There is nothing like this going on in project 2020. There is no other active player. There is no one else offering MLB authenticated items. There are challenges here that, to be honest, you probably don't comprehend the complexity of. For me to make any guarantee about timelines would set myself up for coming up short. I'd rather tell you the worst case scenario and the pleasantly surprise you.

To be clear, I'm not questioning Matt's lack of interest in not wanting to "provide an interest free loan" even if I don't necessarily agree with the wording. I'm beginning to offer the product for sale. If customers don't want to buy them, they will sit. Then they can buy them right before they are signed. Everyone wins.

I'm an accountant and small business advisor, so I will be the first person to say that you should do your thing and follow what you think is best. To be fair to Matt, you should totally understand his point of view and be prepared for that kind of response from some of your customers. I don't think you've done much here to address his concerns and there are a number of potential customers reading through and not posting here, and I'd guess a number of them have a similar concern. Now, you may say you have a ton of experience and don't need advice, and that these will all eventually sell, but Matt's coming from a place of market responsibility, which isn't about whether you'll come out okay. Cater to the collectors you want to reach, that's totally fine. But be aware that this board is full of people who value collecting and don't take too kindly to someone reaching for a buck. I don't think that's what you're trying to do, but it kinda comes across that way from your responses.

[WJL Sports]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

Hence our concern(s).

For what it's worth...Thank you for bringing us additional P2020 MLB Authenticated Trout autos. I'm looking forward to receiving the two I've already purchased and will be paying attention to the remaining 18 as they are released.

I hear you and I'm doing my best to keep people as happy as possible. I think the (many) people that had concerns around the Ermsy release wish they had bought them. I think the people that took the risk are pretty happy they did so now.

[WJL Sports]

Originally Posted by Ra3

@wjl sports - so full disclosure - i haven’t purchased any of your cards yet, but i’m interested in two or three of the trout autographs by a couple of artists soon to come. i was looking at some of the photographs on your instagram and it looks like a great process but i have a question/observation , which if you’re not willing to answer, i totally understand, but:

it looks like you have a number of different cards that you took to the mid- july mike trout signing, and you reference ermsy, rochester, baller and thiele in one of your post hashtags, as well as making a comment about having 250 cards organized for the signing. there are also pictures of a baller card in the suitcase and pictures of a lot of other cards. i would guess these are not just ermsy and fucci cards, right? it also looks like the fucci cards were being prepped for signings, with the numbering already laid out on the backs of the cards. and i would think that these are the cards you brought to the signing? did trout sign only the ermsy cards? that would be kinda strange to bring all those cards there and not have trout sign 80% of them. is this more a matter of inventory control where you don’t want to release the other already-signed cards until the thiele cards sell?

like i said, not a problem if you don’t want to answer because it’s your business practices, but i was just curious about the signings and how they work, because i’ve never been involved in one. and like i said, there are some artists coming up that i’m enthusiastic about.

No you are 100% correct. Trout was supposed to sign all 5 of those cards. Trout was supposed to inscribe the Ben Baller cards too. That's why I skipped them in the sale order. I want to make sure I don't post those for sale if I'm not 100% sure they are inscribed.

That gets at my point. When an artist in this project decides that he or she is going to sign 250 cards. It happens. If it doesn't happen today, it happens tomorrow.

MLAM, who I have partnered with on this release, was managing a shitstorm of trying to have a signing with him a week before opening day during a global pandemic. They choose quality over quantity with regards to the cards, which I respect and agree with. They are aware of the urgency with these and are also doing their best to have Trout sign the cards as soon as possible.

[Ra3]

Originally Posted by WJL Sports

No you are 100% correct. Trout was supposed to sign all 5 of those cards. Trout was supposed to inscribe the Ben Baller cards too. That's why I skipped them in the sale order. I want to make sure I don't post those for sale if I'm not 100% sure they are inscribed.

That gets at my point. When an artist in this project decides that he or she is going to sign 250 cards. It happens. If it doesn't happen today, it happens tomorrow.

MLAM, who I have partnered with on this release, was managing a shitstorm of trying to have a signing with him a week before opening day during a global pandemic. They choose quality over quantity with regards to the cards, which I respect and agree with. They are aware of the urgency with these and are also doing their best to have Trout sign the cards as soon as possible.

i get it, sounds like a nightmare juggling all those factors. thanks for the transparency and the very honest answer!

edit: so just to be clear - is this inventory control through holding back the release of already-signed cards, or was it the case that trout only signed the ermsy cards? that must have been frustrating if that’s the case.

[AirplaneDon]

Figures work is crushing me on a super interesting day. Enjoyed reading through this in the small windows I've had.

[WJL Sports]

Originally Posted by BigEd

I'm an accountant and small business advisor, so I will be the first person to say that you should do your thing and follow what you think is best. To be fair to Matt, you should totally understand his point of view and be prepared for that kind of response from some of your customers. I don't think you've done much here to address his concerns and there are a number of potential customers reading through and not posting here, and I'd guess a number of them have a similar concern. Now, you may say you have a ton of experience and don't need advice, and that these will all eventually sell, but Matt's coming from a place of market responsibility, which isn't about whether you'll come out okay. Cater to the collectors you want to reach, that's totally fine. But be aware that this board is full of people who value collecting and don't take too kindly to someone reaching for a buck. I don't think that's what you're trying to do, but it kinda comes across that way from your responses.

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate that you have experience with small businesses. I understand the concerns and I'm not disagreeing with them. As you know as an accountant/advisor, the more variables involved, the more of a balancing act everything becomes. There are a lot of variables at play here. I am making a decision with the risks and customers in mind. I promise.

If you haven't looked into my background, I also have quite a bit of operational experience and education from some big name companies/schools. I don't bring it up because my point is not to throw it in anyone's face. But I do have a fair bit of training, for what that's worth (or isn't).

[justin80]

Originally Posted by CardFarmer

Griffey is actually the most overdue of all players, followed by George Brett. Greg Siff is also overdue, so maybe a Siff Griff?

I feel like Shore is overdue as well. Maybe a Shore Griffey? Or has that been done already?

[RickeyHenderson]

997 Thiele companion cards on sale 6 minutes ago and 199 left