2024 topps update should be loaded! Right?

[wilsonsingles]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Not a shop owner, and I sell about 3 cards a year for whatever that means for you.

I’m just a believer in letting the free market shake things out.

There’s still a strong argument to be made that Fanatics isn’t charging enough for their products on release yet. I don’t want them to raise prices, but what would any business do if they kept selling out of their products at its current given price and getting even more in the aftermarket?

The are a few major problems.
Hobby stores are having their initial allocations cut drastically.
When they used to get 4-8 cases of Topps products, now they are getting 1-2 cases at cost.
They then mark those up to make about $15-$20 a box to sell to their loyal customers. They don't want to overcharge.
My LCS will only sell 2-3 boxes per customer even when many would take cases like they used to.

Then fanatics forces Hobby stores to rebuy at the new elevated prices, now 1.5 x cost.
People assume it is because the product is hot. This is not the case. It because the stores were not given a lot of product to sell, leaving many who came in late without reasonable prices.
This is direct manipultion.

Unfortunately, this is killing many Hobby shops and us the consumer.

Truly rigging the system for greater Fanatics/Topps profits.

[wilsonsingles]

Now in 2024 Topps, in S1 S2 and now update, is manipulating the collation of base cards so you can only make 1-2 sets per case.
Another ploy to try make consumers buy more product to finish making sets.

It has nothing to do with the amount of cards they print on a sheet during printing.
We had many previous releases in the mid 2015's that were 350 card Topps series sets and they had no collation issues.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by wilsonsingles

The are a few major problems.
Hobby stores are having their initial allocations cut drastically.
When they used to get 4-8 cases of Topps products, now they are getting 1-2 cases at cost.
They then mark those up to make about $15-$20 a box to sell to their loyal customers. They don't want to overcharge.
My LCS will only sell 2-3 boxes per customer even when many would take cases like they used to.

Then fanatics forces Hobby stores to rebuy at the new elevated prices, now 1.5 x cost.
People assume it is because the product is hot. This is not the case. It because the stores were not given a lot of product to sell, leaving many who came in late without reasonable prices.
This is direct manipultion.

Unfortunately, this is killing many Hobby shops and us the consumer.

Truly rigging the system for greater Fanatics/Topps profits.

Call it manipulation if you want, but it's basic economics. Topps has every right to sell their product how they want, in whatever manner they want, and for whatever price they want. And consumers, as well as hobby shops, have every right not to buy it at those prices or under those terms. You can claim the products aren't "hot" all you want. But if people buy at those prices, the market can clearly sustain it. And they will keep raising prices until they find that point where people stop buying. They have an inherent goal of getting the most profit they can out of their product. And since the middlemen have outlived their usefulness, you'd better get used to it. They can now capture all those profits themselves. And who can blame them?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Call it manipulation if you want, but it's basic economics. Topps has every right to sell their product how they want, in whatever manner they want, and for whatever price they want. And consumers, as well as hobby shops, have every right not to buy it at those prices or under those terms. You can claim the products aren't "hot" all you want. But if people buy at those prices, the market can clearly sustain it. And they will keep raising prices until they find that point where people stop buying. They have an inherent goal of getting the most profit they can out of their product. And since the middlemen have outlived their usefulness, you'd better get used to it. They can now capture all those profits themselves. And who can blame them?

Who is buying these boxes at higher costs?

Basic economics tells us:

1. Breakers
2. Degenerate gamblers
3. Box flipper bois

These are the three main components driving hobby prices up on each other and helping to make more profits for fanatics. Welcome to our new product hobby in 2024.

[mudder35]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Who is buying these boxes at higher costs?

Basic economics tells us:

1. Breakers
2. Degenerate gamblers
3. Box flipper bois

These are the three main components driving hobby prices up on each other and helping to make more profits for fanatics. Welcome to our new product hobby in 2024.

Since #1 and #3 prey on #2, doesn't that mean it's just #2?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by mudder35

Since #1 and #3 prey on #2, doesn't that mean it's just #2?

#2 can be fickle and unpredictable as prey.

#3 feeds on itself like cannibals.

#1 is certainly dependent on #2.

They are all part of the food chain with fanatics on top.

Singles collectors are the scavengers/bottom feeders, who prey on themselves.

[eldustino]

Originally Posted by rogueriver

My case is arriving today and I plan on busting it, does anybody know an easy way to sop the sp cards. Are they going to be upside down or easy to identify.

The gold backs makes it pretty it easy to find them if you miss once you've gone through everything.

Also they usually in the hit spot (only applicable to jumbo).

[phil]

went live a couple minutes early

[bd3d86]

Originally Posted by ObanMontecristo

are there double prints like there was in S1 & S2?

I don’t know for sure, but I literally got doubles within the same pack! So far in sorting the 300’s, I have 27 of some cards and 7 of others. That’s from a hobby and jumbo case.

[Mightymango]

Originally Posted by bd3d86

I don’t know for sure, but I literally got doubles within the same pack! So far in sorting the 300’s, I have 27 of some cards and 7 of others. That’s from a hobby and jumbo case.

Gross...can't wait to open mine when I get home. Reminds me of 90s junk wax collation, possibly worse.

[mikejones]

Was going to get a case of each but might just stick with a few boxes. The RC class is currently great but can't justify the price and collation to go in for a few cases.

[Whitealroker]

Originally Posted by mikejones

Was going to get a case of each but might just stick with a few boxes. The RC class is currently great but can't justify the price and collation to go in for a few cases.

Yes my one disappointment with my HTA box was collocation. Had a series 1 and 2 set all ready to make some complete three series sets and I’m over 100 cards shy.

[ScooterD]

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

[StlBen]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

Because some people are grumpy and like to yell at clouds.

[pac213up]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

I think it is just the higher risk vs return of the current market and the reset of the "lower" end products. The risk on the low end stuff has dramatically increased over the last 5 years.

[clsports]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

We bought boxes in the 80's hoping that the cards would be worth something someday.

We buy boxes now hoping we get instant value.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

Buying wax doesn’t equal gambling - you are opening a box and getting a random assortment of cards. That’s not driving up wax prices. People buy a beer and consume it - doesn’t make them a alcoholic.

Those who can’t control their wax or alcohol consumption - those guys are the degenerate gamblers and alcoholics. The bartenders (breakers), alcohol distributors (box flipper bois) and producers (fanatics) are the ones who are feeding the addiction and irrational spending, and they feed on each other as well to drive up prices even more, taking advantage of each other for the right to fuel the addiction.

[Badgers0821]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

Because we didn’t have the internet in the 80s so random people could tell us how to live.

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I don’t understand the recent focus on buying wax = gambling.

We bought boxes in the 80’s, hoping to pull certain cards. That concept remains the same. Why is it gambling now?

The price is wrong.

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Buying wax doesn’t equal gambling - you are opening a box and getting a random assortment of cards. That’s not driving up wax prices. People buy a beer and consume it - doesn’t make them a alcoholic.

Those who can’t control their wax or alcohol consumption - those guys are the degenerate gamblers and alcoholics. The bartenders (breakers), alcohol distributors (box flipper bois) and producers (fanatics) are the ones who are feeding the addiction and irrational spending, and they feed on each other as well to drive up prices even more, taking advantage of each other for the right to fuel the addiction.

If you have a couple of drinks every day but never get drunk, does that make you an alcoholic? Asking for a friend.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Promethius88

If you have a couple of drinks every day but never get drunk, does that make you an alcoholic? Asking for a friend.

As long as your alcohol consumption doesn’t affect your ability to function in society, including upholding your financial and social responsibilities.

Some people can handle more alcohol than others - know your limits. Just like breaking addiction.

[RainCityShecks]

Jumbo cases gone for a while now, jumbo boxes gone as well. Product seems very popular. In the TCU thread everyone saying that product is garbage. I expect pre-orders of that to fly.

[WallyatJCCards]

Originally Posted by wilsonsingles

The are a few major problems.
Hobby stores are having their initial allocations cut drastically.
When they used to get 4-8 cases of Topps products, now they are getting 1-2 cases at cost.
They then mark those up to make about $15-$20 a box to sell to their loyal customers. They don't want to overcharge.
My LCS will only sell 2-3 boxes per customer even when many would take cases like they used to.

Then fanatics forces Hobby stores to rebuy at the new elevated prices, now 1.5 x cost.
People assume it is because the product is hot. This is not the case. It because the stores were not given a lot of product to sell, leaving many who came in late without reasonable prices.
This is direct manipultion.

Unfortunately, this is killing many Hobby shops and us the consumer.

Truly rigging the system for greater Fanatics/Topps profits.

I couldn't possibly agree more. Buying $1,000 cases and HOPING to make 20% is the new norm and it's going to be the downfall of many smaller shop owners like myself.

[RainCityShecks]

Dang, my LCS has Jumbos for 288. TCU jumbo looking like a fantastic deal for pre-order.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by RainCityShecks

Dang, my LCS has Jumbos for 288. TCU jumbo looking like a fantastic deal for pre-order.

Makes cosmic chrome look like a fantastic deal.