2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire - Checklist Up

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Tell me again why you should waste your money on an MC membership next year unless Topps figures out how to stop the bot bois.

If they can't figure out how to stop them, another solution would be to make the membership exponentially more expensive and guarantee a box (or two) of each release without having to buy them.

[brothertona]

Someone else suggested 2500 a year for a membership with 2 of every release. You could then have a private store with hobby boxes/retail packs. They could make a fortune from a membership like that.

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by brothertona

If you want to know where all of your Montgomery Club boxes went https://twitter.com/CardChefs

Those pics with the neat symmetrical stacks are hilarious. Looks like bot bois bought up all the chrome sapphire because it displays well. I can't think of another reason at this point.

[Mandy1320]

Originally Posted by brothertona

If you want to know where all of your Montgomery Club boxes went https://twitter.com/CardChefs

That’s really demoralizing to see. I’m not an MC member but I feel for those who are.

I think I’m going to stick to singles and whatever I can find in retail for the foreseeable future.

[jjo1776]

My 1 box arrived today, into the closet it goes

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by Mandy1320

That’s really demoralizing to see. I’m not an MC member but I feel for those who are.

I think I’m going to stick to singles and whatever I can find in retail for the foreseeable future.

It's only demoralizing if you have no problem paying Topps $300 plus tax for a box of this.

[Mandy1320]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

It's only demoralizing if you have no problem paying Topps $300 plus tax for a box of this.

Personally, I think it’s overpriced at >$10 a card at MSRP. But, I understand the market right now and Topps has every right to charge that price.

Regardless of the product, bots are going to be all over everything for a while. I believe Sapphire and BB is only the beginning.

Since it doesn’t look like Topps is going to fix their site, the only way to stop the bots/flippers is to stop buying from them. That was the point I was trying to make.

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by Mandy1320

Personally, I think it’s overpriced at >$10 a card at MSRP. But, I understand the market right now and Topps has every right to charge that price.

Regardless of the product, bots are going to be all over everything for a while. I believe Sapphire and BB is only the beginning.

Since it doesn’t look like Topps is going to fix their site, the only way to stop the bots/flippers is to stop buying from them. That was the point I was trying to make.

Bots have been a problem on Topps.com much longer than this. The raffles starting with FF were intended to fix the bot issue and have (as expected) failed miserably.

Honestly, the old ways of everyone converging on the site and crashing the servers on release day was better. At least everyone had a chance at snagging the exclusives rather than be continually shut out due to Topps' supposedly random raffle process or, worse, pay for MC memberships and be shut out anyway.

[ThoseBackPages]

dont worry, Topps will start doing Dutch Auctions

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

dont worry, Topps will start doing Dutch Auctions

Botters probably already working on a Topps stock checker.

[Gurds]

My box was delivered yesterday when I wasn't home. Just opened it up while watching some football. Meh.

Here is everything

Base Rookies:
Anthony Kay RC
Jake Rogers RC
Seth Mejias-Brean RC

Base Vet:
Dominic Smith
Ryan Zimmerman
Mike Foltynewica
Rhys Hoskins
Dakota Hudson
Jake Marisnick
Alex Cobb
Lou Trivino
Anthony Rendon
Austin Barnes
Wil Myers
Patrick Corbin
Yuli Gurriel
Michael Chavis
Jacob Stallings
Jeimer Candelario
Dylan Moore
Roll Out the Barrel - Brewers Outfield Celebrates
Mike Clevenger
Travis d'Arnaud
Miles Mikolas
Paul DeJong
Andrew Knapp
Lewis Brinson
Blue Jays Team Card
Twins Team Card

Orange /25
JD Martinez

Purple /10
Brad Hand

Auto
Andrews Munoz

[Jamesebee]

Why did Fedex deliver my Smartpost box on a Sunday? So bizarre.

Anyway, the BB Chrome raffle execution (from raffle to rip: 30 calendar days) compared to the Sapphire raffle execution (from raffle to rip: 5 calendar days) has been night and day. There are some things Topps needs to consider replicating for future online exclusives (although the greying secondary and skirting of the rules still gives me heartburn). The irony is that the BB Chrome was a way more fun box for me to open than Sapphire was (personally speaking).

Assuming Ginter X isn't as twinged on the odds, it'll be my last online exclusive order for a while...

[Technochocolate]

The thing is with the raffle; I wouldn't have a chance under the old system. Now I do, even if it's still not much of one.

There's no clean solution here. Bots are taking over online ordering in many disciplines, not just collectibles. This is a problem bigger than cards at this point. There's not many good solutions, because no one has found one yet.

Topps is failing. They're trying, but they're failing, and intent doesn't matter. I don't see how the card market doesn't get hurt badly long-term by all this.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by Technochocolate

The thing is with the raffle; I wouldn't have a chance under the old system. Now I do, even if it's still not much of one

There's not a difference between raffle and no raffle when the bots take all the stock anyway. Unless Topps fixes their problems, the interval between raffle win emails going out and the stock being sold out is going to get smaller and smaller.

[Archangel1775]

I'm not opening a damn thing after this. I dont blame Topps, they are a business but the price point was way too high. If they had them at $99-$149, it'd be a lot easier for our psyches seeing these box breaks. I think the "atomic design" has lost its appeal also. It just doesnt stand out with the rest of the releases like it used too.

[brothertona]

I think if they keep this price point going forward they need to shrink the checklist. If the checklist was 100 cards it's not a terrible break. At 700 cards - $400 secondary is an absolute putrid break.

[LVDan]

They were how much last year? $50 or $75? I think anywhere from $150-200 would’ve been a sweet spot with a healthy secondary market starting around $300.


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[Boo]

Sweet spot for Topps was probably closer to $400, would have still sold out.

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

Bots have been a problem on Topps.com much longer than this. The raffles starting with FF were intended to fix the bot issue and have (as expected) failed miserably.

Honestly, the old ways of everyone converging on the site and crashing the servers on release day was better. At least everyone had a chance at snagging the exclusives rather than be continually shut out due to Topps' supposedly random raffle process or, worse, pay for MC memberships and be shut out anyway.

I don’t understand what you are taking about. Through 2018 there was no problem whatsoever in getting ANY Topps online only product.

In 2019 it was mostly that way as well except you had to pay constant attention on the day of release since stuff sold out within several minutes.

This year has been different in every aspect.

I still don’t get the bitching about the bots. In those pictures posted...how is anyone sure those people got those directly from Topps? I’m very curious. Furthermore, on everyone of the bot purchasing situations, Topps has cancelled orders and don’t a second purchase round for raffle winners. For Topps Chrome Sapphire that second round lasted hours.

I’ve won every raffle I eNtered(or a helpful friend or family member has) and have made a crapload of money from it, whether I opened or sold sealed. That is 2 FF, 1BB, 6 Archives Snapshots. Along with the Chrome Sapphire box. That’s around $1300-$1500 in expected value after shipping and fees. And I get to keep some of the cards.

I played entirely by the rules every year. Again this year. I don’t really understand where you are coming from.

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by LVDan

They were how much last year? $50 or $75? I think anywhere from $150-200 would’ve been a sweet spot with a healthy secondary market starting around $300.


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Could it be Topps is trying to eliminate the secondary market to deter the boys? Those bots that bought dozens of boxes are barely going to break even.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by LVDan

They were how much last year? $50 or $75? I think anywhere from $150-200 would’ve been a sweet spot with a healthy secondary market starting around $300.


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$50 from Topps. First secondary market prices were $175-$190. Tatis opened at $400-$450. Last Robert sold for $500.

So, RC checklist is significantly weaker, top RC sells for 10-20% more YoY, but initial secondary market box prices are up more than 100% YoY? The pricing on this is moronic. But I'm hardly surprised.

[trendy26]

As much as I’m not happy paying $299 plus tax and shipping for mine straight from Topps, you can’t really blame Topps for the price hike as it’s all about the demand for the product. The market dictated that $299 was a price they could sell them all at initially. I don’t think Topps is too concerned about anyone’s potential Profit Margin reselling on the secondary market.

[Bretsky]

My one box arrived yesterday but I think I will store in the closet and either sell or open down the road.

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

I don’t understand what you are taking about. Through 2018 there was no problem whatsoever in getting ANY Topps online only product.

In 2019 it was mostly that way as well except you had to pay constant attention on the day of release since stuff sold out within several minutes.

This year has been different in every aspect.

I think we're talking about different things then. To me, even Bowman sapphire happened ages ago.

I still don’t get the bitching about the bots. In those pictures posted...how is anyone sure those people got those directly from Topps? I’m very curious. Furthermore, on everyone of the bot purchasing situations, Topps has cancelled orders and don’t a second purchase round for raffle winners. For Topps Chrome Sapphire that second round lasted hours.

Look closer at the Twitter feed. It belongs to a cook group or whatever you call it that requires membership. Think a sports card version of Resell Calendar. No one is paying hefty fees just to learn some negotiating tips for Facebook. They obviously shared a workaround for defeating Topps' mickey mouse IT.

I’ve won every raffle I eNtered(or a helpful friend or family member has) and have made a crapload of money from it, whether I opened or sold sealed. That is 2 FF, 1BB, 6 Archives Snapshots. Along with the Chrome Sapphire box. That’s around $1300-$1500 in expected value after shipping and fees. And I get to keep some of the cards.

I played entirely by the rules every year. Again this year. I don’t really understand where you are coming from.

I'm sure everyone who's 0/3 raffles really enjoys hearing this

[Bizzydesigner]

Got my box, decided to rip it because I collect LuBob and I can’t pull one if I don’t. Well, ...




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