Topps Chrome Star Wars Sapphire!

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

Not sure why $200 is surprising. The days of $50 sapphire boxes of anything are long gone plus Topps correctly figured that they didn't need any bells and whistles to sell this.

2019 Topps Chrome Sapphire for $50 with a limit of 40 per transaction (unlimited transactions)...seems like that was ages ago.

But yeah, Sapphire is it's own thing. The blue cracked ice feel is amazing.

Maybe they should make Sapphire Breaking Bad cards...

[One more set]

Sapphire breaking bad, fuhgeddabout it. I’d pull out a second mortgage…..

[mossoholic]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

I agree that the ROI is huge compared to anything else. I genuinely do not understand why. I am trying to understand what this product is so hot. It makes no sense to me.

If I look at it objectively, it is very pretty shiny reprint set of vintage cards. The only hits at numbered parallels (average 2/box). No autographs, no sketches, no other hits. Someone calculated print runs of about 3500+ for base cards (which is not very rare). A few people will get 1/1 or /5, but most will get cards /99. I have watched box breaks, and they basically look like blaster boxes from Target. Yes, Topps has made Chrome reprint $20 blasters in the past. Yes, I have had blasters where I pulled a couple of numbered parallels and felt like I threw away money. Again, these are reprints of 45 year old cards. Even if you buy into the concept of rookie cards for non-sports (I’ve come to accept the concept), these are reprints of RC’s.

I haven’t collected sports cards in ages, so I’m not familiar with Sapphire at all, but I understand that there were great rookie cards there and it was always a highly desirable release…but it’s not the same in Star Wars.

I thought $200/box was a typo at first. The idea that these are going for close to $1000/box is bewildering. The idea that base card #1 is going for hundreds is equally jaw-dropping. Must numbers parallels go for a few bucks. 1/1 might go for a couple of hundred to the right collector. So, everything I thought I knew about the Star Wars card market in 45 years of collecting has imploded.

So, it has a huge ROI, and the hottest release in ages. Why? It’s not just the retro thing (Chrome Archives did it just as nicely in 1999, and Heritage was the first of an endless series of retro themed sets to come out at regular intervals).

Does the Sapphire name just carry that much weight that everyone just knew the set would skyrocket? Is there long term value, or is this mostly speculating vs pump and dump? I see a large influx of non Star Wars collectors buying this. Sports collectors have jumped into Marvel in a big way in recent years…and are they now moving to Star Wars with this set (especially since the original Topps release price was a bargain by Sapphire releases).

If this set was called Chrome Archives 2022, and everything else about the set was the same (Internet only, print run, parallels) would the card and box value be the same?

Funny you bring up the $20 blaster because Topps makes $20-$30 blasters that the actual cost to the company is more than these 32 card non auto Sapphire boxes they charged $200 a box for. Unfortunately no one cares because of what the boxes are selling for now. If the boxes sold for less than what Topps charged people would either be screaming bloody murder or more likely doing what they are doing with 2021 F1 Sapphire right now. No one commenting at all. If resale value wasn't taken into account Topps would have charged $50 a box. Had they known what they would be selling for and so quickly they would of charged $600-$700 a box. They have already proven this with tripling UEFA Sapphire cost in less than a years time and charging 7.5 times the previous years cost on F1 Sapphire. They will do the same with Star Wars Sapphire next year. They just couldn't gauge the market accurately this time because it was a 1st time product.

There are 2 main reasons this all pisses me off so much. They only do this on products that the general public has the most access to. They wouldn't dare deprive their money tree direct accounts on the products that are almost exclusively going to them. We also don't even know if those groups get charged 80% of what we are paying on these or if they get the good friend price. My bet is the good friend price. I can't imagine they made those guys pay 80% of $750 a box on F1 Sapphire. The 2nd is if Topps and Panini care about getting the most out of things, which they seemingly only do from the average customer and not their good friends, do a fair auction system with all the boxes available. Either the blind bidding thing Topps discussed or the old Panini dutch auction system where the floor was the actual MSRP and not manipulated. This way the true market value will be determined. Buyers that want a bunch of said product can get it instead of these 1 box limits or garbage like the bot photo you saw with 100+ Sapphire boxes when probably not 100 boxes total went to a normal person trying to buy.

[Ferg1945]

They print more of the second edition of most Sapphire sets because they know they can.

Still won't take away the magic from the first release. 1977 Topps Series 1 Blues are iconic and having the full set 1-132 will be a fun set to hold. Will I buy Series 3-5? Probably not... Series 1 (1-66) Blues are so iconic. I might try to complete a second 1-66 for fun.

[ianh182]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Just a word of warning, the invite for a review revision is sometimes a ploy to get you angry and then get you to swear, verbally attack or state something they can prove is false so that they can call ebay and get it removed.

Useful to know, thanks!

[Asian62150]

Btw, anyone know how to leave neg feedback again for presellers who backed out? I know it was mentioned earlier. Thanks.

[JWBlue]

Are they going to make Chrome Sapphire of the original Red and Greens as well?

[airharrison21]

Received my box yesterday thay I purchased on eBay for $325. Believe it was the cheapest one sold of SW Sapphire. Tzup40 is a great ebay seller!

[sketchopolix]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

Btw, anyone know how to leave neg feedback again for presellers who backed out? I know it was mentioned earlier. Thanks.

https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/leave_feedback

[Ferg1945]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Are they going to make Chrome Sapphire of the original Red and Greens as well?

I don't see why they would. Series 1 Blues are Iconic and they included Series 2 to make it 132 card set. I have not interest in Series 3-5. I've only bought 1 Series 2 parallel. Meeting at the Cantina Aqua..it was cheap at the end and has Han, Chewie, Obi and Luke on the card. Everything else Series 1.

[PoPCulture]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Are they going to make Chrome Sapphire of the original Red and Greens as well?

They have already done red….except they are blue. Cards 67-132 were the red (2nd) series. I’m thinking they do 3,4 and 5 (yellow, green and orange respectively) together next. The Orange series was mostly behind the scenes and cantina scenes so I don’t think it would do well as a stand-alone and it doesn’t make sense or combine it with ESB. The first 2 ESB sets were larger so they could each be their own release.

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by sketchopolix

https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/leave_feedback

Thanks!

[Ferg1945]

Forgot to post this the yesterday.

I ended up opening my 3 boxes and decided to go for the complete set. I didn't hit a parallel better than Green. 1 box had 3 parallels. My first parallel ended up being my favorite. It's a great card and the serial number made it even better.

I got my 2nd generation Magnetics with a sleeve today... best time to take a picture.

I really wanted the #1 Luke 19/75 - Knew it would be WAY out of my budget. This is a nice consolation.
#121 - Han Solo and Chewbacca - Peridot 19/75 (My birth year)

[Links242]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Forgot to post this the yesterday.

I ended up opening my 3 boxes and decided to go for the complete set. I didn't hit a parallel better than Green. 1 box had 3 parallels. My first parallel ended up being my favorite. It's a great card and the serial number made it even better.

I got my 2nd generation Magnetics with a sleeve today... best time to take a picture.

I really wanted the #1 Luke 19/75 - Knew it would be WAY out of my budget. This is a nice consolation.
#121 - Han Solo and Chewbacca - Peridot 19/75 (My birth year)

What a great looking card. Congrats!!

Also the last couple of boxes sold of 900+ good sign.

[premium1981]

Looks like boxes found the bottom and are heading back north. Hopefully a natural climb this time, and No Mo FoMo. $950 is now the lowest BIN.

[SethMurphy]

BINs over $1,000 will probably get me to sell mine, so I'm watching for sure

[GoNYGoNYGo]

I’ve been buying tons of singles on eBay - these cards are amazing!

I decided to purchase 6 packs from Buffiblowout over on Loupe and was very happy with my hit!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rgatta26]

Originally Posted by GoNYGoNYGo

I’ve been buying tons of singles on eBay - these cards are amazing!

I decided to purchase 6 packs from Buffiblowout over on Loupe and was very happy with my hit!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome hit. I've seen you on his stream a few times!

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

I agree that the ROI is huge compared to anything else. I genuinely do not understand why. I am trying to understand what this product is so hot. It makes no sense to me.

If I look at it objectively, it is very pretty shiny reprint set of vintage cards. The only hits at numbered parallels (average 2/box). No autographs, no sketches, no other hits. Someone calculated print runs of about 3500+ for base cards (which is not very rare). A few people will get 1/1 or /5, but most will get cards /99. I have watched box breaks, and they basically look like blaster boxes from Target. Yes, Topps has made Chrome reprint $20 blasters in the past. Yes, I have had blasters where I pulled a couple of numbered parallels and felt like I threw away money. Again, these are reprints of 45 year old cards. Even if you buy into the concept of rookie cards for non-sports (I’ve come to accept the concept), these are reprints of RC’s.

I haven’t collected sports cards in ages, so I’m not familiar with Sapphire at all, but I understand that there were great rookie cards there and it was always a highly desirable release…but it’s not the same in Star Wars.

I thought $200/box was a typo at first. The idea that these are going for close to $1000/box is bewildering. The idea that base card #1 is going for hundreds is equally jaw-dropping. Must numbers parallels go for a few bucks. 1/1 might go for a couple of hundred to the right collector. So, everything I thought I knew about the Star Wars card market in 45 years of collecting has imploded.

So, it has a huge ROI, and the hottest release in ages. Why? It’s not just the retro thing (Chrome Archives did it just as nicely in 1999, and Heritage was the first of an endless series of retro themed sets to come out at regular intervals).

Does the Sapphire name just carry that much weight that everyone just knew the set would skyrocket? Is there long term value, or is this mostly speculating vs pump and dump? I see a large influx of non Star Wars collectors buying this. Sports collectors have jumped into Marvel in a big way in recent years…and are they now moving to Star Wars with this set (especially since the original Topps release price was a bargain by Sapphire releases).

If this set was called Chrome Archives 2022, and everything else about the set was the same (Internet only, print run, parallels) would the card and box value be the same?

This could have been a post from me during the run-up on Marvel PMGs...basically my exact same thoughts, and bewilderment. It's almost an identical situation (with perhaps Marvel seeing even more bewildering high prices). I suspect the root cause of both situations is the same, and boils down to the following:

1. People like shiny. Cracked ice does have a spectacular look. In Marvel it was the solid, rich, colorful foil of the PMGs. Of course cracked ice isnt new or exclusive to Sapphire, and exists even in unauthorized 90s nonsport vending stickers, to modern Panini Prizm etc. Which leads to.....

2. Brand recognition. People like brands. In this case Sapphire (slap that on anything and there will be people loyally buying). You could have a Dinosaur set like UD has come out with (sry no disrespect to it), and if it were branded Sapphire by Topps...watch out. Those orange velociraptors would get money, or imagine a red T-rex. In Marvel the brand recognition is PMG, and we've seen anywhere UD uses this, people go bonkers. It is probably the primary contributor to secondary market value. In this case, you have two very strong brands being combined with Star Wars and Sapphire, so this is the result. Because of the importance of brand, to answer your question about Chrome Archives 2022, I would think no.

3. Incoming sports collectors and flippers. One way to tell if someone is new to the hobby from sports: they overemphasize parallels and grading, and dont care at all about sketches (I am saying this jokingly, but there is some truth to it).

The similarities in concept are there too, manufactured rarity, re-used art/images. There are no 'RC' Marvel PMGs either, these characters had cards out for decades. But there is a 'rookie set' of marvel pmgs (2013 Retro), which maybe this sapphire set is roughly analogous to.

It's not a completely identical situation to the Marvel. In sapphire, every card out of the pack is a sapphire (in Marvel, the 'base metal', which is equivalent to the blue base sapphire, was still an insert, and only fell one every few packs). Sapphire has the exclusive Montgomery Club angle, which doesnt exist with marvel pmg sets. Also, the run-up in Marvel was primarily on sets 7, 5, and 3 years old....so these were cards that were out for awhile, which some people just happened to be lucky enough to buy and hold from back-when, when they were somewhat under the radar and didnt have nearly the same following compared to now. In sapphire it's all people buying a new product, where it's immediately very popular and the following is there.

But I can relate to what you're saying. You seem to be a long-time Star Wars collector, perhaps termed an 'old school collector'. I am an old school Marvel collector, going back to the 90s collecting as a kid, and was collecting modern marvel since like 2010- well before the recent influx. The run-up of marvel PMGs, in some cases resulting in 100-fold increases in prices from like a year before, is probably the most incredible phenomenon in the history of trading cards I've ever seen, and probably will ever see. And I was just as bewildered...for many of the same reasons.

[Ianhatcher]

I should think they make series 3-5 and I especially am looking forward to 3 and 4 as it has some of the best cards in the entire set imo and easily the best Darth Vader cards (4 of them) and probably Princess Leia. Lots of iconic scenes as well like Han before he shoots Greedo, the Falcon being pulled into the Death Star with the tractor beam and lots of close ups of Han, Luke and Leia on the Death Star.

When I was a kid the bulk of my cards were the yellow (series 3) and green (series 4) and I really like the cards with just the characters posing and some of them being the "actor" cards which I liked.

People will trash it when it comes out to keep the value high on this release though claiming "first". That is pretty predictable.

[AngusMacGyver]

Originally Posted by Ianhatcher

I should think they make series 3-5 and I especially am looking forward to 3 and 4 as it has some of the best cards in the entire set imo and easily the best Darth Vader cards (4 of them) and probably Princess Leia. Lots of iconic scenes as well like Han before he shoots Greedo, the Falcon being pulled into the Death Star with the tractor beam and lots of close ups of Han, Luke and Leia on the Death Star.

When I was a kid the bulk of my cards were the yellow (series 3) and green (series 4) and I really like the cards with just the characters posing and some of them being the "actor" cards which I liked.

People will trash it when it comes out to keep the value high on this release though claiming "first". That is pretty predictable.

So many cool cards in series 3 and 4 that I'll want to pick up if they do it (when they do it). But of course some people who bought into this first set will try to say the "first" set is the "real" sapphire...I won't be one. Some of my favorite cards in sapphire for me are in series 2, A message from Princess Leia, Chewie and Han Solo, etc. I also don't see why series 3-5 being not legit or not valuable should mean series 1-2 prices stay high? Shouldn't a rising tide lift all cards?

[eastbayak]

Box prices trending back up! Available supply on eBay trending down daily. Can’t believe there’s less than 100 unique listings for the sealed wax.

[SethMurphy]

I understand why it isn't allowed, as this forum is hosted by someone who sells wax, but I really wish there was a B/S/T section for sealed wax on here.

I would rather deal off eBay if possible on stuff like this with all the scammers out there and the chargeback possibilities.

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by SethMurphy

I understand why it isn't allowed, as this forum is hosted by someone who sells wax, but I really wish there was a B/S/T section for sealed wax on here.

I would rather deal off eBay if possible on stuff like this with all the scammers out there and the chargeback possibilities.

This was reason number 1 I just opened my boxes up rather than sell on eBay down the line. One of the boxes had a slight indent in the upper right corner and I knew that would be an issue trying to sell. Thankfully, that box had the gold Obi-Wan in it.

[Peachcardsatl]

Are there any other forums for wax as I agree it would be nice to do without all the fees and uncertainty with eBay.