Only 477 days until the Topps exclusive license is over!

[sruchris]

Now that I think about this more, I'd like to see release restrictions as well. One product release per calendar month. 12 releases a year for two companies. This would leave Topps with:

JAN - Tribute
FEB - Topps 1
MAR - Bowman w/Chrome
APR - A & G
MAY -Tier One
JUN - Heritage
JUL - Topps 2
AUG - Finest
SEP - Museum Collection
OCT - Topps Chrome
NOV - Topps 3
DEC - Bowman Draft

 

[JoshHamilton]

I would think this would be the universal thought on this but this thread like others in the past proves some like their choices limited.

It is universal, save for the troll virtualyankee (uniquebaseballcards, whatever he calls himself now) and his f'ed out spiel. I guess he's trying to protect his laughable "investment" of Topps Platinum 1/1's and base sets.


Much like his asinine rants and irrational hatred towards Bowman products, his opinion should just be ignored completely. He's delusional

 

[Benson]

Completely hypothetical - what if MLB went with an exclusive license that was not Topps, say Panini? What do you think would happen to the hobby as a whole?

 

[cgilmo]

Completely hypothetical - what if MLB went with an exclusive license that was not Topps, say Panini? What do you think would happen to the hobby as a whole?

I think it would suffer. Topps is THE baseball card company hands down.

I would like to see Topps keep doing what they are doing, with a small sub license of around 5 products given to Panini.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

It is universal, save for the troll virtualyankee (uniquebaseballcards, whatever he calls himself now) and his f'ed out spiel. I guess he's trying to protect his laughable "investment" of Topps Platinum 1/1's and base sets.

Much like his asinine rants and irrational hatred towards Bowman products, his opinion should just be ignored completely. He's delusional

:yawn: As the resident ****** yourself nobody expects you to contribute... and it seems you're off your meds/fell off the wagon yet again. Apparently its your 'job' when off your meds to try to be the board's tough guy and create popcorn theater. We just expect you to continue to give away cards to make people like you.

Plenty people think there's an overabundance of hobby choice. Millions upon millions of different cards were produced this past decade alone and collectors still haven't absorbed them and probably never will.

 

[cgilmo]

I think there WAS an over abundance of choice.

Anyone who says that is the case now is out of touch with the current industry.

 

[George_Calfas]

2005-51 products released (20 from Topps)
2012-31 products released (25 from Topps)
http://www.baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/All_Sets_by_Year

 

[sruchris]

There were TONS of products released by several card companies from 1996-2005. Even though Topps now has an exclusive, it's refreshing to only have 25 (+/- a few) baseball products a year.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I think there WAS an over abundance of choice.

Anyone who says that is the case now is out of touch with the current industry.

Industry and hobby definitely aren't the same thing thankfully. The choice that came with the millions of millions of different cards that were being produced just several years ago still hasn't gone away, frankly there's still a lot of current choices.

 

[mchenrycards]

FYI I don't support a 20 product license for two manufacturers.

But I would like to see a secondary manufacturer allowed to produce 5 products at a reduced licensing fee.

Wouldnt five products for a secondary manufacturer make the product they do produce very cost prohibitive to the consumer? Or at the very minimum, The product they produce would not give them the profits they need if they keep the costs down and therefor, I cant see many companies having interest in this type of license. My understanding is that the companies next X amount of products to be released during a year in order to turn a profit on the license and I dont think five product releases would make them profitable.

 

[Mario1975]

I still don't understand the argument that less choice and less product is better. I mean maybe I'm crazy but I don't think the hobby is better off now then say 5 or 10 years ago. I also think it's important to remember other factors that maybe hurt the hobby more than over production such as the strike, the steroid scandal, the increasing popularity of football, etc. Also other companies are already making these products anyway, with or without the license. The license only puts everyone on a level playing field and the increased competition will force each other, especially Topps, to step up their quality control, customer service, and creativity, as well as help to control prices. Also I think it's important to note that, as someone else noted, that just because Topps may produce alot of products themselves doesn't necessarily mean there is alot of choice because it seems every product released is a niche product so maybe there are really only 2 or three choices each year for each type of product whether it be high end, prospect, retro, etc.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[BBCgalaxee]

You can't just look at the actual number of products topps makes, you must look at the srp/type of products produced.

Off the top of my head:

7 products srp $50 & higher a pack/mini

4 are prospect geared

4 are lowest end

4 are retro themed

2 are solely minors

Which leaves topps chrome as the only non niche product. Even that turns people off because its 4 cards for $4 and the autos are nearly always rookies .

 

[MansGame]

place holder to read through this all tonight... great topic and something I want to comment on...

 

[predatorkj]

Im all about choice but then again, if there are too many choices, it can devalue cards or certain types of cards. You take something like what donruss was doing with the jumbo patches and let it go year after year after year with multiple companies involved, won't they eventually tank in value?

What about autos? Then everybody will get mad about 1/1's. It will kill the value of a lot of what's out there. At least the new stuff being churned out. I think we need at least 2 manufactures. But keep the products innovative and somewhat affordable.

 

[allstars]

:yawn: As the resident ****** yourself nobody expects you to contribute... and it seems you're off your meds/fell off the wagon yet again. Apparently its your 'job' when off your meds to try to be the board's tough guy and create popcorn theater. We just expect you to continue to give away cards to make people like you.

Plenty people think there's an overabundance of hobby choice. Millions upon millions of different cards were produced this past decade alone and collectors still haven't absorbed them and probably never will.

That's funny as hell, I don't care who ya are!!!

I say leave the thing alone, the Topps exclusive is perfect. Panini cards suck, and they're already priced like Panini has a license. If collectors (& dealers) knew how they were getting fleeced by Panini & their mediocre products they'd all puke.

 

[MansGame]

I think having one company is stupid. They have to work overtime to keep cranking out more product and it kills the quality IMO and they get ahead of themselves by releasing TONS of card that aren't even created or produced yet (cough cough) redemptions...

Sorry but IMO Topps would have much better product of they were competing with themselves.

 

[Casebusters]

Um, no. Grant two companies licenses and limit them to 15 products each. That would be ideal. This would leave Topps with:

1. Bowman
2. Bowman Chrome
3. Bowman Draft
4. Finest
5. A & G
6. Heritage
7. Topps 1
8. Topps 2
9. Topps 3
10. Topps Chrome
11. Archives/GQ
12. Bowman Platinum/Sterling
13. Triple Threads/Tribute/Museum Collection/Tier One
14. Triple Threads/Tribute/Museum Collection/Tier One
15. Triple Threads/Tribute/Museum Collection/Tier One

?? Mini
?? Opening Day

I may have been exaggerating, but even if they did have 4 manufacturers making 25 each, How many would be at each price point of $1 a pack, $2 a pack, $4 a pack, $5 a pack, $50 a pack, $100 a pack, $250 a pack?
In order to cater to young people, set builders, player collectors, team set collectors, gamblers, prospectors, retired players,
you have to make a variety of products.

How many different cereals are out there? a lot, that's why I don't buy cereal, because there is too many choices to pick from... ::facepalm::

The less products the manufacturers make, "the more they have to charge" or "the more they have to print" to make a profit & to pay for the license.
What if they made 70 different products that were as limited as Topps Mini, How would the prices hold then?

I don't understand why people care how many products they make,
If Leaf makes 25 products that are "$75 packs" for 5 autographs, some people would buy them, and some people won't buy them,
Topps makes products gamblers don't touch, like Opening Day, where the people that buy Opening Day won't buy Triple Threads..

But if they just made the cards you listed above, and you were into retired players, You would have A&G & Archives to look forward to for the entire year!,
If you are a prospector, you only have bowman chrome in 3 products for the year, because reg bowman is not worth anything to most prospectors

Variety is a good thing.. Remember if they make something you don't like, you don't have to buy it, But if they don't make it, You cannot buy it..

 

[predatorkj]

I may have been exaggerating, but even if they did have 4 manufacturers making 25 each, How many would be at each price point of $1 a pack, $2 a pack, $4 a pack, $5 a pack, $50 a pack, $100 a pack, $250 a pack?
In order to cater to young people, set builders, player collectors, team set collectors, gamblers, prospectors, retired players,
you have to make a variety of products.

How many different cereals are out there? a lot, that's why I don't buy cereal, because there is too many choices to pick from... ::facepalm::

The less products the manufacturers make, "the more they have to charge" or "the more they have to print" to make a profit & to pay for the license.
What if they made 70 different products that were as limited as Topps Mini, How would the prices hold then?

I don't understand why people care how many products they make,
If Leaf makes 25 products that are "$75 packs" for 5 autographs, some people would buy them, and some people won't buy them,
Topps makes products gamblers don't touch, like Opening Day, where the people that buy Opening Day won't buy Triple Threads..

But if they just made the cards you listed above, and you were into retired players, You would have A&G & Archives to look forward to for the entire year!,
If you are a prospector, you only have bowman chrome in 3 products for the year, because reg bowman is not worth anything to most prospectors

Variety is a good thing.. Remember if they make something you don't like, you don't have to buy it, But if they don't make it, You cannot buy it..

I would like a variety. Just not an overflow.

 

[craiger122003]

Why not limit each player to one product per year spread by 2 companies including HOF guys.
Between past and present players you would have plenty of product. Spread the talent wisely and
every product has a must have auto. By product I mean only in Topps 1 or only in A&G etc That way the only way you get
that guys auto is in that product only.

 

[cgilmo]

LOL opening day


You just won't let that die will you Chris