Prospectors - My Idea For a New ShopTopps.com Set

[Jaypers]

A very dim bulb went off in my head this morning.

We've seen how well the Topps Mini's and Heritage High # boxed sets have done on the secondary market (there is currently a pre-sale for a sealed Heritage set on eBay that is currently over $200 - no joke).

Exclusivity sells, especially when it's Topps doing the pitching.

I would like to see Topps do likewise for a Bowman branded set. Or Bowman Chrome, preferably.

Recalling the Bowman Update and Topps Traded sets of old, I would propose a new and improved Update set, exclusively distributed through their site, with a fixed number of sets available.

Each would contain a minimum of 1 autograph or autographed parallel per set. Every few sets would contain more than 1 autograph.

Expounding on this idea, if this is to be a Bowman Chrome Update set, include parallel refractors (serialized to a low amount) of the base cards. One parallel every set, and perhaps "Hot Sets" which contain multiple parallels.

Going even further, this could include a redemption that guarantees the winner a COMPLETE refractor Update set. And a redemption for a complete autographed set. Perhaps even a 1/1 redemption for a complete autographed refractor set?

If these ideas were incorporated into this product, how much would you pay?

For me, I'd have no problem paying $99.99 per, assuming the quality of the prospect crop warranted it, of course. This type of product could sell out within hours.

Or, if we're merely talking about a standard Bowman Update set, provided the idea of autographed parallels were still on the table, I'd pay $49.99 or perhaps more.

There's a 5-month gap between the release of Bowman and Bowman Chrome, so releasing it during this timeframe would be what I would suggest.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[WaxPax]

I saw your exchange with Topps on their Twitter page about this.... Good idea

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Can't say this is an original idea LOL, but wouldn't another prospect issue help depress the value of prospect cards?

Perhaps a Minor League Heritage issue (mini or otherwise) would fare best.

 

[Jaypers]

Can't say this is an original idea LOL, but wouldn't another prospect issue help depress the value of prospect cards?

Perhaps a Minor League Heritage issue (mini or otherwise) would fare best.

Never said it was original, (LOL) but it would be popular. And it wouldn't depress the value if the names were different from other Bowman brands. There are plenty of name prospects without cards. As far as your other statement, in terms of value - Prospects:Chrome as Vets:Heritage. Never understood the appeal of Heritage minor league.

 

[P_Manning 18]

Do we want the "Hot Sets" marked with a sticker on the outside?

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Do we want the "Hot Sets" marked with a sticker on the outside?

Nice dig at Leaf from center field.

 

[James52411]

The prospect market cannot take another set because it will dilute the autograph checklist for the other releases. Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft barely have enough good 1st time autographs as it is. I'm afraid that creating a fourth set will further water down the autograph checklists and damage the entire Bowman line.

 

[Jaypers]

The prospect market cannot take another set because it will dilute the autograph checklist for the other releases. Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft barely have enough good 1st time autographs as it is. I'm afraid that creating a fourth set will further water down the autograph checklists and damage the entire Bowman line.

I could understand your concerns if the basic idea for this product consisted of repeating names found in other base and autograph checklists within the Bowman brand, but that's not the case. There are numerous players who Topps has yet to make any cards of at all, let alone autographed ones. Topps just needs to include more of the names we'd like to see in their products, and the damage, as you put it, should be minimal. The idea of exclusivity on their site is the biggest lure for this product, anyway. Look at the autograph checklist for Heritage High Numbers and tell me you expected pre-sales for sealed sets to be selling DOUBLE what they originally sold for.

 

[cgilmo]

I like this idea so much I mentioned it on the hot list.

 

[Jaypers]

I like this idea so much I mentioned it on the hot list.

And I "liked" your post, in turn.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Enough with the mutual jerk off session. Heritage sets will not stay at $200. This is no different than the initial listing of any chrome product. The demand will certainly die down.

 

[cgilmo]

Enough with the mutual jerk off session. Heritage sets will not stay at $200. This is no different than the initial listing of any chrome product. The demand will certainly die down.

That does not change the fact that they got there.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

That does not change the fact that they got there.

Selling game is strictly short-term. Perfect for prospects.

 

[James52411]

I could understand your concerns if the basic idea for this product consisted of repeating names found in other base and autograph checklists within the Bowman brand, but that's not the case. There are numerous players who Topps has yet to make any cards of at all, let alone autographed ones. Topps just needs to include more of the names we'd like to see in their products, and the damage, as you put it, should be minimal. The idea of exclusivity on their site is the biggest lure for this product, anyway. Look at the autograph checklist for Heritage High Numbers and tell me you expected pre-sales for sealed sets to be selling DOUBLE what they originally sold for.

The Heritage sets are selling for big money because you have tons of Heritage base set collectors and also plenty of folks who build the Real Ones set each year. Bowman has neither; it is a pure rip and flip or rip, hold and flip product. Unless buyers believe they can make over $100 on a Bowman set immediately, the offering will crash and burn because almost no one will buy sets as collectors.

 

[Jaypers]

Unless buyers believe they can make over $100 on a Bowman set immediately, the offering will crash and burn because almost no one will buy sets as collectors.

That's what people said about the 1999 Topps Traded sets. I remember - I was one of them. While not a Bowman product, it contained traded players, rookies and rookie autos. Both prospectors and set builders alike still consider it popular to this day. Imagine if it were available exclusively via their website back then.

Anyway, we can agree to disagree here.

Poll added.

 

[James52411]

That's what people said about the 1999 Topps Traded sets. I remember - I was one of them. While not a Bowman product, it contained traded players, rookies and rookie autos. Both prospectors and set builders alike still consider it popular to this day. Imagine if it were available exclusively via their website back then.

Anyway, we can agree to disagree here.

Poll added.

True! Anyway, Topps Traded was only $30, not $100. Secondarily, it's Topps base set, so every person who builds a Topps set was going to buy it. Poll is even at 1-1.

 

[morgoth]

why not just can the bowman chrome set all together and make this an update to bowman with traded players and a new set of auto rcs. Bowman Chrome is a terrible product right now.

 

[George_Calfas]

why not just can the bowman chrome set all together and make this an update to bowman with traded players and a new set of auto rcs. Bowman Chrome is a terrible product right now.

Gasp, how dare you

 

[trauty]

I think they should make Topps Total a Shop Topps exclusive if that's what it would take for that set to be made.

 

[sportscardtheory]

I don't think this set would even be allowed by MLB. They have the "rules" in place about prospect cards not being allowed to be a part of any base set. Well, this idea is entirely a base set of prospects = not allowed.