Shorted 15 autos in a Topps Chrome case - now what?

[Super Mario]

The only thing that makes this even an issue is that they guarantee x hits per box.

What other consumer product is treated like this?

If I bought a box of ice cream sandwiches and 6 of 12 were missing it would be asinine for Blue Bunny two express ship me 6 ice cream sandwiches. They'd send me a voucher for a free box.

Dear Old Spice,

I love your body wash. It's awesome but last week the bottle I bought was defective and only contained half the amount. Could you please send half a bottle to me in a ziplock baggy?

Thanks!

I called Coors one time because I bought a 12 pack of bottles, and like four bottles weren't filled all the way. They had me read some numbers off to them and shipped me a Coors 12 pack voucher. Easy as pie.

 

[jbhofmann]

I called Coors one time because I bought a 12 pack of bottles, and like four bottles weren't filled all the way. They had me read some numbers off to them and shipped me a Coors 12 pack voucher. Easy as pie.

#THANKSTOPPS

 

[gpenko826]

I called Coors one time because I bought a 12 pack of bottles, and like four bottles weren't filled all the way. They had me read some numbers off to them and shipped me a Coors 12 pack voucher. Easy as pie.

I think I would have been happier if Topps sent me a 12 pack of Coors

 

[CatdaddysCards]

I think I would have been happier if Topps sent me a 12 pack of Coors

I sent you a PM on some of your replacement autos.


-------------------------------------

Need Moustakas, Hosmer and patches.

 

[jbhofmann]

I called Coors one time because I bought a 12 pack of bottles, and like four bottles weren't filled all the way. They had me read some numbers off to them and shipped me a Coors 12 pack voucher. Easy as pie.

Those Coors original fat bottles are amazingly underrated.

 

[bongo870]

I don't know why you claim it would be "beneficial", but here's a list of the 9 autos I pulled from the case. Now we can look forward to a few people claiming I lied about what I did pull to make the situation look worse (the exact reason I HADN'T posted the cards until now).

BASE CHROME AUTOS
Nick Maronde #24
Alfredo Marte #189
Adam Eaton Redemption #185
Tyler Skaggs #88
Kyle Gibson #KG
Rob Brantly #27

REFRACTOR CHROME AUTOS
Paco Rodriguez #182 (#d out of 499)
Allen Webster (#d out of 499)

BLUE REFRACTOR CHROME AUTOS
Jeurys Familia #59 (#d out of 199)

There - there's my motherload. Notice all the Ruth 1/1 Cut Signatures I have in that listing.

For the people that have been level-headed and realistic about this whole situation (whether you agree with me or not), I appreciate the dialogue and the examples. For the few that has been suspicious and/or accusatory - I hope this doesn't happen to you some day and you end up in this situation.

Greg

did you get anything else cool in there? one of ones? X-fractors and so forth? anything cool Ruf?

 

[MansGame]

 

[Super Mario]

Those Coors original fat bottles are amazingly underrated.

Was really hoping they'd put out them in the Light. But haven't seen them.

 

[bongo870]

Was really hoping they'd put out them in the Light. But haven't seen them.

would you believe i have not had a drink in over 15 years now!

 

[Super Mario]

would you believe i have not had a drink in over 15 years now!

I need to cut back. Honestly.

But Blue Moon is sooooooo delicious.

 

[MansGame]

would you believe i have not had a drink in over 15 years now!

That's great.

I can't say the same.


---
Buying Albert Belle cards! PM me!

 

[All The Hype]

So wait, you didn't like my Cracker Jack analogy?!?!

Ehhh I give it a 5.5/10 at best!! I think the key is to account for the "lotto-factor" of wax ripping, where any pack could have one of the ultra valuable chase cards. In my understanding, cracker jack prizes all carry about the same value (close to zero).





What sucks about this entire situation is Topps is the one at fault here, yet they never really rectified the situation. That's awful customer service. Absolutely awful.

Yes, they don't want to set the precedent that they will send new free wax if you have a bad case, but how is that the OP's problem? All he did was buy a case and get totally shafted out of what he was guaranteed. And argue all you want that he got his replacements, but you all know he had zero chance to get anything nice from the replacements, when a properly packaged case COULD have yielded a big hit. Topps STOLE that opportunity from him, and IMO they should have sent him a new case in exchange for the defective one, as others have mentioned.

The resulting wave of people claiming they got no hits so they can take advantage of the system is not the OP's problem...had Topps packaged the product correctly in the first place, they wouldn't have this issue on their hands.

 

[MansGame]

I'm totally on the OP'ers side and think Topps sucks - BUT I'm not in the camp of "Topps should of just sent him a new case" because they accidentally shorted the case (or a few boxes in the case) the guaranteed hit. UNLESS he sent them the entire case back after...

Off that point, can we all take a step back and think about the fact that this was terribly unlucky for the OP'er given that he purchased the entire case that happened to of been shorted... if it were sold box by box by your LCS, you'd have individual people pissed they were shorted their own single box, they'd all contact Topps and they'd all get one crappy auto in response and they'd all keep moving...

Not a huge problem when you think of it on a one auto shorted box situation... this is magnified because he was SO unlucky and ended up with the entire case. I don't think people would be so up in arms about this if we were discussing ONE box being shorted ONE auto BUT we are just magnifying the situation because it's essentially multiple situations all rolled up into one.

It's tough luck IMO... I don't think it's right but unfortunately such is life.


**As for my Cracker Jack example, that's a GREAT example regardless of your opinion that the "prizes" are "worthless" - some might troll this board and think we're all morons for thinking baseball cards have value lol

 

[predatorkj]

It was your only play. You send it all back even if they tell you that. Once again, a sucker falls to topps customer service. When will topps actually improve their products and cs

Yeah, I understand they said no, but I would have had to go through with it. Ot at least the wrappers so the package wasn't so big(with all the cards in it). I mean you were going to have an issue either way I suppose. I know people have said it's a mistake and it happens but what I'm doing is adding up mistakes that they make and it makes me wonder how I'm supposed to be motivated to buy even one box let alone a case. Mass redemptions, Triple Threads problems that are laughable at best, and now missing hits that will be replaced by scrubs with no chance of anything better. That's why I think buying wax perpetuates the problem.

 

[Dilferules]

The resulting wave of people claiming they got no hits so they can take advantage of the system is not the OP's problem...had Topps packaged the product correctly in the first place, they wouldn't have this issue on their hands.

I think people are confusing what is the OP's problem with what is the OP's fault.

It's absolutely not the OP's fault that the case was messed up, or that there are unscrupulous people out there that would lie and not make it feasible to take everybody at face value and send them great replacements. But since we don't live in a vacuum where the OP is the only person on the planet, it is most definitely his problem. Any problem encountered by a manufacturer becomes a problem of the consumer, whether it causes increased cost that must be passed on to the consumer, time delays, or an inferior product.

For those of you suggesting that Topps send out better replacements or unopened product, do you disagree that this would cause more people to try to scam Topps? If you do, I would suggest you haven't been in the hobby very long. If Topps has to send out a bunch of good replacements to scammers, one affect would be a higher production cost, which must be passed on to all consumers. Another affect would be that many more #ed autos are held back as replacements, and honest collectors have a lower and lower chance of hitting those in their box/case. These things become everybody's problem, not just Topps' problem or GPenko's problem.

For those suggesting that Topps tighten up their production so that ZERO mistakes happen, and no replacements are ever needed...stuff happens. Say they hire some guy to keep a close eye on the auto feeders. But wait, he turned his back for a second, or he had diarrhea and had to go take a dump really bad, or whatever. Nothing's 100% foolproof. But Topps has instituted this policy, since they have an auto-checker this product is perfect so no replacements will ever be needed...uh oh, you open the case that got screwed up somehow. Now you get NOTHING as a replacement because you must be a liar. Big problem.

People need to live in the real world where they are not the only person alive, and see the repercussions of every decision instead of just going, "Hey that's not MY problem." Give it some thought.

 

[bongo870]

Yeah, I understand they said no, but I would have had to go through with it. Ot at least the wrappers so the package wasn't so big(with all the cards in it). I mean you were going to have an issue either way I suppose. I know people have said it's a mistake and it happens but what I'm doing is adding up mistakes that they make and it makes me wonder how I'm supposed to be motivated to buy even one box let alone a case. Mass redemptions, Triple Threads problems that are laughable at best, and now missing hits that will be replaced by scrubs with no chance of anything better. That's why I think buying wax perpetuates the problem.

Topps doesn't care at all. Why should they? They rule the market. They feel if you don't like them then don't buy them.. I wish MLB would bring back Donrus and UD just so Topps can say "oh crap"....
Things screw up. people screw up. Topps sent the replacements. Now it is just of a matter he isn't happy with them. Just as he would not of been happy if he pulled all those autos. but then again what is wrong with them? value? the players? I collect Ruf and would love that auto. I'm sure others collect the there players and would love those too. So to me and others he didn't do to bad. but if your looking at it to make money then when has a box paid off for you lately? And why is everyone so focused on the Autos. id love to see what inserts and rookies he got too. The boxes weren't just autos. There are other things in there too to get excited about. But latly it seems like people only care about autos and how much money can I make.. That is sad...
Bottom line Topps doesn't care. Everyone knows this. Has been like this for years. And for the OP yes we all have been through this in the past. be it a box or case so your not alone.

 

[predatorkj]

Topps doesn't care at all. Why should they? They rule the market. They feel if you don't like them then don't buy them.. I wish MLB would bring back Donrus and UD just so Topps can say "oh crap"....
Things screw up. people screw up. Topps sent the replacements. Now it is just of a matter he isn't happy with them. Just as he would not of been happy if he pulled all those autos. but then again what is wrong with them? value? the players? I collect Ruf and would love that auto. I'm sure others collect the there players and would love those too. So to me and others he didn't do to bad. but if your looking at it to make money then when has a box paid off for you lately? And why is everyone so focused on the Autos. id love to see what inserts and rookies he got too. The boxes weren't just autos. There are other things in there too to get excited about. But latly it seems like people only care about autos and how much money can I make.. That is sad...
Bottom line Topps doesn't care. Everyone knows this. Has been like this for years. And for the OP yes we all have been through this in the past. be it a box or case so your not alone.

I collect just about every decent player out there and I collect autos of said players. So my standards are pretty low when it comes to a "good auto". In no way am I suggesting he would have or should have gotten big money items. But why not at least a decent player instead of rookie scrubs. I wasn't aware this Ruf kid was a decent veteran or an all star. In fact the only way I've even heard of him is through building sets. So excuse my ignorance. Just like I won't hold it against people for not understanding why I collect some of the players I do.

 

[predatorkj]

I think people are confusing what is the OP's problem with what is the OP's fault.

It's absolutely not the OP's fault that the case was messed up, or that there are unscrupulous people out there that would lie and not make it feasible to take everybody at face value and send them great replacements. But since we don't live in a vacuum where the OP is the only person on the planet, it is most definitely his problem. Any problem encountered by a manufacturer becomes a problem of the consumer, whether it causes increased cost that must be passed on to the consumer, time delays, or an inferior product.

For those of you suggesting that Topps send out better replacements or unopened product, do you disagree that this would cause more people to try to scam Topps? If you do, I would suggest you haven't been in the hobby very long. If Topps has to send out a bunch of good replacements to scammers, one affect would be a higher production cost, which must be passed on to all consumers. Another affect would be that many more #ed autos are held back as replacements, and honest collectors have a lower and lower chance of hitting those in their box/case. These things become everybody's problem, not just Topps' problem or GPenko's problem.

For those suggesting that Topps tighten up their production so that ZERO mistakes happen, and no replacements are ever needed...stuff happens. Say they hire some guy to keep a close eye on the auto feeders. But wait, he turned his back for a second, or he had diarrhea and had to go take a dump really bad, or whatever. Nothing's 100% foolproof. But Topps has instituted this policy, since they have an auto-checker this product is perfect so no replacements will ever be needed...uh oh, you open the case that got screwed up somehow. Now you get NOTHING as a replacement because you must be a liar. Big problem.

People need to live in the real world where they are not the only person alive, and see the repercussions of every decision instead of just going, "Hey that's not MY problem." Give it some thought.

I agree with some of your points but we aren't talking about one or two missing autos which is what you'd end up with if the guy watching turned his head. And I've already stated a feasible cost efficient method on a previous post about how to combat this problem. So the real question is, why should it become my problem if the company screws up or doesn't take the time to rectify a situation. I know topps doesn't care. Because people keep buying all these boxes. It won't change. Just saying.

 

[Dilferules]

I agree with some of your points but we aren't talking about one or two missing autos which is what you'd end up with if the guy watching turned his head. And I've already stated a feasible cost efficient method on a previous post about how to combat this problem. So the real question is, why should it become my problem if the company screws up or doesn't take the time to rectify a situation. I know topps doesn't care. Because people keep buying all these boxes. It won't change. Just saying.

Is this what you mean?

The only way for them to make sure they don't get scammers is to ensure some way of being able to tell if a problem with the machines occurred and how long it went on for, figure out how many cases, packs, or boxes were created during said time span, and either pull them or at least have somebody log the range of product screwed up using the serial numbers and creating a range of the boxes/cases that may have been defective as it were. That way they have that info and if someone calls in, they can know that the screwup did occur and that what the person is telling them is very likely due to the documentation of said error and cross checking the range of boxes/cases using the serial numbers. And, it wouldn't be all that hard because you're talking about training a person already working there to do a job that takes five extra minutes of paper work. You guys are so adamant this is an anomaly so it shouldn't be a constant issue leading to loss on their end by implementing this method. And they could easily tell how many boxes/cases the problem would affect by testing to see how many are created per a given time interval(let's say in increments of five minutes depending on the speed of the machines) and then creating a sliding rule scale for the employee to quick reference.

So, the fact that they screw up and it hurts me as a customer is still very well their problem, not mine. You don't want to get burned, do something to keep it from happening without burning a person who just spent a lot of money on your product. Not by screwing them or losing a customer. The real issue is a lot of you guys will still go buy cases of product and perpetuate the problem. Enjoy reaping what you sow.

That is a great idea and something they SHOULD be doing if they aren't already. And I think that will help to quickly identify which people are most likely telling the truth and not scamming.

But there are problems that run through multiple cases, and some problems that perhaps only affect one case, or one or two boxes consecutively. So let's assume this screwup run is discovered only after the cases have left the factory and are being opened by the public. What if somebody claims to have a box or case outside of an identified problem run? Does Topps tell them "You scammer, I'm not sending you anything!" whereupon we're back in a scenario I presented in my last post; or do you figure it's possible it was a problem confined to that case and send them good replacements/unopened product - which puts us back at the same problem we have currently.

And I think Topps does care...they don't care out of the kindness of their hearts (they're a business), but they care because it's a situation that's difficult or impossible to find a workable solution for both sides, and stuff like this certainly doesn't HELP sales.

You said, "So the real question is, why should it become my problem if the company screws up or doesn't take the time to rectify a situation." As I said in my last post, for any product you buy, any problem the manufacturer has becomes your problem in some fashion, whether it's visible or not. Why should it become your problem? Because that's how life works, we all know life isn't fair. You didn't do anything bad to acquire the "problem risk", but just by virtue of buying any product you are taking a chance there will be a problem. You can eliminate the risk by not buying any of the product, or minimize the risk by buying singles.

 

[predatorkj]

Is this what you mean?



That is a great idea and something they SHOULD be doing if they aren't already. And I think that will help to quickly identify which people are most likely telling the truth and not scamming.

But there are problems that run through multiple cases, and some problems that perhaps only affect one case, or one or two boxes consecutively. So let's assume this screwup run is discovered only after the cases have left the factory and are being opened by the public. What if somebody claims to have a box or case outside of an identified problem run? Does Topps tell them "You scammer, I'm not sending you anything!" whereupon we're back in a scenario I presented in my last post; or do you figure it's possible it was a problem confined to that case and send them good replacements/unopened product - which puts us back at the same problem we have currently.

And I think Topps does care...they don't care out of the kindness of their hearts (they're a business), but they care because it's a situation that's difficult or impossible to find a workable solution for both sides, and stuff like this certainly doesn't HELP sales.

You said, "So the real question is, why should it become my problem if the company screws up or doesn't take the time to rectify a situation." As I said in my last post, for any product you buy, any problem the manufacturer has becomes your problem in some fashion, whether it's visible or not. Why should it become your problem? Because that's how life works, we all know life isn't fair. You didn't do anything bad to acquire the "problem risk", but just by virtue of buying any product you are taking a chance there will be a problem. You can eliminate the risk by not buying any of the product, or minimize the risk by buying singles.

Which is why I buy retail only and not a whole lot to begin with. I build sets and buy singles I like so IMO, I've done everything I can to limit any possible chance I'll get screwed.

As for my thoughts on how to fix the problem, I think it would certainly help a lot and yes, they might still have a hiccup. But it'll be minimal. This was what? 8 boxes in a row? And hey, if I buy a hobby box missing a hit, as has happened in the past, I'll take the one junk auto. I buy 8 boxes, I won't take the junk.