Topps Auto'ed Gold Infused Baseball Redemption - SHOCKING UPDATE!

[Bob Loblaw]

How would anyone know that it was issued by Topps? Just a hunch?

People wouldn't.

 

[MansGame]

Let's revisit the actual text from the Topps website which explains the PROMOTION:

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In an effort to support the launch of Topps Baseball Series 1 and make 2012 a huge success, Topps in conjunction with the MLBPA will combine a highly-anticipated Topps Series 1 with a special Gold Rush promotion! This promotion will provide collectors with value and hobby stores with unique tools to create excitement and support the launch.

Topps will reveal more details, but to get a taste of what’s to come… “The Gold Rush” will include a special wrapper redemption program and special Gold Rush tickets found in Series 1 product, which will unlock unbelievable gold infused autographed baseballs tri-signed by Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr!

In addition, Topps has developed a unique Gold Rush program for the hobby stores. And every hobby store that signs up will get a very special “Gold Rush” Launch Kit to hold their very own Series 1 product launch event. The kit will include tools to help create excitement, build traffic and ultimately drive sales! All stores must email [email protected] by Friday, December 9th to participate, so tell your local hobby store to sign up and be part of the Gold Rush today!

_______________


This is my favorite line "This promotion will provide collectors with value and hobby stores with unique tools to create excitement and support the launch."

Keep in mind the definition of the word promotion: the act of furthering the growth or development of something; especially: the furtherance of the acceptance and sale of merchandise through advertising, publicity, or discounting

Bottom line is this is clearly not a simple regular "redemption" but rather a PROMOTION Topps did to launch their product and bring value to customers and tools to create excitement for hobby stores. Well I hope they got everything they wanted out of the PROMOTION.... in the end all customers who were suppose to be brough value, got screwed if they were lucky enought to trip and fall on a golden ticket.

 

[sportscardtheory]

People wouldn't.

Post ONE Topps-released baseball that doesn't have any type of Topps insignia.

 

[fur72]

Let's revisit the actual text from the Topps website which explains the PROMOTION:

_______________


In an effort to support the launch of Topps Baseball Series 1 and make 2012 a huge success, Topps in conjunction with the MLBPA will combine a highly-anticipated Topps Series 1 with a special Gold Rush promotion! This promotion will provide collectors with value and hobby stores with unique tools to create excitement and support the launch.

Topps will reveal more details, but to get a taste of what’s to come… “The Gold Rush” will include a special wrapper redemption program and special Gold Rush tickets found in Series 1 product, which will unlock unbelievable gold infused autographed baseballs tri-signed by Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr!

In addition, Topps has developed a unique Gold Rush program for the hobby stores. And every hobby store that signs up will get a very special “Gold Rush” Launch Kit to hold their very own Series 1 product launch event. The kit will include tools to help create excitement, build traffic and ultimately drive sales! All stores must email [email protected] by Friday, December 9th to participate, so tell your local hobby store to sign up and be part of the Gold Rush today!

_______________


This is my favorite line "This promotion will provide collectors with value and hobby stores with unique tools to create excitement and support the launch."

Keep in mind the definition of the word promotion: the act of furthering the growth or development of something; especially: the furtherance of the acceptance and sale of merchandise through advertising, publicity, or discounting

Bottom line is this is clearly not a simple regular "redemption" but rather a PROMOTION Topps did to launch their product and bring value to customers and tools to create excitement for hobby stores. Well I hope they got everything they wanted out of the PROMOTION.... in the end all customers who were suppose to be brough value, got screwed if they were lucky enought to trip and fall on a golden ticket.

The promotion was just not the 20 Gold Rush tickets. There was also a 9 or 10 week redemption that worked in conjunction with hobby store owners to get traffic in their doors on a weekly basis.

EDIT: Do we have solid evidence someone was forced to take a case of archives or is this something someone over heard on sports card radio?

 

[MansGame]

The promotion was just not the 20 Gold Rush tickets. There was also a 9 or 10 week redemption that worked in conjunction with hobby store owners to get traffic in their doors on a weekly basis.

EDIT: Do we have solid evidence someone was forced to take a case of archives or is this something someone over heard on sports card radio?

To your question, a customer at my LCS went out and purchased two of these promotional redemptions last year and sent them to Topps... He told the owner, myself and a few others that Topps told him they don't have the balls and can't get them completed and instead sent him a few cases of '12 Topps Archives as a replacement.

I didn't ask any follow-up questions or anything, so I can't confirm whether he "settled" with Topps or whether they just sent him the cases but I will tell you my impression and the impression on others was they just sent him the cases and essenitally the promotion was a bust. Plus the dude was heated, so didn't seem like he "settled".

From the sound of it, via twitter comments, Topps admits they can't get the balls and can't complete the promotion and admits sending cases but I guess is wording it in a way where they say the collector "settled" with them... again, I would say the same thing if I were Topps, even if they did just send the cases instead of actually trying to make it right.

 

[fur72]

OMG He bought 2 redemptions? That would suck.

 

[MansGame]

OMG He bought 2 redemptions? That would suck.

Yes, for sure. Totally burned.

Although, with such a high profile promotion, you'd give it a little more faith then some regular redemption from TTT or something... at least that's my feelings

For christ sake, LCS's had "Launch Kits" to promote the product... I never would of thought there was a chance they would screw this one up but I guess that's TOPPS lol

 

[Boylen33]

Post ONE Topps-released baseball that doesn't have any type of Topps insignia.

The auto'd Strasburg balls that were redemptions in 2011 Sterling came with no case, NO COA, and NO Topps insignia of any kind. Just a ball signed by Strasburg in plastic bag.

 

[cstmleather]

They should replace Mays with Koufax. Then ask those with pending redemptions if they want that or a case of Archives instead.

 

[rum151man]

Only reason why I find this funny is a local card shop owner that is a MAJOR ****** was owed one of these. There even was a segment on it on the local news. Can't stand that f*cker.

Sent from my HUAWEI-M920 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

Which shop?

 

[PadresFan86]

Which shop?

The one in land park

 

[nyc3]

So if this guy is so pissed why isn't he online complaining? I have a feeling you are more upset then him.

 

[Keyser Soze]

You've just an unreasonably large sense of entitlement here.

This is the single dumbest statement I've ever heard. How dare us want to get what we paid for, or at least something of equivalent value!!! We're all elitist, greedy pigs!!!

 

[Keyser Soze]

They should replace Mays with Koufax. Then ask those with pending redemptions if they want that or a case of Archives instead.

Agree! There are TONS of baseball greats that they could get to replace Mays, IF he's the only issue. I just Tweeted Topps this:

 

[sportscardtheory]

The auto'd Strasburg balls that were redemptions in 2011 Sterling came with no case, NO COA, and NO Topps insignia of any kind. Just a ball signed by Strasburg in plastic bag.

Thanks for the info. It seems strange that Topps would release something without Topps insignia.

 

[sportscardtheory]

This is the single dumbest statement I've ever heard. How dare us want to get what we paid for, or at least something of equivalent value!!! We're all elitist, greedy pigs!!!

Yeah, how dare these people pay around $2,000 for something and get mad when what they actually receive is completely different and valued around $600. They should be happy that they are getting anything at all!

 

[Keyser Soze]

They're reply and my reply to their reply

 

[MansGame]

They're reply and my reply to their reply

Didn't someone post what those balls looked like? They were half gold right? The link to the company who makes gold infused balls showed them as full ball; not that it matters but the entire ball infused with gold looks amazing... the half infused looks like a ball you'd get on a give-away day at the ballpark...

Anyways, someone said that I sound more pissed than the guy who got screwed.... ummmmm I highly doubt that... most of my flaming on here has been in response those to those who are defending Topps and are treating this as no big deal... that in itself has got me heated :twisted:

But I guess this is a public board and everyone has the right to sit behind their computer and say whatever they want and have whatever opinions they want... such is life.

 

[MansGame]

Look at this "promotion" for Tristar Hidden Treasures signed baseball... what if you found out, after purchasing a case of this product or something that Ruth and Speaker weren't ever in the product or any of the other names listed on the front of this release? Yes, I know "how would you find out?!", the point is what if you did find out? Maybe the Speaker was a decoy ball with a redemption and the collector turned it in and then was given a case of cards to replace the ball or something?

Maybe a bad example but I just feel strongly that if a company puts out a promotion, they better have it all figured out and ready to go when it comes time to pay up on the prizes and the actually promotion they used to PROMOTE a item, release, etc.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Topps thrives on the fact that collectors are so disorganized and short-sighted. HUGE blunders like this almost go completely unnoticed, so they'll continue to happen.