Topps changes distribution policies!

[ChasHawk]

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but it looks to have a huge effect hobby-wide.

http://thebackstop.net/toppsbrickmortar.html

MAY 8th 2009

As you are well aware, the recent economic downturn has put strains on the trading card industry. All segments within our category have been negatively affected. During the past six months, Topps has put in place significant cost cutting programs that have impacted every area of our business in order to be prepared for the challenges ahead. While these changes were difficult to make, they were necessary in order for us to continue to meet our commitments.
In conjunction with our recent organizational changes, it is necessary for us to change our distribution model as well. Effective immediately, Topps will sell Hobby products directly to only authorized Topps Hobby Distributors and Topps Home Team Advantage Stores. All direct shipments to other distributors and non-HTA accounts will be suspended indefinitely. Each account affected by this change will receive a letter stating this announcement and will be encouraged to contact an authorized Topps Hobby Distributor or Topps Home Team Advantage Store to obtain future products.
We hope that you appreciate that these changes are necessary for Topps to continue to provide quality products.

Regards,





The Topps Company, Inc.

 

[Card Magnet]

So...no more eBay sellers who don't have brick & mortar stores?

 

[Jaypers]

Will this ultimately lower overall print runs of Topps products?

 

[ChasHawk]

So...no more eBay sellers who don't have brick & mortar stores?

Not at all. Just that they would have to buy from Topps authorized distributors, which may raise their cost, which would in turn raise box/case prices for consumers.

That's my inference anyway.

 

[metallicalex777]

They could start saving TONS of money sending redemptions together to the same address versus a different padded envelope with $4 worth of shipping costs. Those Montero maildays were the worst!!!

 

[moxacaine]

They could start saving TONS of money sending redemptions together to the same address versus a different padded envelope with $4 worth of shipping costs. Those Montero maildays were the worst!!!

or they could just get rid of redemptions.

 

[ChasHawk]

They could start saving TONS of money sending redemptions together to the same address versus a different padded envelope with $4 worth of shipping costs. Those Montero maildays were the worst!!!

+1 :lol:

I got 3 seperate envelopes last month for 2008 Finest base cards

 

[chisox3706]

wow this blows, i hope costs dont go up too much with other locations that arent "topps stores"

 

[cgilmo]

I actually see this as a positive change in favor of a dying breed.


Long live the hobby shop.

 

[chisox3706]

They could start saving TONS of money sending redemptions together to the same address versus a different padded envelope with $4 worth of shipping costs. Those Montero maildays were the worst!!!

+1 :lol:

I got 3 seperate envelopes last month for 2008 Finest base cards

+2! if only their quality control department would look it over before sending...i got 5 separate ones myself!

 

[ChasHawk]

wow this blows, i hope costs dont go up too much with other locations that arent "topps stores"

The closest store to me already buys his boxes through Southern Hobby, so his prices will be just as high as they've always been.

The biggest place rumored to be hit by this is Blowout.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

This screws over the guy without a store trying to run a mail order/ebay business.

 

[ChasHawk]

I actually see this as a positive change in favor of a dying breed.


Long live the hobby shop.

I would love to agree with this Chris, but some shops need to go out of business.

Places that try to charge $90 for Topps Series 1 or $110 for 08 Draft need to die off IMHO.

 

[matfanofold]

I'm not sure how limiting who you sell to saves you money. Perhaps this is a case where they could cut expenses by 50% and only loose 10% of the profits, in the end making more off of less overhead. In the end, it's just another way american companies suck. They rather fire 500 people and put families on the street just to save a nickel..

 

[chisox3706]

wow this blows, i hope costs dont go up too much with other locations that arent "topps stores"

The closest store to me already buys his boxes through Southern Hobby, so his prices will be just as high as they've always been.

The biggest place rumored to be hit by this is Blowout.

yeah i was wondering what big internet sites would get slammed...

 

[lisu]

Upper Deck tried this a couple of years ago. I don't think it worked.

 

[Penno]

This screws over the guy without a store trying to run a mail order/ebay business.

And to an extent, they screw over the people who front the costs of a hobby shop. I feel for, to an extent, the E-Stores and they're customers who don't have access to hobby shops, but not so much for small ebay sellers.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

wow this blows, i hope costs dont go up too much with other locations that arent "topps stores"

The closest store to me already buys his boxes through Southern Hobby, so his prices will be just as high as they've always been.

The biggest place rumored to be hit by this is Blowout.

yeah i was wondering what big internet sites would get slammed...

One would think that Blowout, with the profits and amount of product they move, would be able to "feign" a brick and mortar store based on their location. . . or at least rent out a storefront very cheaply.

 

[ChasHawk]

wow this blows, i hope costs dont go up too much with other locations that arent "topps stores"

The closest store to me already buys his boxes through Southern Hobby, so his prices will be just as high as they've always been.

The biggest place rumored to be hit by this is Blowout.

yeah i was wondering what big internet sites would get slammed...

One would think that Blowout, with the profits and amount of product they move, would be able to "feign" a brick and mortar store based on their location. . . or at least rent out a storefront very cheaply.

It's not just about being brick and mortar. My local hobby shop is not a "Topps Home Team Advantage" store. You have to meet certian guidelines to qualify for this. So even if Blowout opened a store, they would still most likely have to buy through an authorized distributor.

 

[sportscardtheory]

So now the "authorized distributors" set the pack/box/case prices... that's sounds like a winning idea. Higher prices = less sales. Thankfully I don't bust newer wax.