Topps Starts to Limit What Stores Can Buy Direct

[cgilmo]

Totally makes sense.

I assume since you (FCB shop) order the max of everything is that max the same for every shop or is it different because of back room agreements and such?

My shop isn't very old. I did not inherit the direct account of the previous owner (atlanta sports cards) for obvious reasons. So with the limited buying history there is only so much I can get direct. My yearly expenditures direct from topps last year was only about 90k. My distributor purchases were over 250k when you count gaming products.

 

[Erich]

My shop isn't very old. I did not inherit the direct account of the previous owner (atlanta sports cards) for obvious reasons. So with the limited buying history there is only so much I can get direct. My yearly expenditures direct from topps last year was only about 90k. My distributor purchases were over 250k when you count gaming products.

Will 90K make it or are there 250 other shops that spend that much. I know it is a hard question to answer.

 

[cgilmo]

Will 90K make it or are there 250 other shops that spend that much. I know it is a hard question to answer.

it should

I can't imagine getting cut off when we have bought everything solicited.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

My allocations were always crazy low.

If I remember right (from '98- 07 or so), my max allocation was ALWAYS a case of anything. From a whopping 6 box case of chrome products to a case of topps total.

I never was able to order more, despite asking.

 

[notjomommasclint]

in my opinon this should help the store owners. less stale inventory, easier to cherry pick products, and a more managable inventory.

 

[cgilmo]

in my opinon this should help the store owners. less stale inventory, easier to cherry pick products, and a more managable inventory.

Actually Clint, this makes it impossible to cherry pick topps. You have to keep your orders up to stay direct.

http://www.topps.com/media/pdf/SPRINGFEVER_STORELIST.pdf

659 stores, and they are going to cut it to 250

 

[Erich]

Actually Clint, this makes it impossible to cherry pick topps. You have to keep your orders up to stay direct.

http://www.topps.com/media/pdf/SPRINGFEVER_STORELIST.pdf

659 stores, and they are going to cut it to 250

That is more stores than I thought. Like you said I wonder how many of them are what used to be a store and now it is some guys basement and he just buys the good stuff or is just batting cages with a few packs.

 

[notjomommasclint]

Actually Clint, this makes it impossible to cherry pick topps. You have to keep your orders up to stay direct.

http://www.topps.com/media/pdf/SPRINGFEVER_STORELIST.pdf

659 stores, and they are going to cut it to 250

Yes but I meant for those going to distributors. Doesn't it make it easier o just load up on the good stuff and pass on the stinkers?


I'm old Greg

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

I could meet those requirements personally (other than an actual brick and mortar shop), but of course I'd never get allocated the quantities that I'd actually want. That, I would think, is part of the problem. It's one thing to say $30k, but it's another thing if Topps will fulfill your requests for the products.

Say I want (and this is fairly accurate for me):
10 cases of Topps Jumbo (per release so X3) (about $15k)
16 cases of Topps Heritage (over $10k)
30 cases of Bowman Jumbo (over $24k)
4 cases of Bowman Inception (can't remember, but it ain't cheap)
20 cases of Bowman Draft (over $12k)
1 cases of Triple Threads (over $1k)
and I could pick up 2 other random products throughout the year.

But...to hit that $30k...you'd have to buy more of the crap product if they would for instance only allocate me 2 cases of Bowman Jumbo. If that were the case it'd be tough to hit the $30k.

 

[cgilmo]

Yes but I meant for those going to distributors. Doesn't it make it easier o just load up on the good stuff and pass on the stinkers?


I'm old Greg

I dont think topps cares if you cherry pick distributors.

The one I worked at wouldnt allow it anyway.

 

[cgilmo]

My direct allocation of bowman draft was 5 cases 1 jumbo case.

Direct buy is merely a starting point.

 

[notjomommasclint]

I dont think topps cares if you cherry pick distributors.

The one I worked at wouldnt allow it anyway.

I guess cherry pick was a bad term.

I was unaware that distributors had purchase requirements. The shops I've been to have always just called and viola! XXXX shows up.


I'm old Greg

 

[cgilmo]

I guess cherry pick was a bad term.

I was unaware that distributors had purchase requirements. The shops I've been to have always just called and viola! XXXX shows up.


I'm old Greg

It varies distributor to distributor.

Most allocate the good stuff to those who also support the bad.

 

[mchenrycards]

It varies distributor to distributor.

Most allocate the good stuff to those who also support the bad.

Agreed.

My secondary distributors would only allow me a box or two of the good stuff because, well I just didnt buy much from them as I had 3 or 4 primary distributors that I worked with. My primary distributors would always take care of me because I bought the crap to go along with the good stuff. I had one distributor that would always allow me a few boxes above my allocation of the hot product because I always took dog product off of their hands. Luckily, I had customers who liked opening these dog products!!

 

[mchenrycards]

My allocations were always crazy low.

If I remember right (from '98- 07 or so), my max allocation was ALWAYS a case of anything. From a whopping 6 box case of chrome products to a case of topps total.

I never was able to order more, despite asking.

Your allocations were probably crazy low because you did not buy a whole lot directly from Topps. There more you purchased the higher your allocations were. The bad thing about Topps back in the day was that you HAD to but some of their crappy product to get the good stuff and honestly, sometimes it didnt make good business sense to buy their crap products at a higher cost than distributors were selling a week after the go live date. I tried to buy some of whatever was offered because the hot product was usually hot right at go live and it helped to offset the cost of the crap product.

What sticks out in my memory is that Topps jumbo packs of anything were always allocated to one case of product for every five you bought of the regular product. I used to hate that as everyone I knew wanted the jumbos and moving the regular packs just took so dang long. I needed to turn that profit around to buy more product and would always swear at Topps when I saw 2-3 cases remaining in my stock room that were slow movers. At least everything did eventually sell but sometimes I was not so sure it all would.

I can tell you that after I closed my store I kept my direct account with Topps open and enjoyed the fruits of buying this product with no overhead of a store to support. That was where I was able to make some money to pay off the remaining debt of the store without dipping into my savings.

 

[mjbuchanan80]

Actually Clint, this makes it impossible to cherry pick topps. You have to keep your orders up to stay direct.

http://www.topps.com/media/pdf/SPRINGFEVER_STORELIST.pdf

659 stores, and they are going to cut it to 250

You should make this list availalbe on your site for members trying to locate shops in towns they go to visit. Very handy list.

 

[cgilmo]

You should make this list availalbe on your site for members trying to locate shops in towns they go to visit. Very handy list.

I've saved a copy.

 

[notjomommasclint]

It varies distributor to distributor.

Most allocate the good stuff to those who also support the bad.

That makes sense. I had never really thought of it like that.


I'm old Greg

 

[brentandbecca]

There are only 3 hobby stores left in my state of AR. The longest opened one has also bought the max for decades, they typically are only allocated ZERO, yep on some, to 2 cases on most releases...yet they don't care as they don't sell much wax anymore.
Personally, I purchase over $30k on average for each of my breaks and with more case and group breakers Topps should be considering selling direct to guys like us that spend more than most card shops, although I know why they don't.