what happened to topps?

[bongo870]

I'm doing the set this year because it's there 75th ann. I usually do this for the special sets. I build a set and buy a factory set. But this year I see in the retail boxes they cut back one pack and no longer have the manufactured patch card. Also, in the complete set they always had some special set in there or cards. Not this year. Very disappointed...

 

[WizardofOz1982]

I'm doing the set this year because it's there 75th ann. I usually do this for the special sets. I build a set and buy a factory set. But this year I see in the retail boxes they cut back one pack and no longer have the manufactured patch card. Also, in the complete set they always had some special set in there or cards. Not this year. Very disappointed...

No competition for them so why put out any effort.

 

[madbull34]

Fanatics bought them. Production and prices went up. Boxes got watered down with less hits. Breakers driving the hobby now.

 

[Philip J. Fry]

I know it's unlicensed, blah blah blah, but when I can spend $50 for 120 cards with 2 autographs/memorabilia cards per box (Donruss) versus $40 for 28 cards (Topps Chrome), I went that route instead. Plus, I had a lot more fun ripping Donruss than I probably would have with Topps anyway.

Topps, as someone already mentioned, has no competition and therefore couldn't care less about consumers because they know the product will sell since they're the only officially licensed vendor.

 

[gt2590]

I'm doing the set this year because it's there 75th ann. I usually do this for the special sets. I build a set and buy a factory set. But this year I see in the retail boxes they cut back one pack and no longer have the manufactured patch card. Also, in the complete set they always had some special set in there or cards. Not this year. Very disappointed...

The Chrome blasters only have 28 cards for $40.

And yeah, the smaller box prob makes for better merchandising but it sure seems like you’re getting less in there…

 

[mrmopar]

I gave up buying packs almost 2 decades ago. I have still thoroughly enjoyed collecting what I want by buying singles on the secondary market. Two things I do/potentially miss:

1. I did have fun opening the packs initially, but by the late 90s, that was no different than scratching a lottery ticket. The gambling aspect ruined opening packs for me because i almost always felt cheated after tearing open a box and not getting a sufficient hit to justify the price I paid. That literally drove me to stop buying boxes and just spend the same money on singles I wanted, leaving me satisfied every time instead of frustrated/cheated with packs/boxes.

2. I will never have the joy of berating extreme odds and pulling an amazing, expensive card and thus will probably never own any said cards due to the secondary prices.

I understand why packs still appeal to so many people, much the same way cigarettes and alcohol do as well, but I am pretty confident that the majority of people do so with the gambling mindset and that the pure joy of opening packs to find your favorite player or team is long gone. The price can rarely justify that.

 

[finestkind]

I have about 150 unopened packs of mostly baseball cards all different brands from the 90's to the early 2000s. I'm not going to open them. I know with my luck I won't get any hits.