When will card companies like Razor and Panini realize.......

[uniquebaseballcards]

It has little mainstream following outside of A&G fans and set collectors now.

You can't rehas the same thing 8 years straight and expect it to remain just as popular....it's not. Just ask any hobby shop owner....

Flagship Topps has been going 60+ years and it remains the most popular issue of all.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Swinging dicks is fun and all, but looking at the industry and the market itself...it's safe to assume that Topps isn't doing nearly as well as they would like. Or as well as they were doing say 5 years ago when the industry was stronger.

While Topps has the arguably the largest market penetration in the industry, it's still a shrinking industry.

As to Tim's question, "Honest question, do you think chris is saying that because he knows or just because he's guessing?" The truth is that Chris is guessing, perhaps with information from others with implied insider knowledge, but still "guessing" nonetheless. Not a slam in the slightest, but if Chris had a downfall, it would be assuming and acting like he knows more than he does about the hobby. All with good intentions, but still misinformation.

As for Topps versus Leaf or Panini...lop a $1 million or so off of the top of Topps for MLBP licensing and that's a hearty chunk of the Net.

 

[cgilmo]

Swinging dicks is fun and all, but looking at the industry and the market itself...it's safe to assume that Topps isn't doing nearly as well as they would like. Or as well as they were doing say 5 years ago when the industry was stronger.

While Topps has the arguably the largest market penetration in the industry, it's still a shrinking industry.

As to Tim's question, "Honest question, do you think chris is saying that because he knows or just because he's guessing?" The truth is that Chris is guessing, perhaps with information from others with implied insider knowledge, but still "guessing" nonetheless. Not a slam in the slightest, but if Chris had a downfall, it would be assuming and acting like he knows more than he does about the hobby. All with good intentions, but still misinformation.

As for Topps versus Leaf or Panini...lop a $1 million or so off of the top of Topps for MLBP licensing and that's a hearty chunk of the Net.

I know that mark sapir left. And I know that he wouldnt have done that unless he had to.

I aam better connected to the industry then you think man.

 

[bmc398]

Swinging dicks is fun and all, but looking at the industry and the market itself...it's safe to assume that Topps isn't doing nearly as well as they would like. Or as well as they were doing say 5 years ago when the industry was stronger.

While Topps has the arguably the largest market penetration in the industry, it's still a shrinking industry.

As to Tim's question, "Honest question, do you think chris is saying that because he knows or just because he's guessing?" The truth is that Chris is guessing, perhaps with information from others with implied insider knowledge, but still "guessing" nonetheless. Not a slam in the slightest, but if Chris had a downfall, it would be assuming and acting like he knows more than he does about the hobby. All with good intentions, but still misinformation.

As for Topps versus Leaf or Panini...lop a $1 million or so off of the top of Topps for MLBP licensing and that's a hearty chunk of the Net.

You think that license ONLY costs $1Mil?

 

[bmc398]

Flagship Topps has been going 60+ years and it remains the most popular issue of all.

And what does that have to do with A&G? Topps base sets are popular because of their roots. Just 30 years ago, Topps base was the ONLY set they put out. So it remains logical that this would remain popular.

Ginter is a played out idea. It is beloved by a small segment of the hobby, ripped by others but it doesn't pack the punch it did 8 years ago. You can of course disagree....but base Topps and A&G are not the same. Not even close....

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I know that mark sapir left. And I know that he wouldnt have done that unless he had to.

I aam better connected to the industry then you think man.

You don't know why he left. He may have been banging his secretary and left so that the affair never came out and his marriage was intact.

For once, I agree with 200lb. If you have evidence, offer it up. Otherwise, you're making baseless accusations.

 

[phillyfan0417]

You don't know why he left. He may have been banging his secretary and left so that the affair never came out and his marriage was intact.

For once, I agree with 200lb. If you have evidence, offer it up. Otherwise, you're making baseless accusations.

That would make two of you for the exact reason you indicated.

 

[nappyd]

You don't know why he left. He may have been banging his secretary and left so that the affair never came out and his marriage was intact.

For once, I agree with 200lb. If you have evidence, offer it up. Otherwise, you're making baseless accusations.

Between him and Ryan O'Hara leaving in February, Topps is about to undergo a lot of changes to try and be more profitable.

 

[cgilmo]

You don't know why he left. He may have been banging his secretary and left so that the affair never came out and his marriage was intact.

For once, I agree with 200lb. If you have evidence, offer it up. Otherwise, you're making baseless accusations.

I am not making accusations.

I am drawing conclusions.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

I know that mark sapir left. And I know that he wouldnt have done that unless he had to.

I aam better connected to the industry then you think man.

Good grief, don't strain your dick from the swinging.

As for Sapir leaving, he's supposedly leaving the industry as a whole from what I've heard. That lends itself to clear industry troubles and like all companies, the fat is at the top. Was he overpaid for his role? Certainly not in the boon times, but when the industry struggles as a whole...money is tight across the board.

Regardless Chris, your intentions are always good...your information is not. I agree that Topps is struggling, but I don't need cryptic **** measuring to come to that conclusion.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

You think that license ONLY costs $1Mil?

No, not even close, but take a $1 million off of the Net from any company in this industry and that's a big chunk.

So whether it's $1, $5 or $10 million...it's a huge chunk right off of the top.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

That would make two of you for the exact reason you indicated.

What "baseless accusation" am I making? That Chris can give off that he knows more than he knows? Come on now Tim, that's hardly "baseless."

 

[George_Calfas]

It has little mainstream following outside of A&G fans and set collectors now.

You can't rehas the same thing 8 years straight and expect it to remain just as popular....it's not. Just ask any hobby shop owner....

Most Topps (Leaf/Panini/etc) product lines are niche products that cater to a particular group of collectors; some groups bigger and some small. I buy A&G and not Bowman and Finest not Chrome.

 

[bmc398]

Most Topps (Leaf/Panini/etc) product lines are niche products that cater to a particular group of collectors; some groups bigger and some small. I buy A&G and not Bowman and Finest not Chrome.

right, but if I am topps, my goal is to sell as much product as possible. Releasing a stale Ginter every year isn't going to do that.

If I were in charge, this would be heading the $25-35 online store exclusive box route. It's just not selling for hobby shops.

 

[Mario1975]

I would imagine Topps is doing fine simply for the fact they renewed their exclusive license with Topps. You would think if they were losing money or not doing well they would have relinquished it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

And what does that have to do with A&G? Topps base sets are popular because of their roots. Just 30 years ago, Topps base was the ONLY set they put out. So it remains logical that this would remain popular.

Ginter is a played out idea. It is beloved by a small segment of the hobby, ripped by others but it doesn't pack the punch it did 8 years ago. You can of course disagree....but base Topps and A&G are not the same. Not even close....

It should be clear that Topps' intent with A&G and any other (current) niche product is to grow it into another, bigger, mainstream Topps product that sells year after year after year. Just as flagship Topps once only catered to a small niche of collectors itself and grew into today's mainstay.

There's nothing wrong with A&G catering to a very specific niche, however too many niches clutter the hobby unnecessarily. A manufacturer trying to grow a product from niche status to mainstream status obviously has a tough job and undoubtedly needs some luck. I like A&G, but perhaps Topps will change A&G into something else to make it more mainstream.

 

[James52411]

If Topps can make a sufficient profit margin on a product, they will keep producing it. A smart businessman doesn't make a good profit the enemy of a great product.

 

[allstars]

If Topps was in such bad shape why would they cut off all of their smaller direct accounts? It doesn't make sense.

 

[cgilmo]

If Topps was in such bad shape why would they cut off all of their smaller direct accounts? It doesn't make sense.

because they do not have the man power to work with those smaller accounts. The smaller accounts will still buy just as much product as before just through distributors. It's a part of down sizing.

 

[George_Calfas]

It should be clear that Topps' intent with A&G and any other (current) niche product is to grow it into another, bigger, mainstream Topps product that sells year after year after year. Just as flagship Topps once only catered to a small niche of collectors itself and grew into today's mainstay.

There's nothing wrong with A&G catering to a very specific niche, however too many niches clutter the hobby unnecessarily. A manufacturer trying to grow a product from niche status to mainstream status obviously has a tough job and undoubtedly needs some luck. I like A&G, but perhaps Topps will change A&G into something else to make it more mainstream.

A&G and other rehash products suck.....move on