Topps Physical Stores...What if?

[Mandy1320]

I know I'm probably not the first person to think of this but I brought it up in the rolling Target thread recently and then the MLB store in NYC with a Topps section opens up today and it looks how I imagined a Topps store could maybe look.

The big draws for me wanting a Topps store should be the same for most people but these are the main points:
-Keep online ordering and pre-sales only open to MC members w/ special exemptions like BO
-Eliminate the bot issue, shipping issues, and most customer service issues in a single swoop
-Topps would be able to evenly distribute product and be able to adjust based on popularity/success in the area.
-Implement pre-orders and purchase limits (something that obviously can't be controlled online)
-The above gives non-flippers a real chance to get product at MSRP thus driving the demand for packs and boxes on the secondary market down. This drives off the sneakerheads.
-Along with cards, the store can sell other items such as supplies, sports merch, and collectables. This would work especially well with MLB because they already have the exclusive licensing and are already collabing with the MLB store in NYC.

I am well aware that something like this probably will never happen for a number of reasons, but I thought it would be worth it to share my thoughts and see if anyone could add to the benefits above(or take away any).

[Mandy1320]

Topps kiosk in the MLB store.

Imagine a store the size of a GameStop that looked similar to this:

492888

[Bruisbe]

I know I'm probably not the first person to think of this but I brought it up in the rolling Target thread recently and then the MLB store in NYC with a Topps section opens up today and it looks how I imagined a Topps store could maybe look.

The big draws for me wanting a Topps store should be the same for most people but these are the main points:
-Keep online ordering and pre-sales only open to MC members w/ special exemptions like BO
-Eliminate the bot issue, shipping issues, and most customer service issues in a single swoop
-Topps would be able to evenly distribute product and be able to adjust based on popularity/success in the area.
-Implement pre-orders and purchase limits (something that obviously can't be controlled online)
-The above gives non-flippers a real chance to get product at MSRP thus driving the demand for packs and boxes on the secondary market down. This drives off the sneakerheads.
-Along with cards, the store can sell other items such as supplies, sports merch, and collectables. This would work especially well with MLB because they already have the exclusive licensing and are already collabing with the MLB store in NYC.

I am well aware that something like this probably will never happen for a number of reasons, but I thought it would be worth it to share my thoughts and see if anyone could add to the benefits above(or take away any).

Wouldn't that just be a LCS???

[Mandy1320]

Wouldn't that just be a LCS???

No. Everything would be priced at MSRP and supplied by Topps while supplies last.

A Topps store wouldn't have to pay for product like a LCS does.

[CapeTownCards]

Great, I wonder if they will have camping spots to rent for those that would like to camp out and buy all the stock when it becomes available. :coffee:

[rngrdanny22]

Topps kiosk in the MLB store.

Imagine a store the size of a GameStop that looked similar to this:

492888


It would be utterly ransacked in 2 minutes flat.

[no10pin]

Why would they do this when they can sell tens of thousands of boxes a week online without having a physical store?

Also, would the store just have Attax and Big League boxes after everything sells out in 4 minutes?

[rngrdanny22]

Why would they do this when they can sell tens of thousands of boxes a week online without having a physical store?

Will the store just have Attax and Big League boxes after everything sells out in 4 minutes?


Not until the revolution occurs.

[glen87]

No. Everything would be priced at MSRP and supplied by Topps while supplies last.

A Topps store wouldn't have to pay for product like a LCS does.

so it would be open for about an hour whenever they released new product???

[Mandy1320]

Great, I wonder if they will have camping spots to rent for those that would like to camp out and buy all the stock when it becomes available. :coffee:

It would be utterly ransacked in 2 minutes flat.

Hence why I suggested purchase limits and pre-order opportunities.

The idea of physical Topps stores is not, and can never be, a perfect plan. But it solves most of the pain points that most people in the hobby have; opportunity and cost.

[no10pin]

Not until the revolution occurs.

Well, when the revolution comes, they will be burning down these popup stores to get more Attax!

[JVB]

Toys R Us physical stores failed, but Topps would succeed? That's crazy talk.

[glen87]

Hence why I suggested purchase limits and pre-order opportunities.

The idea of physical Topps stores is not, and can never be, a perfect plan. But it solves most of the pain points that most people in the hobby have; opportunity and cost.

ope - sure can't

[Mandy1320]

so it would be open for about an hour whenever they released new product???

They could have other things in the store besides cards. Jerseys, bobbleheads, action-figures, memorabilia, etc. Hell, they could even sell copies of MLB the Show since they have a deal with them already.

[no10pin]

They could have other things in the store besides cards. Jerseys, bobbleheads, action-figures, memorabilia, etc. Hell, they could even sell copies of MLB the Show since they have a deal with them already.

It makes zero sense to go through the trouble to open physical stores across the country when they sell out of pretty much everything online.

You say it would fix the shipping issues, but what about manning 100-200 stores and keeping them all stocked? Do you have to live near a Topps store to get anything they sell from that point on?

[Mandy1320]

Toys R Us physical stores failed, but Topps would succeed? That's crazy talk.

Toys R Us failed because they didn't change with the times and had a ridiculous amount a stock with crazy overhead prices.

I imagine a Topps store would be the size of the average GameStop where they can more easily control their inventory.

[glen87]

Toys R Us failed because they didn't change with the times and had a ridiculous amount a stock with crazy overhead prices.

I imagine a Topps store would be the size of the average GameStop where they can more easily control their inventory.

just think and use common sense for a moment.

let's say (for argument sake) they do this and open 100 stores. how many additional cases of product would have to be produced in order to stock 100 stores with enough current inventory to make it profitable?

[JVB]

Toys R Us failed because they didn't change with the times and had a ridiculous amount a stock with crazy overhead prices.

I imagine a Topps store would be the size of the average GameStop where they can more easily control their inventory.

GameStop is closing hundreds more stores, so that model doesn't seem to be working either (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/investing/gamestop-store-closures/index.html)

[Mandy1320]

It makes zero sense to go through the trouble to open physical stores across the country when they sell out of pretty much everything online.

You say it would fix the shipping issues, but what about manning 100-200 stores and keeping them all stocked? Do you have to live near a Topps store to get anything they sell from that point on?

I understand the challenges of justifying the cost of maintaining overhead versus only shipping online. I was just saying the sale of third-party items could help offset those costs.

At the end of the day, Topps is a brand. Physical stores could extend their reach to those audiences that otherwise would never get product online. That is something that might be worth "going through the trouble" for.

[Mandy1320]

GameStop is closing hundreds more stores, so that model doesn't seem to be working either (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/investing/gamestop-store-closures/index.html)

Dude, that's almost a completing different market. Yea GameStop sells knick-knacks on the side but their whole draw, videogames, is going digital.

Are baseball cards going digital? No.

[glen87]

I understand the challenges of justifying the cost of maintaining overhead versus only shipping online. I was just saying the sale of third-party items could help offset those costs.

At the end of the day, Topps is a brand. Physical stores could extend their reach to those audiences that otherwise would never get product online. That is something that might be worth "going through the trouble" for.

give an example of what would be available to the average customer in a physical store that they could not get online?

average customer meaning someone who is not willing to wait outside the stores hours before they open to buy that one product. if that customer cannot get it online, they are definitely not getting in in person.

[rngrdanny22]

I understand the challenges of justifying the cost of maintaining overhead versus only shipping online. I was just saying the sale of third-party items could help offset those costs.

At the end of the day, Topps is a brand. Physical stores could extend their reach to those audiences that otherwise would never get product online. That is something that might be worth "going through the trouble" for.


I could see Fanatics operating a store and having a dedicated section for Topps cards. I just can't see Topps holding down a storefront by itself.

[glen87]

I could see Fanatics operating a store and having a dedicated section for Topps cards. I just can't see Topps holding down a storefront by itself.

this would be more practical

[no10pin]

I understand the challenges of justifying the cost of maintaining overhead versus only shipping online. I was just saying the sale of third-party items could help offset those costs.

At the end of the day, Topps is a brand. Physical stores could extend their reach to those audiences that otherwise would never get product online. That is something that might be worth "going through the trouble" for.

You floated this as an idea to combat bots and tackle shipping issues. I suppose taking the 5000 boxes of an online product and putting 30 in each 'Topps store' does fix that issue, but that doesn't really help anyone that isn't in that store within the first 10 minutes that product arrives.

It's a nice thought, and I would love to walk into a fully stocked store that you are talking about, but it's just a pipe dream honestly.

[glen87]

You floated this as an idea to combat bots and tackle shipping issues. I suppose taking the 5000 boxes of an online product and putting 30 in each 'Topps store' does fix that issue, but that doesn't really help anyone that isn't in that store within the first 10 minutes that product arrives.

It's a nice thought, and I would love to walk into a fully stocked store that you are talking about, but it's just a pipe dream honestly.

it could be located next door to the live unicorn store, just across the street from the pot of gold :)!

[Stech36]

A physical store at a few select locations would make sense.. Maybe 1 in NY, DC, LA, Dallas or Houston, But not something else.

[Mandy1320]

just think and use common sense for a moment.

let's say (for argument sake) they do this and open 100 stores. how many additional cases of product would have to be produced in order to stock 100 stores with enough current inventory to make it profitable?

Sure.

Wasn't 2020 Sapphire somewhere in the ballpark of 24,000 boxes? Was that confirmed?

Anyway, lets say there's 24,000 boxes for a set. I'll be generous and say 18,000 of that is reserved for MC members and BO and friends. That leaves 6,000 for 100 stores. Easy math says 60 boxes a store. However, you could easily see more popular stores getting a bigger cut.

60 boxes a store might not seem like much but it's more than any LCS would have. And it's priced at MSRP.

[rngrdanny22]

Sure.

Wasn't 2020 Sapphire somewhere in the ballpark of 24,000 boxes? Was that confirmed?

Anyway, lets say there's 24,000 boxes for a set. I'll be generous and say 18,000 of that is reserved for MC members and BO and friends. That leaves 6,000 for 100 stores. Easy math says 60 boxes a store. However, you could easily more popular stores getting a bigger cut.

60 boxes a store might not seem like much but it's more than any LCS would have. And it's priced at MSRP.


... and gone in less than a minute

What are they going to sell for the other 99.99999% of the time they are open?

[Mandy1320]

... and gone in less than a minute

What are they going to sell for the other 99.99999% of the time they are open?

With a pre-order system and purchase limits, it would still give you a better opportunity to get one than a raffle filled with bots, yea?

This thread isn't long, I already addressed that question.

[CapeTownCards]

LOL. This sounds brilliant. This idea has my full support.

[Remmons22]

Yea I always liked the idea of Topps vending machines but I think the real issue everyone here is pointing out is there are too many people coming into the hobby recently to keep up with the demand. There are only 2 real options at this point, increase production or let a lack of product keep the average collector from continuing in this hobby. Really no good answers on that front.

[no10pin]

With a pre-order system and purchase limits, it would still give you a better opportunity to get one than a raffle filled with bots, yea?

This thread isn't long, I already addressed that question.

No, it doesn't. You have to live near the store, and there is small fraction of the print run available at each store, which will be gone in a flash.

Again, not a bad idea, but it's 2020. No company is going to purposely decentralize their system like this when they are selling tens of millions of dollars in product yearly online.

[JVB]

Rent. Marketing expenses. Licenses and seller's permits. Labor. Utilities. Insurance. Furnishing the store. Point of sale and security systems. Supplies.

WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY VOLUNTARILY PAY THIS? They have a successful business model and have optimized profit margins by selling online. If they chose to open storefronts, not only would they directly compete with the nearby LCS and retail stores selling their product, but they'd likely forfeit whatever they'd save by skipping the middleman just in operating costs alone. The dream of any contemporary business is to conduct most of their sales online in a direct-to-consumer approach. Obviously retail and hobby stores (and breakers) help with advertising, so you offer them wholesale. Brick and mortar shops would just piss off established local card shops in a time when business is already tough, subject the company to greater risk, and likely prove unfeasible economically.

Now, maybe they could move away from big box retail and try to move more to local card shops. Alternatively, they could try to contract with the big box stores the way cosmetic companies do with department stores, and have a small section with it's own counter and employees. You'd still have slightly more overhead, but it would be negligible in comparison.

[Mandy1320]

No, it doesn't. You have to live near the store, and there is small fraction of the print run available at each store, which will be gone in a flash.

Again, not a bad idea, but it's 2020. No company is going to purposely decentralize their system like this when they are selling tens of millions of dollars in product yearly online.

Rent. Marketing expenses. Licenses and seller's permits. Labor. Utilities. Insurance. Furnishing the store. Point of sale and security systems. Supplies.

If every Target and Walmart can update their stock once a week, why can't 100-200 Topps stores? Should've included in the OP that this would mean that Topps is pulling most, if not all of it's product from Target/Walmart/Walgreens etc.

I'm well aware of all of the reasons why it WON'T happen, but I'm more focused on how Topps (and the average consumer) could benefit in case this frenzy goes past 2020.

[Bcwcardz]

People overestimate the popularity of sports cards. Did we not see all the local card stores drop like flies because nobody goes in anymore? People are mad because they can’t get new cards at reasonable prices. The reason is people who don’t collect see money to be made by flipping for profit. They couldn’t give two rips about anything else. Once those people are gone we are left with just us , the general collector. I don’t know 1 person who collects cards or have crossed paths with any. I know many who play video games and buy new consoles and games. People overestimate the popularity of this stuff because a few people clear retail shelves and use their bots to buy up products. It’s the same few people. Having a Topps store would be like throwing money in the trash for them. A kiosk like in the MLB store costs less. I know a lot of people are frustrated this year but your ideas aren’t going to happen. In the 80s early 90s everyone collected cards. My teacher brought cards to school. Tons of kids were buying them up. It wasn’t middle aged men as the majority. I don’t know what that’s going to mean long term but the hobby needs to sustain somehow.


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[EastonElite]

If you haven't noticed, retail is failing.
Online shopping is the new "mall".
Covid is making this happen faster, but it was already happening.
Topps does not need the hassle of running retail outlets.
To think Topps cares enough about it's customers to open "convenient" outlets that bleed money is hilarious.
Topps cannot even keep up with basic customer service over the phone.

[no10pin]

If every Target and Walmart can update their stock once a week, why can't 100-200 Topps stores? Should've included in the OP that this would mean that Topps is pulling most, if not all of it's product from Target/Walmart/Walgreens etc.

I'm well aware of all of the reasons why it WON'T happen, but I'm more focused on how Topps (and the average consumer) could benefit in case this frenzy goes past 2020.

OK, so you pull 100% of the blasters, and put them in these Topps stores with a fraction of the geographical coverage that Target & Wal-Mart have.

How does that benefit the average consumer if they don't live in a highly populated area?

[Mandy1320]

OK, so you pull 100% of the blasters, and put them in these Topps stores with a fraction of the geographical coverage that Target & Wal-Mart have.

How does that benefit the average consumer if they don't live in a highly populated area?

More stores where there's demand. If you pull 100% of retail for Topps stores, that's a ton of product.

More stores means higher operating costs, obviously.

[ewokpelts]

Yea I always liked the idea of Topps vending machines but I think the real issue everyone here is pointing out is there are too many people coming into the hobby recently to keep up with the demand. There are only 2 real options at this point, increase production or let a lack of product keep the average collector from continuing in this hobby. Really no good answers on that front.

The answer is increase production. Topps is a for profit business. More cards sold equal more profit. While they won’t just keep presses running, they can certainly allow more orders, from hobby and retail accounts, to be filled. Just don’t be surprised when the odds for inserts get worse.

[ewokpelts]

If every Target and Walmart can update their stock once a week, why can't 100-200 Topps stores? Should've included in the OP that this would mean that Topps is pulling most, if not all of it's product from Target/Walmart/Walgreens etc.

I'm well aware of all of the reasons why it WON'T happen, but I'm more focused on how Topps (and the average consumer) could benefit in case this frenzy goes past 2020.

Because they rent out space to third party vendors to fill those shelves.

[cj828282]

That would be great if they could have small stores within select Walmarts and Targets and could control limits.

[Mandy1320]

People overestimate the popularity of sports cards. Did we not see all the local card stores drop like flies because nobody goes in anymore? People are mad because they can’t get new cards at reasonable prices. The reason is people who don’t collect see money to be made by flipping for profit. They couldn’t give two rips about anything else. Once those people are gone we are left with just us , the general collector. I don’t know 1 person who collects cards or have crossed paths with any. I know many who play video games and buy new consoles and games. People overestimate the popularity of this stuff because a few people clear retail shelves and use their bots to buy up products. It’s the same few people. Having a Topps store would be like throwing money in the trash for them. A kiosk like in the MLB store costs less. I know a lot of people are frustrated this year but your ideas aren’t going to happen. In the 80s early 90s everyone collected cards. My teacher brought cards to school. Tons of kids were buying them up. It wasn’t middle aged men as the majority. I don’t know what that’s going to mean long term but the hobby needs to sustain somehow.


LCSs are dropping like flies because they get hardly any product from Topps which forces them to buy retail. But then customers don't want to pay $15 for a value pack or $60 for a blaster. The popularity is there because people do buy from the secondary market. If there wasn't popularity, there wouldn't be flippers. Physical stores (or kiosks) would get the younger generation involved more.

If you haven't noticed, retail is failing.
Online shopping is the new "mall".
Covid is making this happen faster, but it was already happening.
Topps does not need the hassle of running retail outlets.
To think Topps cares enough about it's customers to open "convenient" outlets that bleed money is hilarious.
Topps cannot even keep up with basic customer service over the phone.


Never said Topps cares about us. The fact that you think my idea was anything more than me brainstorming how to make this hobby more enjoyable for everybody is hilarious.

[Archangel1775]

No need to to open a storefront. Increase print run, get rid of distributors and sell exclusively online and direct to LCS, licensed breakers and retailers(includes Excel,BO, etc). If you cant bring in a new generation of young collectors, the hobby is doomed in the long run.

[Mandy1320]

No need to to open a storefront. Increase print run, get rid of distributors and sell exclusively online and direct to LCS, licensed breakers and retailers(includes Excel,BO, etc). If you cant bring in a new generation of young collectors, the hobby is doomed in the long run.


Good point. It’s about the younger generation.

The only exposure they have right now is empty shelves at Walmart

[banosd]

A physical store at a few select locations would make sense.. Maybe 1 in NY, DC, LA, Dallas or Houston, But not something else.

A line would begin forming in LA the minute the vendor came to stock it the first time

[mfw13]

Rent. Marketing expenses. Licenses and seller's permits. Labor. Utilities. Insurance. Furnishing the store. Point of sale and security systems. Supplies.

WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY VOLUNTARILY PAY THIS? They have a successful business model and have optimized profit margins by selling online. If they chose to open storefronts, not only would they directly compete with the nearby LCS and retail stores selling their product, but they'd likely forfeit whatever they'd save by skipping the middleman just in operating costs alone. The dream of any contemporary business is to conduct most of their sales online in a direct-to-consumer approach. Obviously retail and hobby stores (and breakers) help with advertising, so you offer them wholesale. Brick and mortar shops would just piss off established local card shops in a time when business is already tough, subject the company to greater risk, and likely prove unfeasible economically.

Now, maybe they could move away from big box retail and try to move more to local card shops. Alternatively, they could try to contract with the big box stores the way cosmetic companies do with department stores, and have a small section with it's own counter and employees. You'd still have slightly more overhead, but it would be negligible in comparison.

I think that a much more likely direction for Topps to go in would be to sell cards in places where there are already lots of fans....i.e. inside major league and minor league stadiums and at team stores.

I've always been puzzled by the fact that cards are almost non-existent at MLB stadiums and in team stores.

[mfw13]

I think the real issue everyone here is pointing out is there are too many people coming into the hobby recently to keep up with the demand.

But how many of these people are coming into the hobby simply because they see an opportunity for a quick profit, and how many are actually new collectors?

Personally, I think a lot of this new "demand" will be fleeting, and will disappear almost as fast as it arrived once these newbies realize that flipping for a profit is a lot harder than it looks.

I'm sure the are more than a few people out there who went in and cleaned out all the blasters at their local Target/Walmart at $20+sales tax, only to discover that there's really no demand for them at $25-30, and are now sitting on huge stashes of unopened blasters that they can't sell for a profit.

[Mandy1320]

I think that a much more likely direction for Topps to go in would be to sell cards in places where there are already lots of fans....i.e. inside major league and minor league stadiums and at team stores.

I've always been puzzled by the fact that cards are almost non-existent at MLB stadiums and in team stores.


This would be really cool!

[base set]

Why would they do this when they can sell tens of thousands of boxes a week online without having a physical store?

Also, would the store just have Attax and Big League boxes after everything sells out in 4 minutes?

Big League as as impossible to buy via retail as every other set this summer.


As has been said, the one perfect place for this is MLB stadiums.

[callou2131]

No. Everything would be priced at MSRP and supplied by Topps while supplies last.

A Topps store wouldn't have to pay for product like a LCS does.
While supplies last could be horrible. Topps could just keep printing constantly and we go back to 1987

[Bruisbe]

I understand the challenges of justifying the cost of maintaining overhead versus only shipping online. I was just saying the sale of third-party items could help offset those costs.



At the end of the day, Topps is a brand. Physical stores could extend their reach to those audiences that otherwise would never get product online. That is something that might be worth "going through the trouble" for.You don't need to extend your reach when you sell out of everything in minutes of it going on sale

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[RW3FAN]

Pacific Trading cards started as a card store, then KEPT it open while producing cards.
They had rare inserts from THEIR sets in the case. When asked, they said a customer pulled it and they bought it back. SURE JAN
Think they loaded that box on purpose?

[Mandy1320]

You don't need to extend your reach when you sell out of everything in minutes of it going on sale

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You do when the only people that are able to get any decent product are adults that are already invested in the hobby.

[KD35Russ0]

What if they did this as a mobile pop-up-shop type of thing? The problem with brick and mortar as discussed, is the overhead. But maybe a model where they take the show on the road like a concert tour (with multiple concurrent "tours") could work.

Better yet, make it an event, like MLB Food Fest (https://sports.yahoo.com/love-ballpark-food-new-mlb-event-going-make-mouth-water-163059833.html). Event is open in 2 hour waves from 10am - 10pm, purchase limits in place (maybe through pre-sell tickets that give you access to 1-2 of each item), and collectors dream scenario -- no sealed product leaves the event. You must open your product on site - you can use the event to trade, meet people, and treat this thing like what it is still for some of us...a hobby

[Bruisbe]

You do when the only people that are able to get any decent product are adults that are already invested in the hobby.

Again...Not when you are selling out of product the second its released...There is no reason to extend because you dont have anything to extend. Literally no product to extend because its all SOLD OUT.

[Mandy1320]

Again...Not when you are selling out of product the second its released...There is no reason to extend because you dont have anything to extend. Literally no product to extend because its all SOLD OUT.


You missed my point completely. The only way any hobby survives is if they constantly pull in more people. Think about how this affects younger audiences.

[Mandy1320]

What if they did this as a mobile pop-up-shop type of thing? The problem with brick and mortar as discussed, is the overhead. But maybe a model where they take the show on the road like a concert tour (with multiple concurrent "tours") could work.

Better yet, make it an event, like MLB Food Fest (https://sports.yahoo.com/love-ballpark-food-new-mlb-event-going-make-mouth-water-163059833.html). Event is open in 2 hour waves from 10am - 10pm, purchase limits in place (maybe through pre-sell tickets that give you access to 1-2 of each item), and collectors dream scenario -- no sealed product leaves the event. You must open your product on site - you can use the event to trade, meet people, and treat this thing like what it is still for some of us...a hobby


Very interesting idea, thanks for sharing. I would surely want to participate.

[Archangel1775]

Good point. It’s about the younger generation.

The only exposure they have right now is empty shelves at Walmart

This is the importance of the LCS and stocked shelves at Wal-Mart/Target. If Aunt or Grandma want a gift for Little Johnny or Annie and all they see is empty shelves, they move on to something else. They aren't perusing FB Marketplace and meeting someone for it. Additionally, when I go to my LCS with my sons to get the newest release and they are sold out of everything because distributors cut their allocation to 2 boxes instead of 2 cases, my kids miss that quality interaction and community involvement when they believe it's a waste of time to go there. It's a problem that needs to be fixed.

[Bruisbe]

You missed my point completely. The only way any hobby survives is if they constantly pull in more people. Think about how this affects younger audiences.

So the store is going to be built for kids to come in for what exactly...Sold out shelves? The only way this would work is if they increased the print run by a TON to make it available, which would kill the hobby. I mean LCS's are already few and far between compared to where they used to be. And dont use the MSRP line either because LCS's could sell at MSRP if they got everything straight from Topps as well. But they cant because they sell out of everything the moment it goes for sale....Enter supply and demand pricing.

[Mandy1320]

So the store is going to be built for kids to come in for what exactly...Sold out shelves? The only way this would work is if they increased the print run by a TON to make it available, which would kill the hobby. I mean LCS's are already few and far between compared to where they used to be. And dont use the MSRP line either because LCS's could sell at MSRP if they got everything straight from Topps as well. But they cant because they sell out of everything the moment it goes for sale....Enter supply and demand pricing.


Please read the rest of the thread. If they pull from Walmart/Target and impose purchase limits, they would be able to keep it stocked enough to avoid empty shelves.

I created this thread to hopefully share ideas of what a Topps store could potentially be, not how it would fail or why it can’t happen. I already know those things.

[mossoholic]

give an example of what would be available to the average customer in a physical store that they could not get online?

average customer meaning someone who is not willing to wait outside the stores hours before they open to buy that one product. if that customer cannot get it online, they are definitely not getting in in person.

Guess what no product online and everything in physical stores would do? Eliminate the bots for good! Too bad it will never happen.