First Buzz: 2024 Topps Star Wars Chrome Black trading cards

[BlowoutBuzz]

First Buzz: 2024 Topps Star Wars Chrome Black trading cards >> BlowoutBuzz.com (https://www.blowoutcards.com/blog/first-buzz-2024-topps-star-wars-chrome-black-trading-cards)

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[BobCollects]

Too many parallels.

The base set once again will include 100 character cards with parallels that will include Rainbow Refractors (/199), Blue/Red Lava (/99), Yellow Laser (/75), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Magenta Ray Wave (/10), Red (/5) and 1/1 Superfractors.

Inserts will include 25 Years of Darth Maul, Embrace The Dark Side and Depth of the Dark Side. Maul parallels will include Gold, Orange, Red and Supers at same volumes as regular parallels. Joining them will be the Animated cards and Galactic Factions logos for various groups. Animated parallels will be Gold, Red Magenta, Red and Supers at same volumes.

There will be five types of autographs here -- Light Side, Dark Side, Duality of the Galaxy, duals (/10) and triples (/5). Side autos will have Blue/Red, Gold, Orange, Magenta, Red, Supers and printing plates at same volumes. Duality will have Blue/Red, Gold, Orange, Red and Supers. Duals and Triples will only have a Superfractor parallel.

[dd316]

One of the worst Star Wars products ever made is back! :rolleyes:

[Gidtheson]

"Back by popular demand"
First line on the sell sheet made me crack up.
In addition to the encased auto, there is apparently going to be an encased INSERT
card as well!? Who is asking for that lol

[PoPCulture]

"Back by popular demand"
First line on the sell sheet made me crack up.
In addition to the encased auto, there is apparently going to be an encased INSERT
card as well!? Who is asking for that lol

Breakers love them. Slow-rolling $5 cards seem to give them a lot of pleasure. We will see less and less traditional sets released for Star Wars and more of this breaker-centric crap.

[jdhaugh11]

I busted 12 boxes of last years for $300 at the National & was barely able to break even. At nearly 4 times what I paid will be a blood bath for 95% of people!

[sandyfrank]

Embarrassing preorder prices for this, the new distribution system for products absolutely sucks. The new formula - Big 3 presell at absurd prices. Topps releases a few crumbs to the public for much less ensuring a quick online sell out. Big 3 raise prices even higher creating FOMO. Prices crash hard very quickly because these types of products are insanely overpriced and have no true market.

EDIT - I shouldn't say NO true market, just a much smaller market than they think there is. It gets proven over and over if the product is actually good and not overprinted it usually does decent.

[sandyfrank]

I busted 12 boxes of last years for $300 at the National & was barely able to break even. At nearly 4 times what I paid will be a blood bath for 95% of people!


You got a case at $25 per box??? I would gladly pay double that. I've never seen it anywhere for much less than 65-70 per box for Topps Chrome Black Star Wars.

[AngusMacGyver]

You got a case at $25 per box??? I would gladly pay double that. I've never seen it anywhere for much less than 65-70 per box for Topps Chrome Black Star Wars.

Yeah this and signature series always sell for close to $100/box, I'm not sure which is the worse deal (actually the answer is both).

[jdhaugh11]

You got a case at $25 per box??? I would gladly pay double that. I've never seen it anywhere for much less than 65-70 per box for Topps Chrome Black Star Wars.

Sorry, it was $400, but still much cheaper than they were supposed to be. A breaker I use I believe was getting the National Chrome packs with them, thus gave a big discount.

[ricebellypanda]

Embarrassing preorder prices for this, the new distribution system for products absolutely sucks. The new formula - Big 3 presell at absurd prices. Topps releases a few crumbs to the public for much less ensuring a quick online sell out. Big 3 raise prices even higher creating FOMO. Prices crash hard very quickly because these types of products are insanely overpriced and have no true market.

EDIT - I shouldn't say NO true market, just a much smaller market than they think there is. It gets proven over and over if the product is actually good and not overprinted it usually does decent.

Yes noticed this trend as well. X-men and Hyperspace are 2 recent obvious examples

[dd316]

You got a case at $25 per box??? I would gladly pay double that.
Why? The vast majority of hits are $5-$10 autos. It's never a good sign when most of the value is in the holder.


I've never seen it anywhere for much less than 65-70 per box for Topps Chrome Black Star Wars.
Highway robbery.

[Scottish Punk]

Breakers love them. Slow-rolling $5 cards seem to give them a lot of pleasure. We will see less and less traditional sets released for Star Wars and more of this breaker-centric crap.

Yep, the Star Wars market has fully embraced the sports card market. Been that way for years now. It is funny watching base cards of these sets now that we are 5-7 years deep in these sets. All the original series and prequel character cards only have a few photo shots. The new stuff will get the same way eventually. Every year we get the same Vader, Chewy, Leia poses on base cards. Are any Star Wars collectors ever excited with anything but autos anymore? Occasionally, there is an interesting insert set to chase. I am slowly doing the "first appearances" cards from 2023 chrome. It is cool with me, keep pumping out autos and I will pick up missing actors cheaper and cheaper with more choices. I haven't checked Pascal prices. I would assume they are trending down with each new release of more Mando autos in the market?

[crdbored]

Embarrassing preorder prices for this, the new distribution system for products absolutely sucks. The new formula - Big 3 presell at absurd prices. Topps releases a few crumbs to the public for much less ensuring a quick online sell out. Big 3 raise prices even higher creating FOMO. Prices crash hard very quickly because these types of products are insanely overpriced and have no true market.

EDIT - I shouldn't say NO true market, just a much smaller market than they think there is. It gets proven over and over if the product is actually good and not overprinted it usually does decent.

Sadly, this is how it's working across all Topps products.

Fanatics allocates a large chunk to breakers and whatever is released to the public you can bet those big 3 are buying in large quantities to prop their prices up and keep them that way.

[VinnyH]

Sadly I have to complain about sticker autos once a year in the threads. (I do it always in my signature :D )
Star Wars Black, etc would be much more tempting seeing on card autos. I’d even gamble on Stellar if it ever comes back.
Okay, out of my system
Vinny :)!

[jdhaugh11]

Sadly I have to complain about sticker autos once a year in the threads. (I do it always in my signature :D )
Star Wars Black, etc would be much more tempting seeing on card autos. I’d even gamble on Stellar if it ever comes back.
Okay, out of my system
Vinny :)!

I have also become that guy that complains about Star Wars, but mainly because it has changed so much over the past 12+ years.
When I first started buying, every box & case was worth more than what I paid, then it was most, to half, to some, to now 95% is a huge loss.
When it shifts that much, you don't want to buy it anymore.

[VinnyH]

We could probably steam off a sticker auto of Natalie Portman and sell our Padme signed refrigerator or mug, or whatever. LOL

[ricebellypanda]

They really made another 45k of this...

[greatgradegrate]

This is the sh*t that should be fed to breakers/dealers, not Antiquities. Casino fodder.

[Jaysabz]

Oh, breakers have it:

https://laytonsportscards.com/collections/all-other-live-breaks/products/2024-topps-star-wars-chrome-black-hobby-12-box-case-break-12-pick-your-letter?variant=51841789690226

12 Box Case - Pick Your Letter Break

You pick your letter, the first letter in the name of the Character (not actor/signer) gets the card (e.g., D = Darth Maul, T = The Mandalorian). 12 boxes per case, 3 cards per box (1 encased auto, 1 encased insert, one numbered paralell). So 36 total cards. Ready for the "letter" prices?

A- $149
B- $139
C- $179
D- $229
E/F- $119
G- $99
H/I- $129
J- $79
K- $149
L- $179
M- $179
O/N- $99
P- $119
Q/R- $149
S- $199
T- $179
V/W/Y/Z- $79

What a steal!

[finfangfan]

Oh, breakers have it:

https://laytonsportscards.com/collections/all-other-live-breaks/products/2024-topps-star-wars-chrome-black-hobby-12-box-case-break-12-pick-your-letter?variant=51841789690226

12 Box Case - Pick Your Letter Break

You pick your letter, the first letter in the name of the Character (not actor/signer) gets the card (e.g., D = Darth Maul, T = The Mandalorian). 12 boxes per case, 3 cards per box (1 encased auto, 1 encased insert, one numbered paralell). So 36 total cards. Ready for the "letter" prices?

A- $149
B- $139
C- $179
D- $229
E/F- $119
G- $99
H/I- $129
J- $79
K- $149
L- $179
M- $179
O/N- $99
P- $119
Q/R- $149
S- $199
T- $179
V/W/Y/Z- $79

What a steal!

T = The Mandalorian seems a bit confusing. I would normally guess that M would get that.

[AngusMacGyver]

Oh, breakers have it:

https://laytonsportscards.com/collections/all-other-live-breaks/products/2024-topps-star-wars-chrome-black-hobby-12-box-case-break-12-pick-your-letter?variant=51841789690226

12 Box Case - Pick Your Letter Break

You pick your letter, the first letter in the name of the Character (not actor/signer) gets the card (e.g., D = Darth Maul, T = The Mandalorian). 12 boxes per case, 3 cards per box (1 encased auto, 1 encased insert, one numbered paralell). So 36 total cards. Ready for the "letter" prices?

A- $149
B- $139
C- $179
D- $229
E/F- $119
G- $99
H/I- $129
J- $79
K- $149
L- $179
M- $179
O/N- $99
P- $119
Q/R- $149
S- $199
T- $179
V/W/Y/Z- $79

What a steal!

Haha, that's almost $2500 for the case :eek:

[PoPCulture]

Haha, that's almost $2500 for the case :eek:

And this is exactly why box and case prices are where they are today while singles prices remain level. 1-2 people will get at or more than they paid from a break like this. Until people realize this on a grand scale, this isn’t changing.

[Jaysabz]

T = The Mandalorian seems a bit confusing. I would normally guess that M would get that.

Yeah, I'd have thought that too but they specifically called out D and T as their examples, with T getting "The Mandalorian."

[Americards]

on Topps.com now for $140 a box

[sandyfrank]

Well that explains why the Big 3 raised prices on the older Topps Chrome Black Star Wars, it would look absurd trying to sell 2024 for 150 and still have 2023 sitting there for 75. What a complete joke things are getting to be now...

[crdbored]

on Topps.com now for $140 a box

After watching a case break, these should be under $100.
Goodluck to all you brave buyers.

The DEPTHS OF THE DARKSIDE insert is cool though. :coffee:

[PoPCulture]

Well that explains why the Big 3 raised prices on the older Topps Chrome Black Star Wars, it would look absurd trying to sell 2024 for 150 and still have 2023 sitting there for 75. What a complete joke things are getting to be now...

I could have picked up a case of 2023 a few months ago for $60/box but passed because there was a 95% chance that it still would have been a loss. Good luck to anyone thinking this years will be significantly better.

[greatgradegrate]

Scrubbed through the release day Layton breaks, Chrome Black keeping the tradition alive as the absolute worst value in all of Topps SW!

[Xiarmadillo]

I do like the cards but not the price point. Also one of my gripe is that they made the toughest inserts galactic faction....which is just the emblem for that faction....looks pretty average (2nd disappointing chase only to Throwback 59-63 Marvels stickers....)

[greatgradegrate]

I do like the cards but not the price point.

$140/hobby is totally insane. Last year's Chrome proper was $99!

I also like a lot of the base design (and the animated sps) but I can get most singles I want for far less than a hobby and/or multiple breaks chasing them.

[Scottish Punk]

I watch ally break seven boxes. The incased inserts are looked pretty bad. I don't see why they are incased, they look like typical chrome inserts. The autos weren't that great either. Couple of low mid ones and other background animated character autos. I couldn't image any of them being worth close to $100 let alone $140. I agree, the base cards look pretty good.

[ricebellypanda]

Ended up getting a case for a decent price... Hit a 1/1 Maul encased insert, /10 Dawson and Sabine dual auto and a printing plate Esposito auto :O

[cypher]

First case I watched opened Hera Syndulla auto was the top hit followed by Grievous auto. Everything else $5-10. The bonus encased non auto seems ridiculous, absurd amount of Darth Maul hits.

[Xiarmadillo]

tbere is an insert set called 25 years of Darth Maul LOL....and bonus...its 1 in 2 boxes!

[Jaysabz]

Ended up getting a case for a decent price... Hit a 1/1 Maul encased insert, /10 Dawson and Sabine dual auto and a printing plate Esposito auto :O

Congrats! That sounds like a great case - you definitely beat the odds!

[kyle1707]

You watch how easy panini adds value with

Down town
Kaboom
Genesis
Stained glass
Honeycomb
Money
Color blast

Topps just struggles to find anything to add value out side of autos and the same color refractors over and over and over

I have non interest in Star Wars or marvel from topps right now

[ricebellypanda]

Congrats! That sounds like a great case - you definitely beat the odds!

Thanks definitely was lucky as hell

[cypher]

After watching some character breaks I couldn't believe how some character spots were surpassing spots sold in Galactic Antiquities. The first case was rough and yet the prices still increased with Darth Maul justifiably going from around $25 in the first break to $80. I decided to track the 4 cases from this online breaker.

I assume these first four breaks were purchased at or near Topps MSRP of roughly $1,400 per case due to the volume of product the breaker purchases. It seems the price of a case on the secondary market from the money tree has risen to $1,850. I'm not sure the content of this product is pushing the price or just the natural manufactured price increase when the big 3 control a majority of product.


Case 1: $1785.67
Case 2: $2148.56
Case 3: $2263.08
Case 4: $2157.90

Keep in mind this is just auction ending price totals with fees and shipping not accounted for. (I would guess both kind of negate each other with a lean towards shipping profits.)

In conclusion I don't really know what this proves but I think Topps sees this and understands to provide a large checklist where the total autograph amount of each signer is unknown. I think the pricing and checklist formation has adapted to cater to breakers to the detriment of the casual box breaking collector.

P.S. Had to add a picture of one of the laziest designed encased cards I've seen from this product.

https://i.imgur.com/kibPXid.jpeg

[Stein316]

562722

Hot Damn

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116527139105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7nJDLw30RcO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=SkLJeFJeQGe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Xiarmadillo]

After watching some character breaks I couldn't believe how some character spots were surpassing spots sold in Galactic Antiquities. The first case was rough and yet the prices still increased with Darth Maul justifiably going from around $25 in the first break to $80. I decided to track the 4 cases from this online breaker.

I assume these first four breaks were purchased at or near Topps MSRP of roughly $1,400 per case due to the volume of product the breaker purchases. It seems the price of a case on the secondary market from the money tree has risen to $1,850. I'm not sure the content of this product is pushing the price or just the natural manufactured price increase when the big 3 control a majority of product.


Case 1: $1785.67
Case 2: $2148.56
Case 3: $2263.08
Case 4: $2157.90

Keep in mind this is just auction ending price totals with fees and shipping not accounted for. (I would guess both kind of negate each other with a lean towards shipping profits.)

In conclusion I don't really know what this proves but I think Topps sees this and understands to provide a large checklist where the total autograph amount of each signer is unknown. I think the pricing and checklist formation has adapted to cater to breakers to the detriment of the casual box breaking collector.

P.S. Had to add a picture of one of the laziest designed encased cards I've seen from this product.

https://i.imgur.com/kibPXid.jpeg


This is exactly what I was disappointed about...that is the TOUGHEST pull for encased inserts (not counting paralllels) and its all just emblems....

[Xiarmadillo]

I guess its early release...or maybe it is the fact now they put these inserts in a magnetic for perceived value, but people are paying ALOT compared to prior year inserts....you are getting random "Embrace the Darkside" which is 1:3 boxes, selling in the $50s + ....LOL there is literally 1,000 each of the base insert versions

[Boomer0909]

I do like the cards but not the price point. Also one of my gripe is that they made the toughest inserts galactic faction....which is just the emblem for that faction....looks pretty average (2nd disappointing chase only to Throwback 59-63 Marvels stickers....)

I ripped a case. It's tough. I got it at cost through my LCS and have sold 2 cards so far.

Barbara Goodson Auto / 10 - $89.99
Giancarlo Esposito Auto /99 - $75.00

I hit a superfractor of a lesser character, a Vader insert /25 and a bunch of low number Maul cards and can't move anything.

I love the cards but it's a terrible product to try and flip, and the fact that I only got 36 cards of the 100 card base set is beyond frustrating.

I usually build the base and refractor set of all SW products, but I can't justify or figure out a way to do this set for a reasonable price.

[YayNJ]

562722

Hot Damn

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116527139105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7nJDLw30RcO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=SkLJeFJeQGe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

:eek:

[PoPCulture]

Hobby Legends is doing a 5-case break of this right now but I honestly couldn’t listen to that guy for 5 minutes. God bless anyone that can make the full hour with him!

[cypher]

Just to add to my numbers the sales went down after case 4. Turns out when the product is trash the character break sales suffer. Last 3 cases of the product were pulled off ebay after losing money auctioning case #10. It's a bad produdct that should be priced around $60-$80 a box without the hype train that has destroyed Pokemon and other products.

[jdhaugh11]

The extra discretionary money I have these days from avoiding FOMO is amazing, you guys should join me.
I have been selling off my junk, buying very little & only buying when I find a super sale, normally during Black Friday or at the National.
I fought it for a few years during the covid years, but realized the ROI for many products was just awful.

[finfangfan]

The extra discretionary money I have these days from avoiding FOMO is amazing, you guys should join me.
I have been selling off my junk, buying very little & only buying when I find a super sale, normally during Black Friday or at the National.
I fought it for a few years during the covid years, but realized the ROI for many products was just awful.

I’ve been *trying* (not necessarily succeeding) to limit my major purchases to COMC credit generated from COMC sales. It’s actually really fun and a great way to budget. I’ve picked up some cool stuff and it’s easier to build savings to the extent you aren’t putting in real cash into the hobby… only recycled cash from sales of cards you bought previously.

[sandyfrank]

Topps/Fanatics has been saving me a lot of money this year, my buying is way down but I have to be in the minority if they 10 X everything. Hopefully this comes down to a reasonable price someday, would like to rip a box or 2.