22 Topps Allocation Cuts?

[NHRonin]

Just got back from my LCS. Their 22 S1 allocation was cut by a third from last year, yet we know Topps has increased production from 21.

Is this the distributor holding back product to later jack up the prices for Wandermania or was the distribution from Topps limited to date?

[Biohazarddfl]

Looking forward to hearing the responses, but I'm very skeptical about this. I have a hard time believing they are cutting anything, given the production run.

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[smanzari]

Originally Posted by NHRonin

Just got back from my LCS. Their 22 S1 allocation was cut by a third from last year, yet we know Topps has increased production from 21.

Is this the distributor holding back product to later jack up the prices for Wandermania or was the distribution from Topps limited to date?

I would suspect it is this. I have a friend who deals with Southern and this happens regularly; will be offered to them at a higher price in a couple weeks

[GoBeavs]

Not surprised. My retail supplier is getting allocated for the first time ever as well. A lot of new players jumping in this year.

[baseballbunez]

Originally Posted by NHRonin

Just got back from my LCS. Their 22 S1 allocation was cut by a third from last year, yet we know Topps has increased production from 21.

Is this the distributor holding back product to later jack up the prices for Wandermania or was the distribution from Topps limited to date?

If they didn't spend enough to earn it, with the huge increase in S1 demand, could very well have lost a chunk of their allocation. What you get one year has no direct bearing on what you get the following year. I know many big accounts who used to just take what they had to, or asked for jumbo only for example, that for 2022 asked for every last box that they qualified for.

[salas1991]

Same word from my LCS, which has been ordering product for years and years. Interested to see how this plays out...

[discostu]

Originally Posted by GoBeavs

Not surprised. My retail supplier is getting allocated for the first time ever as well. A lot of new players jumping in this year.

I think Fanatics is adjusting how the distribution works, and I'd expect that it allows for more direct to consumer sales.

Money is money, and Fanatics need not be beholden to brick and mortar stores and distributors like Blowout, D&A, etc.

[Ajax1723]

I got cut from 6 hobby boxes, 1 jumbo box last year to 2 hobby boxes this year. Feels bad man.

[87toppsproject]

We are a Topps Direct MVP shop and our allocation was not cut.

[parkerj33]

I can offer some insights on this.....

I am a retail direct from topps. For Retail, last year i had over 450 cases of series 1. This year I am reduced to 120. (those numbers are aggregate of all formats).

This has nothing to do with Fanatics - this has been going on for 2+ years. Topps retail is under severe demand increase from their big-box customers (target, walmart mainly, but also meijer, walgreens, etc). So us little guy retailers are getting less, or in the case of heritage high# NOTHING. All retail production goes solely to the big box guys first.

Topps simply cannot print enough and pack enough out to get it to people. Couple that with the fact that the primary packer is also the same packer for panini, so both companies have to vie for single resource. Also note that its the same packer for hobby and retail. Topps has tried several smaller operations over the last year or more, but none have high volume capability, and results have varied significantly....you all can guess which products have been co-packed by the discount newbies. (hint: 2020 heritage high is one).

the copacker issue is also a reason why some formats (fat packs) are slowing disappearing from the topps catalog....apparently they are prone to issues.

As for southern, I am a decent-sized customer (i'm sure many are bigger). But they do not seem to hold back ANY Topps stuff as i NEVER get opportunity to buy topps stuff later, and i am a big spender with them and buy every rebuy opportunity i have. in fact, even the rebuys with southern are allocated.

I know peach does play games like you all suspect. they OFTEN have the product available for rebuy the day after release...so you figure it out. But Southern does not have product available to just buy (even at market-prices).

Retails are going to the big boxers.....So where are the hobby cases going? They are going to all the hobby shops and distys and the distys (many) are blowing them out. no doubt some are keeping.

But remember all throughout 2019 (even update), distys were forcing their clients to take a minimum number of cases (like 5) just to keep their accoutns active.....starting in 2020, nearly every one of those accounts, plus the scores of new ones they accepted, all increased their DESIRED to 20+, with many jumping from say 10 to 250 as their desired.

[mrmem]

Distributors aren't even waiting the normal week or two to have more at higher prices.
I was offered up to extra 4 boxes of hobby and jumbo at above retail prices
last weekend.

[PDCCollectibles]

Been seeing this since 2017...

[kyle1707]

Originally Posted by PDCCollectibles

Been seeing this since 2017...

Correct

The worst company is all sports marketing out of burbs of Chicago

They are smaller but better customer service then southern

All the people that helped build there company from 2000-2019

They pretty much told everyone to f them selves last 2-3 years

They don’t hide it all. They cut everyone to boxes instead of cases

The next day they will have 100 boxes for sale at 3-4 times direct price

They have turned into a dist for breakers not for card stores

The great karma though is fanatics

Fanatics won’t outsource and all sports will never survive

[csokn]

Originally Posted by parkerj33

Topps has tried several smaller operations over the last year or more, but none have high volume capability, and results have varied significantly...

Explains why virtually every single card in my Gypsy Queen hobby was damaged and the box stamped MADE IN MEXICO.

[PDCCollectibles]

Originally Posted by kyle1707

Correct

The worst company is all sports marketing out of burbs of Chicago

They are smaller but better customer service then southern

All the people that helped build there company from 2000-2019

They pretty much told everyone to f them selves last 2-3 years

They don’t hide it all. They cut everyone to boxes instead of cases

The next day they will have 100 boxes for sale at 3-4 times direct price

They have turned into a dist for breakers not for card stores

The great karma though is fanatics

Fanatics won’t outsource and all sports will never survive

Agree with this a 10000%....

So Fanatics won't sell to All Sports?

[hotcalsun]

Originally Posted by NHRonin

Just got back from my LCS. Their 22 S1 allocation was cut by a third from last year, yet we know Topps has increased production from 21.

Is this the distributor holding back product to later jack up the prices for Wandermania or was the distribution from Topps limited to date?

Storing in Fanatics warehouses and leaking out for years to come.

[parkerj33]

As of now, no one knows what fanatics will do with the disty model, and if they say they know they are only guessing. unless the fanatics leaders want to chime in....

I am not gonna be surprised if my direct buying avenue closes at some point....

[marl1220]

My LCS was cut by about 1/3 of what the ordered. He ordered more today and the distributor charged him more per box than he (the LCS owner) is currently charging customers.

He told me he called the guy a crook, then said he probably shouldn't have done that as he needs to do future business with the crook... I mean distributor.

[baseballbunez]

Originally Posted by marl1220

My LCS was cut by about 1/3 of what the ordered. He ordered more today and the distributor charged him more per box than he (the LCS owner) is currently charging customers.

He told me he called the guy a crook, then said he probably shouldn't have done that as he needs to do future business with the crook... I mean distributor.

May as well have just closed his account down, if he's mad about #s now wait til the next allocation comes out after that.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by parkerj33

I can offer some insights on this.....

I am a retail direct from topps. For Retail, last year i had over 450 cases of series 1. This year I am reduced to 120. (those numbers are aggregate of all formats).

This has nothing to do with Fanatics - this has been going on for 2+ years. Topps retail is under severe demand increase from their big-box customers (target, walmart mainly, but also meijer, walgreens, etc). So us little guy retailers are getting less, or in the case of heritage high# NOTHING. All retail production goes solely to the big box guys first.

In all fairness, isn't the whole purpose of having "retail" product to distribute it to retailers for sale to the general public?

In theory "hobby" is supposed to be for the dealers/shop owners, and "retail" is supposed to be for the retailers....

[Kobe101]

Originally Posted by 87toppsproject

We are a Topps Direct MVP shop and our allocation was not cut.

Where in NJ?

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by smanzari

I would suspect it is this. I have a friend who deals with Southern and this happens regularly; will be offered to them at a higher price in a couple weeks

THIS


My LCS has said distributors play this game all the time. He orders months in advance only to be allocated and they “find some” for a huge markup.

That’s why he orders as much as he can direct from topps and jumps through their hoops. Namely buying dogs like nhl sticker album cases.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by discostu

I think Fanatics is adjusting how the distribution works, and I'd expect that it allows for more direct to consumer sales.

Money is money, and Fanatics need not be beholden to brick and mortar stores and distributors like Blowout, D&A, etc.

Fanatics has boxes for $130 on the mlb store. $50 markup from topps.com