First Buzz: 2025 Topps Chrome baseball cards

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Americards

I said in previous posts, Fanatics are forcing direct accounts to buy at every price they put out in the different waves..if they don't, they will allocate the stores less...
wave 1 ...$170
wave 2 ...$220
wave 3 ...$245

and this is from order date (6/27/2025) to release date (7/23/2025)

to direct accounts!!!
and it is still available to the public right now at $240 on Topps.com

People in this thread who are saying the market is deciding pricing aren't getting the point you are trying to make -- Fanatics is artificially keeping prices elevated by controlling supply and distribution. If the market could easily absorb the higher prices being offered directly to LCS's, the LCS's would have no problem paying them.

[fabiani12333]

Fanatics is catering to and feeding into the gambling segment of the hobby. This is the most profitable short-term business model. But longer term, the hobby will have a lot less end-consumers, i.e. collectors.

Any future investor in Fanatics should be aware of this.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

People in this thread who are saying the market is deciding pricing aren't getting the point you are trying to make -- Fanatics is artificially keeping prices elevated by controlling supply and distribution. If the market could easily absorb the higher prices being offered directly to LCS's, the LCS's would have no problem paying them.

The breaker culture has ENABLED fanatics to do this.

[tyrith]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

The breaker culture has ENABLED fanatics to do this.

Breakers didn't spring up out of the ground and force people to buy into breaks at gunpoint. They exist because people want to buy into breaks. We did it for a long time on this board before it was cool - how much money was wasted in houdini 100 casers over the years? It just went mainstream on us.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by tyrith

Breakers didn't spring up out of the ground and force people to buy into breaks at gunpoint. They exist because people want to buy into breaks. We did it for a long time on this board before it was cool - how much money was wasted in houdini 100 casers over the years? It just went mainstream on us.

The higher prices the masses were willing to pay collectively to have someone open packs for them on camera lead to the higher prices Topps was able to charge for each new product.

Topps chrome has always been considered a low to mid tier product - the breaker culture has transformed it into high end, much like prizm.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

People in this thread who are saying the market is deciding pricing aren't getting the point you are trying to make -- Fanatics is artificially keeping prices elevated by controlling supply and distribution. If the market could easily absorb the higher prices being offered directly to LCS's, the LCS's would have no problem paying them.

People still have a choice to pay the artificially inflated prices. Why is this hard to understand?

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Fanatics is catering to and feeding into the gambling segment of the hobby. This is the most profitable short-term business model. But longer term, the hobby will have a lot less end-consumers, i.e. collectors.

Any future investor in Fanatics should be aware of this.

There will always be gamblers. When one leaves, another will take his place. Fanatics knows they don't need an end consumer.

[Jaypers]

Kurtz autos are going nuts tonight after his 4 HR performance.

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by Jaypers

Kurtz autos are going nuts tonight after his 4 HR performance.

$600 for a base auto redemption..... todays game single handedly saved Topps Chrome

[RedLabelRecords]

Unless you’re going to call your local congressman and ask for a hearing, you aren’t making a dent in their profits.

This is unregulated gambling.

[boxbuster7]

nick kurtz will single handedly save 2025 topps chrome

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by anusinha

$600 for a base auto redemption..... todays game single handedly saved Topps Chrome

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

nick kurtz will single handedly save 2025 topps chrome

2025 Topps Chrome needed this performance by Nick Kurtz

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

People in this thread who are saying the market is deciding pricing aren't getting the point you are trying to make -- Fanatics is artificially keeping prices elevated by controlling supply and distribution. If the market could easily absorb the higher prices being offered directly to LCS's, the LCS's would have no problem paying them.

If we aren't understanding, give us a quick rundown of why. This happened before Fanatics ever purchased Topps. It was distributors doing it previously. So how is it different now, and why is it controlling the market now, but it wasn't previously? The hobby has always been this way during bull runs. Always. As I have previously said, its just more noticeable now because you see Fanatics doing it. You didn't see it happening behind closed doors before because you had to be direct with one of the big distributors to see it. The majority of the hobby was not direct.

True market manipulation would be them starting at absurd numbers and refusing to sell any of it until the market rose up to where they demanded. Say $1,000 a box just to use a high even number. People would pay it, but only a few. And the secondary market would not have demand past that point.

But that isn't what has happened. The market showed them it was priced too low to start, hence the price increases. They are following the secondary market, not setting it. Big difference. There just happens to be a hatred towards big business to where people are not accepting reality. People want these products at these absurd prices. It is what it is. I can't tell you how many social media pictures I have seen of someone buying their first box and showing off whatever. Seems like every day. The hobby is STILL growing and people in general are not shying away from the higher costs.

[BayAreaChris]

Fanatics is “sold out” but if you go to their product page, they upped the price from $240 to $290.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by BayAreaChris

Fanatics is “sold out” but if you go to their product page, they upped the price from $240 to $290.

Don't people still use discounted gift cards to purchase from their site? I don't ever buy from them anymore, but a couple of years ago I got 20% off everything buying that way. Has that loop hole been closed?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

nick kurtz will single handedly save 2025 topps chrome

Pull a Kurtz auto, break even on your jumbo box!

Where do I sign up?

[BayAreaChris]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Don't people still use discounted gift cards to purchase from their site? I don't ever buy from them anymore, but a couple of years ago I got 20% off everything buying that way. Has that loop hole been closed?

I haven’t seen the wholesale clubs selling them at 20-25% for a while.

[Jahape1]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Don't people still use discounted gift cards to purchase from their site? I don't ever buy from them anymore, but a couple of years ago I got 20% off everything buying that way. Has that loop hole been closed?

The only place I've seen gift cards for Fanatics recently has been newegg.com every month or so. It's usually limited to 5 $50 gift cards at 20% off but a couple weeks ago you could buy up to $1000 worth, so I loaded up. Best Buy used to have them occasionally but I haven't seen them recently.

I will most likely purchase a bunch of Standard Mega Boxes when they become available realizing that it would probably be smart to save it for another release.

[Americards]

Originally Posted by premium1981

If we aren't understanding, give us a quick rundown of why. This happened before Fanatics ever purchased Topps. It was distributors doing it previously. So how is it different now, and why is it controlling the market now, but it wasn't previously? The hobby has always been this way during bull runs. Always. As I have previously said, its just more noticeable now because you see Fanatics doing it. You didn't see it happening behind closed doors before because you had to be direct with one of the big distributors to see it. The majority of the hobby was not direct.

True market manipulation would be them starting at absurd numbers and refusing to sell any of it until the market rose up to where they demanded. Say $1,000 a box just to use a high even number. People would pay it, but only a few. And the secondary market would not have demand past that point.

But that isn't what has happened. The market showed them it was priced too low to start, hence the price increases. They are following the secondary market, not setting it. Big difference. There just happens to be a hatred towards big business to where people are not accepting reality. People want these products at these absurd prices. It is what it is. I can't tell you how many social media pictures I have seen of someone buying their first box and showing off whatever. Seems like every day. The hobby is STILL growing and people in general are not shying away from the higher costs.

The biggest difference between distributors and Fanatics,


Pre orders were 6 months in advance, and they would have a pre-order price of x, I ordered my x amount of product and they would say yes or no you can get this.
in 6 months the product would come out and if the product was good, it would go up, if the product was crap it would still be the same price or go down.
If I didnt want to buy any more after "release" , I did not have to.. I bought in at the reasonable wholesale cost and got my order and would move on to the next product, Fanatics is not allowing that..
Now Fanatics allows card stores to have 1 or 2 cases and then They are forcing those stores to buy more at a higher cost in waves, (even if they don't want any more)
and this time, 3 times before the product is even a day old.
That is one HUGE difference (and this was pre-covid) Once covid hit, distributors manipulated the market saying Topps didnt make a lot which was a lie (Yes they didnt make product for a few months)...


You see lots of people coming into the hobby, But what about all the people leaving the hobby because they are priced out of buying boxes and thats what they liked, how many BO members are saying they are not buying blasters anymore because they are $40 now instead of $30 and that's only $10 from what they used to be last year..


Topps chrome 8 years ago
2017 TOPPS CHROME BASEBALL HOBBY
***4 cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 12 boxes per case
***CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 2 Autographs per box.
- Look for RC on-card autographs of Andrew Benintendi, Alex Bregman, Yulieski Gurriel, Aaron Judge and more.
- Find tons of parallels and inserts.
***Pricing: $61.25 per box / $60.25 6+ / $59.00 per box case price (12 boxes)
***Release Date: August 2nd
***ORDER DUE DATE: March 28th

96 cards to now 80
24 packs to 20 packs
2 autos to 1 auto
$59 to $170,$220,$245 (wholesale)
The reason prices go up from order date to release date is lots of things can happen from April to August, (especially this year 2017)...not June to July
Would I expect to get 2017 topps chrome back then on release day the same price as order date? No


Until this year, Fanatics has sold product so LCS could make 40% if they would sell what it sells for on Topps.com
$170 + 40% markup is $238


If they distributed all the product to all LCS and breakers, The price of boxes would be $240 for a few months before product starts going higher...

The ones buying a lot and holding them for later would make out better,

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Pull a Kurtz auto, break even on your jumbo box!

Where do I sign up?

only for the next 2 days - then all the 10 a's fans that want one will have it

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

only for the next 2 days - then all the 10 a's fans that want one will have it

This is too true.

[Americards]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

People in this thread who are saying the market is deciding pricing aren't getting the point you are trying to make -- Fanatics is artificially keeping prices elevated by controlling supply and distribution. If the market could easily absorb the higher prices being offered directly to LCS's, the LCS's would have no problem paying them.

Thank You

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by Americards

The biggest difference between distributors and Fanatics,


Pre orders were 6 months in advance, and they would have a pre-order price of x, I ordered my x amount of product and they would say yes or no you can get this.
in 6 months the product would come out and if the product was good, it would go up, if the product was crap it would still be the same price or go down.
If I didnt want to buy any more after "release" , I did not have to.. I bought in at the reasonable wholesale cost and got my order and would move on to the next product, Fanatics is not allowing that..
Now Fanatics allows card stores to have 1 or 2 cases and then They are forcing those stores to buy more at a higher cost in waves, (even if they don't want any more)
and this time, 3 times before the product is even a day old.
That is one HUGE difference (and this was pre-covid) Once covid hit, distributors manipulated the market saying Topps didnt make a lot which was a lie (Yes they didnt make product for a few months)...


You see lots of people coming into the hobby, But what about all the people leaving the hobby because they are priced out of buying boxes and thats what they liked, how many BO members are saying they are not buying blasters anymore because they are $40 now instead of $30 and that's only $10 from what they used to be last year..


Topps chrome 8 years ago
2017 TOPPS CHROME BASEBALL HOBBY
***4 cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 12 boxes per case
***CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 2 Autographs per box.
- Look for RC on-card autographs of Andrew Benintendi, Alex Bregman, Yulieski Gurriel, Aaron Judge and more.
- Find tons of parallels and inserts.
***Pricing: $61.25 per box / $60.25 6+ / $59.00 per box case price (12 boxes)
***Release Date: August 2nd
***ORDER DUE DATE: March 28th

96 cards to now 80
24 packs to 20 packs
2 autos to 1 auto
$59 to $170,$220,$245 (wholesale)
The reason prices go up from order date to release date is lots of things can happen from April to August, (especially this year 2017)...not June to July
Would I expect to get 2017 topps chrome back then on release day the same price as order date? No


Until this year, Fanatics has sold product so LCS could make 40% if they would sell what it sells for on Topps.com
$170 + 40% markup is $238


If they distributed all the product to all LCS and breakers, The price of boxes would be $240 for a few months before product starts going higher...

The ones buying a lot and holding them for later would make out better,

So much to unpack here, but I'll give brief bullet points:

A) For every person that leaves the hobby because of pricing/unhappiness there are multiple more coming into the market. What they see is the norm for them, because they were not around in years past. So the market is not taking a hit from anyone leaving. And if $250 or $300 is where they started in the hobby with a product like this they don't see it as a rip off. They see it as the price.

B) Anyone comparing anything in todays hobby to 2017 products loses all credibility immediately. There is nothing to compare. Nothing is the same. You might as well be comparing a Chevy Silverado to a VW Van.

C) Your point about 40% markup is funny. So you don't care if someone makes a profit, you just don't want it to be Topps? I know when I sell something I'm not kind enough to knock 40% off retail and let them have my profit. Furthermore, even if Topps sold to LCS at the exact same price as the public offering there is still plenty to be made. I was busy when the Topps put the listings up for this product. I was late to the party and missed out on jumbos. But I easily got 2 hobby cases and after all taxes, fees, and shipping I sold them for $800 profit. $400 each. How much more margins do card stores need? I'd say thats pretty solid for a few minutes of work.

D) Sounds like you are a hobby shop? At least that is the feeling I get reading your posts. So from where I sit, you are just upset that your gravy train isn't as lucrative as it once was. You were able to pull nice profits on your low cost wax at one point, but now that playing field is leveled out a little you don't like it. Understandable, because we all like easy money. But just because you lost your easy money doesn't make things unfair. Most shops have taken advantage of their customers for many years. I don't feel bad for you.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by premium1981

You are overestimating the amount of people that $10 makes a difference to (in relation to a recession). If the economy drops into a recession the people worrying about $10 are already currently in a state of financial ruin even in a good economy.

But gamblers aren't spending $10....they're likely spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a month buying spots in breaks.

And if they have to cut their spending by even 20-25%, then the whole "sell to breakers" business model starts to collapse.

Even if the economy stays relatively healthy, gambling addicts are going to get tired of getting reamed and cut back their spending. Because there are LOTS of different ways people can gamble, and almost ALL OF THEM offer a better ROI than buying spots in breaks. Heck, even being a horrible sports bettor offers a better ROI than buying into sports card breaks!

The ROI just isn't there for collectors or gamblers at current wax prices. Eventually, people are going to wise up and Fanatics is going to have to either adjust their release prices or increase the content value of wax boxes. Or else all those gamblers propping up the breakers are going to find some other way to gamble that offers a better ROI.

[hermanotarjeta]

If box flipper bois are still making a small profit on wax,

there is still room for fanatics to increase prices.

[Scott801]

Interesting points made. I don’t participate in the live breaks on Fanatics anymore. I tired a few after getting a $25 credit for signing up. I just looked at Fanatics and a live break of a a jumbo hobby box and the Athletics spot sold for over $300, while the Brewers was unsold at $55. Those prices were totally different a month ago.