tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post6388432417209683261..comments2023-10-29T10:11:53.672-04:00Comments on Battlin' Bucs: Who Watches the Watchmen?Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04854315904173219584noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-50913275327670365422015-03-20T19:25:58.547-04:002015-03-20T19:25:58.547-04:00I think the brick and mortar stores that will surv...I think the brick and mortar stores that will survive in the long run are those that also break cases on the side. In fact, I know of one store, which has been open for two-and-a-half decades, that has gone to just that. The owner told me he keeps the front door open for the kids and usual customers, but he makes his living selling on the internet. <br /><br />To me, a true hobbyist, the problem is the lottery ticket. I could care less if I open a pack with a big hit... I just want to complete that set I've been working and add nice cards to my player collections. Card collecting takes my mind off of the daily routine, puts a smile on my face, and takes me back twenty years. A $1 pack of Opening Day does that just fine. <br /><br />Whatever happens, happens. I just hope there's a place for a guy like me in the "hobby" down the road.P-town Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07437348006643978055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-37446265810655943902015-03-20T14:53:46.410-04:002015-03-20T14:53:46.410-04:00Well written post. The exclusive deals are the WOR...Well written post. The exclusive deals are the WORST thing that's ever happened to the hobby. I'm a big time collector of both NASCAR and the NBA, and I've seen the damage it's done, NASCAR was the first to go exclusive, back in 2001. Press Pass put themselves out of business by doing high-end only, and now Panini is starting to fall into that trap. <br /><br />I liked the hobby better before the "hits" became all that most people cared about. Back when the actual cards were the mail goal in collecting, and if you pulled a hit, it was a happy bonus...not the main goal. I sometimes feel like I'm the last set builder still working the NBA. Billy Kingsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847326710191224832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-13277133755624624982015-03-20T13:04:17.225-04:002015-03-20T13:04:17.225-04:00As much as I hate on Topps, a total recall is a re...As much as I hate on Topps, a total recall is a really bold move. Should be interesting to see how this plays out. Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04854315904173219584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-18333371333588966412015-03-20T12:53:26.986-04:002015-03-20T12:53:26.986-04:00I'm still getting caught up on some of the wei...I'm still getting caught up on some of the weird releases Upper Deck put out in their final couple years, so I definitely don't want to go back to the "throw 20 sets against the wall and see what sticks" approach. But I do think that competition is absolutely necessary for this hobby to sustain or ever hope to see growth again. While Topps has sets across a range of price points, they have little incentive to alter their formula of Heritage/Gypsy/A&G/Bowman in the mid range, low end Flagship, Stickers, Opening Day, and then a rotation of high end products. They have largely put it on auto-pilot, knowing that people will continue buying the product.<br /><br />My bigger concern is what the longterm exclusives will do to the few remaining companies. Let's say losing in 2015 football accounts for 30% of Topps' card based revenue. Losing that license outright has to have some trickle down impact. Loss of revenue will have to carry over to reducing costs. Even if the actual card production isn't changing, I'd imagine cuts might come from somewhere like the already sub-par customer service or media departments. Maybe we'll see more Players Association deals like Panini has in baseball.<br /><br />Like you said, lots to think about. I don't have any real answers. But I think it's an aspect of the hobby that perhaps deserves a little more conversation than it gets. Can collectors really change anything? Who knows. But I think losing another manufacturer would be hugely detrimental to the overall health of the hobby.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04854315904173219584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-58123086630910075852015-03-20T12:46:02.434-04:002015-03-20T12:46:02.434-04:00Topps released the announcement. They are recallin...Topps released the announcement. They are recalling Topps Tribute.RAZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17519699812373438878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-22934822720407168832015-03-20T12:19:16.282-04:002015-03-20T12:19:16.282-04:00Man so much I could say. First I don't know i...Man so much I could say. First I don't know if I want to go back to the early 2000's. While I miss the variety, the overwhelming quantity of product was both hard for the collector and I'm sure hard for the shop owner to keep up with. And I hate, hate, hate exclusivity. With a passion. I even wrote to the MLB before they gave Topps the million year extension, but I hate even more the trend to more premium releases. Essentially pricing out a lot of collectors. Oh lets see groceries for the week or a pack of cards? <br /><br />The other problem I see is that while the big card companies pay lip service to the LCS's I don't see that carried over into practice. And with a growing trend of big case breakers opening tons of product and then selling off the pieces I don't know if a brick and mortar store can survive on it's own anymore in the age of the internet. I hope I'm wrong.<br /><br />Sorry for the rambling, you put out a lot to think about nice post Mark.cynicalbuddhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13459221069829023793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-46369047527714893482015-03-20T11:47:22.025-04:002015-03-20T11:47:22.025-04:00Maybe I should grab the ones that went online. Sup...Maybe I should grab the ones that went online. Super Rare!!!!!BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-69887608417389924472015-03-20T10:46:07.897-04:002015-03-20T10:46:07.897-04:00Their official statement was along the lines of &q...Their official statement was along the lines of "We're figuring something out." They're asking all dealers to hold any product. I'd imagine a full recall is next. From there? Thats where it will get interesting. I don't know that there was any real precedent for this that I know of. Sweet Spot had a ton of issues with fading one year, but that didn't become evident until a few months after the product went live. <br /><br />It's a shame, since the product actually looked really solid.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04854315904173219584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108520133795628754.post-12788457605076194102015-03-20T09:54:10.514-04:002015-03-20T09:54:10.514-04:00I've seen some of those Tribute autos on eBay....I've seen some of those Tribute autos on eBay. YIKES! Has Topps released an official statement yet? They will have to do some kind of exchange program. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Tribute on a lot of "deal of the days" for Dave and Adams. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.com