Interesting note from the Topps Q&A at The National
- Thread starter Triple B
- Start date
uvic99
Registered Trader
Would love to see Topps back in hockey. They definitely gave solid bang for the buck back in the day. Have to agree with others who said UD would put up a huge fight to keep its NHL license/exclusive. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out. Strategically, I wonder if Topps and Panini (or other companies like PC and Leaf) would work together to outbid UD for the rights. It would leave UD crippled.
Triple B
Verified Trader,
Another post says that Tarasenko signed all of his outstanding Panini cards. I'm wondering if this is Panini angling to take a run at the exclusive ending...
burebuyer
Hockey Player Collection Winner,
Any company that will produce more cards of the players I collect gets a thumbs up from me.
Derek
Derek
aflamesfan
New Member, Must Send First
I live in Calgary, and they sent me an Oiler card instead of a Flames card when I asked for anything Flames.... So I know the feeling.
I broke a few Topps hobby boxes over the past couple of years. I find they are similar in some sense for their sets. They have their usual Series 1/2 Baseball like UD. Chrome baseball, like OPC Platinum. I saw a few memorabilia cards and if you think the wording on UD's memorabilia is vague, Topps is even worse.
Triple Threads - Game Used Memorabilia
https://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball...s_-_Emerald/UJR-EE/Edwin_Encarnacion/10809229
Look at the back - "The Relic contained in this card is not from any specific game, event, or season"
I don't even know what that means.....
Anyways, I think not having an exclusive is good for the hockey hobby, as long as there isn't any over-production. I think Topps getting a hockey exclusive will be the same if not worse than UD having an exclusive. I say possibly worse because we would lose out on the Young Guns / Future Watch / <Insert other favorite subset> lines.
Fritz
Nitwit in good standing,
I always take that to mean they don't want to guarantee it even a little bit & they're covering their arses
incetardis
New Member, Must Send First ,
I would love to see Topps back!
What do you guys think about current Topps inserts?
I usually also follow Basketball, but looking at most Baseball releases they seem almost nonexistent.
What do you guys think about current Topps inserts?
I usually also follow Basketball, but looking at most Baseball releases they seem almost nonexistent.
Rorschach
New Member, Must Send First
Right now the hobby has excellent stability with only UD. In baseball, the market is currently out of control. Sealed product already has a multiplier on the official day of release. Kids are unable to get first cards of hot rookies because they came in a pack three years ago and the card is already $300.
Grass is greener.
When Topps did have a license, what did they do for hockey? Topps is a baseball company. They look down on hockey and hockey collectors.
Grass is greener.
When Topps did have a license, what did they do for hockey? Topps is a baseball company. They look down on hockey and hockey collectors.
steen101984
Verified Trader
I'm not sure how anyone draws that conclusion. Board membership is dwindling, people are leaving the hobby weekly, you're lucky to make 25% ROI on any current box you buy and next year's rookie crop is the worst one in years coupled with the top 2 picks not having any certified autos. I'd argue it's the most unstable that it's been since the lockout in 04-05.
jogesc2
New Member, Must Send First,
I've also heard next years draft won't be much better either
RGM81
Verified Trader
Very interesting indeed.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I would hope that if we get multiple licensees in the future it's something similar to what we had for the UD/Panini era: 11 releases per company for a total of 22 per season. People can choose where to spend their hobby dollars accordingly without being constantly barraged with new releases. Hopefully, and I say this as a guy that really liked Panini and has a ton of Panini stuff in the PC, any incoming producer will learn the value of scarcity and avoid over-producing nearly every release.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I would hope that if we get multiple licensees in the future it's something similar to what we had for the UD/Panini era: 11 releases per company for a total of 22 per season. People can choose where to spend their hobby dollars accordingly without being constantly barraged with new releases. Hopefully, and I say this as a guy that really liked Panini and has a ton of Panini stuff in the PC, any incoming producer will learn the value of scarcity and avoid over-producing nearly every release.
Rorschach
New Member, Must Send First
I strongly disagree with ALL of your points except the ROI. I disagree that 25% ROI is a number you can measure and even if we say it's true, if you compare that number to the ROI in baseball, the latter is consistently lower.
This year I've watched hundreds of case breaks and cracked over $10k in product in hockey and around $10k in baseball. This is for both this year and last year. Nearly every "good" Topps product is 10% ROI. 1-2 boxes per case you break even. 1 box every several cases you make money.
Out of the gate Topps sealed product this year is double in cost or more (except for Allen & Ginter), further smashing ROI.
Rorschach
New Member, Must Send First
22 is way too much. Most companies have maybe 8 or less solid brands. I say if they give another license, make it 14 or less brands combined and let the companies compete. I'm betting UD crushes Topps.
RGM81
Verified Trader
I don't disagree with you that there's some stuff that could be cut, probably even should be cut. A streamlined release calendar would likely do any company a world of good. But they've also got to keep pumping out that HRR, right?
cremona71
Verified Trader,
I think bringing back Topps or Panini would be a mistake. It believe it would add to many products to the market where there simply is not enough appetite. Additionally as far as Topps goes their products do not have a following in the hockey department aside from a small percentage of collectors.
Upper Deck and Upper Deck alone is the best thing for the hockey side of the hobby. It is sad to say but its the truth.
Upper Deck and Upper Deck alone is the best thing for the hockey side of the hobby. It is sad to say but its the truth.
steveottfan
Verified Trader,
Topps or Panini would help create that appetite. Upper Deck is starving collectors with a lack of creativity and a stale product. Monopolies suck.
creasecollector
Verified Trader ,
I would disagree, as I think another company brought into the mix (Like UD / Panini had a few years back) would be great for the hobby. Sure, people might now like all the products that come out, but it gives collectors a lot more choice and more players to collect. That is a very good thing and would bring more collectors into the mix.
As far as Topps go, I feel like if/when they were to enter the hockey card market, then collectors would be drawn to their products and it would force Upper Deck to step up their game or continue to lose market share. If Topps get a good run going, they'll be able to bring something fresh to the table to offer up to collectors, just like UD did back in the 90's. New faces in the company aren't a bad thing at all.
More competition = Good for the collectors
Just my 2 cents on the matter.
cremona71
Verified Trader,
I disagree. The appetite is fueled by what rookies are in product in addition to price point. How good is the breaks value? A new player at the table may sell some product in the short term but in the long it will die just like Panini hockey did. Stale product is of no fault of the company and its design team as I can assure you they are actually trying. Its more a question of what else left is there to do with product creativity? Its pretty much all been done. You also cannot be creative or attempt to innovate certain products because they are hobby staples and you simply cant touch them.
cremona71
Verified Trader,
As I mentioned earlier while it may appear that competition is good for the hobby in this specific case it is not. Collectors have been opening Upper Deck product since the company was founded decades ago. They will not stop opening their products because it is simply all they know. Additionally, Upper Deck will not have to do anything to step up their game due to a few names. Gretzky, Mcdavid, Crosby ++++. We have a proven winner in Upper Deck against unproven new blood. Any one of their competitors will not have any of these players autograph content which is a massive deal.
While I agree that competition is good when you take into account exclusive rights to players it is absolutely horrible for the hobby. Look at next year for example. The top 2 rookies will not have ANY autograph content in UD product. Upper Deck is the only licensed company. This is HORRIBLE for the hobby. Brutal.
The more companies you have at the table the more stress their will be in signing players to exclusive deals which is bad for everyone except the card companies.
One company creating all the card content that involves all players is best for the hobby.
Bossy22
Verified Trader,
I think you are in the 2% that believe this!
