Maybe they just realized we are all just taking way better care of our products than we used to, so they had to adjust. That's gotta be it, right?
Get a gun.Would appreciate suggestions/advice on two failed Topps redemptions...
1.) Submitted a redemption over 10 months ago for a 2022 Update Series Mike Trout Major League Material Autograph Card. They're telling me it's not currently available, but Topps is telling me I can wait, or accept a substitute "of comparable value" at their discretion with no returns. I'm totally expecting they'll send me a Giancarlo Stanton or something if I give in. The redemption card is valued at $325 at Sportscardspro.com. There's an actual card listed on eBay for $400, so I know it exists. It's numbered to 25, so I'm not sure how it's not currently available -- did they have him sign 15 of them, and now think they'll go back and get the last 10? Anyway, do I a.) cave and accept their substitute, b.) try to sell the redemption card (maybe I clear $250, maybe I don't), or c.) just hang on and continue to send them impatient emails every couple of months that get cheerfully answered by their A.I. bots?
2.) Smaller scale, but similar poor customer service. I have a redemption card entitling me to a Topps Now card valued at $9.95. The limitations are a.) it has to be a Topps Now baseball card, and b.) I need to redeem it by 12/31/23. Only problem is, since I started trying to redeem the card about a month ago (post World Series), the Topps site has yet to make available any Topps Now baseball cards priced at $9.95. Actually saw one on the site today for the first time (ironically, a "Mike Trout Makes History" card), but when I clicked on the link I got a "403 Forbidden" message. Again, I've emailed Topps Customer service several times and gotten very cheerful and not useful responses from their A.I. bots.
So, what would you do?
I love me some redemption questions. First, are you sure it's a 2022 Update Series that you found on Ebay? I'm finding recent sales for that card from 2023, but can't find anything from 2022. Recent sales of the 2023 are all in the $250 range, like this one:Would appreciate suggestions/advice on two failed Topps redemptions...
1.) Submitted a redemption over 10 months ago for a 2022 Update Series Mike Trout Major League Material Autograph Card. They're telling me it's not currently available, but Topps is telling me I can wait, or accept a substitute "of comparable value" at their discretion with no returns. I'm totally expecting they'll send me a Giancarlo Stanton or something if I give in. The redemption card is valued at $325 at Sportscardspro.com. There's an actual card listed on eBay for $400, so I know it exists. It's numbered to 25, so I'm not sure how it's not currently available -- did they have him sign 15 of them, and now think they'll go back and get the last 10? Anyway, do I a.) cave and accept their substitute, b.) try to sell the redemption card (maybe I clear $250, maybe I don't), or c.) just hang on and continue to send them impatient emails every couple of months that get cheerfully answered by their A.I. bots?
2.) Smaller scale, but similar poor customer service. I have a redemption card entitling me to a Topps Now card valued at $9.95. The limitations are a.) it has to be a Topps Now baseball card, and b.) I need to redeem it by 12/31/23. Only problem is, since I started trying to redeem the card about a month ago (post World Series), the Topps site has yet to make available any Topps Now baseball cards priced at $9.95. Actually saw one on the site today for the first time (ironically, a "Mike Trout Makes History" card), but when I clicked on the link I got a "403 Forbidden" message. Again, I've emailed Topps Customer service several times and gotten very cheerful and not useful responses from their A.I. bots.
So, what would you do?
Here's the 2022 Topps Major League Materials Trout Autograph I saw on eBay. Card number syncs with what my redemption card says, MLMA-MT.I love me some redemption questions. First, are you sure it's a 2022 Update Series that you found on Ebay? I'm finding recent sales for that card from 2023, but can't find anything from 2022. Recent sales of the 2023 are all in the $250 range, like this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186092757508?hash=item2b53fe2204:g:yeQAAOSwoB1k920o&amdata=enc:AQAIAAABAGfqoJWx9InNWKcfGBAkIwKVfK1DrobcjfiPkj6/7tuInjqO9200rK+Gvda5p0ocmhqACbCccihSiNo4qEEfafyEMrbVI2udGM8oEUbSeBECYDy/ySqWMsMNDDym1J+nBcQE61rcVT9a5NUK8qCC6S5EMCF7aPsjuI9EvuF7VyXKNgrkHTZjSTS4jlZ4iwa54hpeXsTvTNTLR60C3j3qsZUNeGFM1QrX3y0FmbndgyiPv+bk33CxRZBfQl11yKEbJ53izgcLgsrHrfvABC5Ln0Q5No3kmgmlAd8vU3mhPSTrxsxC5J4G9BXzq5S/Qac7bnnGXfhdKv2H5ZcKDCBjlVE=|tkp:Bk9SR7iFpdmIYw
That said, would it surprise me if they only bothered having 15 of them signed? Not at all, nothing surprises me. They suck, all of them. Redemptions are complete and utter horseshit, and is the thing that has soured me on this hobby more than any other. It wouldn't surprise me if they never made the card at all (which is the case with a ton of cards over the years, including about 20 redemptions that I ultimately took substitutes for about two months ago). Topps is generally better than Panini, so if you're this far out since you submitted the redemption, chances are you're not getting it, so cut the losses and take the substitute, but some folks may have a different impression.
I don't think you have the option of selling the redemption card at this point. Once you've scratched off the redemption number and submitted it to Topps/Panini, nobody in their right mind would buy it. Because if Topps does end up filling the redemption, they're mailing it to you. How do you get that card to the buyer? Or how can the buyer protect against you just keeping it when you get it?
I can't answer the Topps Now question, never got involved with them. They all suck.
Gotcha. I don't know anything about sportscardspro.com. IMO, the market is set by Ebay. The sale prices of comparable cards are the closest approximation anyone will find for what a card is worth, because that's where most cards are sold in the secondary market. The last three from this season 2023 Topps Series Update ML Materials /25 sold on 10/1, 9/14 and 11/6, and sold for $248.35, $255.00 and $283.50. The last one was actually #'ed to 50 and the seller was smart as he showed a picture of the redemption and the card in the sale listing. So I think your card value is probably between $250-$300, but every time a new product/set hits the market, there's more Trout autos out there.Here's the 2022 Topps Major League Materials Trout Autograph I saw on eBay. Card number syncs with what my redemption card says, MLMA-MT.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275489618434?hash=item402475fa02:g:MIIAAOSwuQhjPtTy&amdata=enc:AQAIAAABEG0qW2drFFD995IOPQXdQZEB159PfoaYcl0AJtJCbkjvosYvYplxlhT/+BCfQNXOQ7lL9bZ8dQxQrAYzLg1CK885IHb0mYz4YjltjJbjY+U2y+s/j+2204z9sSTnhKBxbjLwOMJVlK/bYz4Rrgg6GrtxRMGL9HjVHvBiS/ea36ddAEAPX0UIbxoJmQmojbCWJHJBjJTpQu6btu//NaETSBCyPWCp3TgyQC93OLRMb87O2etyd0wM+g65VK4sYVDbI+wpEi5tL/Au+6S+jc/l0nguhSrY6eK1cyMRTsPwrXn2dPElScvCXOlMtfL1+glLRF3cE4qC2GlybJqP7Ik5R7GxJ0mNdDiXE3Q5g2EnQl8H|tkp:Bk9SR_z76-SIYw
Here's the value for the Redemption Card from sportscardspro.com...
https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-2022-topps-update-major-league-material-autographs/mike-trout-mlma-mt
How did you find the substitutes you received? Am I more likely to get Shohei Ohtani or Kike Hernandez for my Mike Trout card?
For #1, I'd hold out for Trout. Topps /Fanatics is better than Panini and Leaf at getting close to matching value but I don't think you can guarantee they'll give you another S Tier auto in return and Trout signs for Topps consistently. I've seen people get very great value in exchange and ones who didn't, my best guess is they sub in a desirable low numbered A tier auto and something else but that's not Trout. I think selling the redemption is out of the question since you redeemed it, doubt they let you take it back.Would appreciate suggestions/advice on two failed Topps redemptions...
1.) Submitted a redemption over 10 months ago for a 2022 Update Series Mike Trout Major League Material Autograph Card. They're telling me it's not currently available, but Topps is telling me I can wait, or accept a substitute "of comparable value" at their discretion with no returns. I'm totally expecting they'll send me a Giancarlo Stanton or something if I give in. The redemption card is valued at $325 at Sportscardspro.com. There's an actual card listed on eBay for $400, so I know it exists. It's numbered to 25, so I'm not sure how it's not currently available -- did they have him sign 15 of them, and now think they'll go back and get the last 10? Anyway, do I a.) cave and accept their substitute, b.) try to sell the redemption card (maybe I clear $250, maybe I don't), or c.) just hang on and continue to send them impatient emails every couple of months that get cheerfully answered by their A.I. bots?
2.) Smaller scale, but similar poor customer service. I have a redemption card entitling me to a Topps Now card valued at $9.95. The limitations are a.) it has to be a Topps Now baseball card, and b.) I need to redeem it by 12/31/23. Only problem is, since I started trying to redeem the card about a month ago (post World Series), the Topps site has yet to make available any Topps Now baseball cards priced at $9.95. Actually saw one on the site today for the first time (ironically, a "Mike Trout Makes History" card), but when I clicked on the link I got a "403 Forbidden" message. Again, I've emailed Topps Customer service several times and gotten very cheerful and not useful responses from their A.I. bots.
So, what would you do?
Topanga Lawrence-Matthews?For #1, I'd hold out for Trout. Topps /Fanatics is better than Panini and Leaf at getting close to matching value but I don't think you can guarantee they'll give you another S Tier auto in return and Trout signs for Topps consistently. I've seen people get very great value in exchange and ones who didn't, my best guess is they sub in a desirable low numbered A tier auto and something else but that's not Trout. I think selling the redemption is out of the question since you redeemed it, doubt they let you take it back.
I have a much lower stakes sticker auto in the same spot as you. I feel it.
For #2, I'm not as sure. I redeemed mine for a Topanga card and had to be fully logged in and such but it went okay. Might be worth Tweeting?
Well, it’s not Topanga but I finally saw a Topps Now baseball card I could redeem. The bad news is it was a ”Soto traded to the Yankees” card. I’ll give it to my Yankee fan son, I guessFor #2, I'm not as sure. I redeemed mine for a Topanga card and had to be fully logged in and such but it went okay. Might be worth Tweeting?
I can't interpret the sigEarly Christmas present for myself.
Based on who was on the 07 team, and that the auto starts with the weirdest W ever, I am going Wily Mo Pena.I can't interpret the sig
Very nice. I have the same ball.Early Christmas present for myself.
Cost me way too much, but will be thrilled when it arrives.Very nice. I have the same ball.
So uh...check your redemptions portal on Topps. I saw a post that someone got a forced exchange on a very recent product and now my one outstanding redemption vanished from the portal tooWell, it’s not Topanga but I finally saw a Topps Now baseball card I could redeem. The bad news is it was a ”Soto traded to the Yankees” card. I’ll give it to my Yankee fan son, I guess
If the Sox sign Yamamoto, I’ll regret not having hung onto this. But I’ll be happy enough for other reasons to get over it.
Thanks for the heads-up... looks like my redemption is still there, but I'm still sure dubious.So uh...check your redemptions portal on Topps. I saw a post that someone got a forced exchange on a very recent product and now my one outstanding redemption vanished from the portal too
Phew. Mine came back, so might've just been a glitch.Thanks for the heads-up... looks like my redemption is still there, but I'm still sure dubious.
I've reached out to customer service. If this doesn't work out, I hope to figure out a way to get an email (Tweet maybe?) to Michael Rubin, whom I just heard bloviate at length on the Bill Simmons podcast about his commitment to 100% customer satisfaction.
Will keep this space informed.
The Tom Brady hunt has driven people insane. Odds are super long in the product itself - I did the calculation on a 200 box break (napkin math puts that at around $100k worth of product), and the odds of getting a Tom Brady Expos card in that entire break was about 59% for an unsigned card and 9% for a signed card. Someone on eBay dropped about 12k on that chance.Anyone looking for an auto Tom Brady Montreal Expos card
Great commercial that I'm sure someone has posted elsewhere (with HoF appearances of some other famous Expos as well)
View: https://twitter.com/TomBrady/status/1734589718434648084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1734589718434648084%7Ctwgr%5Ec74e59bb103757ab4b6a18fe2eb7deaf064e52ec%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-971104709798726527.ampproject.net%2F2311212202000%2Fframe.html
If anyone is interested, here is the pull of the Tom Brady 1/1. Cover your ears:The Tom Brady hunt has driven people insane. Odds are super long in the product itself - I did the calculation on a 200 box break (napkin math puts that at around $100k worth of product), and the odds of getting a Tom Brady Expos card in that entire break was about 59% for an unsigned card and 9% for a signed card. Someone on eBay dropped about 12k on that chance.
I watched a break last night (I'm bought a couple cheap slots for fun in smaller breaks but none in this one where the entry fee was about $200 per slot) for drafted players in the "HTA" product which is basically a three autograph box with nothing else. Tom Brady went first overall over pretty much every monster pick from the 2023 Draft. The "top guy" in the product had four massive autos pulled and most top guys had at least one. Brady, of course, got skunked.
The hype is bonkers on these, I'll give Fanatics credit, they know how to drive that. The 1/1 Auto has already been pulled though so that should calm that down a bit - once the 12/50 is gone it'll be more normal
Has fingerprints on it. Would not buy.If anyone is interested, here is the pull of the Tom Brady 1/1. Cover your ears:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j_Xzi9k9OI
Not my forte at all so some soccer collector is going to come in and destroy me, but from watching breaks I believe the following is trueA non-idiot could figure this out by Googling, but I figure I'll get a better answer here...
My traditional gift for new babies is a set of Topps flagship cards from their birth year, with a "Welcome to the Rookie Class of xxxx" note. And everyone I've given that to loves it. [Feel free to steal the idea.]
An English colleague of mine is having a child next month, and I'd like to do the same thing with a set of EPL cards. But I'm not easily finding if sets like that exist, and/or when they're released.
If they aren't produced, a hobby box is an adequate substitute -- what brand set is considered the most "flagship"?
bz
It's not a realm I've gotten into muchm but I know a notable wave of newer collectors are extremely hesitant to buy unslabbed mid or high end vintage cards. Frankly, I'd have no confidence in myself to identify reprints or forgeries, so that tips me a bit towards preferring them to be slabbed. With that said, they do make tobacco card toploaders (small ones) as well as full sized toploaders with tobacco sized inserts that are pretty neat. I think a toploader/sleeve is sufficient at least for protection for normalish pre-war.Thanks to a generous XMas gift my wife and I have tickets to the National and will have the spending budget I was hoping/planning for. As I prepare for the show I am curious if anyone here has thoughts on something, TIA.
For anyone who collects pre-war baseball cards, how do you protect them? I know some prefer raw and others slabbed. Never having held one I worry about damaging raw cards and am leaning slabbed just for protection. Am I over worrying? Thoughts?
It's obviously some sort of commemorative issue recognizing the 2004 WS championship. The fact that there's nothing to be found on this bat seems to signify that it's scarce. But either way seems to be a pretty cool find for $4.99. Are there any sort of markings on the knob?Not card related, but baseball memorabilia. Found this guy while doing some thrift store hunting on the Cape this past week. I am familiar with Barnstable Bats, but I cannot seem to find a reference to this particular bat anyplace. It is a full size 34" stick, not a mini or kids size. Any ideas? I am into it for a whopping $4.99.
View attachment 75868View attachment 75867
Nothing on the knob.It's obviously some sort of commemorative issue recognizing the 2004 WS championship. The fact that there's nothing to be found on this bat seems to signify that it's scarce. But either way seems to be a pretty cool find for $4.99. Are there any sort of markings on the knob?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364523207586?hash=item54df46bba2:g:m0AAAOSwP-RlJbXF&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA4CSbfbPkCmiBErQovH8lIqw68DpILbMYzq7FiBvtr2Sjq2EqY+IUS/X+LggiWEdPzI8NY8TMQs6fg9J3GnfhkLioev9lFYbU+Iwu4uKAixTc5KpCQTg9MjH8fKjo4gESy/qo7BaS4mBAoeLHZRePCMnA5Dsk/FQKd1mwQd/+azPlUAKxyuIzHbSRM4dzFVu8g5y304d2RJd1NrqxJJ9UEnEI/P6XILUJFrzPSk2H+YgjUpHQefucZFw/iiPrGQT6TXvroIxqhLYcn2N9jVmj4dtk3TuswlhPiCRJfAv3isQg|tkp:Bk9SR6SFsfKYYwPeople are still paying three figures for that and like .. That blows my mind
That’s a listing. They won’t ever get that price. Similar one recently sold for about 10% of that figure and I don’t think it will be worth even that for long.People are still paying three figures for that and like .. That blows my mind
I think even $200 for a base auto is bonkers at this point. You can get some incredible cards for $200. Do you really want to bet on this bozo to make it worth it.That’s a listing. They won’t ever get that price. Similar one recently sold for about 10% of that figure and I don’t think it will be worth even that for long.
I don't know hockey cards at all but you won't find Hobby Boxes anywhere but card stores (either online or local). Retail is a somewhat different product. Usually a hobby box includes guaranteed autos, relics, or limited prints not available in retail boxes. What you find at Target and Walmart are usually "blaster" boxes at a $30-$50 price point. They usually include say 4-8 packs depending on the product, no auto guarantee, and usually longer odds of a "hit".Question to those smarter than me. Dave & Adams has this presell. Obviously in high demand for the Bedard young gun. I'm guessing this isn't retail as previous years were in the $30-50 range. My question, will these be cheaper in stores if I'm lucky enough to find them?
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