Random Topps Product Idea

mudflap02

This idea kind of sruck me the other day, and I was hoping to get some of your opinions on it. It's actually pretty simple. With as many sets as Topps puts out, do you think it would be practical for them to produce a "traditional" type set, with crappy cardstock and color on the front only? They could sell them for 50-75 cents a pack. The way the market is now, kids don't want to blow their allowance on one or two of the overgrown super-ultra mega cards. That's how we all got hooked on the hobby - it was about quantity, not quality. Any thoughts?

goodriddance189

they had a great idea with Topps Total, basic white bordered non foil card stock, about 900 cards in the set. then they go and F$$$ it up by putting worthless game jersey cards in packs and jacking the price up to $2/pack

qualitycards

MUDFLAP - A cheap .50 cent pack will not attract kids. Kids love the shiny "rare" chase cards, and most wouldn't want a pack containing .5 and .10 cent cards. I see at shows kids buying packs and keeping the #'d cards & game used stuff and leaving the regular cards behind. The adults may embrace your idea, since we can relate to buying packs for the regular cards and not trying to hit the lottery.
Also i doub't Topps can make a heckuva lot of money in producing .50 cent packs again, and since its all about the money, they probably won't go for it...jay

maxXposure

Why not Topps Heritage? It retails at like $3 bucks i think.. more affordable than most, and a great set!

1420sports

Topps Heritage is a series I enjoy. I do not collect it, but I do buy a few packs from time to time. I would like to open a pack one day, and pull out some cards that were made the old fashioned way (whatever that is) and with older film and cameras. To see a Jeter or a Pujols made the same way the 1957's were would be tremendous.

helionaut

Having sets at all price points is always a good idea, but I doubt it's possible to have a 50-cent pack these days. The costs of paper and licensing have gone way up in the past decade. Topps Total debuted at 99 cents for a 10-card pack, but lackluster sales I'm sure was the reason for jazzing it up. One problem might have been the lack of retail outlets. I saw it at Target, I think, but that sort of set should've been on every 7-11 counter and in every drugstore candy section, but it wasn't. Just like card shops, I guess they'd rather sell something at $3 per pack than $1 since it takes up the same space. But even if it was, I don't think it would attract more collectors than those would would want to open "better" sets. Kids don't mind spending $3.50 per pack and up on Pokemon or Dragonballz, or $10-$50 on the rare and powerful game cards, or $50 on videogames, or $100 on sneakers, so I think it's more a matter of interest in the sport than anything. To be like it was when we all got started, you'd have to eliminate 98% of all card sets, plus 98% of all TV channels, plus Tony Hawk, plus the Internet. It's not just a couple dollars per pack keeping the kids away.