Cost of Pack of Topps

[ChiefBeef]

So in 1965, a pack of Topps cards was a nickel. $.05 compounded daily at 5% equals $1.01. So how is a pack of Topps cards today floating around $5? Something smells bad about that. And, it keeps future collectors, kids, out of the market.

[Balticfox]

And do present day Topps packs even contain bubble gum anymore?

[deweyinthehall]

Ah, but in 1965 did you have a chance at pulling a 1-of-1 Black Diamond Prizmatic Glow-in-the-Dark Die Cut Relic/Auto Limited Purple-Backed card of a 1st round draft pick that everyone has forgotten about by the time you rip your pack?

I didn't THINK so..

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Ah, but in 1965 did you have a chance at pulling a 1 of 1 Black Diamond Prizmatic Glow in the Dark Die Cut Relic/Auto Limited Purple Backed card of a 1st round draft pick that everyone has forgotten about by the time you rip your pack?

I didn't THINK so..

Wellllll, actually I believe one's chances were better back then. Still nil though, but the chances were better.

Cheers.....

[gonefishin]

And what does that nickel pack of 65 Topps, unopened, sell for today?

[ALR-bishop]

More than $1.01 ?

[Section103]

Boy...........just wait til this guy finds out about the housing market. I agree that pricing helps keep kids out of the market, but it is collectors in 2024 who are primarily driving the phenomenon.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Ah, but in 1965 did you have a chance at pulling a 1-of-1 Black Diamond Prizmatic Glow-in-the-Dark Die Cut Relic/Auto Limited Purple-Backed card of a 1st round draft pick that everyone has forgotten about by the time you rip your pack?

Thank you, but I'd rather have the bubble gum.

[Zach Wheat]

I am not sure you want the gum. I don't think it tasted that good anyway

[ALR-bishop]

Zach---you just need some of this

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

More than $1.01 ?

Nice pack Al, if that's yours I will give you the $1.01. Let me know. Jim

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

I am not sure you want the gum. I don't think it tasted that good anyway

It was regular Bazooka bubble gum and it was delicious!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Zach---you just need some of this

That stuff was awful. WHich might explain why the wrapper cards inside aren't all that common.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a set of the Thirst Break Comics. It think it has 54 items, multi sports. To finish the set I had to open some “packs” and spend a lot of time cleaning the comics of the sludge brown the originally green gum had become. The ultimate gum stains

[G1911]

Topps has tried to put out numerous low end cheap pack products for kids for decades now. Pretty much every one of these sets has failed and/or been unpopular. Opening Day (probably the most criticized long lasting brand line), Big League, the original Total line, they proved unpopular. Until very very recently base Topps was like $1.99 at retail even.

It seems to me the problem is that the market for this kind of product does not actually exist. This happens a lot with products, a popular opinion online or even offline about product lines doesn’t mean the market is really there, as the people giving the opinion are often not actually in the market for that (like adults who want cards priced for kids, when kids mostly don’t care). For example, It was a popular internet opinion that phone screens were getting too big, so Apple put their current chipsets in a small package and tried to sell an excellent iPhone mini for these people, who didn’t buy it and it failed. Happens a lot.

[packs]

Topps has plenty of cheaper sets that are actually pretty popular with everyone. Hobby boxes of Heritage can be had for about $90 at release and even cheaper than that on the secondary market.

Topps Pro Debut is also a very inexpensive product that features four autographs in every box and allows you to collect the next crop of players while they're still in the minors. Hobby boxes can also be had for about $90 on average.

Topps also releases a whole sub-series of blaster boxes, mega boxes, logofractor boxes, and monster boxes through it's retail arm. If you can find them at MSRP they're about $55 or less.