Topps Now - Topps Living Set

[rp12367]

I just saw that Topps Now is going to be making a Living Set. It is going to be based on the 1953 Baseball Card design. They say that is going to span all era's with only one card per player ever released, with the exception of modern players, only if they change teams. The first cards look great and have artwork by Mayumi Seto. Just wondering what you guys think of the idea and if anyone else is ordering?

https://www.topps.com/blog/introducing-the-groundbreaking-topps-living-set/

[toppcat]

Given that there are reports of Topps being shopped by it's various owing entities, this could be a short lived thing. Is that good or bad if it happens in terms of this set, I don't really know.

[jasondeanmartin]

I ordered the first set of three and will try to continue ordering as $ allows.

One question I have is since they stated that no player will be issued more than once unless they change teams, will the card number for each card be the same or different like a 1 and 1A type of thing?

It will be interesting to see how long this continues with or without a Topps sale.

[insidethewrapper]

Topps Living Set ( 3 cards per week @ $15) At $5 / card after one year you will have a set of 150 cards for $ 750. Will it be worth it ? Any opinions ?

[Tennis13]

Topps Living Set ( 3 cards per week @ $15) At $5 / card after one year you will have a set of 150 cards for $ 750. Will it be worth it ? Any opinions ?

I did that quick math and realized the answer is "no" which means if you have $750 to plunk down each year on randoms, then you will be one of like 10 OCD people in the world with enough cash to have a set, if you go for it.

It will be worth $500k in 25 years because of that.

[rp12367]

Thank you all for the input. I had ordered three of the first set , one too keep in my PC and the other two for speculation. I figured with the Judge card alone it should hopefully make up for the cost in a couple of years, if he keeps up his pace and as newer collectors discover the set. I only ordered one of the second set, mainly for the Rhys Hoskins card. I will most likely only order future sets based on the player selection... Looking on ebay there doesn't appear like there is going to be a shortage of the first set of cards as some sellers have 100+ available. But down the road a bit some lesser players may be in demand as their playing improves and dealers drop off buying 100+ sets with no big names in them. Just my 2 cents... only time will tell.

[frankbmd]

It seems like a great idea for Topps.;)

Will “All Things Topps” Al chime in?

[insidethewrapper]

If you want a set to keep for yourself it would probably be best to order 3 sets each week and sell off the other 2 and that would make collecting the set affordable. Maybe ???

[ALR-bishop]

I think a living set should involve cards that when you spit on them a 3d image of the player grows out of it

[judsonhamlin]

I think a living set should involve cards that when you spit on them a 3d image of the player grows out of it

That would be the Topps Tribbles set. Coming soon.

[insidethewrapper]

Topps is pre- selling Living Set Card of Ohtani at $ 7.99 each and on ebay it is pre-selling at $ 5.00 with free shipping ?????? How can that be ????? Any explanations appreciated !

[felada]

There are quantity discounts. If you buy 20+ it’s about 3.50 per card

[insidethewrapper]

I found it. Thanks

[packs]

I bought the living set card. For 8 bucks I'm willing to go out on a limb.

[bigfanNY]

I am buying the set from the Ebay seller for $5 per card. You pay him monthly and when all the cards for the month are delivered he send them out. I will let you know how it works out.
J

[KingFisk]

I think it's a cool concept, and will go with it for awhile. It's less than my weekly coffee budget, understanding that it'll add up over time. I like that it's actually a relatively scarce issue (not one of those serial numbered types) and the cards are gorgeous. We'll see how long I stick with it.

[bn2cardz]

I am buying the set from the Ebay seller for $5 per card. You pay him monthly and when all the cards for the month are delivered he send them out. I will let you know how it works out.
J

The issue with doing this is that you can get them from Topps directly for $5 per card (if you do the 3 card bundles it is 14.99 with free shipping) and you get topps reward points.

Then if Topps does surprise parallels or Autos like they did with Topps Now in the first year (https://www.cardboardconnection.com/2016-topps-now-baseball-cards), then the person making the bulk purchases and reselling them will get to cherry pick these out and you won't get those. Also the last two years for those that buy from Topps through the year they send a special card at the end of the year around Christmas.

So to sum it up you are paying the same price without any topps reward points, without any chance of receiving any parallel cards, and no chance of extra gift cards at year end.

[packs]

If you only want singles though it doesn't make sense to buy all of them. I only want Ohtani and an Acuna if they make one.

[bn2cardz]

If you only want singles though it doesn't make sense to buy all of them. I only want Ohtani and an Acuna if they make one.

Agreed. If you aren't buying the set, as the OP I quoted said he was doing, then buying singles from Ebayers is the best option.

[bigfanNY]

I understand the rewards part but I get the mailings offering autographed cards and am a top tier rewards guy who gets the free monthly cards as well as other bonus cards through the year. My concern was missing a week or two and just did not need the hassle.
J

[packs]

I'm still waiting for my road to spring training Yankees auto set. I really hope I end up with the Judge or Andujar. Getting Clint Frazier would be a huge bummer.

[bigfanNY]

I have only bought two sets with multiple autographs. last years all star set and ended up with a Mike Trout. And last years Astros postseason set I received a Correa and purchased the Altuve to complete the set. Good luck on your Yankee set. I do sometimes buy autographed cards from Topps Now but for the most part they do not hold up in secondary market.

[packs]

Definitely not for most. This set cost $119 and if Andujar is the star people think he is, it would be his autograph rookie which could hold some value. I think a Judge or even Sanchez would be worth the price too, especially if it's one of the low number cards. The only real bummer in the Yankees set is Frazier.

[KingFisk]

How has everyone who has bought in been enjoying the cards? Big fan so far.

[Topcat79]

How has everyone who has bought in been enjoying the cards? Big fan so far.

Love the cards....very condition sensitive though. Had a few come back with print marks and minor corner issues.

[packs]

I got my Ohtani the other day. Pretty cool they package it in that faux Topps pack. I liked it.

[KingFisk]

They've done a nice job so far, except for some of the damage done in transit.

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[Big Six]

I picked up a Harper...awaiting delivery.


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[bigfanNY]

I have got some Aaron Judge and Ohtani cards and they are nice.

[bigfanNY]

Wow they are getting big bucks for the first few week worth of cards current bid $550 for first 12 cards!!. I just got my first 3 week sets all in great condition. ( seller said he sent back a batch with condition issues and topps said they would replace but all mine mint) I think I might cash out and stop my subscription.

[KingFisk]

Prices for those early SP cards are nuts. Will be interesting to follow long term.

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[bigfanNY]

I put my first 21 cards up on Ebay ending Sunday night already $500 bid with a good batch of folks watching the auction. Way too many other things I want in that price range.
But in 2016 I bought 5 copies of Topps now card number 1 and sold them in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range each and they have climbed since so I might be selling my extra set early.
J

[KingFisk]

I put my first 21 cards up on Ebay ending Sunday night already $500 bid with a good batch of folks watching the auction. Way too many other things I want in that price range.
But in 2016 I bought 5 copies of Topps now card number 1 and sold them in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range each and they have climbed since so I might be selling my extra set early.
JGood luck with the sale! I am loving how they are starting to look together in a binder. Going to stick with it for awhile.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180428/8870d8d96af5aa15cf9e67ada36316a5.jpg

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[bigfanNY]

So far the lowest print total for a card is 2,600 I cannot see that many collectors trying to complete this set. There are maybe 20 or 25 dealers that order 20 plus of each card and a few that order 100 plus. Eventually those hit market. And remember it is not Ohtani or Judge or Rhys. That have low numbers it is Nick Markakis I just cannot see 2500 plus complete set collectors. The topps now short prints are under 500 and most of them are tough sells. I might be early and this might run up for a little while but numbers just don't add up.
But they are nice so far good luck to all who gave them a shot.

[felada]

The cards look great but I can’t see the prices for the SP cards holding up long term. At some point there will be collector fatigue with this set. The set by definition is never ending. They are only a few weeks in and already I’m tired of it. I’m mainly just picking up cards because I think they will look great signed.

[bigfanNY]

Well sold first 21 cards for $900 what I really hope happens is this run brings notice to all the "test" issues that topps has been selling via the internet since 2014. A number of these sold well under 100 copies. Take the test buttons 10 teams and an announced run of 75 sets. I think only the Yankees and red sox sold out. And the 5x7 sets and 11x14 posters all have low print runs. If any of this activity from topps living Carries over then my hope is these issues run up as well.
J

[KingFisk]

Well sold first 21 cards for $900 what I really hope happens is this run brings notice to all the "test" issues that topps has been selling via the internet since 2014. A number of these sold well under 100 copies. Take the test buttons 10 teams and an announced run of 75 sets. I think only the Yankees and red sox sold out. And the 5x7 sets and 11x14 posters all have low print runs. If any of this activity from topps living Carries over then my hope is these issues run up as well.
JNice return for a $105 investment!

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[packs]

I bought the Acuna to go along with my Ohtani. I'm not really interested in the cards unless they're rookie. The Ohtani card is his nicest looking card in my opinion.

[bigfanNY]

I looked at sales and it is clear that a small group of dealers are manipulating the prices of these cards. Example I bought 5 Altuve's on Saturday for 8 bucks apiece. Monday there are sales of 1 Altuve for $199. But there were a number offered under $15. So no "REAL BUYER" would pay $199 for a card they could buy fro. Another seller for $14. Not cool.

[insidethewrapper]

I thought ebay had a policy against "pre-sales" of an item. Is this no longer in effect ???? I see many dealers pre-selling the Living Topps Sets each week ? Acuna print run was 46,809 cards !!!

[dodgerfanjohn]

I looked at sales and it is clear that a small group of dealers are manipulating the prices of these cards. Example I bought 5 Altuve's on Saturday for 8 bucks apiece. Monday there are sales of 1 Altuve for $199. But there were a number offered under $15. So no "REAL BUYER" would pay $199 for a card they could buy fro. Another seller for $14. Not cool.

The luster is already off, but apparently buyers aren't getting the message(lol). There are cards at auction with bids higher than the current BIN's on several of the cards.

[insidethewrapper]

It will be neat to stay with it and in 10 years the set will be at 1500 cards and growing.

[Shankweather]

Ichiro is in this week's Living set and the name on the card is "Ichiro Suzuki." He's been listed on Topps cards as simply "Ichiro" for years and now all the sudden he has a surname? So disappointing. He's Ichiro.

https://www.topps.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/960x646/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/r/artbb-cckb16-18tls-ichiro__1.jpg

[packs]

I ordered the Ichiro card. Wish the image was better but it's a nice final card.

[rp12367]

Ichiro's first Topps RC had his full name and now his final card has it well, fitting bookend to his career.

[Shankweather]

I ordered the Ichiro card. Wish the image was better but it's a nice final card.

Yes I thought the spring training gear was strange, and his teeth look gray. Oh well, picking nits here since the whole set is mostly gorgeous.

[richardcards]

Been ordering from topps
Decided to try ebay for $5 after buying and completing order.
Seller sent me message that I would have to pay $8
because he thought card was going to rare.
Asked for refund very disappointing experience.

[Shankweather]

Been ordering from topps
Decided to try ebay for $5 after buying and completing order.
Seller sent me message that I would have to pay $8
because he thought card was going to rare.
Asked for refund very disappointing experience.

Wow he really wanted that $3

[richardcards]

Yes he tried the switch and bait.
Was really disappointed ordered for hobby fun but
Felt like getting ripped off. Re order another seller for
$5 see what happens. So ended up spending $10 and a
lot of aggravation . Was thinking about leaving bad feedback.

[ronniehatesjazz]

Yes he tried the switch and bait.
Was really disappointed ordered for hobby fun but
Felt like getting ripped off. Re order another seller for
$5 see what happens. So ended up spending $10 and a
lot of aggravation . Was thinking about leaving bad feedback.

That guy sounds like a total tool. Sorry you had to deal with that.

[richardcards]

After paid $4.90
Wants $799
Real tool!
Called ebay they could care less!

[richardcards]

Copy message
Warning to others

[richardcards]

The only thing I'm sorry about is buying from this jerk.
I paid $4.90 before supposed deadline
And tried to extort $3 more
Waste of time and disappointed that people like this take
Advantage of others. I also blame topps for this chaos.

[felada]

How is this the fault of Topps?

[richardcards]

The way it set up by topps with the pre order and giving discounts for bulk sales leaves the regular joe that just
Wants one card for hobby wide open to the vultures to take advantage of regular collector guy.

[Shankweather]

I still can't believe this seller is willing to go to all this trouble and alienate buyers for $3.

[packs]

The way it set up by topps with the pre order and giving discounts for bulk sales leaves the regular joe that just
Wants one card for hobby wide open to the vultures to take advantage of regular collector guy.


But there are no shortage of these cards. They are printed in the exact quantity that people order them and anyone can order them for 3 days. So if you don't want to pay more for the cards why don't you order them and pay retail?

[richardcards]

I did buy from topps bundle for three weeks
This time i only want one card and found on ebay
For $4.90 after paying for card seller raised the priced
And demanded more money. Not nice experience
Guess I picked a greedy seller.

[felada]

And somehow the greedy seller is Topps fault?

[richardcards]

And somehow the greedy seller is Topps fault?

Wtv

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

I joined this site recently because I'm putting together a 1952 Bowman set and I love looking at vintage cards, but I ventured into the Modern forum and I saw THIS thread a couple weeks ago. I had never heard of the Topps Living Set.

When I saw how nice the cards were, on impulse I bough the current set at that time (the Acuna set...haven't received it, how long does that take?).

Watching this unfold is fascinating. Is this an opportunity to invest early on what might become a historically significant set? Or is this just a fad?

I think the beauty of the cards and the VERY interesting plan of only having one card per player (per team) certainly makes it unique.

I couldn't help myself when I saw the Week 4 set pop up on Ebay today with a Buy It Now price of $37.50. I'm a Royals fan, so I really wanted the Alex Gordon, and while I have no love for the Yankees, the investor part of me recognizes that this will be Jeter's ONLY card in this set. I could see myself recouping my $37.50 pretty easily by off loading the Jeter in the future if this set gets really popular (or the Jean Segura which looks like it had a pretty low print run).

Pretty cool idea by Topps. I wonder how many collectors out there are chasing every card, and I wonder how long Topps will keep this up? My guess is that they'll switch designs every year, but keep the numbering in order?

[richardcards]

Got my acuna yesterday.
46809 printed now i can sell it on ebay for
$2

[Shankweather]

I wonder if all the cards will be close-ups or if there will be some wider images, like the Willie Mays from 53 Topps.

http://www.vintagecardprices.com/pics/68059.jpg

[packs]

I wish they had kept the painting aspect of the 53 set in tact. I can't help but feel like some of the cards are just some photoshop effect laid over a regular photo. Why not commission the art?

[Shankweather]

I think they did, artist's name is Mayumi Seto. She started painting for Topps with 2016 Topps Museum. Her style is a little different from 53 Topps though. It's a bit more true to life, maybe too much.

[packs]

Wow I'm surprised to hear that. I wonder if she actually painted or if it's a digital artwork. It just doesn't look right to me. It reminds me of that movie American Splendor with the rotoscoping.

[dodgerfanjohn]

My dad saw my Ohtani cards today which include several NOW, GQ and a few others.

He was blown away by the Living set one.

I will note that 1953 may have been the first year he got cards. He was born in 1942.

[Shankweather]

Oh man the Rickey is so good! And the first two Cubs in the set are Happ and Morrow? I'd love to get a look behind the scenes at how they decide on building the set.

https://www.topps.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/595x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/r/artbb-cckb16-18tls-henderson_n_1.jpg

[packs]

Yikes the artwork on these is so hit or miss. The Devers card is horrendous.

[ronniehatesjazz]

Yikes the artwork on these is so hit or miss. The Devers card is horrendous.

Was showing as an error earlier today (had 63 home runs listed for last year, has now been updated to 10). I wonder if any of these errors will be mixed in on accident to create SSPs.

[ronniehatesjazz]

Seems like prices have pulled back a lot recently on eBay, perhaps the whole craze is subsiding for now.

[Shankweather]

Should have sold my set for $1000 and then bought it again later.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Haha, yep, the prices are all over. Seems like the second I clicked "Buy it Now" for the Jeter/Alex Gordon set, several more popped up at a cheaper price.

Oh well, that's why I'm a collector, not an investor. I did get them in the mail yesterday. They really are nice looking cards. Any collector who is buying them weekly to build a set is probably really going to enjoy them over the years. Three new little pieces of art in your mailbox every week.

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

They certainly take their sweetass time shipping them.

Arthur

[mrmopar]

Perhaps Sportscasters subscribers thought the same thing too?


It will be neat to stay with it and in 10 years the set will be at 1500 cards and growing.

[packs]

I snuck in just under the gun and picked up my first Topps Now auto. I know this isn't the Living Set, but I couldn't find a separate thread:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/28455482648_ed1d02ba5c.jpg

[Shankweather]

The first wide shot in the Topps Living set is Bartolo Colon and I'm just so happy.

https://www.topps.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/960x646/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/r/artbb-cckb16-18tls-bartolo_.jpg

[Shankweather]

So do you think Markakis will always be the most limited card at 2,678, and even common players will always have print runs of at least 4K-6K a year from now? 3 years from now?

[bigfanNY]

I think over time the print runs will shrink. They are now 10x the average print runs of topps now. I just don't see that many collectors interested in complete sets if modern cards. I still pick up a few cards of Yankee rookies mostly but I am definitely not looking to put together a set.
J

[iceman15658]

Great thread, I try and get all the Pirates Now and Living cards. Can't remember, When the first Liriano #1 NOW came out weren't they $20 for a period? Never really noticed it but the evolution of the packaging of the NOW cards from cardsaver with a seal to clamshell to toploader with a seal. I also noticed that some of the Living cards have some chipping on the bottom. Loved that big Bart in the post above too.