OT - Example of why card collecting is dying re: Topps

[iowadoc77]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Nope. Not going to let them off the hook. Doesn't really matter where the screw-up was - Topps had the item on their site. They said it was in stock and took the $$. That makes any problems their responsibility. Period.

Being a small business owner, I believe that the measure of a business is not if a mistake is made, because mistakes are made, but in the reaction to that mistake. Ultimately that is a testament to the quality and integrity of the business. Topps made a mistake. If they follow through and make it right, then I respect them for that. If not, then the converse is true.

[packs]

I can buy that it was a simple mistake IF the circumstances weren't as they are. The kid had a guarantee that the bat would be delivered by a certain date. That's very specific and goes beyond whether or not something is in stock, because if it's not, then why the guarantee?

Secondly, I sympathize with the father because you can't help but see the offer to remedy the situation as an upsell. 25 % off a $500 Mike Trout bat.

[Laxcat]

Agreed. Sorry we sold that Impala that you preordered but we will give you 25% off this corvette.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by iowadoc77

Being a small business owner, I believe that the measure of a business is not if a mistake is made, because mistakes are made, but in the reaction to that mistake. Ultimately that is a testament to the quality and integrity of the business. Topps made a mistake. If they follow through and make it right, then I respect them for that. If not, then the converse is true.

As another small business owner I agree.^^^

On a positive note I hand out snack size zip lock bags with 10 cards in it to each kid that gets drug along on Saturday mornings to my produce stand. I buy modern GU/Auto lots and include 1 along with some Twins cards and HOFer and star players from the junk era. Only had a few kids say they didn't want them and had a few adults ask for 1.

[obcbobd]

I think the next 10-20 years the vintage card market will be very healthy. As mentioned earlier, in the 70's there was a huge increase in vintage card collectors which resulted in increased prices based on simple supply and demand principles. As that generation, including myself, dies off (tried to come up with a nicer way of saying that, but ...) there may not be an equal number of people taking their place, which could result in a flattening or even decrease in prices. However, I think the hobby will still go on and be relatively strong as long as Baseball is popular, and looking at attendance figures I do not think it is going away anytime soon.

So if you are 20 and just beginning to enter the hobby, I would not advise buying cards as an investment to fund your retirement. Treat it as a hobby and by the time you retire you may be able to pick up some nicer cards relatively cheap, at least by today's standards.

[packs]

I think we'll some massive sell offs all at the same time in the next decade and that will drive prices way down, though maybe only temporarily. I don't think after a big time collector dies that their family will pass everything down. If you've got a T206 set and you're 65 today, in the next 10 years that set will likely hit the market. And there are a lot of 65 year olds with T206 sets.