2010 Topps Retail Breakdown

After busting a handful of Topps in all forms to scratch the old wax itch, I decided to compile a little data to give myself the best idea of what to expect from the different retail configurations. So we grabbed a couple of each and did a little breakdown:

4 – Target exclusive single 12 card pack ($2 X 4 = $8)

• Base: 36 ($.22/ea)
• Inserts: 12 ($.67/ea)

4 – Wal-Mart exclusive single 12 card packs

• Similar results to the Target

1 – Target exclusive blaster – 8 8 card packs, 2 “Throwback” packs, 1 manupatch ($20)

• Base: 41 ($.49/ea)
• Inserts: 14 ($2.00/ea.)

1 – Wal-Mart exclusive blaster – 8 8 card packs, 2 “Black Background” packs, 1 manupatch ($20)

• Similar result to the Target

2 – 36 card rack pack ($10)

• Base: 57 ($.18/ea)
• Inserts: 15 ($.67/ea)

So this crude little breakdown is, at least, proof that base set collectors should ignore the blasters- the premium you pay for the exclusive patch and Throwback or Black Background cards (which I doubt anyone considers part of even the master set) is too steep. I was surprised that the price breakdown on the single packs and the racks were so similar- as we opened them, it seemed like we just weren’t getting as many inserts as in the other configurations. Bear in mind, however, that the popular red- and blue-back minis can only be found in their respective exclusive store’s single packs. Plus the pack searchers must have a field day with those see-thru rack packs and the more bold ones could work their way through a gravity feeder if they were so inclined.

To be perfectly honest, I find the myriad configurations of the retail versions of Topps’ flagship product tiresome and more than a little bit of a hassle. And it certainly doesn’t help any argument that Topps or the MLB would make for their exclusive licensing agreement simplifying the baseball card marketplace.

By the way, those Black Background cards are just confusing to me… the Throwbacks are kind of fun I guess, even though they’d be way better if they were just cardboard and not cardboard with gloss glued on the front. But these Wal-Mart ones just don’t make any sense… what’s the motivation? Check out Christ at Stale Gum’s nominee for the worst card of the year. But then there’s this, which is kind of awesome… though that’s just an awesome picture to begin with.

I’m curious to see how other people feel about the state of retail these days- seems that many “serious” collectors ignore it entirely or use it just as a quick fix. Does Topps have anything to gain by improving its retail situation? Or is retail for kids and suckers in the modern age?