Topps calls out dealers on Twitter for selling giveaway redemption cards

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By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

Hobby shops should know, Topps is watching.

In about a week, collectors will be able to redeem cards pulled from 2012 Topps Football for exclusive packs that were given to hobby shops for the Topps Kickoff Hobby Store Promotion. The promotion starts Sept. 5, but some dealers have seemingly began to put cards up for sale on eBay now.

Whoops.

Topps called out several dealers putting these cards up for sale on its official Twitter account.

“Shame some hobby shops feel ok to begin selling/giving away Topps NFL Kickoff cards,” Topps tweeted, “just be careful, we will be coming after you…”

The company held true to its word and actually called two specific card shops for having their auctions on eBay. Some of the auctions were immediately taking down. But there are still plenty more on eBay.

The redemption cards are good for one five-pack of cards with a chance of pulling an autograph card.

There is already a Ryan Broyles autograph on eBay from the set and many base cards of Andrew Luck, Justin Blackmon, Robert Griffin III and many of the other 2012 NFL rookies.

Topps is also counting on collectors to help with the situation, as it wants collectors to be able to redeem these cards.

“We truly love FAR majority of our hobby store partners, but if u (sic) see them selling Kickoff packs please let us know!” Topps tweeted. “You will be rewarded!”

UPDATE: Topps is taking this matter seriously. The company has also began sending letters to eBay sellers who have listings for the giveaway cards.

The letter reads:

Dear eBay Seller,

We have found our Topps 2012 NFL Kickoff Promotional Products on sale through your eBay account. Please understand that this promotion is authorized for and intended only for in-store execution by Hobby Stores that are Authorized Topps Dealers. These products are not for sale or resale at any value, in any venue, or any retail format. Placing our products on eBay is inconsistent with the spirit of this promotion; therefore, we are asking that you remove them immediately. Further, our Hobby Stores have been given advanced warning about using our promotional materials outside of program guidelines. If we find that your account is in any way linked to an Authorized Topps Hobby Shop Dealer, please understand that the Hobby Store will face punitive action from Topps up to and including suspension of their direct buying privileges from Topps and permanent exclusion from any future Topps promotions. We value our Hobby Stores and respect their ability to execute our programs with integrity. We ask that you please remove these products so that our Hobby Stores can execute this program as it was intended—in Hobby Stores Only.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
The Topps Company

Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Football magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.

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17 comments

  1. card opinionator 30 August, 2012 at 10:53

    Everyone reading this should contact the seller and tell them what a scumbag they are. Busted!

  2. chrisolds 30 August, 2012 at 11:12

    Dealer in-shop promotions are abused often. I, personally, wish they’d just stop doing them and find a different way to benefit collectors — if that’s what the intention is.

  3. David Johnson 30 August, 2012 at 11:36

    I agree with you Chris, and wish they just did send in offers. Panini’s Black Friday and Father’s Day were abused the same way. At least Topps is going after the dealers that are blatantly selling the cards early.

  4. Richard Hogenson 30 August, 2012 at 12:31

    What about the fans who don’t have hobby shops to get the cards and the only way to get them is on Ebay? We would like the cards too.

    • Susan Lulgjuraj 30 August, 2012 at 12:51

      Topps isn’t saying people can’t sell the cards on eBay. They just want dealers to abide by the rules and not give the packs away until Sept. 5, the start of the promotion.

      After that, collectors who get the cards can do what they want with them.

  5. ddizzal 30 August, 2012 at 12:42

    i wonder how many people will make fake claims now since topps said they would be rewarded???

    • Susan Lulgjuraj 30 August, 2012 at 12:51

      Topps verifies that the cards are being sold by a dealer before giving out a bounty.

  6. XstreamINsanity 30 August, 2012 at 12:50

    I believe the reason why card manufacturers do these programs the way they do (by sending them to the hobby shop) is because of cost. By them sending them to the hobby shops, it barely, if at all, raises their shipment costs to the hobby shops. This way, collectors can go to their hobby shops and nobody has to pay for shipping and don’t have to worry about the confusion of who gets how many, etc. But if Topps did it in house, they’d have to have someone sending out these packages, which requires shipping supplies and postage. Topps doesn’t want to fork out this money, and they know many collectors aren’t likely to fork out any more money (they want their redemptions for free, and I don’t blame them). So, the most logical thing to do business wise is make the LCS responsible. Sadly, many LCS’ don’t have responsible owners/employees.

  7. The Card Investor 30 August, 2012 at 16:33

    I actually like that manufacturers are doing what they can to support hobby stores including the use of in-store promotions. Personally, I’ve spread my spending dollars through most commonly methods of card collecting including, card shops, card shows, eBay, COMC, online distributors, buying slots in box/case breaks, and even directly from manufacturer online shops. The more methods I have of satisfying my collecting itch, the better. Each way has its own benefits and disadvantages. Do some collectors miss out because they don’t have a hobby shop near them? Yes, and that’s unfortunate, but without in-store promotions like this to support hobby shop owners, the chances of one opening nearby becomes that much slimmer. Despite, what people think, the Brick and Mortar hobby shop is not completely dead. For many card collecting bases, it has become a communal meeting place of sorts. In regards to policing the proper use of promotional materials, having collectors whistle-blow their hobby shop is a decent first step, but a better solution needs to be thought of. Perhaps having people register their entries into their local hobby shop and having the packs being distributed to the hobby shop in exact allocations on a specific ship out date.

  8. Josiah Cecil 30 August, 2012 at 17:06

    You know what it is in no way shape or form any buyer fault what so ever, if a dealer neglected the policy set forth by Topps then the dealer should be dealt with immediately. If the ad poster with the cards was a customer who somehow got the special packs and then put them up for sale there is nothing Topps can do about.

  9. Kevin 30 August, 2012 at 17:34

    yeah topps values hobby shops that is why they sold topps mini on their website and cut out dealers. I wonder how many of days lost in work did the customer service dept lose looking for a few hobby dealers on ebay?

  10. charles 30 August, 2012 at 17:40

    this is nothing new, its like giving candy to a kid and saying you can’t eat it untill later, I guess someone was insistant that topps address this, or maybe they just woke up to the fact, that this has been going on for a long time. i myself hope that topps follows thur on this and does something lasting about this, i like the wapper redemption, but i sure its not cost effective for topps, i fear that whatever the solution, there are the ones that will try and get around this, so maybe you just have to stop, sometimes this is the only way, as chris sayed if this is the intension.

  11. Brian 1 September, 2012 at 09:53

    Topps does nothing when core products are listed before release yet suddenly lays down the hammer over stupid promo packs?

  12. kevin hurt 2 September, 2012 at 17:41

    I agree brian wal-mart target and toys r us always let retail out early. and they do nothing about it so if you pre order a bunch of hobby you get the shaft. I like to buy cases sell off all the base to get some of my money back. but you just can’t do it any more retail kills the market for base cards a week before hobby even comes out.

  13. austin 8 September, 2012 at 15:46

    Where can i find out what hobby shopes are giving away the 2012 Topps kickoff football packs?? CAuze i have a redemption card for a pack. HELP ME PLEASE!!

  14. JB 29 December, 2012 at 01:15

    TOPPS NEEDS TO QUIT MAKING REDEMPTION CARDS!!!!

    IF THEY’D SPEND A LTTLE LESS TIME POLICING MATTERS LIKE THIS &
    CONCENTRATE ON FULFILLING THEIR CURRENT REDEMPTION PROMISES –

    I PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE WRITING THIS!

    i HAVE OVER 15 REDEMPTION CARDS THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

    FOR OVER EIGHT MONTHS……………….

    WAKE UP TOPPS …….

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