Once again, I am not spewing factual data, but an observation over time.
I believe that Topps, back in the eighties saw the popularity of the annual Update sets. They would sell out and the scarcity would drive up aftermarket prices. They started to produce more and more, until they were stuck with Pallets of unsold cards. They cut way back.
2011 Update was a smaller production series, but with the popularity of the Trout RC by 2014, they were pumping out Update cards at higher numbers to profit off of speculators.
Look at Heritage. The first set (2012), online only was limited to 1000 and sold out very quickly, aftermarket prices are crazy for several cards. The next year they made more, and by 2014 they had printed them in mass quantity. By 2015, they figured they could maximize profits and started selling them in packs only, in retail, and in Hobby. Eventually, they will overproduce to the point where they get stuck with unsold product and will cut back. I am sure the cycle will be repeated again, and again.
I believe that Topps, back in the eighties saw the popularity of the annual Update sets. They would sell out and the scarcity would drive up aftermarket prices. They started to produce more and more, until they were stuck with Pallets of unsold cards. They cut way back.
2011 Update was a smaller production series, but with the popularity of the Trout RC by 2014, they were pumping out Update cards at higher numbers to profit off of speculators.
Look at Heritage. The first set (2012), online only was limited to 1000 and sold out very quickly, aftermarket prices are crazy for several cards. The next year they made more, and by 2014 they had printed them in mass quantity. By 2015, they figured they could maximize profits and started selling them in packs only, in retail, and in Hobby. Eventually, they will overproduce to the point where they get stuck with unsold product and will cut back. I am sure the cycle will be repeated again, and again.
![[Image: Ch4Mt.png]](http://i.imgur.com/Ch4Mt.png)
I guess if I saved used tinfoil and used tea bags instead of old comic books and old baseball cards, the difference between a crazed hoarder and a savvy collector is in that inherent value.