quote:

Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:
I have one or two titles from Topps I would be nearly interested in trying a box of, but within seconds of the release time the product is always sold out.

Topps is Fanatics and they have their own direct to consumer business model going on. I really don't think sniper software would help much.

Direct to the public sounds like a fair system, but it seems the reality is more like free groceries when the shelves are empty. Cheap or expensive, no product means no access.

Some fine comments-- although kinda depressing, too!

Yeah, the prices and the breakdowns are getting to be ridiculous. But since I prefer to be optimistic, I can also see a bright side: the more outrageous the corporations get, the better (and more competitive) they make the smaller independents like me, NostalgiaCards, RRParks, and the many artists who produce their own cards via Kickstarter, seem in comparison.

The same thing happened in the movie Industry in the 1970s. The studios started treating customers like crap, and the independent movie makers took advantage of that, filled the void, and became a force to be reckoned with.