SlamJim: Sets are the name of the game. No more daily cards coming out. A weekly themed set (with hopefully option to purchase separately so GPK and WP collectors that don't like the other brand can split them up).
Dr. Deal: With a set only focus which allows for a Wacky only bundle; I see a problem when two of the cards are not my preference and two of them are. Topps is forcing us to purchase ALL the Wackies and not giving us a quantity discount. So this direction may eliminate the buyers club too. If it goes this way I guess I may buy the bundle and sell the cards I don't collect. Hopefully if they switch to this method; they will allow bulk discounts. At least we could keep the club going.
Wow! Chad was right. This is, indeed, a death knell - of sorts. I was wondering what his cryptic statement meant. Now we all know. And my mind reels...
Yes, it would be nice if Topps offered individual sales on bundle card titles. (Right now, as of 11:00 this morning, however, the "4th of July" bundle is still being offered as just that: a bundle.) Even so, if the bundles have a thematic theme - summer movies, fun-in-the-sun, back-to-school, politics (ughhhh!) - individual titles are never offered at a bulk discount rate. (How many times have we seen Patrick make posts addressing this very fact?) Similarly, bundles are never broken up into separate GPK and WP bundles. (Andrew, we have both bought bundles before, and we know this is the case.) I am also wondering if the upcoming bundles are even going to be thematic at all? Or will they just be a mishmash of various titles - "Trumpocracy," "Network Spews" - submitted throughout the previous week?
Unless I am mistaken (and I hope I am,) our choices have now been limited to three: purchase bundles on a weekly basis, ranging anywhere in price from $19.99 to 49.99, purchasing individual titles (possibly) at $9.99 a pop, or not buying anything at all.
I just purchased the "4th" bundle last evening. The real kicker, though, is I really only wanted two cards. But to get them, well, you know the deal. So, basically I spent $15.00 each on two titles. I don't really collect GPK. And of the WP, I only wanted 2 out of 3. So be it; It was my choice.
I suppose we can all second guess and speculate, however, even though past practice has provided us with indicators to tell us where this all might lead, that still doesn't do us much good. We'll simply all have to wait and see what happens next week, in general and with the BBC. Time will tell...
Added note: Yes, I also agree, Patrick. Topps doesn't need to bundle GPK and WP together. I guess they figure that the collectors of these are cut from the same cloth. It's a crappy marketing strategy. Not from Topps's, point of view, mind, but rather from the collector's point of view. Already I can hear the banjo playing as I'm being bent over a fallen log - again! Maybe it's time to consider leaving the forest. But I'll give it a week or two to see what pans out. There have been changes before, and we have weathered them.
