While most if not all of these are not my cup of Wacky tea...WTF is up with the JUST RIDICULOUS prices??? I cant believe anyone would pay that much....add up what the set costs??? NUTS!!!
Jim
I think when you look at these releases compared to what a normal set costs, it's hard to justify it. BUT, I don't think that's the only way to look at these.
Many years ago, I pressed for Topps to do more direct-to-consumer type of releases... something akin to Mattel's Matty Collector club. Producing special limited edition releases at somewhat premium prices to give adult collectors something different to collect and something special.
And, while GPK is not my area of interest (nor are Wacky Packages that aren't based on a real package), I feel like these have been a clever way for Topps to dip their foot more into this pool. And with the other Throwback Thursday sets they've been doing outside of Wackys and GPK, it's made for some appealing offerings.
They ARE premium-priced at $10 a pop, there is no doubt, but in a format that is print-to-order, it assures that every release is quite limited. At print runs typically less than 500 each, these are in the scarcity realm of some of the rarest of parallels and chase cards we've seen over the years. But unlike so many of those, these are not just a border variation; they are a unique piece of artwork you are not likely to find anywhere else.
So, where we attribute value and entertainment to the limited edition nature of things (and it's hard to argue that card collectors do not), these seem quite reasonably priced.
I have only bought a couple myself, and I'm befuddled at the choice to change the iconic thick black border of Wacky Packages into a thin one (this is a stylistic "New Coke" change for Wacky Packages, IMO), but aside from that, I think this is a great way to try different approaches to these brands. Allowing Topps to release unusual-yet-official extensions of their classic Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids lines. $10 a card IS pricey, but when typical packs of cards are $4 these days, it is not the craziest thing.
I also appreciate the fact that if you show up on the day and order the card, you get it. It's not a chase to get through an ordering system before they sell out, with the website crashing. Scalpers hold no particular advantage with the way these are released and sold. All you need do is show up, be willing to pay, and you get a pretty darned limited card. And you are getting exactly what you pay for. You aren't throwing $$ at a box in the hopes that you pull some rare parallel. That's a pretty awesome thing.