So here's the big question concerning the online sets. Let's say there was a normal Wacky Packages card up for the day. Does that sell better than a Trump card? They were regularly selling between 200-300 for quite awhile. Once Jungwha started doing the majority of them they've dropped to roughly 110-150. So...is it the art, the subject matter, both?
So let's say a card like this appeared.
Would it sell better or does it need Trump to get a base of at least 100. I wonder if there is a base that buys it BECAUSE of Trump and the remaining people are the normal fan base. Is it 100 or so WITH Trump and also 100 or so WITHOUT Trump. It's no longer 200+ without one or the another. That's the question.
So here's the big question concerning the online sets. Let's say there was a normal Wacky Packages card up for the day. Does that sell better than a Trump card? They were regularly selling between 200-300 for quite awhile. Once Jungwha started doing the majority of them they've dropped to roughly 110-150. So...is it the art, the subject matter, both?I would say, yes, it is the "quickie" artwork. A quickie (as we know) tends to get the job done, yet still leaves one feeling unsatisfied, yearning for something more and/or better. And yes, it is probably also the subject matter - or more to the point, the
stale subject matter that is no longer new and novel. As many have already pointed out, we've been "Trumped" to death. I also believe that two other factors came in to play. 1) In the beginning, many people believed that these PoD sets would be somewhat short-lived (as opposed to infinite) or just few titles, a few nice surprises popping up here and there, nothing more. But then it got to the point where we saw 26 cards in a two week period! 2) The cards are just too bloody expensive! After shelling out hundreds of dollars (particularly, in my case, before the Bulk Buyers Club,) one was spending the equivalent of a phone, gas, and/or electric bill every month. Thus, I would say that many factors have come in to play: 1) the high prices, 2) the repetitive political subject matter 3) the "infinite" sets, and 4) the diminished artwork and so-called "humor."
Would it sell better or does it need Trump to get a base of at least 100. I wonder if there is a base that buys it BECAUSE of Trump and the remaining people are the normal fan base. Is it 100 or so WITH Trump and also 100 or so WITHOUT Trump. It's no longer 200+ without one or the another. That's the question.I would say that there is a base of card collectors, though not necessarily WP collectors, that not only buys the cards because of Trump, but also because of the political/current event items as well. (I think these people would purchase the cards whether they said "Wacky Packages" on them or not.) I would also say there is a base that buys the cards simply because they are Wacky Packages. Thus, we have two extremes. I might also suggest that there is a "middle" base that buys the cards because of the Trump/political/current events themes AND because they are also WP. I fall into the latter two categories, though not the first. Most of the time, I could care less about political humor. (But that's just me.) I do purchase these cards, though - even if I didn't really care for them - primarily because they say "Wacky Packages" on them (for what that is now worth) which puts me in the exclusive WP category. But then there are some cards I purchase - my favorite being "Donopoly" - specifically because of the political/WP connections. This title just couldn't work without the political aspect. So, although you might alienate SOME members of either extreme group by including or excluding Trump, I believe most of the PoD purchasers fall somewhat into the middle group.
I sense you posted your queries because you are in the process of formulating an argument, for WP in general, for Topps, perhaps, and/or also for yourself. What sells? VS What doesn't sell? Would "Chips Destroy" sell as it is? I'm certain. (Like others stated, I would buy this title in a heartbeat.) Would it sell more, though, if the mad scientist was President Trump (or if the evil morsels had Trump hair?) In all honesty - and I'm kicking myself as I write this - I would say, "Yes." It would give it a "current, up-to-date edge." But, I also think it would sell just as well if the mad scientist wasn't Trump, but maybe a scientist representative of a large corporation of today - a corporation that has spawned something evil out of vats of strange, controversial additives and preservatives with lengthy, unpronounceable names. The "Pack to the Future" subset took a similar approach in 2011 with "DNAnimals" and "Polar Spring." I could be mistaken, however I believe that either of these titles could easily fit into the "Network Spews" set today as the ideas behind them are current, part and parcel of our modern age. As it stands, the sketch "Chips Destroy" is a "traditional" WP. With a few alterations, perhaps even one line of additional text, it could also easily have that "current edge." (And you wouldn't need Trump.)
After much thinking, I believe that, yes, many people (and Topps) are looking for something fresh and up-to-date. THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN POLITICAL, THOUGH. There are many, many, many other ideas out there, right now. One just has to attune oneself to search for inspiration in different places (which can be a pain, perhaps, but not impossible.) Just as Jay Lynch searched the supermarkets, etc. for ideas in the past, one would also have to do the same today - as well as searching the latest news and periodicals for tie-ins. The world of science and technology always seems to be offering up new and interesting "sensations." And then then are some things, though forever changing, that are always current: Automobiles, blockbusters, and television programs, for example. (The "LEGGO BOOTMAN" title sold well, did it not?) I would think at this particular point in time, we could have a new WP - I mean, Network Spews - movie title once a week from now until September. (The parody could be a take on the actual movie, itself, or a product could be parodied so as to incorporate elements of the movie. "Alien: Covenant" was just released. With a little thought, I'm sure one could come up with a parody. Just off of the top of my head, how about "alien bacon" instead of "Canadian bacon?" Perhaps an alien could be curled up inside a egg, cheese, and alien bacon muffin - or have the top peeling back, like an alien egg pod? Or perhaps cage-free alien eggs?) I also think "broader" controversial topics perhaps might work better (as opposed to daily news items.) For example, global warming, fracking, oil pipelines, cloning, etc.. These topics are not just here today, gone tomorrow - such as somebody carrying a can of &$#%ing Pepsi, I mean, honestly! (Just thinking about that title begins to get me rattled!) - but with us to stay for the foreseeable future. Also, such topics are very well-known to
most people (more familiar, say, then the latest, overnight country pop singer.) Lastly, even if something is old school - such as the band E.L.O - as we so recently saw, opportunities often arise in which to create brand new parodies out of the old that people can connect with in today's world. As I said, fresh ideas are out there. We just have to look in different places for them. And the world of politics is just a very small piece of the iceberg. If we really, really must keep things current and cutting edge, I say forget "Trumpocracy" and focus more on "Network Spews."
(Hope I wasn't too wordy!)