Over the last few weeks, it has been easy to see how enamored I am with the recent release of Topps Chrome and its resurgence as a product that delivers high end content for a low end price. I mean, where else would an non-autographed, non-patch card be able to sell for prices like this? It NEVER happens.
The best feature of Chrome has always been the content outside the normal box hits, but this year, the box hit autographs are a front runner for card of the year. Now that they are hard signed, its tough to compete with Chrome’s ability to deliver on a small budget.
Secondarily, the parallels of the base autos are definitely some of the most stunning cards released in a LOOOOOOONG time. When I first heard that the parallel structure for the autographs was changing to mirror more of the approach of the baseball product, I was VERY happy. Once I got to see them in person, it was clear that the change was definitely worth the price of admission. I have always loved the way the red refractor autos have looked in the Chrome products, as the red border does a lot to call attention to the card and its design. This year, the red refractors auto in Chrome look better than even their 1/1 superfractor counterparts. After looking at some of the prices, Im not the only one who feels this way.
Check out what I mean:
Blaine Gabbert Red Refractor Auto /5
Mark Ingram Red Refractor Auto /5
Jon Baldwin Red Refractor Auto /5
Ryan Mallett Red Refractor Auto /5
When the first Christian Ponder red refractor auto was posted, I negotiated a buy with the seller mainly because it was obvious how rare these cards are. The price was the highest I have paid so far for a Ponder autograph, but I have no problem with the money after seeing how awesome the card looks.
Chrome looks so good this year, that I am content in waiting to buy another pack or card until five star comes out. Why waste my money on products like Certified, Limited, or anything else, when its obvious that Chrome is much more visually appealing with hard signed signatures for the RPS rookies. It does have draw backs, including the ugly and stupid looking combine pictures for some of the lower tier rookies, and the design of some of the subsets, but its definitely tough to see their effect on Chrome’s performance when the rest of the cards look tremendous.
I have always and will always collect cards from this set, and though it may seem like I over do it, I have no problem discussing my feelings for how success Chrome turned out to be. To me, coupling the recent releases of Finest, Platinum, and Inception, as well as Base Topps in a competition with everything put out by Panini so far, its like Topps is playing in the NFL, and Panini in NFL Europe. That is how drastic the separation in quality is.
I think if there is anything to learn from this past three months, its that there is some serious consideration for NFLP when determining who will end up with an NFL license, come next year. If Panini is going to be the only company producing NFL cards, considering how lazy and uninspired their work already is, Im done with collecting current stuff. When you also view some of the ways collectors are reacting to Topps’ offerings versus those sold by Panini, I dont think my feelings about continued collecting will be unique.
I’ve been very impressed with how these cards look in person. Although I always think of myself as an autograph collector, it’s funny how that goes out the window once a set starts delivering value outside the hits. Last year, I opened a ton of Topps Magic because of the cool look to the cards and the short printed chase element to the base set. This year, Chrome is just plain fun to bust thanks to the parallel structure, Bowman Chrome, and other inserts. I wish more sets would find a way to make the base and/or insert cards worth something. It adds so much fun to opening a box.
Where do you keep coming up with the reasoning this set has so much value? Last I checked the price is at $80 a box, and you only get one true hit. Your least favorite set, triple threads, actually comes out to better value per hit (4 hits (2 autos, one being a triple relic auto) for $180, with odds of hitting higher dollar cards. Do the math. You’re kind of being a hypocrite here considering you bash triple threads every year.
I’ve bought more boxes of Chrome this year than any other product I’ve ever bought. I’m usually an 8-10 box per year guy, but I have already torn through 16 boxes of Chrome. I think I’ve only had 2 dead boxes with a bad auto and bad colored refractors, and I’ve pulled 5 great autos:
Christian Ponder variation
Jon Baldwin Finest Freshman /5
Ryan Mallett Bowman Chrome
AJ Green Atomic /50
Stevan Ridley Red /5
I even pulled a plate. The only thing I haven’t gotten yet is a Super. I can’t wait until I can afford to buy more!
80 bucks is 15-20 above where it started, first of all. Secondly, when the low numbered refractors sell for as much as they do, you still have room to get back a lot of your initial investment – even if you hit a shitty auto. You can buy half a box of Absolute for 80 bucks and get two crap jersey cards, and that is it. You are done. With chrome, there is a lot more that has value besides just the auto.
I was able to buy 3 boxes at $64 each with free shipping last week from Atlanta Sports Cards’ website. It pays to lock in the pre-sell price. Some of us aren’t just looking for hits. I buy Topps Chrome for the rookie refractors and the possibility of pulling a nice auto. The fact that this year’s Topps Chrome features on-card rookie autos makes the product that much better.
Since when did Triple Threads Football boxes contain 4 hits? Is that something Topps is starting this year? Last I checked, there’s one hit per 6 card mini box, 2 overall per box.
If you are just looking at price per hit, yes, chrome is kind of expensive. Sometimes I look at price per auto as a way to judge the value of a box. With Jersey Cards being mostly worthless, price per auto is a better standard. Using price per auto, Chrome is in line with Absolute and Triple Threads at around $75/auto.
With a box like Chrome, the auto is more like icing on the cake than the reason you are buying it. The refractors and parallels are what really add value and enjoyment to the box. It’s a different mindset than when I open most boxes. Most boxes (Triple Threads & Absolute included) are ONLY about the hits…you may as well throw away all the non-hit cards. At least with Chrome you have some fun insert sets and low numbered refractors, not to mention the chase element of the superfractors.
I guess the main difference between this an TTT is the the God awful die cuts.
I totally agree. I usually buy a few boxes of Chrome, but this year they are just stunning. I don’t buy only for resale value, but if I do spend some cash it’s nice to get some return. Put it this way, I bought one box of Chrome, came out way ahead. I bought a box of Absolute and took a beating. I know you can hit or miss with any product, but the Chrome seem to deliver better. I should’ve purchased two more boxes of Chrome for the price I paid for the Absolute. Can’t wait for Five Star!
I normally bust 1-2 cases of Chrome football every year. I’ll put my personal set together, sell off the autos & refractors and hope I come out OK.
This has been a very unique year, as I am now divorced & have a lost almost all financial flexibility. So, in order to get my Chrome fix, I needed to go the Retail route. I started with four blasters. I hit early & often. Those 4 blasters alone paid for themself plus 4 more.
Out of those 8 boxes, the top pulls included a Julio Jones variation, 4 Cam Newton base, A Cam base ref, Xfractor and 5 inserts, a Mark Ingram Finest Freshman gold refractor, 4 autos, 73 total refractors and a complete set.
You want to talk value? My original $80 “invenstment” got me what I really wanted (complete set) and a TON of ebay & trade material actually worth selling/trading. If that’s not value (with a touch of luck), I don’t know what is.
What are the chances of pulling a 2011 topps chrome football superfractor?
Very tough. I pulled one, but its a rare pull for sure.