All of you are likely familiar with Finest, but I would guess very few of you expected distribution 100% through non-traditional channels. Its been a long time coming, but Topps is the first company to take one of their top performing brands, and release it 100% through their online store. To be honest, im wondering what took so long. The cards have started to show up.

Here are some of the hits up so far:

2016 Topps Finest Mystery Redemption Auto

2016 Topps Finest Kris Bryant Auto

2016 Topps Fines Sandy Koufax Greats Auto /40

2016 Topps Fines Jacob deGrom Auto Red Refractor /5

The main thing here is that Topps has basically taken the distributors and shops out of the equation, hoping to go direct to consumer with this release. I love the idea, as it will open up the hobby production to everyone direct from a source that they have no reason not to trust. There are lots of places where you can buy cards online. Some of the places are reputable, others are not. I have no clue why this is the first time we have seen Topps use online store purchase availability, and hopefully this will be something that we see as an option from this point forward.

If you want to buy cases and boxes, here is the link.

As for the design of the product, the cards are very much in the theme we have seen finest use in the past. Very modernized backgrounds, colored refractors, and all sorts of inserts. Im not liking this design better than 2015, but I dont think it looks awful either. Being that this set has to differentiate itself from other Chrome stock products like Bowman and Topps Chrome, they have to take a different approach to avoid being lost in the shuffle.

I love that they havent cut back content just because the product isnt available in a traditional method. There are still on card autographs, and the checklist is still the names we expect. The variables are worth taking a look at before diving in, but singles could be worth picking up.

Again, I hope this isnt the last time we see Finest or any set come in this fashion. Card companies need to use their stores to competitively price their boxes and get them into the hands of collectors who dont want to buy online and dont have a hobby shop in their area.