Topps Q&A live blog from the National

Coming up at 11AM 11:15 AM EST we’ll be live tweeting the Topps Q&A from the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention with highlights, announcements and comments.

So check back shortly and hit the refresh.

Opens with questions from the crowd.

Will paraphrase as best as possible.

Question: In 2012, top card in Bowman was Ultimate Prospect. I spent a lot of money on that and was wondering about information on the card and holdup.

Topps: The card is made. We’ll check to see who the holdup is. But the card is made.

Collector is reading a redemption letter and pointing out lack of personal info on replacement and not happy with replacement for a Hope Solo autograph.

Topps: Up front that she will not be signing the card. Hard to say what value will be exactly and do best.

Collector responds that he would have been happy with better communication.

Topps: All the cards that have been put in product as redemptions, the cards are made and waiting for athletes to sign. We’re not going to wait forever and have collectors waiting. We have a room in Pennsylvania that has thousands of redemptions that are made and ready to be sign.

Sorry, small connection glitch.

Collector asks about production issues in 2015 Allen & Ginter.

Topps: We’re talking with production company and should have an announcement about it in a couple of weeks.

Question about Strata Santa Claus cards from a couple of years ago.

Will Topps be getting back into the NBA.

Topps: We’re always actively talking and will see what we can do when non-exclusive license.

Question about 2014 Bowman Chrome Kris Bryant autograph being inserted in 2014 Bowman and Bowman Chrome.

Topps: The 2013 Bowman Draft cards came late and could have been destroyed or inserted in later product. We opted to use them. Didn’t sign all of 2014 cards at once so inserted what had in Bowman and rest in Bowman Chrome after they arrived.

Alan Narz is doing giveaways.

The lights just went out. They’re back. So are the questions.

For the buybacks, were complete sets or singles bought?

Topps: Alan Narz bought them all for us. Asks crowd whether prefer stamp or not on buybacks.

Crowd is a resounding “No” on stamping.

Topps: Research says stamps are preferred. Talks about how 60th Anniversary will have different colors.

Another glitch. Sorry.

Susan brought up to talk about greater social media presence.

What are plans for 2016 football?

Topps: We plan to be making 2016 football cards.

Question on smudged autographs.

Topps: Despite what some say, we care about quality control. Contact us and we’ll do the best we can to get you one of the same.

@thosebackpages is the go-to helper for vintage trivia questions. Helped a gentleman win a box of Five Star Football that had a redemption for an Aaron Rodgers autograph.

Collector commenting on how he doesn’t open a lot of product and how not pleased with automated responses. What are you doing to help set collectors and what can I do to help customer service help me better.

Topps: Stated odds are across the entire production run. Funky things happen. At our co-packers, we look for issues. They’re bound to happen but we do the best we can. We have invested a lot of time and money in our customer service. We push our CS reps to do the best they can. These reps get beat up all day every day by tough customers.

The best thing to do is call early. Wait times are shorter.

Phoning is better and more effective than emailing. Inboxes are blown up by some of the same people every day. They take an hour each day before opening phones to sift through email as best they can.

Request for better labeling and clearer numbering for similar brands like flagship Topps and Opening Day.

Question on top 5 brands.

Topps: Can’t reveal but flagship baseball popular at hobby and retail.

Follow-up on comparing hobby versus retail numbers.

Topps: Retail draws in kids. When things happen like this year’s rookie class, can reach retail easier, which is a portal to hobby and get them into hobby shops.

Hobby business is bigger than retail business.

For retail, can you do something to hide hits better in retail boxes.

Topps: We talk with Target and Walmart about it. Blasters and hanger boxes are important. We’re looking at different options for next year.

Draw for choice of Mike Trout or Kris Bryant autograph. Winner took the Trout.

Comment on centering of cards opened yesterday being poor.

Topps: We do our best to stop through box audits. Issues are bound to happen.

Request for Nintendo cards in Allen & Ginter.

Topps: Interesting idea.

NASCAR?

Topps: We looked into it, but probably not.

Compliment for 2015 Topps Archives. Is it in the plans going forward with designs?

Topps: We like that set up.

Any more plans for additional complete sets?

Topps: We did a Ginter one and it got destroyed. We’ve discussed it for other .

Poll of crowd. Not enthused. 

Scratches on Chrome cards.

Topps: It’s a tricky technology. There’s not a lot we can do. Sometimes we slip sheets in to help. When they go through machines and drops, things happen. We have less than one percent manufacturer defects on those.

Any thoughts on expanding digital plans. One thought would be to add video for Star Wars and baseball highlights.

Topps: The strives we’ve made digitally over the last couple of years, it has been tremendous. That’s happening every day. Starting with Series 2, we’re adding cards that connect real cards and apps. We see a really bright future in digital.

Over the last year, there has been issues with memorabilia knowing what’s game-used and event-worn. Any plans to be more specific on labeling?

Topps: We do different things for different leagues based on rules. In football, it’s often event-worn. Issue is also fewer games. In baseball, there are more games.

Going forward, more baseball will have hologram authentication on cards. We’re working with MLB to make more of that happen.

It seems like in the last two years, print runs in baseball has gone up. Do you think you’re producing more than past years.

Topps: Just because we don’t number something, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more or less of a product. Some cards may be numbered to a certain amount, but there might actually be less.

Every year there are products we produce more of some products and some that are less of.

Wait until Topps Chrome and there are some there are some unnumbered that are harder to find than others.

Crowd agrees that more production runs being announced is a good thing.

Question to clarify that some are numbered to a certain amount but less than that actually being included in final product.

Topps confirms that it’s correct but not normally a significant amount. Based on orders and signing habits. Don’t want lots of redemptions.

Will there be more instances like Ichiro in Allen & Ginter where autographs are in different uniforms?

Topps: We needed a special exception from MLB for that.

Compliment from shop owner on efforts with kids.

Topps: Working with a company on strategy. Will be giving away 5 million packs this summer, largely targeted at kids.

What are plans for next year’s UFC?

Topps: 3-4 products.

Any reason why removed the word Refractor from the backs of cards.

Topps: Because it’s tedious and leads to more mistakes. We’re working to make 2016 Finest more obvious.

Thanks for recalling 2015 Topps Tribute.

Why don’t you honor your expired redemptions?

Topps: It’s a logistical thing. You do have to put some time period on the redemption cards. We can’t go back and track the old stuff. The best thing we’re striving to do is get rid of them in the first place. What’s happens with expired redemptions, we’ll use for future QC issues.

When is Sooz getting an Allen & Ginter card?

Topps: We do it by random draw.

What about a WNBA product.

Topps: I was talking to someone yesterday who controls the license. I’d say probably not right now, but not ruling it out in the future.

Closing thanks from Topps for attending. Encourage collectors to go to booth to offer suggestions for future products.