How does a trading card sold for $20 become a $200 card in a matter of hours?

Moss84 · 09-15-2006, 02:13 PM

How does a trading card sold for $20 become a $200 card in a matter of hours?

It’s called eTopps RRO and since its inception its become one of the hottest collectibles in the hobby.

During the Baseball season, eTopps launched an all-new concept – the RRO (Restricted Rookie Offering) and things have never been the same. At any given moment, eTopps will offer an unannounced limited-time Rookie card. And when it is offered, it will be available anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 hours. So collectors must keep an eye on eTopps or they’ll miss out on the next hot rookie card.

Now, the Football season is here, and the RRO returns. And it returns with a major bang!

Just two days ago, the RRO program offered Green Bay Packers Rookie AJ Hawk. The card was offered from 5:35 PM to 5:45 PM. Hawk’s card was available for $20 and when that 10 minute window closed it was soon being traded on the site for a whopping $200. Hawk’s eTopps card has easily become one of the hottest trading cards on the market. (image attached)

Users can only buy up to 5 RRO’s and to make the card even more special, eTopps will never offer this rookie again as an individual eTopps card. Log onto www.eTopps.com to learn more.

So, who will be the next eTopps RRO? It’s Hard to say… Reggie Bush?

bearfield · 09-15-2006, 06:57 PM

just another gimmick from the card companys.

TeamKansas · 09-15-2006, 09:00 PM

Lol .... thats a odd selling strategy concept but it actually sounds pretty cool. More power to them!!

**ctkenjr** · 09-16-2006, 08:57 PM

I think it is ruining the industry, that turns me off to collecting Topps. In my opinion it is corporate greed. I would be willing to bet that they "sell" a certain amount, keep some for themselves when the price skyrockets BAM they sell their extras for the inflated amount. I could be wrong, but the sportscard industry realizes it could easily fail (example: Fleer), and is doing what it can to turn a profit, including ruining the hobby.

The amount of products, as well as price is getting too high and driving people away from the hobby, each year in my local area, more and more shops close. 5 years ago we had 7-8 card shops in my county, now we have 2, and one of them doesn't even cater to sportscards (more of a comic store). Sadly the population in my county has increased dramatically in the past five years, yet there are fewer and fewer people around to trade and deal with locally. My nephews enjoy sportscards, but they can't afford the pack price.

Just my 2 cents