The Good, Bad & Ugly: Michael Rubin & Mike Mahan Discuss Topps, Fanatics & The Hobby

[@Apsportzcardz]

These two guys do not live in the real world. They have a completely different concept of “affordable” then the collector or average human being for that matter. They read spreadsheets and have assistants who tell them whats going on. In what world is a topps chrome hobby box with 1 $4 auto of some scrub, a negative, one color # card, and some refractors worth $225? Like literally living on another planet these two

[@screwydrewy7027]

You mean these three guys.

[@RingGeneralOG]

Facts way to expensive should be $50-75 max an I agree need better players in packs

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Rubin's Net Worth as of Feb 2924 11.5 Billion. No way he understands a damned thing about the Hobby.....only his P/L statement.

[@timmccray7507]

It’s only going to be worse. Look at football. They are right. It’s 3 or 4 times expensive with worse return rate.

[@jcleveland9056]

Just imagining kids asking their parents for a $300 box of baseball cards 😂😂😂

[@BHardy1108]

Why do I feel like in 10 years there is gonna be a sweet 30 for 30 doc about the fall of fanatics

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

I pray it happens sooner then 10 years

[@Jamba-_-]

The money is what drives them not energy

[@SB-ny4yu]

These guys remind me exactly of my ex-ceo of my current company - get in and get out. They’re not doing shit for the hobby besides lining their pockets

[@mephisto40]

They sound more like somebody producing and marketing an addictive substance rather than a hobby

[@tstewart3034]

What do you think collecting is?

[@screwydrewy7027]

Why don’t you ask these guys some real questions about pricing or about pull ratios or the exp added checklist with higher prices. There’s so many questions I’d rather have heard than what you ask them.

[@FatButcher]

If he asked them real questions they wouldn't be doing the interview. This was just another piece of "innovative" marketing to them.

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Oh Geooooooofffff is nothing but a softball kiss AZZ. A Con man Grifter.

[@timmccray7507]

Why don’t people stop buying it? That is the only thing that matters. And it is selling.

[@ryanadonis]

i like how they stare into each other's souls when they aren't talking.

[@ronpicard2277]

At some point there will be a challenge to the monopoly created by Fanatics. It happened before and will again.

[@Brijsports]

Good to hear they feel positive about the hobby....after Rubin bought Topps and then fired all of us who were Topps employees 😢

[@screwydrewy7027]

This is going to turn into the 80s all over again. They are trying to “grow” the hobby which means more product more cards more more more over production almost killed the hobby and they are just doing it again. Only the highest of superstars will be worth money this is the flipper hobby now. They want total control of something that’s very personal to me and I don’t want them messing with. I’m suppose to trust a company that can’t even figure out how they are running things. No thanks.

[@RingGeneralOG]

Why does Rubens eyes look like that?

[@jcleveland9056]

Looks sick. Been saying this for years.

[@playboicarti1338]

The eyes are the gateway to the soul. There nothing behind those eyes

[@itsahardmuttlife9263]

The one thing I don’t understand about the hobby is why are certain cards are so expensive of people that haven’t done anything to be so expensive. Like Burrow, Allen, Richardson, etc. Cards of Brady, Manning, Mahomes, Montana, Elway, Farve, Brees should be the expensive ones. Geez, I see Mac Jones cards on eBay going for over $1000. Are people stupid?

[@nunzi83]

Always been this way. It’s speculating. Get in before they take off. But at same time. Prices are so high in the beginning that it’s almost impossible for a player to outperform that “price”.

[@staleprad]

Bro mahomes is a first ballot HOF

[@LC_Baseball]

Supply and demand.

[@itsahardmuttlife9263]

​@@LC_Baseball😂 You guys need to stop yourself from buying a piece of cardboard of someone who hasn't proven themselves to be worth that ridiculous price. Prices will go down.

[@LC_Baseball]

@@itsahardmuttlife9263 I don’t buy cards, or sell them. You wanted to know why they cost so much.

[@devboul1]

Rubin looks like he has some deep issues and weird thing going on. Substance abuse or something

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Sounds like all three of you are high as kites! 🎉

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Geeeeeeeeeeooooooffffff "THE SOFTBALL" WIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLSON!

[@dropballbrenan]

Feel like I’m watching an episode of narcos . The dudes are swindling something and they think Stephen A will make a positive change to the “hobby”? What in the world of Pablo Escobar are they talking about ?

[@nunzi83]

I’d like to see shops with direct allocation have to sell newly released products at a lower price. Give them the option to take more product but at same time they have to sell at a lower price for first 2-3 weeks. Shops benefit. Customers benefit. It frustrates me that shops go straight to the big online shops and price it exactly what they have it at. Small percentage of shops offer boxes at a low price on release.

[@jholladay757]

As a shop owner we cant do that. Fanatics/topps has increased the manufacturing price so high there is no margin even at pricing to the big online shop. Small shops get a few cases and are expected to make a profit compared to the big online shops getting 100’s of cases. You can make money on a small margin if you get that many cases but your local shop struggles to make anything with the limited allocation unfortunately. Trust me we would love to be able to sell you boxes cheaper than online but all the margin has been squeezed out by topps :/

[@Dport520]

Trying to justify the rise in price with the “supply and demand” narrative is so dillusional. Over the last two years the supply has been below average and it shows with these modern day boxes still sitting on shelves untouched. Feels like it’s all about the profit to these guys 🫤

[@andrewchevrier]

I think breakers are keeping demand high, because it feels like people have reached their breaking point, and hobby box prices vs the probability of a substantial hit, have priced us out of breaking hobby boxes. Some people say « it’s like a lottery ticket », but a lottery ticket costs 2$, not 500$.

[@tombullard6167]

​@@andrewchevriermust've never bought a lottery ticket bc they range from $1 to $100 but you can also place $10k on red on roulette. Lottery tickets or Lotto tickets aren't only ways to gamble 😂

[@steveravnitzky6711]

I have to be honest with you everyone. Don’t get the new stuff. Looks and Feels manufactured. I am & will always be a vintage guy. This does not distract from my interest in listening to to this channel

[@Yo_hio_sportscards]

Supply and demand are constantly being manipulated so the true market price is not realized.

[@paulmouradjian6045]

All BS to poison their cult of buyers who rat it up and are to stupid to realize the real reason for GREED AND GRIFTS!

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Just ask yourself one question.....would you buy a new or used car from any of these three con men?

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Exactly....slimballs all of them

[@TamTranTriZzle]

Rubin should do an Eyeliner Relic Card of himself, and make it the ultimate chase card in Topps.

[@casinoburger]

Greed..

[@hawaiiactionfigureguy4847]

They want you to buy Topps Chrome non licensed products or they'll break ya legs. How you doin'?

[@staleprad]

Way too much emphasis on Selling…none on collecting…they have the power to make collectors meet their sports idols..that would be cool to see..ex: if you own a NT /99 mahomes, you can meet n greet event

[@ryanra44]

So there answer on pricing is Panini shafts the customers so we can raise our prices as well? We are starting to hit that pricing well. Products are starting to sit and prices aren’t rising on the secondary market for most products

[@theheadyman]

Please quit releasing cards that are damaged or off center. The cards are not just entertainment anymore, they are bought to get key cards for resale. Still need smaller sets with fewer commons. No more redemption cards. If you don’t have it before packaging than it doesn’t get released. With players being vested, hopefully they will fulfill their obligations to sign cards. Reduction in packaging. Sports card packaging is nearly 100 percent waste. We need biodegradable packaging or at least wrappers. Boxes might be more of a challenge. All i hear is same junk that led us down this rabbit hole 30 years ago.

[@tstewart3034]

Like buying cards to resale?! Join their team

[@KennyP-bu5ik]

He really loves to name drop and talk about innovation. WWE Superstars entrance experience? Dumb shit, they have been doing that at Wrestlemania weekend for years before Fanatics came in and thought he invented everything

[@byejinx1473]

🔥🔥

[@cyberballercards56]

Asking why a chrome blaster is 45? Can’t get the young ones in with that price point!

[@jaytay1995]

Keep up the good work Geoff. Flush out the haters. Thanks for taking the time with me, my son and dad at Cards HQ a couple of weeks ago just prior to the National.

[@lira2610]

They need to add boxing

[@rebels5785]

Michael Rubin is the worst thing to ever happen to sports merchandise.

[@FDLrick]

Fanatics Collect has the ABSOLUTE WORST Customer Service Department I have ever experienced in my entire life, in Tigard, Oregon. They have a bot and an email. That's it. No phone. They lost 8 cards from my vault and it's been over 3 months now, and they're still lost. A Tigard Police Detective is assigned to this case. I like the technology, it's the people working there (the so-called support staff) that makes the Fanatics Collect Experience a living nightmare. Have your buddy Mike look into this. Maybe he likes it the way it is? The work staff over there says they don't have the time to look into this. So sad. That customer service team should all be fired and start over with a professional team that really gives a shit about their customers. All Rubin thinks about is how much money he can make by cutting corners. Try to get a phone number to Fanatics Collect if a problem arises. Won't happen.

[@FDLrick]

I was forced to call the Tigard Police. I had no other options. over 50 emails and bots sent over the last 30 days pertaining to the 8 lost cards, NOT ONE REPLY. Even the Detective assigned to this case said she was sorry for the way Fanatics was handling this case.

[@FDLrick]

If Mr. Rubin wants to talk to me about this, I would definitely welcome the offer. He's got a mess over there. He may not really realize how bad the customer support team is. They're real secretive over there in Tigard.

[@nunzi83]

It’s all a matter of time until fanatics gets into grading. I think the best/fastest and easiest way for them to do this is to acquire Beckett. Beckett has a great name but desperately needs to management/ownership.

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Then expect the cost of grading to explode. Everything Fanatics touches gets more expensive

[@testit1902]

Did he just casually make news announcing the date for the next rip night?

[@reivang7196]

Get better at making inserts, if you want to truly be better than Panini than you guys need to be more creative. That Helix is just colorblast copy, Taco fractor really? Kabooms, Downtowns, color wheels, Black Pandoras ect. Is what made Panini fun.

[@tombullard6167]

Panini copied or ripped most of its inserts & sets from 90s sets as well

[@Stastny80s]

listening to those two guys makes my head hurt

[@timmccray7507]

What was the chase for chrome ?

[@coltscards1338]

Our money

[@pauly5502]

They will never answer the over production question

[@coltscards1338]

Oh and your quality control has gone the way of Panini

[@nunzi83]

What’s topps has done with redemptions is remarkable. And how they feel about redemptions is absolutely amazing.

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Well with the explosion in the cost of wax they better do it

[@Foreverfree2020]

Fanatics=monopoly

[@republicofcasuals]

😁

[@devboul1]

Topps chrome was dropped today…no licensing it’s corny

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

WTF is the sidekick talking about!!! There is no fkn profit in the hobby any more

[@coltscards1338]

Oh great the guys that ruined Topps good job guys 40 dollars for a blaster of chrome quit smoking that sh*t

[@user-qb6vi4cv2c]

Marketing means one thing-things are going as well as they want you to believe.

[@ipman505]

I was surprised to see that my local Walmart had topps chrome blaster box for 44 dollars with tax like 47, only bought 1, I used to buy like 4 or 5 but with the price hike I can promise I will no longer be buying this product I didn't even have fun ripping my last blaster. To expensive..

[@coltscards1338]

Nobody going to have a good time if they cant afford anything

[@funkytango]

Fanatics quality is absolutely dog shit across all their products. Shameful you even gave them the time of day.

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Worst Pro Baseball Jerseys ever. Fanatics legacy. Uglu and Sheeeeet Quality!

[@Mskedu47]

Why does the Rubin guy look so creepy? Weird eyes maybe?

[@williamfults2248]

Anyone besides Stephen A. Myth please 🤦‍♂️.

[@LinkinThomas]

IM STOKED MICHAEL AND MIKE ARE LEADING THIS THING. ME THINK-THE HOBBY IS LUCKY TO HAVE THEM AT THE HELM. I'M ON TPOTALLY BOARD-CARDBOARD = GR8 INT. GEOFF

[@paulmouradjian6045]

Save all yout BS streaming specials and lower the phahaqwin price of the product!

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

100%

[@USCfan03]

Guys if course it’s about profit. If you owned a business you’d want to make profit as well or else you’d go out of business

[@coltscards1338]

Difference between making a profit and ripping people off

[@blamethebillionaires]

billionaire?

[@MrCRIMSON1000]

how about ya make blister boxs have better hits, rather them just put them in hobby or jumbo cus is dumb how expensive those boxes are

[@grindstone11]

Cool, then the price goes up. Now what will you complain about?

[@sethward7020]

@@grindstone11Only the resale price should go up, retail price should stay the same but it should have better hits.

[@MrCRIMSON1000]

@@grindstone11 what you mean go up? they 40 bucks now and you get pretty much trash now lool

[@gabrielortiz-qx2sn]

Follow Jesus Geoff he loves you he died for you and if you believe in him you will not perish but have everlasting life in heaven!

[@LinkinThomas]

TOTALLY ON BOARD

[@thecardboardcollaborative]

So many people whine and complain about prices or the hobby in general on every video. Just take up a new hobby, go fly fishing or something. Stop watching the content and buying cards if you hate it so much. Maybe cards aren’t for you anymore, move on.

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Yet here you are complaining about people who want to fix a corrupt system

[@thecardboardcollaborative]

@@user-dv6dg5gu6d sorry you think supply and demand is a “corrupt system”

[@coltscards1338]

Okay breaker your comment is null and void

[@thecardboardcollaborative]

@@coltscards1338 what?

[@prospectsrus282]

fanatics fest gonna suck lol

[@Kinodynasty]

Literally wanna go for a melo and Brunson auto but it’s gonna be a hype fest aka grown men sucking each other off

[@zi1352]

it won't if one thing you can count on is for him to throw great parties to make you forget about the shit product they are selling to you 😂

[@wheeler2816]

3 hobby noobs 😂

[@shawhin]

There is so much needless hate and vitriol in this comment section that I had too write something positive. We are all, for he most part, blessed to live in a country that allows all for these options that serve to enhance our lives. Buying product is a choice, and with that said, there are plenty of entry points that can be improved, including the PR laden rhetoric from Fanatics. :)

[@sethward7020]

I agree with this comment, we need more positivity. If we want to help lower the prices of wax then what we need to do is not buy wax until prices are lowered but of course gamblers will keep gambling which only encourages price increases.

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Good...burn your money. Most of us have better common sense then you

[@mikehamm007]

Enjoyed the interview...should be interesting

[@Pendells_cards]

First

[@Salvatore9_]

hopefully Michael Rubin doesn't give any product to that crappy store CardsHQ

[@sethward7020]

Stop hating on CardsHQ, lets see you start a successful business and run a card store.

[@Salvatore9_]

@@sethward7020 lol ok Seth.

[@CollectorsCanvas]

Wow Geoff very good podcast love it! 😍

[@muhdulahdarula2818]

Christ is king

[@nunzi83]

Mike Mahan is awesome. He truly cares about the hobby. Of coarse money is always the driving factor. It’s that way for every person in the hobby. But he cares and is accessible to collectors and ppl in the hobby.

[@SreyAun-sd1eb]

What growth? In fraud?

[@nunzi83]

I can’t stand when ppl always make the “they only care about the money” comment. Let’s be for real. 95% of the hobby only cares about the money.

[@user-dv6dg5gu6d]

Exactly which is why we have a right to complain about the exploding cost of wax