2021 Topps Baseball Forum

The set came out yesterday and my local Walmart confirmed that they would have it in stock, but when I showed up at 10 AM yesterday morning they were already sold out lol.  I also went to Target and they didn't seem to have stocked up on the new set yet, or else they also sold out.  I'm probably going to buy online at this point, which I wanted to avoid because of shipping times, but I don't seem to have much of a choice. 

Did anybody else have this issue yesterday?  Is it because of Covid-related delays?  I had no trouble buying the 2020 Topps set on its release day last year so that was my first instinct but they have also been sold out of 2020 baseball for a month+ at this point.

Unlikely it's from delays at this point, though it's possible that they didn't receive their shipment. It wouldn't be the first time that a retailer planned on having new stock on the release date but didn't get it in.

Hate to say it, but much like another thread I just read, this issue is also likely due to flippers and/or hoarders buying all the stock to resell online (or open and get a big hit to sell online). I haven't seen trading cards at retail in almost nine months - not that I look often, because I felt like prices before the pandemic were too high (I still remember growing up and buying blasters for $10, for the record). 

I thought this might have been the case for my local Walmart since there's already one guy who comes in to buy out their stock from time to time.  I'll keep looking, though, I guess they can't be out of stock forever.

Because of all of the insanity, at the local Walmart here the cards are at the cigarette counter and must be asked for.  They will allow one package, be it box or pack, of each product.

Topps is staggering the retail release of Series 1 due to printing issues.  There are still a number of restrictions on how many people that they can have at the printing press, etc. due to COVID.  From what I understand, blasters are out now, but the "retail" packs won't be available for another two weeks.  At least that is what my distributor is telling me for why they can't send me what I had ordered.

Nothing yesterday at both Target stores and all 3 Walmart stores. 

Probably people made deals with the stores to let them in early to buy them. I kid you not someone at Target yesterday was telling me about their shennanigans. Everyone waits at the door on Wednesdays until it opens like they have the new iPhone of something. I heard one guy even waited outside and followed another guy to see where he was going to get his cards. Darn crazy.

I didn't look...

The gf had to go to one of the two Target stores in Pasadena yesterday (Wed. Feb. 10) and I tagged along. I checked out the card aisle and there were no sports cards except for (very surprisingly) three hobby boxes (24 packs/box) of 2020 Topps Heritage High Number. I scanned the price and it was $120.99 which is in line with current prices. I had already purchased a hobby box of this so I didn't need to buy another. And there was one guy looking bored and sitting in that area.

I was able to get a jumbo box for $250 Canadian from my LCS. Opened half of it so far. Checked Walmart just out of curiosity to see if they got any, but there was none. All that was left on the shelf tho was a few packs of hockey cards... so it's possible there was some and they were already gone.