Collectors of valuable trading cards can keep their tin foil hats off – every pack is as random as it can be. That’s the message from Fanatics Collectibles, a dominant force in the trading card industry, who recently engaged leading audit firm, KPMG, to investigate long-standing speculations questioning the randomness of their Topps card distributions.
Fanatics Collectibles CEO, Mike Mahan, dropped the news like a rare, gem mint card at the recent Industry Conference in Atlanta. The announcement was the conclusion of a several months long intensive investigation by KPMG into Fanatics/Topps’ card distribution processes, particularly focusing on whether high-value cards were intentionally placed in the hands of select, preferred customers. As Mahan declared, KPMG’s audit gave a thumbs up to Fanatics/Topps’ procedures, effectively dispelling concerns of foul play.
The plot, similar to an unresolved crime thriller, originated from the collector community’s buzzing rumors and debates. Suspicions stirred around videos on social media platforms where prolific breakers appeared to pull multiple valuable cards with a frequency that seemed too good to be true. Did Fanatics/Topps favor large-scale customers? Was the golden finger of fortune randomly pointing to some more often than others? These questions hovered like a dense fog, threatening the credibility of Fanatics/Topps’ card distribution processes.
Fanatics Collectibles CFO, Greg Abovsky, shed light on the buzz, emphasizing that these occurrences were just statistical probabilities due to the large volume handled by the major breakers. There was no secret memo, no ulterior motive, and no manipulation in the packing process that benefited certain parties.
KPMG’s role as the impartial detective in this saga involved an in-depth probe at the Texas printing facility where these much sought after cards are fashioned. Their investigation included an examination of the collation process and production logs for each job, the aim being to verify Fanatics/Topps’ claim that card distribution was truly a random process. The results of this pioneering initiative, unmatched in the industry, have gone a long way in restoring faith in the integrity of Fanatics/Topps’ distribution methods.
In tandem with sharing KPMG’s audit findings, Abovsky also addressed another pervasive suspicion that Fanatics purposefully seeds boxes with valuable cards for promotional causes. Loud and clear, he dismissed these assumptions and indicated plans of making the randomness audits a yearly occurrence, echoing the firm’s commitment to uphold fairness and transparency in each deck they distribute.
So, the message from Fanatics is simple. Be it the thrill of opening a new pack or the anticipation of an elusive, high-value card, rest assured – every flip of the card is as random as it gets. Every collector gets a fair deal. While the odds of laying your hands on that prized card may still be a long shot, there’s no shadowy figure manipulating the odds. The game remains one of strategy, luck, and a bit of optimism, as unmanipulated as ever.
