General Forum

If Topps was going to do continuous numeration for the Traded/Update sets, it should go at the end of the current year, and not at the start of the next year.  I'd prefer them to keep it just the way it is now though. 

The current method leaves collectors a choice of whether they want to pay for and store 50% more cards for a given year.

The Traded/Update sets are nothing more than high-valued high-series cards from days of old.  In fact, it'd probably be better just to collect the Update sets only from the past 10 years if you want value.    

Well, the complaint was that adding numbers at the end wouldn’t work because the main topps base is about the year before. I understand clearly that topps would not be able to satisfy any set of collectors as we all disagree so passionately. Guess that’s why the industry is dying. I’ll go back to my cave and shut the hell up for another few months.

Now I feel a bit guilty for not responding, as the guy whose post you quoted. I was actually mildly intrigued by the idea when you wrote it. There's a gap in card in January through March. That might be good for the update set of the year before, and would include the results of free-agent signings and winter trades. So if that was series one, I might just (bitterly) start collecting them, because they'd all be part of the same set. Who knows? Maybe someday, I'll be so desperate to expand the collection that I'll start buying all the update sets...

But, you're also right that there might not be a good way to satisfy everyone.

But you're wrong to go back to your cave. All views welcome, especially thoughtful ones.

v3

Your opinions are always welcome Brad.  It's rare that anyone agrees with my opinions too!

I am probably going to be THE Oddball in this group but for me it is going to be different depending on the set. Literally for me the 2014 Topps set Complete will include every base card as well as the Variations. I consider the inserts their own set but being a part of the main issue , so for that year trying to get all the inserts as well. For 2016 Topps just the base is good enough for me although I collect the inserts too. Oh don't laugh but I know there are a few collectors out there who make Physical cards on demand. for the 2016 Topps I will be getting (1) card # 7 Mickey Mantle made as well as  (1) # 7 in the Rainbow Foil made lol But most sets I just consider 1- whatever to be the complete set for me.

That's the wonderul thing about how set collectors work; each has their own way of going about it. Now that's jumped back into the hobby full in I'm approaching it similar to you. I left before VAR in the base set were a thing. Anyhow, I'm going for full sets and then adding the VARs also. I'm also going to chase a good deal of the inserts too. Only ones I'm not goig after are the ultra-rare ones or the repatatves (like Mickey Mantle Home Run History - essentially the same card done multiple times over).  

Nothing wrong with having a different opinion about collecting.  If you believe it, own it.  

I color code the tags In my shoeboxes even for insert sets - white for incomplete and gold for completed. If and when I collect every wanted card in a set, the header card will also be gold!