In a bid to tackle the longstanding concerns among collectors and dealers regarding the randomness of high-end card distributions, Fanatics/Topps has taken a preemptive and commendable step towards transparency. The company has enlisted the help of KPMG, a global titan in the audit sector, to thoroughly scrutinize their card distribution processes, aiming to settle the dust on speculation and doubts.
The announcement was unveiled during a gathering of mavens at the Industry Conference in Atlanta by the virtuoso himself, CEO Mike Mahan of Fanatics Collectibles. The much-awaited results, after scrupulous review spanning several months, confirmed the procedures of Fanatics/Topps to be above board. According to the audit report, it became clear that there is a robust system in place that prevents the deliberate placement of high-value cards to any particular customers.
The collector community has long been awash with conjecture and arguments around the possibility that Fanatics/Topps may be conveniently tipping the scales in favor of large volume customers or notable breakers. This debate found more fuel due to incendiary social media videos that showed breakers pulling several valuable cards. This heightened the speculation around the randomness of the pack contents.
Yet, in the face of such allegations, Greg Abovsky, the CFO of Fanatics Collectibles, made it a point to underline that the frequency of high-value pulls by major breakers can be attributed more to direct statistical likelihood owing to the colossal volume they manage, rather than any conceivable manipulation in the packing process.
The independent eye that KPMG provided through its comprehensive review, scoured the Texas printing facility where the magic of the cards comes to life. The methodology involved a meticulous look into the collation method and log inspections for each job. The resulting report buttressed Fanetics/Topps’ claim, proving the distribution of cards is truly random, finally offering a breath of relief for the anxious collector community.
This groundbreaking initiative, proudly touted as the first of its kind in the industry by Fanatics, aims to dispel any lingering myths, and it confirms their veracity in the way they carry out their distribution process. The end goal is to convey an unequivocal message to their loyal collector community about their commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity.
To add to these commendable efforts, Abovsky went a step further and clarified that Fanatics has steered clear of seeding boxes with lucrative cards solely for promotional purposes, thereby debunking yet another suspicion that has been common among collectors. With their sleeves rolled up to make the randomness audit an annual fixture, Fanatics has made it abundantly clear that they are committed to cementing the principles of fairness and transparency in their business practices.