Fanatics, in a pioneering move towards utmost transparency, is pulling all stops to verify that its Topps card distribution process is as random and fair as it promises to be. Taking a significant step to reassure collectors and dealers, the company has engaged KPMG, a leading audit firm, to perform an independent audit of its card distribution procedures. It aims – not with an ace up its sleeve but with an open hand – to address the concerns circulating around the randomness of high-value card distributions.
The news broke during the Industry Conference held in Atlanta where Fanatics Collectibles CEO, Mike Mahan, took the stage. Announcing to a riveted audience, Mahan revealed that after an intensive review spanning several months, the renowned audit firm, KPMG, gave the thumbs up to Fanatics/Topps. Their verdict established that no intentional placement of high-value cards to specific customers occurred. The distribution was as random as the company claimed, hitting the jackpot of fairness that had been the subject of debates among the collector community.
Not-so-hushed whispers and digital debates within the collector circles had speculated that Fanatics/Topps might be prioritizing large volume customers or renowned breakers. The conjecture gained momentum when social media videos showed breakers landing multiple valuable cards, stirring doubts about the true randomness of the pack contents. Greg Abovsky, the CFO of Fanatics Collectibles, put a full stop to the growing rumors. He highlighted that the frequency of high-value draws by major breakers was simply a probable result of the massive volume they handle and not a factor of manipulation in the packing process.
Taking transparency to the next level, KPMG conducted a thorough check at the Texas-based printing facility, the birthplace of these coveted cards. The audit was comprehensive to the T, inspecting the collation process and reviewing the production logs for each job. The aim was simple but paramount: to validate that the distribution of cards was truly random, as professed by Topps. This initiative, the first known of its kind in the industry, according to Fanatics, was taken to debunk myths and solidify the community’s faith in their distribution process.
But the game of transparency wasn’t over yet for Fanatics. Alongside sharing the audit results, Abovsky also clarified another grey area clouding the perception of collectors. He confirmed that Fanatics has neither in the past nor in the present, seeded boxes with valuable cards for promotional tactics. This blunt myth-busting served as another proof point of Fanatics’ commitment to fair play.
But just affirming isn’t enough for Fanatics. They’re stepping up their transparency game by planning to make this randomness audit a yearly event. Their goal is as clear as the motive: To continuously validate and exhibit their commitment to fairness in their distribution practices. A strong hand, indeed, in the face of skepticism, strengthening the trust bond with their collector community. And who knows? This might awaken industry-wide reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness, setting a trail for others to follow!
