Topps......what in the world is going on?

So........a while ago I had an issue with Topps and their justification of "equal" replacement: http://annoyanceatitsfinest.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-big-kahuna-vs-topps-via-better_30.html

It was done and over with and I accepted the Devon Still as my replacement and moved on because it just kept getting worse with the selection choices they gave me and the case was closed.

SO in the mail this past week I received this from Topps:

3 years and 2 months later Topps has sent this "gift" to me. I was already under the impression that this was a done deal and that Devon was to be accepted as the end result of our negotiations. Now I feel really weird about this whole thing and it has left me with 5 thoughts:

1. Topps is really really really slow in shipping out their replacement products.
2. Topps must've found all the notes from the Better Business Bureau complaints I've filed against them over the years for their bait and switch tactics they've tried with me  and want to kiss and make up for it.
3. Topps is trying to win back their customers for their mistakes they've made?
4. Topps computer systems are so screwed up they cannot keep an accurate track of who had stuff sent out and who didn't.
5. Topps is clearing out their warehouse of all football related items.

I reached out on twitter to https://twitter.com/yanxchick as I thought maybe she might have a thought or opinion on the situation but I have not heard anything back yet from her. I feel like sending these cards back to Topps because we had agreed already on the replacement which they already fulfilled.

What would you do? Would you keep them? Would you send them back? Would you throw them into the volcano pit? Would you throw them into a blender?

Topps redemption blues

I believe that we in some way or another feel a little this way when it comes to Topps and their redemptions so here is a short poem about Topps and their redemptions:

Pulled a redemption card today did we, aren't you excited to see who it will be? Load the numbers up on to the redemption site, then press enter quickly with all of your might. Why is it suddenly saying the code is not valid, you quickly entered the numbers again fully undoubted. The code has expired as the years have come to pass, good luck buddy on pulling any decent cards from our ass. Quick call the BBB, the FBI, the POLICE or my lawyer, Topps customer service has gone out of order. How can they do this to me how can this be, I gave them all my money surely can't you see? "Call us back when we have the power, we have to go as our flight leaves in an hour. We have your money we have your pride, why even bother with us just take it in stride." Damn you Topps and your filthy dirty cheating ways, You're just like that Obama Guy and will bend us over anyways. Now all I can do is grab my ankles and hope for the best, oh look they just sent me an auto of a ballplayer who's under arrest.

T. Hertzog

TOPPS redemption department......apparently has been fired!

Well......in a another "bright" move by Topps and their lovely redemption department they are now making "staff changes" and the redemption replacements process will be delayed for at least a month. I found this out today when I called about my pending Topps Strata Mark Barron autograph redemption that has been forever in the making. I could not get any replies on twitter and I did not hear anything from my email ticket. Here's a funny note from outlook about Topps support about the email ticket:

Be careful! This sender failed our fraud detection checks.

Anyhow, I decided to place a call into the Topps CS dept. and spin the wheel of "what line will you be fed today." After 5 minutes of waiting and hearing David Wright blah blah blah I suddenly was talking with a live person....yeah! I will admit the lady was very kind with me on the phone today and after explaining my issue to her she even said that she can completely understand my frustration with the redemptions. She also politely explained to me that their redemption department is undergoing significant necessary staff changes at this time and that it may be about a month till they resume starting it back up. She told me that I could call back then and see about a replacement if they did not get any more of Marks autographed stickers returned. My thought first thought was, "wow......honesty." My second thought was, "DAMN STICKER AUTOS." She also mentioned that they are still shipping things once it reaches 10,000 as well. Just great. BARF......so much better. Oh well....at least I got some honesty instead a BS line of spew.

Chicken Scratch: Manny Machado Edition

Manny Machado was to be reviewed but this is what I get from Topps:

Eventually when we get the card from Topps (if it ever comes) it will be reviewed and then displayed. Until then here is a funny picture of something odd:

Surf the big one dude!

And the Hunt is on with Topps Customer Service Part DEUX

Well in the mail today I received my replacement from Topps Customer service for not having the redemption card of Topps Tier Rickey Henderson Dual Relic card that I submitted a few months ago. Behold the glory of what they sent me:

2010 Donavan Tate Bowman Chrome Blue refractor autograph 132/199

So my son looked up the player and the one thing that made me sick was he has been suspended twice for drugs and has spent most of his professional career on the sidelines with injuries. So he’s been banned more games than he has played.

My question for you is would you accept this as a replacement or would you be on the phone to Topps customer service? If you look up the “Beckett Value” the Henderson is still worth double the amount.

Okay......explain this to me.

On my Topps redemptions list I have this card:

2011 Bowman Platinum Baseball Jeremy Hellickson - Auto Relic Refractor Blue Parallel   Shipped 11/26/2011

So how can something be shipped 11/26/2011 with a tracking number? Funny it's September unless I missed something. Shipped in Nov?