In a move poised to transform the sports card collecting landscape, Topps has announced an extension of the redemption card expiration dates from the typical two years to an unprecedented ten years. This policy shift, applicable to all sports card releases dated from 2021-22 and beyond, aims to alleviate the longstanding issue of collectors encountering worthless redemption cards in older packs due to expired autographs.
Traditionally, redemption cards, which substitute for actual autographed cards that aren't available at the time of packing, have been a contentious aspect of collecting. They often devalue a product once they expire. By extending the validity of these cards to a decade, Topps ensures that cards issued with a 2022 release date, for example, will remain redeemable until 2032 instead of expiring in 2024. This initiative is expected to sustain the value of products on the market for a longer duration and provide collectors with a greater assurance of redeeming their autograph cards.
The effectiveness of this new policy will still hinge on Topps' ability to secure the autographs promised on these cards. Historically, delays in obtaining autographs can occur due to various reasons, including negotiations over athlete compensation. However, with Fanatics securing exclusive licenses with major sports player unions starting in 2025, there's an optimistic outlook that the process will become more efficient, which in turn could boost product sales and benefits for all parties involved. Moreover, Topps has significantly reduced its backlog of redemptions from 70,000 to under 10,000 in the last year, indicating progress in addressing one of the hobby’s most persistent challenges.