Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, with retailers offering deep discounts on many products the day after Thanksgiving. Baseball cards are a collectible item that often see great deals on Black Friday, whether it’s booster packs, boxes, or individual cards. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, many baseball card companies and hobby shops take advantage of the sales opportunity that Black Friday presents.
While Black Friday is still over a month away, baseball card companies and retailers have already started releasing details on some of the deals and promotions they will be offering for the shopping holiday. One of the biggest names in the baseball card industry, Topps, has already announced they will be slashing prices on many of their 2021 baseball card products. This includes up to 30% off entire cases of Series 1, Series 2, Allen & Ginter, Stadium Club, and Topps Chrome hobby boxes. For individual collectors, Topps is also offering “mystery packs” of 10 random 2021 cards for just $10, a savings of over 50% off the normal retail price.
In addition to Topps, Panini America has revealed plans for doorbuster Black Friday deals on many of their licensed MLB card products. Panini Donruss and Contenders boxes will see discounts of 25-30%, while Optic and Prizm boxes will be marked down 20%. Panini is also including free shipping on any orders over $50. For collectors of specific players, Panini said they will release “player packs” with 10 cards of stars like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and others for only $20 a pack while supplies last.
Independent card shops and online retailers like Dave and Adam’s Card World and Steel City Collectibles are also getting in on the baseball card Black Friday action. DACW has said they will offer “mystery pack bundles” containing 10 unopened packs from various 2021 sets for $20 per bundle, with a limited quantity available. Steel City Collectibles is slashing prices on individual graded vintage and modern cards, with select PSA 10 cards from the ’90s and 2000s marked down 30%. They are also bundling 10 random unopened retail packs for $15.
In addition to product and individual card deals, some shops are sweetening the pot with additional Black Friday promotions. Lelands, a large auction house and online retailer, said collectors who spend $100 or more on their site on Black Friday will receive a $20 Lelands credit to use on a future purchase. Burbank Sportscards in California is offering a “Spin to Win” prize wheel game where customers who spend $50 can spin for a chance to win additional free packs, boxes, or store credit. Beckett Trading Cards in Dallas will be giving away a PSA 10 Mike Trout rookie card to one random customer who makes a purchase.
For collectors looking to stock up on wax boxes to hold for potential long term value or search for chase rookie cards, Black Friday often provides the best annual discounts. While it remains to be seen if supply chain issues could impact some 2021 baseball card products, the deals that have already been announced provide collectors plenty of opportunities to save. Between the steep price cuts on cases and bundles from the major manufacturers, and the creative promotions from independent shops, Black Friday is undoubtedly one of the best times each year for baseball card collectors and investors to find deals. Savvy collectors would be wise to take advantage and get a head start on their holiday shopping by perusing the sales in the hobby.
