Topps Baseball Cards Mega Boxes – An Overview
Topps baseball cards mega boxes have been popular among collectors for years as they offer an exciting and affordable way to build a collection. Mega boxes typically contain dozens of packs of the current year’s Topps flagship baseball card release, allowing collectors the chance to pull valuable rookie cards, autographs, and more in one purchase. While not every mega box yields huge hits, their lower per-pack price compared to buying packs individually makes them an enticing option for both new and experienced collectors. If you’re looking to pick one up, here’s an overview of Topps baseball cards mega boxes and where to find them near you.
What’s Inside a Topps Baseball Cards Mega Box?
Topps mega boxes for the current year typically contain between 24-36 mini packs of cards, similar in size to the standard 5-card retail packs. Mega boxes are sealed with cellophane wrapping so collectors enjoy the excitement of unwrapping a larger package. Inside each mini pack is the standard assortment of base cards, parallels, inserts, and the occasional hit that collectors hope to pull.
One key difference with mega boxes versus retail packs is they contain guaranteed memorabilia or autograph cards in certain odds. For example, 2021 Topps Series 1 mega boxes guaranteed one hit per every 3-4 boxes on average. Hits could be relic cards containing swatches or fragments of game-used jerseys or equipment, or autograph cards signed by current or former MLB stars. Occasionally “short prints” and other chase cards also appear more frequently in mega boxes.
Where to Buy Topps Baseball Cards Mega Boxes
The most convenient and affordable place to buy Topps mega boxes is often at local retail stores near you that carry sports and trading cards. Here are some of the top national chains to check:
Target – Many large Target stores stock sports cards, usually near the front of the store. Target typically sells flagship MLB releases like Topps Series 1 & 2.
Walmart – Look in the trading card/hobby aisle for Topps products. Quality and stock varies a lot by individual store though.
-Rite Aid – Some Rite Aid pharmacy locations still carry cards and have fairly regular MLB mega box stock.
-CVS – Pharmacy chain with limited but growing MLB card selection, often around trading card endcaps.
You can also search online for any independent card shops, comic book stores, or local hobby shops in your area that specialize more in cards. These tend to have the best stock and also sell exclusive retail-only parallels only found in hobby boxes and mega boxes.
Sports card websites like BlowoutCards, DaCardWorld and SteelCityCollectibles also carry Topps mega boxes if you prefer to order online. Shipping costs may negate any savings vs retail however. Mega boxes typically sell in the $35-45 range depending on hobby store or current release.
Finding Topps Baseball Cards Mega Boxes – Challenges Today
Unfortunately, the trading card industry has been hit hard by supply chain issues, rising production costs, and increased collector demand spurred by the pandemic. As such, Topps mega boxes and many other sports card products have become increasingly difficult to locate in stores. Here are some of the common challenges collectors face:
Limited Stock – Popular releases are only stocked sporadically at retail and sell out very quickly once product arrives. Shipments are inconsistent.
Scalpers – “Covid Cards” has attracted many to resell at inflated prices. Entire stock levels are sometimes bought up and flipped online for profit.
-Allocation – To control supply, manufacturers ration full cases of product to each account based on sales history. Smaller resellers get limited supply.
-Production Delays – Card manufacturers have months-long waits to even receive full print runs due to industry backlogs. This restricts what reaches shelves.
-Secondary Markup – Completed eBay listings show mega boxes immediately resold for 2x-4x the original price within hours/days of retail sale.
As frustrating as it is, patience and persistence are key for enthusiasts looking to buy Topps mega boxes at reasonable prices locally. Calling ahead to confirm inventory, visiting stores at opening, and watching social media for restock alerts from sellers are some tips. But availability remains tight industry-wide for the foreseeable future unfortunately.
In summary, Topps baseball cards mega boxes offer an exciting way for collectors to rip packs and search for hits. While finding them in stores has become more difficult, checking local big box retailers, pharmacies and hobby shops is a good starting point. With luck and some effort, enthusiastic fans stand a decent chance of tracking down a coveted unopened mega box to fuel their baseball card collecting hobby.
