Fanatics/Topps have recently invited a watchful third-party eye – KPMG, a leading audit firm – to scrutinize their card distribution processes. This move comes as an effort not only to ensure fairness but also to clear the cloud of doubt that has been hanging over the collector and dealer community regarding the randomness in high-value card distributions.
During the Industry Conference held in Atlanta, Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan shared some good news. He unveiled that after several months of meticulous examination, KPMG finally gave Fanatics/Topps the green light. KPMG found that the procedures in place at Fanatics/Topps effectively obstruct any possibility of specifically placing high-value cards with specific customers.
Fanatics/Topps has had to weather a storm of suspicion, with speculations circulating that they favor large volume customers or well-known breakers. Fuel was added to these rumors by occasional social media videos of breakers pulling incredibly valuable cards repeatedly. This sparked discussions questioning the randomness of pack contents. However, Greg Abovsky, Fanatics Collectibles CFO, offered a simple explanation: it’s not about manipulation, it’s about statistics. Major breakers manage large volumes of card packages, thereby increasing their chances of pulling high-value cards.
KPMG’s investigation was neither rushed nor skin-deep. It involved an in-depth review of the collation process at the Texas printing facility, where the magic of card creation happens. Checking production logs for each job, the firm ensured that distribution of every card was indeed random, supporting Topps’ claims. This innovative initiative, according to Fanatics, is an industry-first, and its principal objective is to quell the myths surrounding their distribution process and affirm to the collector community that Fanatics’ practices are above board.
The audit’s revelations did not stop there. Abovsky also busted another common myth: that Fanatics seeds boxes with valuable cards for promotional purposes. He made it clear – this just isn’t the case. Transparency and fairness underline their operations.
But Fanatics’ commitment to these values won’t stop with a single audit. They plan to make KPMG’s randomness reviews an annual affair. This way they can continually affirm their dedication to nondiscriminatory and transparent practices.
Their pursuit of integrity is laudable and pioneering. Fanatics is clearing the path for other industry players to follow, challenging the status quo and setting a new standard. Will others in the industry follow suit? Only time will tell. For now, Fanatics has undeniably taken a huge step forward by not just claiming transparency and fairness, but proving it too. Their actions speak louder than words, and collectors and dealers can breathe easy, knowing that the game isn’t rigged, at least not by Fanatics/Topps.
