​Topps, the trading card manufacturer, announced on Wednesday that it is trialing a new approach aimed at curbing the resale of sealed products for profit. The company plans to ship boxes that do not include the usual plastic wrapping, a move designed to deter speculative buying and immediate resale of sealed items. The first products to be dispatched in this new format will be the Mega Boxes, which contain seven packs each, from the 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball line. Pre-orders for these Mega Boxes are set to begin Friday and will be available through Topps’ official website.
This initiative marks a notable shift in how Topps delivers its products to consumers, as the absence of the traditional plastic seal is intended to reduce the incentive for collectors and traders to purchase sealed boxes solely to resell them at higher prices. By shipping unsealed boxes, Topps aims to encourage direct consumer engagement and reduce arbitrage opportunities that can undermine the experienced collector’s market and the integrity of product releases.
The decision to alter packaging for the 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball Mega Boxes comes after broader industry conversations about the impact of resellers on the hobby. Enthusiasts and collectors have often expressed concern that sealed boxes and case-level purchases can be bought up quickly by resellers who then mark up prices on secondary marketplaces, limiting access for casual players and fans who want to open packs and enjoy the hobby as intended. While some card manufacturers have previously implemented measures to combat resale, Topps’ strategy to remove the plastic wrap represents a more visible departure from conventional packaging norms.
Topps’ new packaging approach will apply specifically to the Mega Boxes of this release, with other product lines continuing their existing packaging until a broader rollout is decided. The company has indicated that the unsealed packaging will not compromise the safety or integrity of the contents and will still ensure that all cards and inserts remain intact for customers who purchase them to open. The company’s announcement emphasized that the shift is a test rather than a permanent, company-wide standard, and it will be evaluated based on customer feedback, sales data, and the overall impact on resale activity.
Industry observers note that packaging changes, even seemingly small ones, can have a ripple effect on consumer behavior. Some fans may welcome the move as a way to reduce the profitability of resale, while others may worry about potential concerns related to product protection and perceived value. In response, Topps has stressed that the unsealed Mega Boxes are designed with the same internal safeguards and quality controls as traditionally sealed products, ensuring that buyers still receive genuine, unopened content at the point of sale.
The move comes as part of a broader push within the hobby to address concerns about fairness and accessibility. By altering the packaging, Topps is signaling its willingness to experiment with how product presentation influences purchasing decisions. For collectors who prefer to open their packs immediately, the lack of a plastic seal may not be a major issue, while for others, packaging remains a key factor in perceived product value. The company plans to monitor customer sentiment and market response closely as the Friday pre-orders for the 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball Mega Boxes open on its website.
In the pages of the contemporary hobby press and in discussions among collectors, opinions are likely to diverge. Some may view the unopened packaging as diminishing the traditional unboxing ritual and the long-held belief that sealed boxes preserve future value. Others may see the change as a pragmatic step toward a more accessible market where genuine fans can obtain products without inadvertently fueling price spikes. Topps’ experiment will therefore be closely watched by competitors, retailers, and fans who participate in the resale ecosystem, all seeking to understand whether removing the plastic seal can measurably curb speculative buying without diminishing the overall appeal and quality of the product.
As the pre-orders commence on Friday, Topps will be gauging not only sales performance but also consumer feedback on the unsealed packaging format. The results of this trial will inform future packaging decisions and potential policy changes across additional product lines. If the initiative proves effective in reducing resale-driven purchasing while maintaining customer satisfaction and product integrity, it could set a precedent for other sports card manufacturers to consider similar packaging strategies. Conversely, if the move fails to curb resale or prompts dissatisfaction among buyers, Topps may revert to traditional sealed packaging or explore alternative measures to address the issue. In any case, the company’s selective testing of unsealed Mega Boxes signals a willingness to innovate in an industry historically defined by its adherence to established packaging conventions and resale dynamics.