TLA Traders 2021 Official Thread

[Brendan_B]

I went to a newsagents a month ago who said that they could order me 18 cricket starter packs.
Still waiting...

My local Newsagent who would sell a case of Traders in loose packets and all the Elite they can get (normally 6 boxes +) were sent one box of Elite last year and no cricket.

They tried to order Cricket twice, were knocked back and then out of the blue, two boxes appeared at the start of this month. Sold out in a week, tried to order more and were told they couldn’t.

 

[redtorana]

My local Newsagent who would sell a case of Traders in loose packets and all the Elite they can get (normally 6 boxes +) were sent one box of Elite last year and no cricket.

They tried to order Cricket twice, were knocked back and then out of the blue, two boxes appeared at the start of this month. Sold out in a week, tried to order more and were told they couldn’t.

Ikon Collectables TLA`S wholesaler has plenty of 2021 Cricket box/cases UNSOLD ....

 

[220]

I went to a newsagents a month ago who said that they could order me 18 cricket starter packs.
Still waiting...

There is a difference between being able to order them and being supplied them, Ovato's full allocation of cricket traders starters for newsagents was gone in the release day allocation. I tried ordering more the day of release and couldnt get any extra then.

They tried to order Cricket twice, were knocked back and then out of the blue, two boxes appeared at the start of this month. Sold out in a week, tried to order more and were told they couldn’t.

Didnt try to order additional boxes of cricket traders so not sure if it was all gone in the release day allocation or not. The two boxes could be early returns from other newsagents becoming available. They should have plenty of albums I sent back a box 10 a few weeks back.
With Elite I have been trying to order it for the last 5 years and still havent managed to get even 1 box.

 

[Brandboy20]

Welcome to Western Australia!

Great way of growing the hobby - make sure no-one knows about it unless they already know to search for it.

100% Agreed!!!!

I really hope Newsagents get starters. With Priority being dealer only (which I have no issues with), something needs to be left for the retail aspect. From what I have seen, Priority in both Traders and Elite seems to have ‘stacked’ boxes which presumably leaves the boxes in newsagents a bit light on. The availability of starters negates this somewhat.

I have also heard that Elite 21 will not be in Newsagents.

I think this is the way forward in card industry, my local newso newst to have a full wall stocked full of every single card release AFL/NRL series 1 and 2, cricket, soccer, Pokemon you name it. Now he cant get anything at all. He was given 3 starter packs of cricket by TLA and that was if & he asked for sealed boxes and they said no.
All he has is soccer match attax. Thing the old grab a few packs from the news is over (only with the ! grab one pack and....)

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I know 4-5 local newsagents who got no Elite and no cricket.

 

[Brendan_B]

I have enjoyed the accessibility of Elite in Newsagents since TLA took over the licence as there weren’t many newsagents in SEQ who stocked Series 2 Select.

That being said, Elite is a higher end hobby release so I can see why the product would become dealer only.

It is all about box breaks now though. There is much more money to be made and it allows older stock to be moved on as soon as you dangle the priority box carat. I quite enjoy box breaks but I still enjoy opening boxes also and then trading to get what I need. The trouble with box breaks, the good ones with Priority, is that you have to live online as they sell out in minutes.

 

[220]

I dont think people realise the numbers involved on the retail side, there are nearly 5000 newsagents in Aus, 1000 in NSW/ACT alone throw a 1000 Woolworths stores in 800 Coles and then servos into the mix and see what the allocation per store would be if done equally. Remember dealers will probably take 50% of the product.
If you take something like the recent cricket release that was 599 cases including starters and priority halve it for what is available at retail outlets you are left with 3000 boxes to distribute between something like 8000 retail outlets nationally.

Last year there were 1112 boxes of retail starters for nrl traders. Even just looking at 2000 outlets across NSW/QLD that is only about 5 packs to each retail outlet if dealers take half the product. Want every retailer that is selling them to have a minimum of 20 packs then you are down to 500 outlets. The only alternative to limited availability is massive print runs and flood the market. That then means cards holding even less value or lots of dud boxes.

 

[Matt26]

I dont think people realise the numbers involved on the retail side, there are nearly 5000 newsagents in Aus, 1000 in NSW/ACT alone throw a 1000 Woolworths stores in 800 Coles and then servos into the mix and see what the allocation per store would be if done equally. Remember dealers will probably take 50% of the product.
If you take something like the recent cricket release that was 599 cases including starters and priority halve it for what is available at retail outlets you are left with 3000 boxes to distribute between something like 8000 retail outlets nationally.

Last year there were 1112 boxes of retail starters for nrl traders. Even just looking at 2000 outlets across NSW/QLD that is only about 5 packs to each retail outlet if dealers take half the product. Want every retailer that is selling them to have a minimum of 20 packs then you are down to 500 outlets. The only alternative to limited availability is massive print runs and flood the market. That then means cards holding even less value or lots of dud boxes.

I know in the old network services days I was aware of one release (10 box cases - 450 cases) that had 3000 boxes sent out to all newsagents on the list. That was 300 cases of a print run of 450 cases with the rest (150 cases) allocated to resellers.

The issue for the manufacturers these days is how do you handle the returns (if done on a sale and return basis)...... which can be costly to process and in some cases this stock is just usually securely destroyed (or makes its way back on to the secondary markets via sticky fingers) or a relatives eBay store.

These days it seems the manufacturers would rather this be sold to resellers first (to avoid any potential returns and max profit) and then a limited amount of boxes sent to newsagents where the manufacturer may need to deal with returns but also pay an additional charge to Ovato which means less profit.

 

[220]

Would be interesting to see what the returns have been on the last few releases. Apart from albums I havent returned anything in the last 5 years.
I still have a look and grab a few packs if I am in another newsagents, albums always seem reasonably easy to locate but cards not so much. I think they are getting to the stage that Ovato are being supplied about what they know news agents will sell,

 

[Matt26]

Would be interesting to see what the returns have been on the last few releases. Apart from albums I havent returned anything in the last 5 years.
I still have a look and grab a few packs if I am in another newsagents, albums always seem reasonably easy to locate but cards not so much. I think they are getting to the stage that Ovato are being supplied about what they know news agents will sell,

Yes I'm getting the impression they know where the sales are only supply enough to minimise any sale and return.

Gone are the days where every newsagent would get a box its a lot more targeted these days.

 

[hobo]

I have enjoyed the accessibility of Elite in Newsagents since TLA took over the licence as there weren’t many newsagents in SEQ who stocked Series 2 Select.

That being said, Elite is a higher end hobby release so I can see why the product would become dealer only.

It is all about box breaks now though. There is much more money to be made and it allows older stock to be moved on as soon as you dangle the priority box carat. I quite enjoy box breaks but I still enjoy opening boxes also and then trading to get what I need. The trouble with box breaks, the good ones with Priority, is that you have to live online as they sell out n minutes.

Unfortunately I am not a Gen Y or Gen Zer ( stop the cheek I'm also not a Boomer) so I don't spend every waking moment of my life on-line, checking notification and feeds. I have almost zero chance of getting into any case / box breaks. So at the moment the hobby really isn't catering for me or doing anything to get me to spend additional discretionary $$$s.

I will probably buy a box suffer buyers remorse when I don't hit a single STG card I want and then look out on the secondary market for someone dumping cards to get what I need. Pretty sad really.

Cheers
Ross

 

[Brendan_B]

I know in the old network services days I was aware of one release (10 box cases - 450 cases) that had 3000 boxes sent out to all newsagents on the list. That was 300 cases of a print run of 450 cases with the rest (150 cases) allocated to resellers.

The issue for the manufacturers these days is how do you handle the returns (if done on a sale and return basis)...... which can be costly to process and in some cases this stock is just usually securely destroyed (or makes its way back on to the secondary markets via sticky fingers) or a relatives eBay store.

These days it seems the manufacturers would rather this be sold to resellers first (to avoid any potential returns and max profit) and then a limited amount of boxes sent to newsagents where the manufacturer may need to deal with returns but also pay an additional charge to Ovato which means less profit.

Those returns that make eBay are literally a ‘goldfield’

 

[saintsforever]

And before you ask @saintsforever , he is age 36 , not numbered out of /100 and isnt for sale or trade

got that, thought someone would have to comment on the 36.

 

[Angry]

I will say it again, Newsagents wont get any starters.

I no a couple in Sydney and Melbourne that will definitely get them

 

[saintsforever]

I no a couple in Sydney and Melbourne that will definitely get them

Just wondering how scanlens used to get out so many boxes all over the place, local fish and chip shops, dell's, servos etc, for decades, all without computers, just trucks.
Wow, its just all about money isnt TLA.
F the collectors.
Just recntly started getting some of 2019 traders.
And i was absolutely bemused why with the authentic series, the AN cards have silver sigs and the AS have navy sigs.

 

[Sharks16]

got that, thought someone would have to comment on the 36.

Sorry Dave it was just too tempting

 

[saintsforever]

Sorry Dave it was just too tempting

I see that number come up everday, its amazing where and how.

 

[Sharks16]

I see that number come up everday, its amazing where and how.

And you’ve got me seeing it along with most people on here I’m tipping .

 

[ShayTheAussie]

9 days until Traders release and I’m feeling kinda meh. Not as interested like I’ve been for previous years. Just me, or does anyone else feel the same way?

 

[Battingticks84]

9 days until Traders release and I’m feeling kinda meh. Not as interested like I’ve been for previous years. Just me, or does anyone else feel the same way?

Seeing the new release of AFL cards further highlights just how average TLA is. Select’s lowest level of AFL product has better visual appeal than NRL Elite.