Trading card manufacturer Topps is testing a new strategy to prevent the reselling of sealed products for a profit by shipping boxes without the plastic seal they’re normally wrapped in, the company announced Wednesday. Pre-orders for Mega Boxes (containing seven packs) of 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball, which are scheduled to begin Friday through Topps’ website, will be the first products to ship in this format.“While cards and contents inside remain untouched, removing the factory seal helps discourage the immediate resale and gives more collectors an opportunity to purchase at retail,” Topps wrote in a social media post to the company’s official X account.Boxes sold by third parties without a plastic seal have been viewed as risky purchases due to the potential for tampering, which can include removing the most valuable cards or replacing packs entirely. One of the most notable examples of a sealed box of trading cards being tampered with was when YouTuber and entrepreneur Logan Paul purchased a case of 1st Edition Pokémon cards for $3.5 million that ended up being filled with G.I. Joe cards instead.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Following unprecedented demand for yesterday’s 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball pre-order, we’re working to provide collectors a chance to open packs at retail price.
