I didn’t have a Topps profile, as I was very new to collecting, so I created one and entered codes a couple at a time as I debated just selling or holding the redemption cards.  Since you obviously cannot return opened boxes of baseball cards, my profile came to look like this:

Okay..

For the last month, I’ve been receiving emails from Topps saying,

Dear Consumer.

This email is to inform you that the Topps Company is currently beyond the 15 week processing time allocated for the following redemption card:

PIN #:          Product:                        Card/Player Name
XXXXXXXX    Topps Finest                    Travis Snider AU Rookie Letter Patch

Our staff is working diligently to process and ship your redemption card as soon as possible.  Please continue to check your Online Redemption account for updates regarding the status of your card.

If you no longer wish to wait for the redemption card, please contact our Consumer Relations team in order to place a substitution request for a card of equal Beckett value.

Obviously, the consumer has to believe that Topps had a contract with Snider and just wasn’t able to get the cards signed in time, right?

Well after complaining about the misleading (and illegal?) sales tactics to support@etopps.com, I finally got an answer about when the cards would (maybe) arrive at my doorstep:

Response (Colin)

11/09/2009 11:52 AM

Thank you for your inquiry concerning our current redemption program.

I wanted to apologize for the delay and allay your concerns in reference to Topps having received your redemption claim. Below you will see the entry into our system for your card:

09-BB-FIN-152-RF Backordered 2009 Topps Finest Baseball Travis Snider AU Rookie Letter Patch Refractor 152

This specific card is scheduled to be printed and constructed in November along with the Finest Rookie set. Please allow four to six weeks for us to obtain the autograph and ship the card. If, at the end of that period, you have not received, feel free to contact us again involving the status of your redemption.

Now, I’m fucking furious.

Topps hadn’t even PRINTED the Cards at the time the release, let alone SENT them to Travis Snider.

If this isn’t a severe misrepresentation of a product, I don’t know what is, but I’ll be filing the papers.