Taking a significant stride forward toward transparency, Fanatics Collectibles has partnered with KPMG, a globally recognized auditing firm, to verify the randomness of its high-value trading card distribution procedure. The initiative comes in response to lingering suspicions among collectors and dealers regarding the potential for high-bias as particular customers reportedly receive more high-value cards than others.
The CEO of Fanatics Collectibles, Mike Mahan, announced the KPMG partnership during the industry conference in Atlanta. He revealed that following several months of meticulous scrutiny, KPMG confirmed that Fanatics/Topps’ systems effectively prohibit any preferential distribution of valuable cards to select customers.
The controversy of Fanatics/Topps possibly treating prominent breakers or large-volume customers with favours has long been a contentious issue within the collector community. The allegations gained momentum when videos emerged on social media platforms featuring breakers unboxing multiple high-value cards, sparking speculations about the legitimacy of pack randomization.
Greg Abovsky, the Chief Financial Officer of Fanatics Collectibles, dismissed these allegations, attributing the frequent high-value pulls by significant breakers to the sheer volume they handle. It was more a matter of probability, he argued, rather than any conceived manipulation of packing.
As part of the audit process, KPMG implemented a comprehensive review of the Texas facility where Fanatics/Topps produces and packages its trading cards. The firm closely examined the collation process and the production logs of each work order. This scrutiny aimed to ensure that the distribution mechanisms are, as claimed by Topps, genuinely random.
According to Fanatics, this unprecedented move in the industry intends to debunk rumours and assert the integrity of the organization’s distribution system, seeking to establish deeper trust within the collector community.
Abovsky further confirmed that, contrary to prevalent belief among some collectors, Fanatics has never populated boxes with high-value cards for promotional or targeted marketing efforts. This refutation aims to dispel the myth of Fanatics/Topps intentionally skewing the randomness of their packs.
In a move that underscores its dedication to transparency and fairness, Fanatics has plans to make KPMG’s randomness audit an annual affair. This strategy will help cement their commitment to upholding fair practices, acting as a beacon of trust for collectors and dealers unsure of the mysterious process behind high-value card distribution.
