TOPPS vs OPC

[bruinsman]

so whats the deal with these cards in the 70's - 80's.

they seem to have identical cards in some cases, yet one set (OPC) is worth way more.
was TOPPS over produced? why were they worth so much less?

 

[Hama]

OPC was the more comprehensive set more often than not - Topps wasn't exactly the most collected and it almost never made it over the border. Especially since OPC was working under Topps' licence + issued a bilingual set.

Why have the same product competing for the same dollars - particularly when both companies had a considerable working relationship not only in cards, but mainly in candy

 

[jetsman]

OPC was the more comprehensive set more often than not - Topps wasn't exactly the most collected and it almost never made it over the border. Especially since OPC was working under Topps' licence + issued a bilingual set.

Why have the same product competing for the same dollars - particularly when both companies had a considerable working relationship not only in cards, but mainly in candy

The sets weren't competing for the same $. As you rightly pointed out, Topps almost never made it over the border. It was like wrestling in the territory days -- you never promoted went where there was another organization.