Contenders has always been a collector favorite, as it was one of the first sets to really focus on bringing extensive rookie autograph content to the market. Starting way back before Peyton Manning was even a superstar, collectors have waited with baited breath to get their favorite player’s autographed rookie ticket.
Over the last few years, Contenders has failed to live up to just about every expectation people have had, even the low ones that I set for the product. The main box hit rookie tickets have been plagued by disgusting designs and terrible layouts, and many people (myself included) were beyond pissed that Panini couldn’t get their act together on one of their biggest sets of the year. One reason I am always interested to see the way Contenders turns out, stems from the fact that this is Panini’s only set that isnt tainted by their practices of paralleling the fuck out of their cards with needless cheap jersey cards.
This year, unlike last year, was previewed with a very clean and great looking ticket design for the first time since 2007. In fact, I was so impressed by their choice of design that I forgot to factor in that they always find ways to fuck up a good buzz. Sure enough, Panini decided that much like the rest of their products on the calendar, Contenders needed foil and lots of it. Big mistake. Then, we started getting pictures of the signed on card signatures as they came in, and I started to become more and more scared of a 2009 autograph repeat disaster.
Back in 2009, Panini completely blanked on the fact that permanent markers bubble and streak when you sign glossy surfaces. It’s the reason Upper Deck always used flat stock for their hard signed sets. Not only does flat stock make the signatures practically pop off the stock, but it looks that much better and more valuable from the get go. In 2010, based on some early images we are seeing, this is looking to be another year of Contenders that is falling well below where it should be.
Its a pity, they took a good looking set from the initial preview and turned it into complete crap. The cards without the foil they previewed looked great, unfortunately it looks like the preview was released in error as it didn’t have foil
when you can see the poor quality of the auto from the preview pic it does bode well for the set. You can see the streaks in the sig and it looks so bad
Upper Deck is just as guilty take a look( or try to) at 2007 Sweet Spot. Are you sure Its the stock, or the Ink itself?
Glad I didn’t prebuy any of this crap. Just think, in another 5 years we get to find out if the autographs just fade into oblivion, thanks to shitty design and the planning thought process of a rock!
You know what? Are these idiots hiring? I want to work someplace where I can just be a total waste of life and get paid for failing miserably at every single thing I bother to attempt. I mean, if at any point, any point whatsoever, somebody turns in these set designs and says “look at this!” with even the slightest hint of being proud of it… My GOD, make the fail stop. Please???
Its like I cant buy ANY products this year…they all look like garbage…damn it…im getting so sick of panini and how they have screwed up this hobby…i guess ill be sticking to previous years products….
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You can’t expect much from a company that kept many of their old FU employees when I helped oust Ann Blake (Powell or whatever the last name of husband #12 is). Then hire a few “experts” like Mike Payne (Beckett’s former big boss) who used to be a very outspoken critic of everything Playoff (OFF THE RECORD) until he lost his Beckett job & of course where did he go to work??? Panini/Playoff!
The Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area is a HOTBED of fraud in this industry & every company seems to be in bed together scrambling for our hard earned money completely disregarding what it will do to their repuatation the next season. This is the ONLY industry that I’ve seen survive such an attitude in my entire life: THAT’S EVERY COLLECTORS FAULT WHO BUYS NEW RELEASES! The ONLY way to punish them all for screwing us is to stop buying new releases. Isn’t there enough old products on eBay for 10% of what they would have cost you 3-5 years ago??? SO WHY BUY NEW STUFF? That never made a bit of sense to me & NEVER WILL!
I was set-up for bankrupting Ann’s good friend: Mike Kramer at Pacific for making all fake game-used Private Stock Baseball cards in 2001. I didn’t know, but my “friend” Mike Payne did know about this friendship & apparent set-up & I didn’t find this truth out until it was WAY TOO LATE! BTW- Thanks Again Mike!
We need to take responsibility for the money card companies make because it’s us ONLY us keeping them from making us happy! Understand?