Panini just doesnt get it when it comes to football cards. Ones that most of us shake our heads over, are ENORMOUS RIDICULOUS SUCCESSES to them, and I can tell you its past the point of parody with the people whose opinions I value.
I mean, when cards that DONT NEED a big white box behind the sticker, still get a big white box just for shits and giggles, I have to question why cards are even being left to the same design team over and over again.
Last year, Plates and Patches was a pretty good looking set in a lot of aspects, but failed in many of the normal places that all Panini sets fail in. This year, even with on card autos, Panini’s judgment calls were absolutely incorrect and detrimental to the visual appeal, all over something as small as how much space a player has to sign a card. As a result, a set that I enjoyed a few cards from last year, despite its literal name, will be thrown on the trash heap with the rest of Panini’s abysmal calendar.
With Limited boxes delivering a redemption once every other box on average, they had better have planned this product out a little better. I have the uptmost clarity that overall, redemptions mean very little when you know what goes into them. However, when they are as frequent as they were in Limited, not only are the casual uneducated collectors alienated, but also the more seasoned ones who are annoyed by not getting live cards in their boxes. Redemptions dont sell as well, and that means even less of a return on your crappy box that also included a jersey card of Mark Mariani and Malcom Floyd.
Lastly, these checklists that Panini rolls out with each product seem to get more and more laughable. Second and third string veterans coupled with retired players with no value at all bring wax breakers to their knees. Not many players have the credentials of Charles Woodson, and it is NOT a good idea to go diving into the retired player dumpster just to fill out your horrendous products.
As I have said many times, the NFL has a crucial decision to make. Not whether or not Panini will stay licensed, but whether or not they will continue to allow MUCH NEEDED competition from Topps as the only company left producing good looking cards on a consistent basis. All Panini has shown is that since the takeover from DLP, their product designs have gone from below average, to poor, to burn my eyes out with a bucket of corroding acid. Its gotten that bad, and even 42% of the poll respondants on Blowout (a formerly pro-Panini message board) agree with the statement.
Here is the damage:
I agree, and they all look the same and run together. I know competition is good, but Topps is doing just fine IMO on baseball delivering extra values when they don’t have to, and in football they are trying their best as well. Laughable is an understatement when it comes to Panini and some of the few, old DLP products I enjoyed and collected are so weak in design, content, and checklist. It is broke and needs fixed. The same 4/hits a box don’t cut it. Their way overpriced MSRP are often 25-40% higher than Topps and it’s a weaker product. In fact they should never even be compared at this point. I could go on, but won’t. Why? They don’t listen, they think their poop smells good, but it does not. I would love to like their products, but until changes come, or they bring back Diamond Kings and do it right (even in Football with Gridiron Kings), then forget them!
Nothing surprises me w/panini anymore. I just wanna know who the fuck busts panini? Why? Ugly cards, three one color jerseys per box, plus if you hit something big it won’t nearly be as valuable as Topps/UD.
THe only way panini stays viable is there costs to produce this shit must be so low that it doesn’t matter that nobody buys it. I feel bad for the people who aren’t informed, b/c marketing/advertising can influence people to buy panini. Before the internet/ebay/blogs I probably could’ve been duped into busting some of this shit.
We NEED competition. The crap the Panini is putting out is an embarrassment to the hobby. 3 scrub jersey cards (probably Rookie Premier ones) and a who-the-hell-is-this-guy auto for a $100? And STILL using Rookie Premier photos? Are you f-ing kidding me? I gave up buying Crapini stuff about 2 years ago when I spent $400 on a couple of boxes and either didnt recognize ANY of the names on the hits.
On a side note, when it comes to Panini, why do we call them “hits”? They’re more like misses. But I digress…
This hobby, this industry, needs Upper Deck back in the football game. I know their business practices make Bernie Madeoff look like the Pope, but not a one of us can deny that UD truly added something to the football card game. They forced Topps & Donruss/Panini to up the ante to all levels of product. Low, Mid or High end, UD had something GOOD to offer us. I’m not a baller. I can’t even think about busting a box of Exquisite. But I appreciate a nice looking card. I know what looks good. I’ve seen some really nice stuff from Topps recently, and the occasional flash of brilliance from Panini. But I think most of us can agree that UD had a helluva lot more success across the board than Topps & Panini combined.
It’s going to be like every other Panini product. Same rookies! (Jordan Todman is STILL in a set?) I know that’s not just a Panini problem, but still. You pay their asinine full MAPP pricing only to see it tank after their phony 30 day period (Anyone still buying “Timeless Treasures” @ $100 a box? LMAO. It hovers around $50 on the Internet now). All that and you’ll still get some crappy jersey cards as 3 of your 4 hits. I’m telling you all Topps has to do is keep doing what it’s doing. I’d like to see one more auto in Chrome and Supreme sure could be better with their hits, but their still years ahead of Panini. The only things I see Panini doing decent things with are their special show cards and their social media presence. Topps needs to upgrade the way they communicate with their customers!!! It would criminal for the NFL to give Panini an exclusive anything! Renew Topps and hopefully UD can get back in the game too!
I miss Upper Deck… cmtpeoition is a good thing and the more the merrier in my book. I just wish that each company was limited to only 2 or 3 products per sport each year.