There isnt many more adjectives that serve as a synonym for horrible that I can apply for this product. Being that this is the first set that is offered under their new exclusive license, you would think they would like to make more of a splash. Instead they have used an old design, sticker autos, and risked their biggest product's identity in the process
. Its the equivalent of opening a restaurant and using a menu from the restaurant that was there prior to you buying it. I would even go so far as saying its probably the equivalent of using some of the old food itself as well.
Here are the bigger hits up so far:
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Marcus Mariota Cracked Ice Auto /23
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Amari Cooper Cracked Ice Auto /23
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Jameis Winston Auto Ticket
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Drew Brees Alumni Ink Auto
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Melvin Gordon Auto
Now, some of the big breakers want to equivocate the new draft picks set asking prices with the values from NFL contenders released a few months ago. They would love it if you can ask 1100 dollars for a Mariota Cracked Ice and get close to that price. At first, they might, because there is a sucker born every minute. However, every single aspect of this set, save checklist size, is inferior to their competition.
I have heard from people, “WELL, WELL, WELL, MY COLLEGE HAS MORE CARDS IN THIS SET!” This would be great if that meant those cards achieved a higher price just for existing. If the presence of more players meant a larger market would be interested in those cards, creating a demand for them above the 2 dollars they are getting, it might be a bit different. Instead, the checklist may be bigger, but all that means is that the bigger hits are further diluted more than they would be in other boxes.
Similarly, the fact that this is all sticker autographs compared to on card should indicate another reason why the checklist shouldnt give this product a pass. If Panini’s license prevented on card autographs from being made, who’s bright idea was it to release a product with the Contenders name attached? Why would you risk that? Makes no sense. Why not risk a brand that has no bearing in football like Elite Extra Edition or create something new like Rated Rookies?
It definitely hurts that the 2014 Contenders design is about as horrible as it has been over the last few years. The ticket design has off center logos, giant text and a weird bunch of numbers on the side that are supposed to make this a “ticket” but really just look out of place. This was all chosen instead of the Rookie Ink design, which believe it or not, ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING TICKET. I cant make this shit up, because they the did it all over again for 2015 draft picks.
Considering that this product inexplicably costs 130 dollars per box, makes me wonder why anyone would choose this box over a product like UD Inscriptions, which features a much more tightly organized checklist, on card autos and inscriptions! Hell, I would even bust Prizm next week at less than 70 instead of shelling out double for this crap.
I get it, my complaining does nothing, because the sheep will line up for bad products every time. Hell, look how many people busted Black Gold, which might have been one of the worst looking products of the year.
At least they wont be taking over the exclusive license for the NFL….oh crap. Kill me now.
I’ve been absolutely amazed at the hype this product has been getting. Over here in the UK people have been playing BIG money to get in on breaks. It must be Contenders name because UD Inscriptions is a far superior product in almost every aspect.
Would on-card autos make this a better product? …..Yes. Would a better design make this a better product….. Better is better. While I don’t have your eye for judging design, I haven’t heard any complaints about design from my customers.
As you said, “I get it, my complaining does nothing, because the sheep will line up for bad products every time. Hell look how many people busted Black Gold………….” The sheep (I call them the paying public, the customer whose expectations must be met if a product is to be successful.) are lining up for this product and coming back for more.
2015 Contenders Draft Picks Football boxes are retailing for $130 with six or seven autographs per box, approximately $20 per auto. Panini continues the Contenders winning formula of variations, short prints and inserts. While the vast majority of products are all about PCs and “The Big Hit,” Contenders football has a significant “Master Set” following, which insures demand and value to all autographs in this product.
No one will argue against on-card autos. I wish Panini could have included at least two on-card autos per box, but it didn’t happen. I am sure Panini knows on-card autos are better and will make that happen in the near future 2015 releases.
This year’s draft class with quarterbacks going one and two, and seven of the top fifteen picks being highly collectible skill players, will help make all early released 2015 football products successful. While 2015 Contenders Draft Picks Football could have been better, it meets customers overall expectations and delivers real value for the box buster.
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If you’ve seen any breaks, I’d say over 80% are TERRIBLE! Not just bad, but absolutely horrendous. This reminds me of how watered down Topps Chrome was this year, except it feels worse, because no one wants the inserts, and at least you have refractors/colors to fall back on in Chrome. Here, you get a ton of junk plus 6 autos, and hopefully you hit someone you can actually recognize.
When you see how Leaf and UD both find ways to give you at least one nice hit per box, Contenders is a freaking disaster. Not to mention it costs 40-50 dollars more per box.
Charlie, this comment is even too rainbows and butterflies for you. I have watched the breaks, and even seen posts on blowout from your customers who have opened the product. You say they are lining up and coming back for more? I feel bad them if the boxes are as bad as the ones I am seeing posted by them and others on the boards/youtube. You may see them react when they get one nicer autograph, but if they bust 6 boxes to get it, that is going to leave them quite a bit in the hole. Citing the number of autographs per box also is circumstantial because of how diluted this checklist seems to be at this point in the year.
“No one will argue against on-card autos. I wish Panini could have included at least two on-card autos per box, but it didn’t happen. I am sure Panini knows on-card autos are better and will make that happen in the near future 2015 releases.” – Means nothing. This product is stickers. In fact, the next release, Prizm, is also stickers. You cant give them a pass for this product or the next because their future is planning to have on card.
Although the argument can be made that not every box will be a winner – which I support – this product doesnt even live up to the normal expectations one would have from any other product.
“Panini continues the Contenders winning formula of variations, short prints and inserts.”
Sorry, just shot my drink out of my nose. Oh wait, you’re serious?
So if we can get HIT to throw some variations in there next year, they too can use the Contenders formula of sticker autos, numbered cards and inserts.
By my count, there have been eight 2015 sets released. Three of those are all sticker autos : Leaf Draft, Sage HIT, and Contenders, which was released months after the other two. Well done panini…
Offered without comment…
https://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/panini-america-receiving-high-marks-for-its-first-college-football-trading-card-product/
I love the look a lot of these cards, but the sticker auto on them rellay turn me off from spending that kind of money. Even in the preview, Blake Griffin auto is cut off. It just makes it look cheap. I’ll probably track down a few singles for sure, though.