I hate Spectra. I have hated it since 2014, and this year is no different. It was so bad last year that I added it to my worst products of the last 10 years list, and I dont see it getting any better this year. Everything about the product makes my stomach turn and my eyes hurt, and aside from Unparalleled, this is another feather in the cap for Panini in making the worst products in the history of the hobby.

Check out these cards – please have a vomit receptacle near by.

2016 Spectra Dak Prescott / Ezekiel Elliot Dual Patch Auto Pink

2016 Spectra Laquon Treadwell Logo Patch Auto Orange

2016 Spectra Michael Strahan Auto Pink – This white box is so big you can see it from space.

2016 Spectra Carson Wentz / Jared Goff Dual Tag Auto 1/1

Spectra has four enormous things that all work against it. First is design. The whole look of the product, even without the other three things in play, would be a shit sandwich just because of base concept itself. When you add in Price, the ridiculous patterns on the card stock, and those horrible stickers with neon pens, its a storm of epic proportions. Worth mentioning that when Panini decided to rip off Topps’ entire slate of chrome based product lines with Prizm (Topps Chrome), Select (Finest), and this for Bowman Sterling, they didnt realize how many people already despised Sterling. Its basically the same setup, but Bowman Sterling rarely had design issues, and never used these god awful neon stickers.

Its kind of scary that anyone would really consider dropping the insane price point for this, as it just doesnt deliver much worth buying. The autographs for the main hits are not on card, and the theme of the set is literally nothing new for Panini. Its almost built for group breaks, which is becoming a normal thing for their product lines, and that should really scare everyone more than the ineptitude displayed in actually building the set itself. Its clear that orders werent all that strong, as they added case incentives to try to get the rest of the product off their shelves.

Have our standards dropped this low? How are people not soiling themselves with anger over the slap in the face Spectra represents. They couldnt even get these cards done in a way that reflects the price of the box, and to see such a terrible looking set get into the mix with an even worse history, why do people stand by and let Panini go without repercussions from their spending habits.

Its kind of funny how many collectors who were once Panini fans have emailed me with their disapproval of the garbage this year. Here is one from Jason, who said he has been a Panini fan for a while. I have gotten quite a few of these, but nothing as interesting as this one was.

Gellman,

First off, I really dont agree with much of what you say on your site. Although you have a good thing going in the style of your blog, your ideas never really resonated with me. I have been a Panini fan for most of the time, mainly because I love their Basketball stuff so much, but have dabbled in football too. 

It was only natural that I was happy they got the exclusive, and I fully expected you to go off the deep end, which you kind of have. 

That being the case, all I can say is that all those things you complained about possibly happening when the exclusive took hold have seemingly been woven into the fabric of their 2016 football line. One product is worse than the next and I am completely bored out of my mind. I still dont think that I fully agree with the way you trash their product setups but their design has fallen off a cliff and these products are pretty laughable for people like me. 

I bought a number of Panini boxes and cases last year, and at least one of every product. So far, I have spent close to nothing this year. I hope they change, because I have liked what they did before, but if it continues to go this way, Im staying out of football for good. My shop owner down here said his sales have dropped so much that he doesnt pre-order cases anymore. He cant afford to let their crap collect dust on his shelf with how little he makes as it is. 

Anyways, just wanted to give you some fuel for your fire, as I think your rants might actually end up being mutually beneficial.

Jason

Interesting stuff indeed, and I only expect it to get worse as Panini waters down their brand names with identical NCAA and pro releases side by side. This industry was already going down the toilet, Panini only makes it worse.