For the past ten years or so we've all gotten a bit tired of game-used cards since all the card companies have overpopulated the hobby with them.
What is everyone's opinion or ideas of what the companies could do next to spark our interest and make us part with our money.

Personally I like pulling short-print parallels of rookies in hopes of getting the "most rare card" of the next Mickey Mantle. Especially Bowman Chrome Xfractors and Gold Refractors.

Okay, lets hear those ideas.

Eric a.k.a. (C.I.T., Huskie)

I still think it will be memorabilia. Rather than jerseys, it will be some crazy idea...perhaps the player's socks, or grass, or something crazy. Card companies are bound to do it.

Tim

The Bowman Chrome Rookie Refractors, Xfractors, Gold Ref will always be the best and an auto on them even better.
I hear Upper Deck is going to try some new printing process that might generate a new interest. It didn't work for Score but maybe UD can pull it off.
I'm looking forward to their Game Faces box when it comes out.
Then saving my money for Bowman Chrome.

Game used failed because companies over produced game used cards and made them like insert cards a few years ago.

As for the next big thing. I would have to say stuff like eTopps. It has become very popular recently and it could take over cardboard cards down the line.

That's true. Another option are inserts such as a game used piece of glass from the backboard of a basketball hoop, or something of that nature.

Tim

Maybe they (meaning Topps) should give redemption cards for special etopps cards, which are only available from buying cardboard cards. That would get etopp buyers to buy cardboard and cardboard buyers would get interested in etopps. Personally I'm clueless about etopps but that would get me interested.

I got a jamal lewis gu astro turf card simply amazing, maybe they should naked baby pic's LOL I think they are running out of ideas.


Ryan

I think in hockey they should have blood and missing teeth relic cards!!:hop:

Now that is funny. What about skin relics, and toenails? The possibilites are endless! :)

Tim

I got a jamal lewis gu astro turf card simply amazing, maybe they should naked baby pic's LOL I think they are running out of ideas.


Ryan

Originally posted by considerittraded
Maybe they (meaning Topps) should give redemption cards for special etopps cards, which are only available from buying cardboard cards. That would get etopp buyers to buy cardboard and cardboard buyers would get interested in etopps. Personally I'm clueless about etopps but that would get me interested.



I think that's a great idea you just might be on to something there, UD does that thing with that virtual card but I think it sucks, but putting redemptions for etopp cards would get the word out and spark some people to open ports...Great Idea!!!

Originally posted by Qball76
I think that's a great idea you just might be on to something there, UD does that thing with that virtual card but I think it sucks, but putting redemptions for etopp cards would get the word out and spark some people to open ports...Great Idea!!!

This would seem like a no brainer for Topps, I do not know what is taking them so long to do this. The only negative would be that some Etoppers might get mad about cardboard exclusive etopp cards but this could be solved by only having redemptions on regular issue IPOs. I really think that this would give Etopps a HUGE boost in membership and a good % of people would continue the program

If anyone here is lucky enough to be going to the etopps convention, maybe that could be brought up to the company reps that are supposed to be attending!!!

How about a autographed mug shot series... they have plenty of athletes for that!

or canseco/strawberry prison worn jumpsuit or soon to kirby jail worn suit.

gio

So in other words, you guys don't have any ideas?
Seriously, what would you, as collectors, like to see the card companies do to make a good product.

Originally posted by considerittraded
So in other words, you guys don't have any ideas?
Seriously, what would you, as collectors, like to see the card companies do to make a good product.

Go back to the early 90's where there was no such thing an an insert and card company's only made 1 set of cards, and not 500 sets each!

Iggy... I'm with you... but how about more like pre-1986. When cards had value on their own merits... and collectors could actually build the set every year.

Realistically, that'll never happen. So... I'm big on the BGS/PSA graded cards. They could continue to do inserts to boxes with BGS/PSA cards. I for one like this... but what about redemptions for them? Different types of graded cards... like autographs, game used, etc. So many possabilities!! How about graded Etopps? Where the card you receive is already a guaranteed grade if you decide to get it sent to you? How nice would that be?

I 'm sorry, but I have to agree with all of you ( except for the Toenail thing) You know how to get buyer interest....

CUT PRODUCTION all the way around.

Does anyone remember 5 and 10 cent packs?

Does anyone remember how cool it was to pull your favorite player? ( some of you do I know)

Does anyone remember how cool it was to pull a insert that was 1:36? WOW that was cool!

now, The only cards that have value are 1:250 or higher.

Remember when a card #erd out of 10,000 was 50 dollars?

10,000... Thats still not alot! I have several cards #erd under 50 that are only 8-10 $ Thats why I collect vintage. I'd rather pay 8$ for a 1960's common for a set than 8$ for a pack with 4 cards that will eventually get used for dividers for sets.

I think the underlying problem is that there is too many brands and sets. It used to be easy from 1952-1980 when there was just Topps. Then Fleer and Donruss came along in 1981 and then Upper Deck, Score, etc. The hobby used to be good because everyone used to be looking for the SAME THING. Now the multitude of brands and sets have seperated everyone. Thats why you dont see too much trading going on in forums because it's hard to find someone with something you want and you having what they want.
Lets cut it back to the basics. JMO

j.e.lew, I couldn't agree more with you. In some ways, this hobby has gotten too out of hand. I wasn't literal on the toenail thing, but with what the card companies are doing these days, you never know :(
I like the idea of putting the glass from a backboard in basketball or the backstop in baseball and the like in football. How about the game worn suit from John Madden and Al Michaels? It could be called: "Monday Night Magic" and have an autographed suit of those guys. Just a thought.

Tim

Originally posted by thekingpin
Iggy... I'm with you... but how about more like pre-1986. When cards had value on their own merits... and collectors could actually build the set every year.

Yeah, I know early 90's cards were WAY overproduced so go back to those days and limit the ammount of cards you produce. The only thing is though these card companies have to put out all these different sets just to make money so I don't see that ever happening.

Does anyone remember when pulling a jersey or autograph from a pack was a huge accomplishment and you went crazy when you did so? It's still fun, but they shouldn't overproduce the jerseys. Upper Deck went overboard and then the other companies followed to keep up.

Tim

Does anyone remember when Upper Deck used to have the Heroes subset? And it was a really big deal to get the numbered auto card? Nobody had those... they were so hard to get. What about the original Diamond Kings from Donruss? I bought many boxes back in the early days of Donruss, and never got a real Diamond King...

thekingpin, a Ted Williams auto is /2500, so shouldn't it be relatively easy to get? I'm buying 3 boxes of 1992 UD Lo series in hopes of getting one.

Tim

Originally posted by stkmtimo
thekingpin, a Ted Williams auto is /2500, so shouldn't it be relatively easy to get? I'm buying 3 boxes of 1992 UD Lo series in hopes of getting one.

Tim

Not when it's reported possibility that 1,000,000 cards were produced back in those sets.

Wow. What are the odds of getting one, then? Must be impossible.

Tim

Originally posted by IggyWH
Go back to the early 90's where there was no such thing an an insert and card company's only made 1 set of cards, and not 500 sets each!

That's why I am addicted to eTopps and why, IMO will eventually become more popular than cardboard. Even though eTopps are cardboard in reality, they are kept in mint condition (at etopps), don't take up whole closets, and are a click or two away from being traded from one dealer to another. LONG LIVE ETOPPS!!!!

The eTopps concept is an interesting one, I hope they insert them into packs, it would really help Topps' business.

Tim

I've just recently gotten back into collecting, and one of the first boxes I bought was a 2003 Topps Chrome Hobby Box, I pulled a Stan Musial GU Jersey out of it and I thought wow this is great because it was one of the rarer pulls according to the odds, unknown to me of course at the time that the hobby is so flooded with GU's anymore it's nutz, I started back up a couple months ago and I was planning on collecting GU's but I think I am just going to stick with etopps. I know what I'm paying for and it just costs to damn much to buy hobby boxes for $60-$100 a pop only to walk away with two GU's that might bring $10 a piece on ebay!!!

Couldn't agree more QBall, the flood is running our hobby.

Hey, is it just me, or is everyone getting a new avatar? I got Kansas, you've got Nebraska, GIO had Indiana and now has the Minnesota Twins!

Tim

yeah I switched to the Twins because IU is out of the big dance, it was either the cubs or the twins, I don't know who I will have on opening day.

I like them both, die-hard cubs fan, but love the twins because I personnally know most of the twins players.

gio