Hi, I thought I'd use my first post to try to do something with some skill behind it. I just thought I'd take a look at the collecting world ( of hockey ) we know, and point out ways it could improve....

the first stuff- the companies

They bring us the cards, the packs, and if it weren't for them, we wouldn't even have a stick of bubblegum with our packs, lol

Topps/OPC
The old favourite, loved for their basic products and old-style designs. ( this is good and bad ) I think ( and several agree ) that they need to bring out a high-end product, at least 15 per pack, or SOMETHING higher than.....Reserve, their highest product to date. Serial numbering on the rookies would be beneficial as well!

Upper Deck
Well known UD, with the serial nubering on everything and jerseys galore. I like their innovative sets, but many we could do without, Piece of History, Victory, and some others. I think they should cut down on their products' subsets, GU inserts, and inserts. And their customer service could take 10 years to be as good as the other companies!

Pacific
Well known for their 1 per pack inserts and parrallels, and for their 100 GU per box brands. I think the 5 different parrallels could be scrapped and their swatches on Gu cards could be umm....."Scrapped' as in .. Give us some multi-color, or at least not ALL white, and also some diversity. The rookies could be cut back on the printing scales too ( N/A P~S and Titanium )

BAP/ ITG
My favourite, known for their great swatches ( size ) and for their 1 GU per box and sometimes 1 RC too. they had too many Lemieux inserts sets this year, and too many subsets that were all alike ( ie- Franchise players, up close & personal etc ) add the 100 different GU sets, and bam! way too many different things.

The second stuff- the dealers, they bring up the packs and boxes, and sadly, the prices to go along with them!

The friendly dealers with reasonable prices are GREAT! A welcome change from the mean "what'd you WANT???!!!???" dealers who seem angry, lol. The prices vary alot, and the expensive ones are horrible, the good deals are always great top find thoguh!


The 3rd, the players-Call me crazy, but if we didn't have these guys I don't think we'd be collectign anything but paper.

As always it's nice to meet a playewr and get an auto....I've only had one negative experience with an autograph request, sent to Theodore c/o Montreal Habs. I've met several in person, all nice, although Ryan Vandenbussche refused to sign Checklists that didn't have a pic of him....

The 4th,m and easily most important! US- Us collectors are the most important part of the industry ( cause we dole out the cash ) I have only had positive experiences with collectors,...although I find people constantly want to trade for EXACTLY book value....fact is we set the prices by selling and trading, which shouldn't have to use a guide for that.

there, sorry for the rant, I just thoguht it had some good points! lol

Good job, I liked the incite.

It's funny that you mentioned Upper Deck's Customer Service.

I sent in 8 cards that were print cruhsed by the machiine, My one gretzky had a huge crease in it from Retro, one of his expensive inserts.

Because the Gretzky arrived one day after their 8 month policy at the time, they would not replace the card. It took them 6 weeks to send my other replacements in a flimsy envelope rattling around.

Topps on the other hand . I bought a box of 2000-01 Topps Hockey, 13 months after the issue came out. I had 5 cards with machine holes punched through them near the bottom.

By the time Topps got the cards, the Issue was 14 months old. Topps replaced every card, sent me 10 Press proofs of even better players for the mistake and had me cards back to me within 10 business days.

UD could take a big lesson from Topps in regard to service.

good job and i agree on u for most of it

Thanks guys, yeah a few things could be argues, no arguements from me on that