Panini Substitute Rant

[Drewk86a]

I have been waiting over a year for Panini provide my Dave Brown Tough Times Autograph. I heard that Brown did not sign due to a contract dispute with Panini, so my hpes of receiving the card dwindled. Nonetheless, I still held out hope.

Today - I received a substitute card: Tough Times Auto Dave Semenko

Who?!??!? Dave Semenko?!?!?!? Seriously, I know who Dave Semenko is, but getting this card hardly an equal (or better) replacement (at least for me) for the Brown Auto. Usually, substitutes are substantially better than the card they are replacing, but this seems like a cop out to me. At least give me a copy of the un-autographed Dave Brown. Based on the price I paid for the redemption card, I am now the proud owner of $39 Semenko autograph. (There is one listed on ebay [not mine] for $99, but I think that's reaching a bit)

I know I share some of the blame for buying a redemption card (shame on me), but the companies have to stop listing / advertizing cards when they don't have them in-hand.

[Wickabee]

I imagine you'll find a buyer/trader for the Semenko with very little problem.

[30ranfordfan]

Curious - did you contact them and ask for a replacement, or did they just sent you one? (I ask becuase I have one for Dave Brown that's outstanding too).

I did hear this a long time ago, that Brown would not be signing (there was another one or two cards in the set that were in the same boat) and I actually heard specifically that Semenko would be the replacement..... that they made Tough Times of alternate players to replace the guys that they couldn't get signed.

As for the idea that you get something better..... in most cases, I disagree. Should be something of equal value though (which is what companies usually try and do - though they use a price guide to determine that value).

IMO - Semenko vs Brown should be a fair trade, value wise, if you just look a that players...... but the problem is that Semenko has had many Autographed cards in the last several years..... where as this was only the second one that Brown was ever supposed to appear on (a Fleer Throwbacks auto also exists... from like 2001 or 2002, I believe, but they are VERY hard to find, and command prices of $75+ when they become available).

How few Autos Brown had ever signed for card companies is what drove up the cost of that card - I think I got mine for around $20-$25 (can't remember exactly).

If you're looking for a Brown auto, my advice is ITG Enforcers. They got him to sign... and I snapped one up the week they came out.



As for the Panini redemption - I do hope you're able to flip it for something equal (or at least really close) in value to what the origional one cost you.

[ac4760]

I got the same Semenko card in the mail the other day. I knew that Brown didn't sign and I would get a replacement but Panini never notified me of anything. I am also waiting for a Joey Kocur from the same set which I know have been signed. When I checked my closed requests on the Panini site, the code I entered for the Brown auto now reads "Dave Semenko tough times auto" as though that was what I intially redeemed. That being said, I'm not unhappy with my replacement, it just seems the same story that customer service is the name of the department and not the job description. Mine was also numbered 151/250 so there must be quite a few of them out there.

[30ranfordfan]

I just checked my Panini account.....


I've got the same thing as ac4760 described. Now moved to closed, says Semenko... was shipping on the 16th. Guess I'll have it in hand next week?

[Mnum]

Wow at least when Panini screwed me on my Score 2010-11 Steven Stamkos Redemption they sent me a Steve Stamkos Auto from Playoff Contenders from the same year. Of course it to was a redemption and worth less then the Score one would have been as it was far scarcer. Of course I waited over a year and 3 months for it to come and had to call talk to the redemption department just to get something for it. Same thing with all my Panini redemption cards always have to call to find out where they are. I dread opening Panini stuff and finding redemption cards. Its to be pretty bad with Panini there product is loaded with them.

[Drewk86a]

Curious - did you contact them and ask for a replacement, or did they just sent you one?

I did not ask for a replacement, they just sent it.

If you're looking for a Brown auto, my advice is ITG Enforcers. They got him to sign... and I snapped one up the week they came out.

I too grabbed an enforcers auto, so at least I got one Brownie auto. In a recent SCF web chat I asked Dr Price if the Borwn Enforcer Auto was for real, in light of the Panini trouble. He said something to the effect of, "It's amazaing what you get done when you actually pay people".

As you suggested, I will probably put mine up for sale on eBay. I see one listed as "The only one on eBay" with a $99 BIN price. I think that's a little too high, but I may burst his bubble and become the second one on eBay. Especially since it sounds, from reading other posts, that there will soon be a flood of Semenko's hitting the streets.

[ColtsD21]

Just sold mine for $30 PayPal. I'm stoked!

[centrehice]

Yeah Dave Brown for sure is a better auto than Semenko. Browny was something else, and a super guy.

He broke my nose in 1978 in a pick-up game in Yorkton, Sask. My roommate took him on and fought him to a draw. I've never been punched so hard in my life.. The skinny young kid was intense, I had 6 years on him at the time, but he caved in my skull. Lol

[Drewk86a]

I've never met Dave Brown, but have heard that it was a Jekyll & Hyde type of thing. Off the ice, he is the nicest person you ever met. Lace up the skates and it's a differnt story. His reputation as one of the most feared fighters in the NHL is well earned.

I'm glad I was able to get an enforcers autograph and hope to see Brownie featured in future sets.