Discussion about Panini

[kansasbball]

Has the hate gone to far? Seems like a lot of people on here aren't a huge fan of Panini at all. I realize most of the autographs are on-sticker but even when they are on-card, people say the set doesn't look good. The 09-10 Panini Classics Auto set with the on-card autos were great looking. Obviously not every box is gonna make your money back, that's how it was with Topps and UD as well though. I just think the hate has gone a bit too far. Yeah, a couple of Panini's products have been awful but they have some very solid products as well. I'm not trying to attack or argue with the ones that don't like Panini, but I think they're doing a better job than what a lot of people on here are saying. They also do a way better job replacing damaged and missing hits than Topps and UD. Let me know what you guys think. This is for a discussion, not an argument. Just wanna hear you're guys' thought and opinions. Thanks!

[Velvet Hoop]

I think Panini has done okay so far, but they're going in the wrong direction with some products. I strongly dislike the Threads RC autos, and I think they have ruined Contenders by making it "Contenders Patches." No one wants manufactured patch RC autos.

The biggest problem with busting Panini products is the inability to hit something huge. In NT, you could hit something huge and the product was an overwhelming success. There's a chance at some pretty big cards in Timeless Treasures, and that product was alright. I don't think most people are interested in boxes where if you hit the #1 RC auto in the product or a Kobe auto, you barely make more than the box price (see Threads, Limited, Rookies & Stars, Contenders, Crown Royale, Court Kings, etc. etc. etc.). It's like slot machines or scratch off tickets. Everyone on Earth knows it's a bad investment, but you could turn $1 into thousands. Same principle here. No one wants to invest $100 when there's only a realistic chance at a $120 return (John Wall 1/1 Patch AU aside).

[airnoname]

There are various ways to use sticker. Sticker auto in Panini's product can be seen obviously and they looks quite bad in my opinion.

See the following sticker autos from Topp:



Barely noticeable and looks better in my opinion. U may put the frame around sticker. Try to match stickers with cards' surface.
Yes, there are several ugly ones from Topp and UD too but not "all" like in Panini

See Panini:


U can see watermark obviously. (too obviously)
I also think the stickers don't match the cards' surface at all.

Using stickers on product like NT is a bad idea too.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Basically ho-hum. I haven't gotten really excited over any of their products so far that I can recall.

[JordanFanatic]

I don't think Panini is bad at all. And my opinion, I like the sticker autos just as much as on-card. Why?... So the players signing don't ruin the card by handling it improperly. There is a greater chance of getting the card graded a 10 from it. Or the you can have the player mishandle, wear the edges, slide the card across a surface and leave tiny scratches, etc., etc. And, remember, no matter what you are lucky enough to have an autograph of a role-model, celeb, or whatever title you give them. Just my .02

[bballcardheaven]

I am not a fan of Panini this far. They have failed in 90% of their products to design nice cards and they also have completely overproduced Tags, Logomen, Kobe Autos, and Autos of guys like Jennings, Tyreke, Blake, and Curry. I really hope UD and Topps can get their contracts back.

[Phlash]

i started collection last year so i dont know much about before, but to me it seems like half the sets are kinda pricey for what you get. and in some stuff you dont even come close to getting half ur money back if u dont pull anything good.

[jordan23]

delete

[jordan23]

I am not a fan of Panini this far. They have failed in 90% of their products to design nice cards and they also have completely overproduced Tags, Logomen, Kobe Autos, and Autos of guys like Jennings, Tyreke, Blake, and Curry. I really hope UD and Topps can get their contracts back.

Nothing worthy to praise about for Panini. Every product seems to have exactly same design content and sticker auto's. Worst off no MJ which really kills any chance of consumer loyalty

[Jef]

I have been back in the hobby for less than a year after a considerable break, so I have less experience with Panini and a lot of recent releases by Topps/UD than others, but I can say that I have been instantly turned off by nearly every Panini product.

Why? It is too "hit" oriented. I want a quality product, and a quality product is not simply "X hits per box!" There are too many parallels and the concepts themselves just have a cheap feel.

I can get past sticker autographs, and I like 1-2 parallels at times, but I strongly dislike Panini's card designs. I strongly dislike the inserts. I think 99% of their base and insert sets are incredibly hideous.

My favorite product since returning to the hobby has been Bowman 48. I like it for the following reasons:

a) simple design
b) a historically-aware concept
c) it is FUN to open - even if the "big time" hits don't sell as well (for the record, i generally keep everything i pull), there is rarely the feeling of getting completely ripped off.

Panini products often lack all 3 of these aspects. Panini seems to assign value to a particular packaging and then decide how many GU cards will make a customer satisfied. there are some big hits, of course, but very few of any true substance. If they took the effort they put into National Treasures and spread it out among 2-3 products instead waht seems like 20-30, i think everyone would be better off.

the bottom line? when i got back into collecting and saw the Bowman 48 cards, i thought "those are really, really cool - im buying a box" without checking the hits or autograph checklist or selling prices of the rookies. Panini has yet to produce a product that has given me a similar feeling.

Dumb as it sounds, I am glad Panini is around because they will be the only option going forward, but I hope they realize that dollars (product price/number of vague "hits"/etc) are not the only selling points for cards.