ITG - a lesser product ?

[Inferno]

ITG Pros:

- Hands down the best memorabilia on the market, ranging from young prospects to vintage players from 100 years ago. All GAME USED, no photoshoot or old-timers jerseys.
- Memorabilia diversity: Jerseys, skates, sticks, socks, pants, gloves, pads, etc.
- Jerseys used in the card match the jersey the player is wearing in the photo, and the back of the card specifically states which team the jersey is from.
- The president of the company, Brian Price, is a member of multiple forums and asks collectors for direct feedback and suggestions.
- Delivers product as promised and on time. In rare cases a product is delayed Dr. Price personally apologizes and usually adds something to the product to make up for the delay.
- Continually innovating to make products better.
- Offers the "Made to Order" redemption program where you can get a custom memorabilia card made of a player of your choosing.
- No autograph redemptions. If the card isn't in their hands by pack-out date it gets pulled from the product.
- Excellent customer service, especially considering the entire company is staffed by a total of thirteen people.
- Offers multiple redemption programs at card shows throughout the year as well as special addition cards and products that commemorate various events and awards.

Cons:

- Not licensed, therefor no NHL or team logos can be used and no "true" rookie cards can be made.
- Secondary market values tend to be lower, presumably for reasons like the lack of a license and generally smaller market share.
- Many collectors feel designs are dated or not as fancy as other companies, though they are improving year after year.
- Lacks agreements with some big name players, mostly UD exclusives like Gretzky, Orr and Howe as well as Sidney Crosby.


The list of cons is short but unfortunately for many people they are enough to turn them away from ITG products. If you can appreciate the good things and overlook the things like the lack of a license you will enjoy ITG cards.

PS: I will throw in a scan of my own to show some of the things ITG can produce. My UM9 Pavel Bure Vancouver Canucks Ultimate Tag 1/1:

[MasonRaymond0320]

Also, I just wanted to add that itg puts some of their cards in cases to prevent patch forging, which is unfortunately common nowadys. You could smash the case or rip the sticker off the toploader if you wanted to but that would only decrease the value.
Also, the beauty about itg is that it doesn't have tons and tons of current player autos (like panini/UD). It has a variety of both current, HOF autos, forgotten stars, etc.

Cheers,
Andrew

[RGM81]

outstanding... exactly what i was looking for. thanks for the explanation!

I do what I can. :)

[joecoolio]

An auto or piece of memorabilia from a coveted star shouldn't matter where it comes from. ITG is just as valued as other companies

[Kehfee]

Best GU in the business.




Most accessible and open company in the business

I believe this card wouldn't exist but I begged and whined for an official Brent Ashton auto and here it is.




The best checklists in the business.

No product littered with third tier rookies that played three shifts in the NHL. The guys you want to collect are pretty much there and if there is somebody you want to collect. Ask Dr. Price. A lot of the 1 of 1 emblems from ultimate 10 exist because people asked for them.

[qwas]

Don't forget that a lot of their checklists are a direct result of what collectors want. We actually have a say in what goes into the products that ITG produces.

[Fleury14]

I prefer ITG. When I buy boxes or even a case, I'll look at the ITG BTP and H+P first.

[sjw241]

I don't know how anybody out there could say that this constitutes a lesser product:













While it is true that not everybody likes awesome game-used memorabilia cards, ITG is a very popular entity in the hobby. Are they constricted by the lack of a license? Yes. But the lack of full NHL logos and a prohibition on making rookie cards with photoshoot jerseys in no way diminishes their capacity as a company nor does it lessen their products.

Some might argue that these are lesser product because the are Carey Price
Overall in my opinion, ITG have the nicest patch and emblem cards ever made. the Ultimate Emblems from UM9 & UM10 are unreal! I am a huge fan of ITG. Also, as mentioned Dr Price is very open to new ideas, and is also a great person to talk to! He is at the Spring and Fall Toronto Expo every year and spends tons of time talking to collectors and I think that is amazing! he is very approachable and easy to talk to.

[Habitforming]

I'll take a lashing here but ITG is a lesser product IMO.

It comes down to trust, and I just don't trust what they are flaunting as legit sometimes.

[Kehfee]

I'll take a lashing here but ITG is a lesser product IMO.

It comes down to trust, and I just don't trust what they are flaunting as legit sometimes.

Hmm as opposed to a company that actually did admit to counterfeiting cards?

ITG actually has to do something to not be deserving of trust. So that's on you.