anyone else annoyed w/panini?

[adadas101]

Hello, sorry for this rant, but I am seriously discusted with the way this hobby(basketball) is being run into the ground, I havent been collecting basketball at all this year, and thank god, the new limited is garbage filled w/redemptions and overpriced to boot, there hasnt been a single new release in retail(my main source for collecting) and nearly every product they have released has been $80 plus, for a so called box w/one -4 packs.

Sticker auto's, un-original designs(w/a few exceptions), an over-focus on game used thats worthless, and an ungodly amount of redemptions that expire(that takes nerve in itself), which completely kills the products collectability a few years down the road, so I ask, how much longer must I stay away from my favorite hobby, and is anyone else in the same boat.

[mrveggieman]

I agree that panini dropped the ball with not releasing any rookies in last years products but somehow they were able to release jeremy lin cards in his knicks uni. I am also getting frustrated by panini pushing back the release date for nba hoops. I'm going to give them a call during my lunch break and ask them a lot of questions. I wonder how that will turn out.

[jbball50]

I haven't been buying that many boxes either but that's of everything. Newer products are overpriced for what you can pull, 90's boxes are overpriced on ebay and half of them don't even get sold. It's time to just start buying singles now haha. I did just buy some blister boxes of Reflections the other day, hoping for maybe some nice Jordan and Lebron stuff.

[BigAl_83]

Its just the card industry in general.
Panini products do have a lot of redemptions, your absolutely right on that one. But this year its also partly because of the lockout and players not being allowed to undertake any official nba related business.

Im more fed-up with Upper Deck as im still waiting on 3 year old pending redemptions, and they keep giving me the same lame excuses! And they are also not that keen on bringing us original products (Fleer Retro!).
Even though Fleer Retro has all those nice insert from the 90s we all love, its not very original and they keep pushing back the release date over and over again. SP Authentic 2 years in a row, same old manufactured letter autos!

I have said this many times before, but its a hobby/business dominated by two guys: Jordan and LeBron. If we would be able to pull autos from those two in Panini products no-one would be complaining about redemptions or pushed back release dates.

[cgb_orl]

Not really. And it's been happening for a while.

It's a matter of perception and UD has the market on that. That's partly why mid-high end is the preferred market now.

Sticker auto's (see history of NBA products. In fact I was interested in seeing a break-down of just how much more on-card content one company has over another. Would put conjecture to bed.), un-original designs(w/a few exceptions) (see history of NBA products lol), an over-focus on game used thats worthless (see history of NBA products lol), and an ungodly amount of redemptions that expire(that takes nerve in itself) (ahh here we go....dual draft redemptions recently skew that number ala Finest but other-wise on par with other products), which completely kills the products collectability a few years down the road (how and understand most of the major sets have had redemptions. I have done set collecting and have abandoned some solely on outstanding or htf redemptions. If anything the reduced print run makes them more collectable)

[bdoody42]

I myself don't feel as if Panini has really done anything special or really bad. I feel with the lockout shortened season it really hurt them if the variety of products they put out. I was Really disappointed that there wasn't an 11-12 certified product. I do like the gold standard and limited that they released. Past and present was just okay for me and Hoops is just way to low end. I just hope that one day upper deck, panini and topps can all battle it out with NBA clothed cards. Would make the market sweet!!!

[Frantiic]

I dont have a problem with Panini, except when you buy a box for 200 bucks, and all you get is a Cole Aldrich auto numbered to a million and a half, you buy a box for 150, all you get is a Cole Aldrich auto, buy a box for 100, all you get is a Cole Aldrich auto or a old timer that has been overproduced. 2 years ago, they had maybe 2 or 3 certified autos out, now they have a million, they are flooding the market with the wrong type of cards.

[jordan23]

Haha cole aldrich

[adadas101]

I dont know, I guess I just expected more from them, I guess I'll just hold out on buying boxes(w/a few exceptions) and just stick to buying singles.

[rockchalk]

Unless you collect Cole Aldrich . . . . BTW are the Cole Aldrich's for sale?