The description of Sound Off is "to voice one's opinions freely and vigorously." That's what we intend to do with this part of our blog; something we hope will become a regular feature. So, here is our first ever "Sports Card Sound Off."
We hear all the time about how much collectors frown upon Sticker Autos and Redemptions. Yet, collectors seem to like cut autos as long as they are done well and they certainly don't mind waiting extra time past a release date to get the cards they want. So why isn't an autograph an autograph? What is the problem with having a card sent to you, at a company's expense, through a redemption program? Maybe you have no problem with this and maybe you have a big problem with this.
More than knowing how you feel about this issue, we are really interested in why you feel like you do. So, using the comments below, tell us WHY you either like or don't like sticker autos and redemptions. Leaving a comment like "because they suck" doesn't really help us here because it doesn't lead to much of a response other than "Yeah... they suck" or "They don't suck." So, try to share with us the reasoning behind your opinion. And, please do your best to keep it clean so that people of all ages can participate too.
Usually, the stickers used for the autos are tacky looking and clash horribly with the design of the card. Also, it takes the personal touch out of it. When a card is hard signed, it feels like there's more of a connection there as opposed to a sticker that just feels almost... I dunno, machined? I know they both take the same amount of time and effort from the players, but still.
ReplyDeleteAs far as redemptions, it's like pulling a not out of the box that says "I.O.U". I don't have much of a problem with them though, other then the expiration dates. If I pulled essentially, an IOU, then I should get something, anything for it. No expiration date.
I agree with Joe as far as the expiration dates on redemptions. I get that sometimes redemptions are necessary (I guess), however, for any card company that uses them, they should be forced to maintain their correct stock of the "promised" card for at least 10 years. No more 12 month or even 24 month expiration dates.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of redemptions, at all. What is the actual success rate of getting the card you redemeed? 50%? I put together the 2007 Topps Finest Master set. I sent Topps a redemption for an Chase Utley/David Wright dual auto. I got a Fernando Martinez Bowman Chrome rookie auto in its place. When I called to complain, it got me know where. There were 4 other redemptions that were replaced from this set with complete garbage. You go through the effort of acquiring a base, green, blue and refractor auto for them to be replaced with something you do not want. It is a complete let down.
ReplyDeletePanini is just as bad. I still have a Kenny Britt Contenders rookie auto outstanding. It has been a year. My big hit from a box that cost $125, and I year later there is still nothing to show. How long are we to wait? Until he is out of the league?
As for stickers, i really don't mind them. As long as the auto is fully on the sticker. I will not buy a card where to auto runs off the sticker. They should be picky on the stickers they use. Also, putting the wrong sticker or an upside down sticker is just as bad. If you are going to use the sticker, please ensure the quality control.
just a few thoughts from a collector.
Sticker autos really seem impersonal to me. With a sticker auto, you know the athlete sat at a desk with a sheet full of stickers and signed over and over again like a someone on an assembly line. When you have an on-card auto, you know the athlete had the card in his hands (even if he sat at the same desk and signed cards as if he were on an assembly line). As a collector, I place a higher value on the on-card autos (I don't care what Beckett says).
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion on cut-autos is that they should only be used for deceased players. What's the point of having a cut-auto of someone who could still sign the card?
I don't mind the idea of redemption cards, but I have a problem with expiration dates on them. Don't the companies that produce the redemption cards have enough inventory to support each of the redemption cards should they all be redeemed? If so, why is there a need to put an expiration date on the redemption cards? If that is not the case, then I question the integrity of the company's business practices.