Panini to eliminate player-specific redemptions and add patch database
03.18
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor
LAS VEGAS – Panini America is upping its digital game.
It introduced Panini Rewards and a patch database at the 2014 Industry Summit on Tuesday.
The biggest element from Panini Rewards is that Panini is eliminating player-specific redemptions. Collectors will instead get a card with a point value where collectors can then go on the Panini site or app to redeem the points for cards available.
The program will begin May and be available on smartphones (IOS and Android) and on its website.
“The Panini Rewards Program is a truly revolutionary development for the entire trading card industry and will offer us the chance to effectively eliminate and further reduce redemption cards from our products, replacing them with Panini Reward Points that collectors can use to acquire any available card immediately,” said Panini America CE Mark Warsop in a release. “This program has been in development for nearly two years and we are excited to finally share it with collectors.”
The program will begin in May with the release of 2014 Score Football. Points are accrued the cards found in packs and collectors can obtain single cards, items or Panini experiences
In addition, points will never expire. Reward cards will be produced in NFL, NBA and MLBPA products.
The patch database will be for high-end cards. Panini will take high-resolution images of prime patches and place a small QR code on the back of cards. Collectors can scan those codes and find the image of the card as it comes off the line from Panini. If the card does not match the image, it’s a fake patch card.
A patch database has been an element collectors have asked for because of the proliferation of fake cards on the secondary market. Panini America will do one for high-end releases now.
Check back for updates on Panini America’s corporate address.
Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor at Beckett Media. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.