Panini America Announces Plan to Address Kobe Bryant Autograph Redemptions

[Dame]

Saw a Kobe Tribute Black Refractor on FB 1/1, not sure how these are valued.

[hairyangryfella]

Originally Posted by CC_123

I've seen a LeBron /20, LeBron /24, Zion NBA Debut /20, Zion Base /24, Morant /20, Rui /20, RJ Barrett /20, Morant /24, Steph Curry /20. So some really nice stuff has been hit, but I haven't seen any 1/1, /8, or /10 of big name guys.

A Kobe 1/1 was on Facebook, but that's from the Kobe set, not regular base. Card #15.

[doubledribble]

Got a pack as expected. On the fence on wether to open it or not.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[jjohnson114]

After considering whether or not to sell or not for a net of about $1,600, my wife talked me into opening the pack. I should have gone with my gut. In this "replacement" pack, the Panini folks were kind enough to include:

Enes Kanter Gold /8
Nikola Vucevic Purple & Gold /20
Scottie Pippen Team USA Purple & Gold /20
Damian Jones Purple /24
Brandon Ingram Purple /24
Kobe Bryant Tribute Purple /24

I am livid. This was the replacement for a 2019-20 Prizm FOTL Blue Shimmer auto. These cards aren't worth half of what the auto would have been prior to Kobe's death.

For all of those saying you should have sold, I get it. However, should the next guy have gotten this crap as his $1,800 consolation prize? Thank you for the big middle finger Panini.

I believe that this may be the straw that broke the camels back and push me away from the hobby for a while. If this is how Panini "compensates" their customers, I don't want anything to do with them.

[thecardscout]

Originally Posted by jjohnson114

After considering whether or not to sell or not for a net of about $1,600, my wife talked me into opening the pack. I should have gone with my gut. In this "replacement" pack, the Panini folks were kind enough to include:

Enes Kanter Gold /8
Nikola Vucevic Purple & Gold /20
Scottie Pippen Team USA Purple & Gold /20
Damian Jones Purple /24
Brandon Ingram Purple /24
Kobe Bryant Tribute Purple /24

I am livid. This was the replacement for a 2019-20 Prizm FOTL Blue Shimmer auto. These cards aren't worth half of what the auto would have been prior to Kobe's death.

For all of those saying you should have sold, I get it. However, should the next guy have gotten this crap as his $1,800 consolation prize? Thank you for the big middle finger Panini.

I believe that this may be the straw that broke the camels back and push me away from the hobby for a while. If this is how Panini "compensates" their customers, I don't want anything to do with them.

I would be just as pissed!!! Sorry man..

[Cavaliercards]

Originally Posted by doubledribble

Got a pack as expected. On the fence on wether to open it or not.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Do what some people are doing and put it away and sell at a later date.

[jjohnson114]

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Greed is incorrect and have laid out why multiple times in this thread. As far as his estate it is standard for a company to give time, Kobe's management team put out in April they were working with endorsement and likeness companies at that juncture and would be developing plans going forward. We have great relationships with the major card companies and with Leaf, so no we are not a family member, but are actively involved in this industry.

Athletes are given what they have outstanding to sign in whole when they show up to companies HQs, when it is sent to them they are given where they are in the situation of what is owed to their contract a list with older items usually sent first. Transcendent/Eminence do transcend this and go to the front of the line.

Can not speak for Kobe, but there are other players that have refused to sign certain cards.

The packs that were distributed were done so as a tribute and with approval and is better than the points option they could have gone for replacements.

It is 100% greed. If not by Panini (or other card manufacturers), then by the NBA (or other sports entity) or the athlete themselves. There is absolutely greed - no way around it.

As said before, giving time to grieve is the only way to address the situation. However, as a likely billion dollar company, you would think that you would have your plans together before you make an announcement nearly ten months later. Instead, every person who is owed an autograph is left to guess what they'll get and when they'll get it. This is not how "customer service" works. To that point, nearly every email and phone call are met with no response.

Being active and having relationships in the industry is probably a great thing for you and for your company. I'm sure that it has made you quite a bit of money over the years. However, as a collector, we spend the money that feeds the families of the card shops, distributors, marketing / advertising companies, athletes, professional sports organizations, and card manufacturers. From a legal standpoint, once you indicate that a specific card is included in a production run, there is an oneness on the manufacturer, athlete, and others to deliver what is promised. If I buy a box of cereal and it is actually just unprocessed grain has the manufacturer met their contractual obligations? If Panini says "or equal" in small print are they justified in waiting until they please to deliver the crap that they have at little to no expense and call it good? Please explain where else this scenario would be acceptable.

If an athlete refuses to sign a product, it's pretty simple. An equal replacement would be issued within a reasonable timeframe, not years later and after subsequent products are released and market prices drop. Panini and others are not stupid - they know how their decisions impact the market but have zero regard for the customer, only for the company.

As for the pack being a better option than the points, it is a good indication of how pathetic their points program is. When the white sparkle packs were released most consumers were unable to get them due to bots. This was probably the only product in the last few years even worth considering using points for. It's a joke - and my pack is a perfect example of that. Panini took the easy road and created a "tribute" that was merely an extension of a subpar product.

Kobe's legacy is having one card in this pack, and most will leave unsatisfied. I am considering having my dog defecate in their customer service box and sending it to them as a "tribute". They may even get more comedic value than I receive in true value from the "tribute" I received. Either way, we'll both end up with the same thing in our hands.

Please stop defending these clowns. It's not personal, as you may think. It's more about trying to understand why you would go to such great lengths to defend something that is truly hurting the hobby that puts food on your table. Plain and simple - they are a cancer to this hobby.

[Cavaliercards]

Originally Posted by jjohnson114

It is 100% greed. If not by Panini (or other card manufacturers), then by the NBA (or other sports entity) or the athlete themselves. There is absolutely greed - no way around it.

As said before, giving time to grieve is the only way to address the situation. However, as a likely billion dollar company, you would think that you would have your plans together before you make an announcement nearly ten months later. Instead, every person who is owed an autograph is left to guess what they'll get and when they'll get it. This is not how "customer service" works. To that point, nearly every email and phone call are met with no response.

Being active and having relationships in the industry is probably a great thing for you and for your company. I'm sure that it has made you quite a bit of money over the years. However, as a collector, we spend the money that feeds the families of the card shops, distributors, marketing / advertising companies, athletes, professional sports organizations, and card manufacturers. From a legal standpoint, once you indicate that a specific card is included in a production run, there is an oneness on the manufacturer, athlete, and others to deliver what is promised. If I buy a box of cereal and it is actually just unprocessed grain has the manufacturer met their contractual obligations? If Panini says "or equal" in small print are they justified in waiting until they please to deliver the crap that they have at little to no expense and call it good? Please explain where else this scenario would be acceptable.

If an athlete refuses to sign a product, it's pretty simple. An equal replacement would be issued within a reasonable timeframe, not years later and after subsequent products are released and market prices drop. Panini and others are not stupid - they know how their decisions impact the market but have zero regard for the customer, only for the company.

As for the pack being a better option than the points, it is a good indication of how pathetic their points program is. When the white sparkle packs were released most consumers were unable to get them due to bots. This was probably the only product in the last few years even worth considering using points for. It's a joke - and my pack is a perfect example of that. Panini took the easy road and created a "tribute" that was merely an extension of a subpar product.

Kobe's legacy is having one card in this pack, and most will leave unsatisfied. I am considering having my dog defecate in their customer service box and sending it to them as a "tribute". They may even get more comedic value than I receive in true value from the "tribute" I received.

Please stop defending these clowns. It's not personal, as you may think. It's more about trying to understand why you would go to such great lengths to defend something that is truly hurting the hobby that puts food on your table. Plain and simple - they are a cancer to this hobby.

Not greed by the companies or the league. In the instance we referenced prior, the company (not Panini) paid for the signatures made and not in full.

The plan was announced and they had things together, not shipping items all at once is not contrary. Same reason when people that are living have autographs ship, they are not always all at once. Never to this extent either.

We know collectors that have been in this industry for 1/4 of time we have been that have many times the relationships. It is all about the networking a person decides to do for themselves. If the internal bag inside of the cereal box states there may be a replacement inside and you are aware of this from prior history with the cereal industry, as you are, you are taking that chance upon yourself. This scenario is acceptable in this hobby, as I have outlined above there is no recourse for the companies.

There is refusal and there is just not having signed it yet. They are two different things, we have seen an athlete refuse to sign and two companies immediately sent out replacements. We have seen athletes not get to an item and the companies will replace if requested, but the idea is to get the item that was redeemed. Again I am against all redemptions, I think there should be Topps Bucks, Panini Rewards, Upper Deck Prizes, etc which every card that is not returned gets you points/bucks/prize tickets that you can redeem. The card companies do have regard for the customers.

Panini took the road approved by the estate, this was not an easy road. Easier road would have been issuing points or just sending out replacements wholesale and a road they could have done quicker and would have put the estate off the hook for having to go to the family for approval.

We are stating what any company in this situation would be left to do. The card companies are not a cancer and they are not hurting the hobby. Each league is thriving with their licensing agreement with the companies and that was pre-pandemic as the hobby has been increasing before Kobe/Pandemic.The hobby is thriving, as is the whole industry. It is part of the reason eBay was able to go to USPS with their new shipping method. The hobby's strength for years and increase in market share has made that happen. Our shop is not what puts food on the table, we have a 9-5 job.

[jjohnson114]

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Not greed by the companies or the league. In the instance we referenced prior, the company (not Panini) paid for the signatures made and not in full.

The plan was announced and they had things together, not shipping items all at once is not contrary. Same reason when people that are living have autographs ship, they are not always all at once. Never to this extent either.

We know collectors that have been in this industry for 1/4 of time we have been that have 10x the relationships. If the internal bag inside of the cereal box states there may be a replacement inside and you are aware of this from prior history with the cereal industry, as you are, you are taking that chance upon yourself. This scenario is acceptable in this hobby, as I have outlined above there is no recourse for the companies.

There is refusal and there is just not having signed it yet. They are two different things, we have seen an athlete refuse to sign and two companies immediately sent out replacements. We have seen athletes not get to an item and the companies will replace if requested, but the idea is to get the item that was redeemed. Again I am against all redemptions, I think there should be Topps Bucks, Panini Rewards, Upper Deck Prizes, etc which every card that is not returned gets you points/bucks/prize tickets that you can redeem. The card companies do have regard for the customers.

Panini took the road approved by the estate, this was not an easy road. Easier road would have been issuing points or just sending out replacements wholesale and a road they could have done quicker and would have put the estate off the hook for having to go to the family for approval.

We are stating what any company in this situation would be left to do. The card companies are not a cancer and they are not hurting the hobby. Each league is thriving with their licensing agreement with the companies and that was pre-pandemic as the hobby has been increasing before Kobe/Pandemic.The hobby is thriving, as is the whole industry. It is part of the reason eBay was able to go to USPS with their new shipping method. The hobby's strength for years and increase in market share has made that happen. Our shop is not what puts food on the table, we have a 9-5 job.

Immature comment? Really? Give me a break. Obviously you could use a laugh. My comment was more of a reference to giving them what they give us. Get off of your industry high horse and open your eyes. What is happening is not cool.

I find it ridiculous that Panini can be defended for not delivering an equal product. Ultimately, they issued packs as a tribute. Just as they do with many products, they could have better allocated the packs to ensure that there were no losers, which seems to be the common theme among those that have opened them thus far. If they can do this for premium products, they can surely do it for a few thousand packs as well. Why didn't they though? Simple answer - because they don't care. They issued packs so that they would be opened - not tucked away in a box so that we can see the foil Kobe wrapper.

I find the whole estate argument getting a little old. I get that the estate and management team needed to approve the replacement, but is this really what they had in mind? A one card tribute included in a pack with other veterans? I don't buy it. Maybe the more likely scenario was that Panini had this in the works (just like the NBA Hoops Premium Edition) and was able to add a tribute card that was likely in the works due to his impending HOF enshrinement. Either way, I would guess that Panini spent less or close to the same amount on the redemption packs than they would have had the actual cards been signed. Again, equitable from Panini's perspective, but far from equitable for the many collectors with redemptions submitted.

Based on your defense of Panini, I'm starting to believe that your 9-5 is at Panini. I honestly can't understand how this situation can be defended. What they did here (take out any other manufacturers previously referenced) is completely wrong. I will say it again - they are greedy and a cancer to the hobby. All is well now, but the bubble will eventually burst again and we'll be talking about them like we did Upper Deck. I was in the hobby then and see very similar trends - most of it is around deception and a lack of regard for the customer.

I feel for everyone else that is getting burned by these clowns. I'm so disappointed right now.

[Cavaliercards]

Originally Posted by jjohnson114

I find it ridiculous that Panini can be defended for not delivering an equal product. Ultimately, they issued packs as a tribute. Just as they do with many products, they could have better allocated the packs to ensure that there were no losers, which seems to be the common theme among those that have opened them thus far. If they can do this for premium products, they can surely do it for a few thousand packs as well. Why didn't they though? Simple answer - because they don't care. They issued packs so that they would be opened - not tucked away in a box so that we can see the foil Kobe wrapper.

I find the whole estate argument getting a little old. I get that the estate and management team needed to approve the replacement, but is this really what they had in mind? A one card tribute included in a pack with other veterans? I don't buy it. Maybe the more likely scenario was that Panini had this in the works (just like the NBA Hoops Premium Edition) and was able to add a tribute card that was likely in the works due to his impending HOF enshrinement. Either way, I would guess that Panini spent less or close to the same amount on the redemption packs than they would have had the actual cards been signed. Again, equitable from Panini's perspective, but far from equitable for the many collectors with redemptions submitted.

Based on your defense of Panini, I'm starting to believe that your 9-5 is at Panini. I honestly can't understand how this situation can be defended. What they did here (take out any other manufacturers previously referenced) is completely wrong. I will say it again - they are greedy and a cancer to the hobby. All is well now, but the bubble will eventually burst again and we'll be talking about them like we did Upper Deck. I was in the hobby then and see very similar trends - most of it is around deception and a lack of regard for the customer.

I feel for everyone else that is getting burned by these clowns. I'm so disappointed right now.

Open any product in this hobby and tell me the percentage of packs/box/cases that are going to be winners? Far as the tribute pack. The option they could have done to increase value would be to create a rookie subset to go with the Kobe Tributes. Have 10 different Zion, Ja, etc with all of them numbered to /10 /5 /3 /1. Do the same with last year's All Star Game and do an MVP Set. It could have been expanded out to make there be more low numbered, but the end result would be people would still say it is watered down and complain about the prices. You should go look at videos of cases of NT/5 Star/Dynasty/Flawless/Cup. There are plenty of dud cases and boxes that do not bring back even the MSRP in value. If they did not care, a simpler solution would have occurred to this situation. Some people open, some sell, and some will hang on with any product.

The estate situation is relevant to what you are discussing. This was not in the works and as far as his HOF Enshrinement, we were going to see a more exclusive high end Transcedent like product being released for that. Along with HOF Cards in each product. The whole idea of outside individuals was to do something for collectors with this tribute set and to leave the estate the ability in the future to come back and make a standalone tribute set at a later date. You keep coming back to this point about getting the redemptions signed, they were not and that has been addressed. It would have been cheaper if Kobe had signed them all for them, but he did not and this is why we have packs.


No it is not our 9-5. My defense is of companies as a whole as I have said above. The situation can easily be defended. What they did here was the best situation.

Your options

1) This Pack
2) Points based on Pre-Death Prices
3) Replacement based on Pre-Death Prices.

No other options, no talk about if they had just made him sign. He didnt so have to move on. You have those three options. I will bet you choose the pack from that menu.

Again they are doing the same thing as other companies, Topps/UD/Panini are not cancers on the hobby and they are not greedy. Now if you wish to talk about the licensing arm increasing products and production and making the companies do more I can agree somewhat with you on that point. We will not be discussing them like we were Upper Deck, you are ignoring Topps still going on after UD had their issues. Topps and Panini both learned lessons from UD's downfall, in addition UD employees were leaving for years warning about things such as reprinting products, not paying large amounts of athletes, etc etc. These are all things that the leagues now monitor heavily and the companies themselves do not engage in. There is not deception on part of Topps, new UD, or Panini.

[jjohnson114]

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Open any product in this hobby and tell me the percentage of packs/box/cases that are going to be winners? Far as the tribute pack. The option they could have done to increase value would be to create a rookie subset to go with the Kobe Tributes. Have 10 different Zion, Ja, etc with all of them numbered to /10 /5 /3 /1. Do the same with last year's All Star Game and do an MVP Set. It could have been expanded out to make there be more low numbered, but the end result would be people would still say it is watered down and complain about the prices. You should go look at videos of cases of NT/5 Star/Dynasty/Flawless/Cup. There are plenty of dud cases and boxes that do not bring back even the MSRP in value. If they did not care, a simpler solution would have occurred to this situation. Some people open, some sell, and some will hang on with any product.

I get what you're saying, but this is not your traditional product. There should have been a minimum of one rookie per pack, even if it meant adding a second card to keep it /24. The packs being opened with all veterans are ridiculous, not to mention that after further inspection four of the six cards have dented corners, including the Kobe. Again, where's the "tribute".

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

The estate situation is relevant to what you are discussing. This was not in the works and as far as his HOF Enshrinement, we were going to see a more exclusive high end Transcedent like product being released for that. Along with HOF Cards in each product. The whole idea of outside individuals was to do something for collectors with this tribute set and to leave the estate the ability in the future to come back and make a standalone tribute set at a later date. You keep coming back to this point about getting the redemptions signed, they were not and that has been addressed. It would have been cheaper if Kobe had signed them all for them, but he did not and this is why we have packs.

Again, there is no accountability for Panini. Why are current year products signed when older products are not. This shows a lack of regard for those that paid for a previous product. It's cut and dry - redemptions should not be in products if you cannot guarantee that you will honor them.

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

No it is not our 9-5. My defense is of companies as a whole as I have said above. The situation can easily be defended. What they did here was the best situation.

Your options

1) This Pack
2) Points based on Pre-Death Prices
3) Replacement based on Pre-Death Prices.

No other options, no talk about if they had just made him sign. He didnt so have to move on. You have those three options. I will bet you choose the pack from that menu.

Pre-death prices are only relevant if you address the situation in a timely manner. Panini did not and will likely take 2-3 months to provide autographs or packs that they have been sitting on for months (or a year in the case of the autos). Had all autos been redeemed in a timely manner today's market would dictate the value. Again, zero transparency and some are receiving autos from different products (the Select autos are a good example) for redemptions of much lesser value, both pre and post death. If there is logic its flawed and impossible to follow. But your opinion is that we take the cards that they give us and be happy with it, regardless of the amount of money that we may have spent to obtain the desired auto whether buying a redemption or from a pack/box. Again, we as customers have spent quite a bit of money with Panini to obtain this redemption, and are rewarded with garbage because of his passing. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense why we get the short end of the stick here.

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Again they are doing the same thing as other companies, Topps/UD/Panini are not cancers on the hobby and they are not greedy. Now if you wish to talk about the licensing arm increasing products and production and making the companies do more I can agree somewhat with you on that point. We will not be discussing them like we were Upper Deck, you are ignoring Topps still going on after UD had their issues. Topps and Panini both learned lessons from UD's downfall, in addition UD employees were leaving for years warning about things such as reprinting products, not paying large amounts of athletes, etc etc. These are all things that the leagues now monitor heavily and the companies themselves do not engage in. There is not deception on part of Topps, new UD, or Panini.

Yes, we agree on the greed of the licensing arms, but the card manufacturers absolutely bear responsibility as well. They are literally printing money right now and refuse to respond to customers (Panini specifically). What other businesses care less about their customers? I'll wait, but I'm guessing that the list is small as we all know that customer loyalty is critical to any successful business.

Ultimately, Panini had a job to do and failed miserably.

[Cavaliercards]

One rookie per pack would have meant they needed to go deeper in the Rookie Class. Now I personally would be happy to hit a Kyle Guy or Ty Jerome, but I doubt you would have been happy. Unless as I said they made multiple Zions, Ja, etc and dragged down the value, which people still complain about.

They are beholden to the athlete, you are bringing up a point which has brought up to the Licensing Arm of every Major Sport. Response from them, who control the situation, it is dependent on the athlete. They expect to honor the redemption and that is why they have them.

This was not going to be an instant turnaround. They had to get approval to even do something from the Estate, then they had to go to their design team, then they went back to the estate and the league for final approval, after all of that they were finally able to get to printers, which were already working on other products and lines and had to squeeze this one in. They have not been sitting on the packs for months and as far as the autos they wanted to start sending them out and then the packs immediately afterwards. I think this is the right move, you think they should have sent the autos and then had several months wait for packs and that is fine. If Kobe had signed them all you are right, this is a totally different situation. No my opinion is as it is has been from the beginning, if you have an $80 card do not be seeking a $1000 replacement. You are not being awarded with garbage, you are being awarded right now with an $1800 item. Short end of the stick would have been the points or you get sent a Blake Griffin /15 that they get to pick out for you.

The card manufacturers are facing an onslaught like they never have been before and I honestly feel bad for them. Topps with hundreds of calls and emails after Bowman Draft because cards will not grade a 10, but just a 9. That is ridiculous, have a call about a replacement/problem I think you absolutely should get a person from each of the manufacturers. But it is like the eBay Large Seller Merchant Support, we got off the phone with them today. The woman asked please do not give out the number to other people (yes you can find it easily online) as people with no or small stores are calling it. They cant get to the people they need to because they cant cut off the problem people. Each of the companies would be better raising prices by 5-10% and taking the percentage they get to keep and hiring more CS Staff with that money. That way they can wade through the bs and the valid issues quicker, btw the percentage is standard practice for companies that have increased their CS teams. The companies are making money, but more money they make the more the leagues do. Many more people in this industry are making higher margins of money at this exact juncture. Can give you many worse businesses and I will start with a company like Comcast, can continue on to Banks, Healthcare Companies, and many other industries.

Ultimately, they had a job to do and they made the best out of a bad situation, just as other companies have done when players passed. There is no perfect formula and it is why if every company just went to a points system things like this could be avoided and you can use your points/bucks/prizes for whatever you want and it prevents situations like this one.

[M4YH3M1]

After taking painstaking time to read the last 2 pages of retorts, I agree with a couple of points from each. I won't go into it though.

However, there was a point made that there are superior redemptions out there and still waiting, BUT some lower valued (pre or post humous) that received autos whereas the HIGHER valued redemptions should have been looked after first and foremost.

IE: I'm waiting on a Origins Gold #/10 and IF I receive the same single 1 pack as those waiting on a #/99 Origins auto.. well I'll be a mushroom cloud laying mother f...

As would anyone that is in the same boat.

[smalltown]

Originally Posted by M4YH3M1

IE: I'm waiting on a Origins Gold #/10 and IF I receive the same single 1 pack as those waiting on a #/99 Origins auto.. well I'll be a mushroom cloud laying mother f...

As would anyone that is in the same boat.

You’re absolutely receiving 1 pack. As am I for my /49 while unnumbered stuff got the same.

[Springerj23]

Originally Posted by M4YH3M1

After taking painstaking time to read the last 2 pages of retorts, I agree with a couple of points from each. I won't go into it though.

However, there was a point made that there are superior redemptions out there and still waiting, BUT some lower valued (pre or post humous) that received autos whereas the HIGHER valued redemptions should have been looked after first and foremost.

IE: I'm waiting on a Origins Gold #/10 and IF I receive the same single 1 pack as those waiting on a #/99 Origins auto.. well I'll be a mushroom cloud laying mother f...

As would anyone that is in the same boat.

I would also like to comment as I pointed out many pages ago. As much as I agree that the level of the original redemption should be factored in. I also feel that the age of the redemption should have been weighed heavily. From a business customer service perspective, it is rather crappy to fulfill a customer that has been waiting for a year vs someone that has been waiting 3, 4, 5 years which has been documented in this thread multiple times. Magnitude and value of the redemptions plus wait times should have been the 2 key factors in distributing whatever route they were going to go.

I also feel the pain of those of you that have low numbered redemptions still remaining. My opinion only, but I feel packs are all that is going to be received going forward, but it's Panini so who the heck knows.

[carrollm09]

After the announcement (mid/late December) I requested replacements on my 2013-14 Crusade Kobe autographs (been sitting there for quite awhile, obviously) and recived two 2019-20 Contenders Kobe autographs. Good day for me, I suppose, but...6 years later.

[jojo33374]

Been waiting two year for my 2018 Panini Cornerstones franchise pillar quartz auto /10. Still no card or pack. I hear people are getting the packs shipped overnight. So we will see.... I have seen the marble /5 redeemed a few weeks ago from the same set. One sold for 3k. Im hoping for the card instead of pack...

[ND3]

Anyone one have some thoughts after the bulk of replacement packs are shipped, ebay sales happen and this stuff dries up prices might increase pretty significantly since it has a pretty loaded rookie class?

[miamitrev2]

Originally Posted by jjohnson114

After considering whether or not to sell or not for a net of about $1,600, my wife talked me into opening the pack. I should have gone with my gut. In this "replacement" pack, the Panini folks were kind enough to include:

Enes Kanter Gold /8
Nikola Vucevic Purple & Gold /20
Scottie Pippen Team USA Purple & Gold /20
Damian Jones Purple /24
Brandon Ingram Purple /24
Kobe Bryant Tribute Purple /24

I am livid. This was the replacement for a 2019-20 Prizm FOTL Blue Shimmer auto. These cards aren't worth half of what the auto would have been prior to Kobe's death.

For all of those saying you should have sold, I get it. However, should the next guy have gotten this crap as his $1,800 consolation prize? Thank you for the big middle finger Panini.

I believe that this may be the straw that broke the camels back and push me away from the hobby for a while. If this is how Panini "compensates" their customers, I don't want anything to do with them.

You took the gamble and lost
Thoughts and prayers

[celtics]

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Your options

1) This Pack
2) Points based on Pre-Death Prices
3) Replacement based on Pre-Death Prices.

You have an answer for everything but my question for you is how are they picking who gets an auto and who doesn't? Shouldn't the auto's go to those who have had redemptions in their system the longest and packs go to those who don't?

My other question is why did some people get replacements a month ago and some people are still waiting?

I personally think the replacements are great whether it be packs or autos but the way they are handling it isn't fair to those who have been waiting longer.

[spaldingsfinest]

I just got an email indicating the redemption for my Vanguard High Voltage Gold On Card Auto #/10 has shipped. Fingers crossed it's an auto and not a pack. Been waiting over 2 years for the redemption.

[ichirorox]

Early morning notification from panini that my redemption for 2019-20 Crown Royale Crown Jewel FOTL Auto /11 was shipped.

[thecardscout]

Originally Posted by Cavaliercards

Not greed by the companies or the league. In the instance we referenced prior, the company (not Panini) paid for the signatures made and not in full.

The plan was announced and they had things together, not shipping items all at once is not contrary. Same reason when people that are living have autographs ship, they are not always all at once. Never to this extent either.

We know collectors that have been in this industry for 1/4 of time we have been that have many times the relationships. It is all about the networking a person decides to do for themselves. If the internal bag inside of the cereal box states there may be a replacement inside and you are aware of this from prior history with the cereal industry, as you are, you are taking that chance upon yourself. This scenario is acceptable in this hobby, as I have outlined above there is no recourse for the companies.

There is refusal and there is just not having signed it yet. They are two different things, we have seen an athlete refuse to sign and two companies immediately sent out replacements. We have seen athletes not get to an item and the companies will replace if requested, but the idea is to get the item that was redeemed. Again I am against all redemptions, I think there should be Topps Bucks, Panini Rewards, Upper Deck Prizes, etc which every card that is not returned gets you points/bucks/prize tickets that you can redeem. The card companies do have regard for the customers.

Panini took the road approved by the estate, this was not an easy road. Easier road would have been issuing points or just sending out replacements wholesale and a road they could have done quicker and would have put the estate off the hook for having to go to the family for approval.

We are stating what any company in this situation would be left to do. The card companies are not a cancer and they are not hurting the hobby. Each league is thriving with their licensing agreement with the companies and that was pre-pandemic as the hobby has been increasing before Kobe/Pandemic.The hobby is thriving, as is the whole industry. It is part of the reason eBay was able to go to USPS with their new shipping method. The hobby's strength for years and increase in market share has made that happen. Our shop is not what puts food on the table, we have a 9-5 job.

You are part the reason Panini gets away with how they treat customers. Pretty sad you think this way tbh. Panini has the resources to make customers receive an item other than a kobe auto that has similar value. Some people paid thousands for kobe redemptions after he died. These Mosaic packs were a joke and showed Paninis lack of remorse for the people getting screwed out of Kobe autos. They could have paid Zion and Morant some extra bucks to replace Kobes auto on a tribute card or something like that. But that would have cost them more money which they had to spend. They didnt though because at the end of the day they dont give AF that people got screwed.

[pokemaniac]

Originally Posted by jjohnson114

After considering whether or not to sell or not for a net of about $1,600, my wife talked me into opening the pack. I should have gone with my gut. In this "replacement" pack, the Panini folks were kind enough to include:

Enes Kanter Gold /8
Nikola Vucevic Purple & Gold /20
Scottie Pippen Team USA Purple & Gold /20
Damian Jones Purple /24
Brandon Ingram Purple /24
Kobe Bryant Tribute Purple /24

I am livid. This was the replacement for a 2019-20 Prizm FOTL Blue Shimmer auto. These cards aren't worth half of what the auto would have been prior to Kobe's death.

For all of those saying you should have sold, I get it. However, should the next guy have gotten this crap as his $1,800 consolation prize? Thank you for the big middle finger Panini.

I believe that this may be the straw that broke the camels back and push me away from the hobby for a while. If this is how Panini "compensates" their customers, I don't want anything to do with them.

The next guy has the same option as you. Take a $2000 payout or a $2000 gamble. Considering Panini's track record with redemptions and replacements, that's pretty dang good. And this is coming from someone who has made the same points that you're making in this thread.

Personally, I am holding mine and assessing as time passes. I know that I would probably be kicking myself, too, if I opened. Those I've seen opened on YouTube have not been great either.

[kingofsnake]

Originally Posted by spaldingsfinest

I just got an email indicating the redemption for my Vanguard High Voltage Gold On Card Auto #/10 has shipped. Fingers crossed it's an auto and not a pack. Been waiting over 2 years for the redemption.

I just got notification that my Vanguard High Voltage Purple shipped also. Will let you guys know what was received.