Are unlicensed cards/sets the future of the hobby?

mfw13 · 05-02-2014, 01:05 PM

Was looking at my own spending patterns recently, and started wondering if there might be some truth to this.

Over the past twelve months, my spending looks like this:

Approximately 30% on inserts from previous years' licensed sets
Approximately 20% on unlicensed sets (Helmar/Sporting Life/Sportkings)
Approximately 15% on "art cards (Goal Line Art/Perez-Steele/Leaf/Edward Vela)
Approximately 15% on custom cards I've commissioned
Approximately 15% on vintage singles
Approximately 5% on current year licensed products (2013 GQ, 2014 Heritage BB)

Thoughts?

free2131 · 05-02-2014, 01:07 PM

In a word, no. Most people (myself included) would never spend any serious money on cards with players in airbrushed, blank uniforms.

Bob Loblaw · 05-02-2014, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by free2131

In a word, no. Most people (myself included) would never spend any serious money on cards with players in airbrushed, blank uniforms.

Yup.

Look at the value of autographs of those unlicensed cards vs. when their Bowman card comes out.

Like Wile E. Coyote off of a cliff....

Nervo · 05-02-2014, 01:12 PM

Definitely not the future

asujbl · 05-02-2014, 01:12 PM

You're spending is nothing like the spending of 99% of us - that much I can guarantee

SDcardguy24 · 05-02-2014, 01:14 PM

Nope Nope Nope

Art cards and customs are nice once in a while but I think unlicensed cards are trash.

death2redemptions · 05-02-2014, 01:18 PM

It is looking more like unlicensed products are becoming your future....but not for the majority of everyone else.

JohnRyno · 05-02-2014, 01:20 PM

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

death2redemptions · 05-02-2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRyno

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

............SQUiRREL!

mfw13 · 05-02-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDcardguy24

Nope Nope Nope

Art cards and customs are nice once in a while but I think unlicensed cards are trash.

Really?

Sportkings isn't trash.
Helmar & Sporting Life cards are quite popular among the vintage collectors who know about them and often sell for three figures (i.e. over $100 per card).
Perez Steele and Goal Line Art have been very popular for years.
Edward Vela's art cards are very popular.
Leaf & In The Game products have a serious following.

Every other thread on this board is a complaint about Topps

Now while I readily agree that my spending patterns are atypical for this board given that I don't collect rookies, bust cases, or prospect, I think they'd be much more typical on the Net54 boards, for example.

XL5 · 05-02-2014, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

Every other thread on this board is a complaint about Topps

I think the fact that everyone seems to hate Topps but still buys all their products attests to the strength of licensing. Imagine if UD had the MLB license and Topps didn't, all else remaining the same.

preakness · 05-02-2014, 01:29 PM

dead end road

andyzk3 · 05-02-2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRyno

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

Great Scott!!!! Nice reference!

Regarding the question, no. I don't spend any money on art/custom cards at all, or unlicensed packs, unless they're part of a pack war. I'll stop collecting before I turn to that aspect of the hobby.

jmscoggin · 05-02-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by free2131

In a word, no. Most people (myself included) would never spend any serious money on cards with players in airbrushed, blank uniforms.

This, I spend very little on non licensed items. If it wasn't for Stanton pc cards, I would spend zero.

rrd111 · 05-02-2014, 01:36 PM

donruss did pretty well this year as did some of the previous leaf prizm sets. I think there is a market out there for that stuff so while it may not be the future I think it has a place in the era of exclusive licensing

cardbrah · 05-02-2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

Was looking at my own spending patterns recently, and started wondering if there might be some truth to this.

Over the past twelve months, my spending looks like this:

Approximately 30% on inserts from previous years' licensed sets
Approximately 20% on unlicensed sets (Helmar/Sporting Life/Sportkings)
Approximately 15% on "art cards (Goal Line Art/Perez-Steele/Leaf/Edward Vela)
Approximately 15% on custom cards I've commissioned
Approximately 15% on vintage singles
Approximately 5% on current year licensed products (2013 GQ, 2014 Heritage BB)

Thoughts?

I can't even take unlicensed cards serious. It sucks cause I loved Leaf and Donruss as a kid, but it's a dealbreaker if the cards have to airbrush out the team logos.

:special:

sportcardtheory · 05-02-2014, 01:38 PM

They are trending upwards. They will never be on the same level as licensed stuff, BUT it costs less to produce them so they are a cheaper buy-in and there is money to be made on them just like licensed stuff.

phreak23 · 05-02-2014, 01:44 PM

I can't stand the unlicensed "airbrushed" cards. And honestly if it wasn't for Jordan and Lebron I wouldn't purchase UD basketball products either. Just happens 1/2 the reason I collect is for MJ cards so I am kinda stuck buying UD products with nothing but college teams. I admit I do like 13-14 Fleer Retro though, but if it was NBA licensed it would be 200% better IMO.

Ephland · 05-02-2014, 01:57 PM

what sort of custom cards do you commission?

mfw13 · 05-02-2014, 01:57 PM

I'd add that I think a lot of people are mistaken if they automatically equate "unlicensed" with air-brushed, no logo, poor-quality cards.

Sportkings is very high-quality. So are Helmar & Sporting Life. And Edward Vela's art cards are gorgeous (which is why I collect them).

Unlicensed cards are often much better looking than licensed products.

mfw13 · 05-02-2014, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ephland

what sort of custom cards do you commission?

I've commissioned a whole series of 1956 Topps-style cards of various baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, and soccer players, as well as of Star Wars and Star Trek characters (will post images on another thread).

Also have commissioned some 1976-77 Topps Hockey-style cards...

xbignick · 05-02-2014, 02:00 PM

I like products like Leaf Metal and Leaf Trinity but value gets killed by bowman chrome.

On In the Game, saw their past, present, and future product and it was probably the worst of 2014.

VeedonFleece · 05-02-2014, 02:08 PM

I'm with most insofar as I won't PC any unlicensed cards whatsoever. I can't stand airbrushing at all but if Topps does it to someone I PC, I'll buy. I really find it inexcusable for Topps to airbrush anything though.

sportcardtheory · 05-02-2014, 02:12 PM

I was going to say, most of the First Bowman Chrome cards are airbrushed. Most of these guys haven't touched a professional diamond, let alone worn MLB uniforms in games. lol

iconms · 05-02-2014, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XL5

I think the fact that everyone seems to hate Topps but still buys all their products attests to the strength of licensing.

+1000000 excellent point

05-02-2014, 01:05 PM	#1
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 17,264	Are unlicensed cards/sets the future of the hobby? Was looking at my own spending patterns recently, and started wondering if there might be some truth to this. Over the past twelve months, my spending looks like this: Approximately 30% on inserts from previous years' licensed sets Approximately 20% on unlicensed sets (Helmar/Sporting Life/Sportkings) Approximately 15% on "art cards (Goal Line Art/Perez-Steele/Leaf/Edward Vela) Approximately 15% on custom cards I've commissioned Approximately 15% on vintage singles Approximately 5% on current year licensed products (2013 GQ, 2014 Heritage BB) Thoughts?

05-02-2014, 01:07 PM	#2
free2131 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 5,367	In a word, no. Most people (myself included) would never spend any serious money on cards with players in airbrushed, blank uniforms. __________________ “I exploit you, still you love me. I tell you one and one makes three.” - Living Colour

05-02-2014, 01:12 PM	#5
asujbl Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 62,455 ohiosundevils	You're spending is nothing like the spending of 99% of us - that much I can guarantee __________________ https://ohiosundevils.smugmug.com/ Browns/Cavs/Tribe/Buckeyes/Jackets/Devils TheFrenzy - “Blowout ain't a place for normies”

05-02-2014, 01:57 PM	#19
Ephland Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 2,044 ephlandfamily	what sort of custom cards do you commission? __________________ Texas Rangers - 2023 World Series Champions

05-02-2014, 02:00 PM	#22
xbignick Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 29,306 xxbignick	I like products like Leaf Metal and Leaf Trinity but value gets killed by bowman chrome. On In the Game, saw their past, present, and future product and it was probably the worst of 2014. __________________ @xxbignick on twitter

05-02-2014, 01:12 PM	#4
Nervo Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,021	Definitely not the future

05-02-2014, 01:14 PM	#6
SDcardguy24 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,261	Nope Nope Nope Art cards and customs are nice once in a while but I think unlicensed cards are trash.

05-02-2014, 01:18 PM	#7
death2redemptions Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Creeping in mama's cellar Posts: 59,303 ddavisaz	It is looking more like unlicensed products are becoming your future....but not for the majority of everyone else.

05-02-2014, 01:20 PM	#8
JohnRyno Banned Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Fairway in Regulation Posts: 12,248 johnryno2012 johnryno	Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

05-02-2014, 01:29 PM	#12
preakness Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: In Johnny Ryno's soul Posts: 21,077	dead end road

05-02-2014, 01:36 PM	#15
rrd111 Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 982	donruss did pretty well this year as did some of the previous leaf prizm sets. I think there is a market out there for that stuff so while it may not be the future I think it has a place in the era of exclusive licensing

05-02-2014, 01:38 PM	#17
sportcardtheory Banned Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 855	They are trending upwards. They will never be on the same level as licensed stuff, BUT it costs less to produce them so they are a cheaper buy-in and there is money to be made on them just like licensed stuff.

05-02-2014, 01:44 PM	#18
phreak23 Banned Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 2,837	I can't stand the unlicensed "airbrushed" cards. And honestly if it wasn't for Jordan and Lebron I wouldn't purchase UD basketball products either. Just happens 1/2 the reason I collect is for MJ cards so I am kinda stuck buying UD products with nothing but college teams. I admit I do like 13-14 Fleer Retro though, but if it was NBA licensed it would be 200% better IMO.

05-02-2014, 02:08 PM	#23
VeedonFleece Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The 01246 Posts: 3,896 veedonfleece	I'm with most insofar as I won't PC any unlicensed cards whatsoever. I can't stand airbrushing at all but if Topps does it to someone I PC, I'll buy. I really find it inexcusable for Topps to airbrush anything though.

05-02-2014, 02:12 PM	#24
sportcardtheory Banned Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 855	I was going to say, most of the First Bowman Chrome cards are airbrushed. Most of these guys haven't touched a professional diamond, let alone worn MLB uniforms in games. lol