Hello:

One of the manufacturers finds it perplexing that Inkworks was selected Best Manufacturer in the annual Gummie Awards but did not come in first in the Best Set or Most Creative Categories. The manufacturer wanted us to ask our readers to explain this and so we are asking. What are your thoughts?

My candidate for the Gummies came in 2nd, but Inkworks is equally worthy of this award. They have always been a source of great sets and provided great service to collectors. They have some strong licenses in Buffy, X-Files and Simpsons, and I think that may be why they edged RA out.

That said, I think Inkworks will be hard pressed to win this catagory next year.Rittenhouse now has some great licenses, Star Trek, James Bond, & Babylon 5. I don't think some of their earlier sets, like Farscape or Twilight Zone were as strong. Also, RA has offered more chase and autographs in their sets. What chase card can compare to the ST 35th Double Auto? RA also has excellent customer service.

I think RA will be the one to beat next year, good luck to Inkworks and Topps.

I haven't seen the results yet (still in the post I daresay!) but I think that the reason Inkworks wins best Manufacturer without winning Best set is that they have some excellent customer relations and really do consistendly well for the collector. Their sets may not be the best, but they are consistently among the best. Other manufacturers do exceptionally well on some sets, but fall down in other areas - whether that be quality control or collation or customer service.
I'm not going to name names - it would be unfair to do so.
Generally, I think that most of the regular card companies had a good (as far as collectors are concerned) year - most of them had at least one excellent product out there on the shelves.

I have to say that Rittenhouse will be giving Inkworks a run for their money in 2002 - the Trek 35 wrappers in particular are stunning (the cards I've seen have been great too!)
Au Res.,
Paul

Since I'm trek exclusive, I can't speak about any other manufactures, but I have to echo the *idea* that a collector's opinion of a manufacturer can mean more then just the set itself...a very creative set can be balanced off by other things...poor collation, delays, damaged corners, mis-cuts. So, if the voters felt that one company did better MAKING the cards, but the other was better at their ideas, creativity, look, etc. I can see it getting split up like that. Since I don't know how Inkworks does on those areas, I'd have to leave my thoughts labeled *possibly* only...

Hi there, this is an interesting matter and it is a matter of like or dis-like. I have been a collector ever since the first "chase" card was inserted into a box. I (myself) am guilty, also, of voting for Inkworks as the BM, but not for best card set, etc. I even e-mailed them (Inkworks)two years ago explaining how much I do like most of their licencing products, but telling them how they were (and still are) stagnant in some sets. For example: take Buffy and Angel (among others), how long will they keep the nine (9) insert card portray set on all the characters? This pattern is getting too predictible. Also, in the last Buffy set all the promos were of the same photo (noticed how she is wearing the same blouse), the only distinction was the pose on Buffy (and one card with Giles.)Here (for me) you have a manufacturer with great licencing but doing over and over the same "insert" patterns. Talking about their promos, how many do you feel that the latest box toppers (Angel set) look and "feel to the touch" like promo cards? What about the embossed Buffy promo card, same as the regular promo but stamped. Please, Inkworks, be CREATIVE! Anyhow, if I do keep writing I'll keep talking more and more about negatives. Those are my two cents (worth nothing) but that monkey, now, is off my back.

Probably have to take into account the strong fan base that certain licenses have. I only collect Star Wars cards, so I honestly don't know anything about the other sets, but at the same time, even if I thought another set was better, the fan in me is only going to vote for the Star Wars set simply to see it do well. Judging by the group of dedicated SW collector's at Cathy's site, I imagine I'm not alone in my voting habits.

Edit: spelling

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Sebulba-X ]

Hi! As with some of the others posting here, I voted for Inkworks as the best manufacturer but not for best set. My reasons included many mentioned above: making projected release dates, consistent quality, great customer service and the ability of the collector to get a nice set with chase cards without breaking the bank. With Inkworks, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That said, it was a tough choice for me between them and Rittenhouse Archives. If they are able to be closer to their listed release dates this year and clear up some of the problems they have had with the printing, that may well put them over the top in 2002. Their sets are creative and innovative (but I do have a problem with the extensive number of chase cards). Love the costume cards though!

Sam

I honestly forget how I voted, but I'd have to echo what the others have said...

Best Manufacturer is just that - who manufactured the best product? I think this is irregardless of the actual licenses held by any manufacturer - it has more to do with the overall product: card quality, collation, timeliness, etc. Also, little things like sending collectors free promos even after the anthrax scare and having a complete set guarantee per box helps, too.

They might not have the most innovative sets (as others have mentioned) but tieing together what they do have into a quality product is what's key.

I also voted for Inkworks for the best card manufacturer over Rittenhouse Archives BECAUSE of the *MAJOR* disappoint I had with the poor quality of the Hercules trading cards that were released and for the fact that I have had absolutely NO response from RA as to how soon the replacement cards would available or sent. If this unfortunate problem would have been taken care of a bit more promptly it may have changed my vote.

Top 10 reasons why I gave INKWORKS the number 1 spot...drum roll...
10. Simplicity of design, nostalgic quality
9. 36 packs per box
8. Guaranteed complete set per box
7. Free promos! No High priced promos.
6. No Limited Edition hype to jack up the price.
5. Reasonably easy to complete chase sets
4. Secondary market prices
3. Punctual Release Dates
2. Customer Service,...CUSTOMER FIRST!!!
1. Fun, Fun, Fun!
Even when I'm not thrilled with the movie/tv show I always find the set interesting.
Inkworks is not perfect. I wish they would add another chase level or two and mix'em up a bit, and drop redemption cards all together. Even though the redemption cards I have found had no expiration dates.
Overall, they are #1, and I congratulate them for a job well done.

PS, Now how about a J.A.G. set ?

I had a hard time voting for Best Manufacturer this year. Both Rittenhouse Archives and Inkworks had a great year product wise, and I have bought a bunch of both of their products, and of course, their promo cards since thats my area of primary interest.

I basically voted based purely on the amount of product they had that was of interest to me, plus of course customer support, that is always important as well.

Mike.

Inkworks deserved "Best Manufacturer" because of numerous factors. The first is Superb Customer Service - They are always quick to correct any mistakes or problems should they occur, even in the wake of 9-11. I have ALWAYS received a prompt reply/response anytime I contacted them, whether it be via phone, e-mail or USPS. RA & Fleer/Skybox sometimes responded and TOPPS never responded (even when I was at their corporate office. (Side Note: Customer service was also great from Impel, which became Skybox, which still had great service. It was only after the Fleer/Skybox merger that profits were more important than service.)
Factor 2 is Listening to customer feedback - Inkworks listens to suggestions and ideas made by their customers and quite often have incorporated those items in future releases.
Factor 3 is that they have been fairly consistent in meeting their target release dates without sacrificing quality. To me that is an important factor. (They only slipped once with Charmed - Season 1, due to studio conflicts)
Factor 4 is that they produce nice product for an affordable price. They do not overdo the chase cards. I like chase cards like everyone else but when there are as many, or more, chase cards than the basic set, something is seriously wrong. ie. TOPPS sets with mirrored sets and multi-tier chase cards, or Fleer/Skybox (near the end) with Star Trek Cinema 2000.
Factor 5 is that they do their best to consistently sastify current collectors and bring new collectors into the hobby. Cases in point: 1) They were the first manufacturer to guarantee a complete set of basic cards and no damaged cards. Everyone else followed. 2) They were the first to offer promo cards direct from them to make it fair for everyone to be able to receive them. Some others followed. 3) I appreciated their arranging for Angelina Jolie to sign her cards on the set between Tomb Raider shooting. This allowed for legible autograph cards that were inserted in time for the card set's release.
And in case anyone was wondering, I am not, nor have been in the past, an employee or partner or anyone with a vested interest in Inkworks. My
only connection is having the pleasure of being one of their many satisfied customers.

I think Inkworks and Rittenhouse are fairly equal in terms of card quality.

Years ago had Rittenhouse been in existence I would have voted them top overall because of the wider range of chase cards available in each set. Over time however I have increasingly come to appreciate the Inkworks formula, with less rare cards but ones which seem to keep their value better.

I no longer want Sound in motion and pieceworks cards till they're coming out of my ears. Boring! (How many farscape piecework cards do you really need??) Rare and quality autos, as per the Inkworks formula of 1 per 3 boxes (avg)will better stand the test of time.

OK, explain this one to me, Topps Evolution for best set....
how so? If you voted for it, let me know what you liked. This was a product I broke for a client. It came out at the same time as Rittenhouse's WofV set and at the time I did a side by side comparison....
I won't go into all the details, but I thought the set was a bit flat..a base set, a few repeated inserts and some autos....nothing realll special (unless one wants to chase a limited to 100 auto card) WofV came out LOADED with different inserts, autos, sketchcards, costume cards, flat out packed to overflowing. I had boxes sitting in a pile that exploded spontaneously out of sheer compressed energy.... Even taking my well-known bias to Trek (though I like SW!!!) into account, I thought that set was a shoe-in for best set. What did I miss ))

I have a feeling that those autos were one big reason - the first time Star Wars autos had been included in a NS card set?
They were nice cards and, relatively speaking, cheaper per pack than the WOV cards (though I prefered the WOV cards myself!)
Au Res.,
Paul

Even though I supported RA for Best manufacturer, I voted for Star Wars Evolution as Best set. This set featured all headshots of all characters from all 4 SW films. Lots of minor roles we may have overlooked before, with a great bio on the back. The chase cards were a great idea,even though there wern't enough of them in my packs, showing how the characters evolved or played different roles, and the autos, well, the first SW autos ever, made this a special set.
WOV was a great set, but, Voyager can't compare to SW...

agreed, comparing the idea of Voyager to the idea of SW would be a mistake..apples and oranges and all that, but to take the character evolution idea and jazzing it up a bit woulda made it a better set..more then just changing a color or a background....(well and the main pic of course!) But, obviously, I would be in a minority to think that way since it won hehehee

stcardgeek,
I've been tempted for days to post the same question about the best set. I agree with you. Comparatively Evolution is a weak base set. The inserts are weak repeats and few in variety.
I think it boils down to autographs and availability. The draw of autographs is fairly obvious. It was also refreshing to go to the local department store and find Evolution packs. Let's face it, sometimes LIMITED EDITION claims help and hurt. There are evidently many who like not being tied down to buying a whole box or having to order from a dealer.

My main concern is the message it sends to Topps. It is reasonable for Topps to conclude that non-sports collectors are very easy to please. I'm not from Florida, but I still think a recount is in order.

I'm not a massive fan of either Star Wars or ST Voyager. So, with no initial preference between the 2 releases but with with a choice to make because of funds, I went for the Star Wars product over Women of Voyager .....because of the auto quality.

I think Star Trek sets have suffered recently from a lack of big names yet to sign so Rittenhouse have filled the void with lots of minor character autos pending the release of Enterprise in card form. A great strategy to target the completist but one with a more limited general appeal??