I would like to see the promos step it up a little. How about a promo Chase card? The regular promos are becoming a dime a dozen. Dealers and other sorts have them by the handful. I'd like to see more of what Rittenhouse does with its wrapper incentives.
Promos used to be exclusive. Now there just everywhere. One of the best parts about colleting is having something unique, even if its on the cheap end of things. maybe Update people can send in a few proofs of purchase to get some exclusives or something on that end of things. Most of all, we need to reinvent the non sport market. We have case toppers, but what about box toppers.. We have full cases, What about 1/2 cases that would have mini masters in them. Why not put a teaser card in a current title box showcasing one coming up? Why not add a mini sell sheet to all boxes? Just some thoughts from a die hard collector...

There are plenty of chase promo cards if you are working on certain sets!
Box toppers have been used and sometime still are.
The teaser promo has been done as well. Comic Images almost always did this.

Contact the manufactures with your suggestions, I bet they would like to hear from you.

Have you been to a Philly Non-Sport show recently? Breygent has been making super rare promos numbered to less than 100 for several years now. These cards are available no where else but at shows. Ed Webb gave out a super limited promo at the Chicago show dinner this year. Apple cards in the UK has their own exclusive promos, as does Julio's, Cubby5454, Juniors of Austin, not to mention UK exclusives and other limited promo cards sealed and numbered manufactured only by Breygent.

Manufacturers have tried everything on your list over the last 25 years.
Box toppers: done.
Mini sell sheets: done.
Sending in wrappers or proofs: Done.
Promos are promos, chase cards are chase cards.
There is nothing the same about them.
Rittenhouse and Breygent have put Archive and master sets randomly in cases for years.

Why would the manufacturers make more "teasers" then they are already making? They cost a small fortune to produce. They are trying to keep costs down, but the licensing fees are astronomical. At least we still have the hobby. The more people who "buy" the products, the stronger the hobby will get.

Maybe some of these have been done before, but maybe they need to renewed in just a different way. It just seems like they all look the same after a while. There is certainly no WOW factor for the people that can't afford autos and such.
I have been to a few shows, in Chicago. I know the industry. I'm 61 years old and been collecting since I opened my first pack of Green Hornet cards. I would just like to see something amazing from this industry.

I think there is a WOW factor - exciting licenses, do you mean there is nothing in this list of recent sets that you find really interesting? Game of Thrones, Topps 75th Anniversary, Downton Abbey, American Horror Story ... there are some really cool sets there and I'm just talking about the base cards. There are beautiful inserts, and even if you cant afford autos and other high end hits, there are still affordable hits, like the autos from Topps 75th, most of them are under $25 in the guidebook.
There is amazing stuff coming out in this industry every week, there is an article in the latest NSU about a new art set, which used to be a staple of the hobby, coming out soon, and its coming out of Mexico.
As to promos, Breygent has gone out of its way to provide us with rare and beautiful promos, and Cryptozoic had a promo at the Philly show with minimum text and just the logo from Sons of Anarchy, something really different in my opinion, and then it was also issued as a metal card, which is something new in the industry.
If none of this appeals to you, take a break from the hobby for a while. hen you come back, you'll see it in a new light.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Norton:
and then it was also issued as a metal card, which is something new in the industry.

Just have to correct you on that one. Elaine and Tony Perna have been issuing limited edition metal variants of their Preview and Promo cards for a while. I have a complete set of the Classic Mythology II, Classic Fairy Tales and Hallowe'een ones that have appeared over the last few months

You know, I fell like I'm being attacked here. I been watching this board for many years, and just decided to join. I thought I could be apart of your family. Guess not. I just was asking for new ideas and made some, and
everyone says I should settle for what's out, and people telling me how smart they are, been there and done that. Now I'm told to take a break. I find that and this board insulting.
I wish you all the best. Have fun with your click..

I'm with you, addition. Nothing but savages around here.

But seriously, I'm sure nobody meant to hurt your feelings, and I can tell you, your comments are appreciated, so I wouldn't give up on this board just yet!

addition - Card Talk needs new members who are willing to post their ideas, suggestions and just general likes and dislikes. I hate it when I come on and see only a little activity in maybe 2 or 3 threads. There is nothing to read and nothing to respond to.

If you have been watching the forums for a while you know that we have a lot of very knowledgeable collectors who have been at it a long time. You also know that people sometimes disagree and that sometimes the printed word comes off reading harder than it was intended.

I think it was just being pointed out that some of that stuff has been done and perhaps reinventing non-sport cards is not the way to put it. As long as people keep the responses on a respectful level you can always answer back with your own thoughts and maybe have a meaningful conversation. If you just stop talking nobody learns anything.

Hope you decide to stick around for awhile.

What about the Bettie Page Private Collection? That was a promo collector's dream - or nightmare.

It was not my intent to drive you away addition, but you make statements like "promos are a dime a dozen", "There is certainly no WOW factor," and "I would just like to see something amazing from this industry."
If you have been collecting since Green Hornet came out, you know that the industry is always trying new things, in the years since Green Hornet we've seen holograms, autographs, cards with relics and swatches mounted on them, cards with sound bytes, different finishes and stocks such as wood, cloth, plastic, metal, foil, oversize cards, cigarette sized cards, sketches ranging from a rough thumbnail to mini-masterpeices. And none of this has any affect on you? So it was friendly advice to take a break, maybe you are bored or burned out with the hobby. I'm not, I see this as a good time to be collecting, and the manufacturers amaze me all the time.

Promos are still exclusive. Look for some of the early Cryptozoic promos for example. Or maybe the JAG promo from Rittenhouse from several years back.

We have exclusive promos in Chicago and Philly, and people complain they can't get the promos they want. If you want, there were even "chase promos" as there were two different types of foil used on the Breygent promos.

What we really need is more people buying cards. The manufacturers need to make money in order to fund the next set.

Promos get to be expensive, as do sell sheets. That's why we see fewer now than maybe 10 years ago. They also don't seem to bring anyone new into the hobby.

One innovation was promos in DVD and BluRay sets. I thought it was a great idea. Not sure it's brought too many people into the fold though.

I spend lots of weekends at shows, and at the comic and pop-culture conventions I get one of two statements:

They still make cards?

What do you DO with them?

The one thing I would like to see is more mainstream advertising. But that's horribly expensive for manufacturers.

Sorry no solutions here, but please continue the discussion. From discussion comes new ideas many times.

Ed

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quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
I'm with you, addition. Nothing but savages around here.

But seriously, I'm sure nobody meant to hurt your feelings, and I can tell you, your comments are appreciated, so I wouldn't give up on this board just yet!

Yeah, I'm with you too Addition. I think you've taken a lot of unnecessary flack here that was really not required. This forum should be about discussing opinions not critisising people others who's opinion doesn't agree with yours.Stick around Addition, I appreciate your contribution.

Everyones opinions are valid!
Some People are very passionate about collecting.
This is our hobby-deep breath
Enjoy

I'm really confused about what it is you feel is lacking. First, you said:

quote:

Originally posted by addition:
The regular promos are becoming a dime a dozen.

But then in the same thought, you said:

quote:

Originally posted by addition:
One of the best parts about colleting is having something unique, even if its on the cheap end of things.

There are a good number of promos with variations. As I mentioned with the Bettie Page set, some promos had two versions while others had 10!

And there is still a lot of exclusivity. Many promos can only be found at certain conventions, from specific dealers, or in every issue of NSU Magazine. Now, there may be some left over that are offered elsewhere, generally still free or at times for as little as just the cost of postage.

quote:

Originally posted by addition:
We have case toppers, but what about box toppers..

This happens occasionally. The upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy set will have them.

quote:

Originally posted by addition:
Why not add a mini sell sheet to all boxes?

Topps has always been great for this. Most of their Star Wars boxes come with posters/sell sheets. Mars Attacks Heritage had them. Personally I'm not a big fan of them, but can appreciate that they exist.


I think Don is onto something. It really sounds like you're getting burned out. You're obviously a promo collector, do you go for any and all promos, or stick within a certain genre like sci-fi, fantasy, comic...? Many of your suggestions exist, they just may not be in your specific collecting area. The manufacturers are always trying new and innovative things.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin F:

quote:

Originally posted by Don Norton:
and then it was also issued as a metal card, which is something new in the industry.

Just have to correct you on that one. Elaine and Tony Perna have been issuing limited edition metal variants of their Preview and Promo cards for a while. I have a complete set of the Classic Mythology II, Classic Fairy Tales and Hallowe'een ones that have appeared over the last few months

Don should have qualified his statement. Not only are metal cards like this new to the hobby, the SOA metal promo is the first promo made by Faerie to be printed on both sides.

Another destinction, although maybe not the first, but it was given out FREE which fits more collectors' strict definition of a promo. Is it the first, sharing that destinction with NSUs George Wright dinner promo? What was the first FREE metal promo?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bill DeFranzo,

Usually you just hear people complaining about too many promos or how the promos are too hard to get. Personally I love promos, and on more then one occasional I've picked up a set I normally wouldn't have because of the promos (but I'm sure that's not the norm).

quote:

Originally posted by addition:
You know, I fell like I'm being attacked here.

Trust me, it's not personal. Some people are very opinionated when it comes to promos. Beamer, for example, always offers a strong argument on his perspective. I respect Beamer's opinion and we've even sparred on dualing columns in NSU. Anyone who can speak his/her mind and trigger this much response is more than welcome here.

I hate you all.

And we all hate you Wolfie.
Bill is right, it's not personal, and I am also aware the Pernas have had metal cards for a while, I was speaking of metal cards in general as a new technology. I thought the Sons of Anarchy promo was especially cool since it just didn't have a photo from the show, like most promos, but the gang's symbol.