Friday, July 19, 2013

COMC: Ch-Ch-Changes...

well?
for those of you that have a "collection" a forsale bin or whatever on Checkoutmycards, what is your impression of the recent Beckett team-up?
I am on my way to go check it out right now.
will report back with an edit to this piece.

peterson

Morning Question: Stop Letting This Happen To You, Creative Ones

...you ever think you "coin a phrase" or "pen/type a quote" that really strikes you, only for the wind of "someone thought of that already" to blow that sucker out of your mind as you move on about this informative life?
who can I call to patent this neat sentence I just created? Ha.
I am a poet. It is not common knowledge.
stupid fantastic internet.

I bought two discounted 2010 value boxes yesterday. Guess it takes time. There also was not a "tempting box" among them blasting on the shelves.

Peterson

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Day One, No Topps....We'll See How Long This Lasts

I'm going out to buy 40-60 of retail today. If there is nothing there, I'll be by the LCS, but I never get out of there for less than 70. The main reason I don't visit any longer.

I really already want to bust like a case of 2013 topps chrome (I don't know a lot of us who don't)...will I make it?

Lets go over the products that I will still be seeking...as "alternatives"

Cooperstown (panini)- tried a box. Crazy drab. Got a few neat keepers like a couple of "famous baseballs" cards and a few of my favorite HOFs, but overall very, very BLAH. too many plaques and old players in suits.

Contenders(panini, again)-Hideous. Did not buy. Waaaay to many "accent lights" in the photos and strange softball jerseys.

Prizm(panini) hey there, sorry if you bought this. worst effort on the board. Thousands of sticker autos of like 12 players.

Golden Age- I got "lucky" with my box and got a very cool Mickey Lolich auto card with amazing design. Ther museum age Billy Martin I will try to trade for same card, dif. player. The "hit" designs are, indeed, golden. Did I need dupes of the three stooges? no. Did I need another Eisenhower card? yes. This one's not bad. I may try my chances with a hobby box if the price i right.

Leaf (panini)-Ultimate draft and other Baseball releases have been amazing( thank you again upper deck). but the singles are not cheap, and the whole "crusade" thing just turns me off so that's out. (Leave religion and a bloody era of ethnocentrism in the books, not behind ballplayers).

Rittenhouse Archives-Marvel releases are actually great for the money. so much to catch up on since I was never a "comic guy" ZERO BASEBALL PLAYERS. Doh.

Panini(panini)- Crap. I do dig the design of EEE this year, and have a small stash of 8auto prospects
 I've bought multiple Panini releases only to find that they have de-numbered alot of cards in old leaf/donruss sets resurrected (mostly football) Another major issue was the box of USA champions I bought. ALL of the STICKER auto hits were beat up! like "don't bother to try to sell" beat-up. like "I bought my 5yr-old nephew an expensive box of cards" beat up. Sent two emails, no reply. No patience for the phone.

wish me luck. I need it.
Peterson

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

It's That Time: How To Downsize Like A Man

WOW. I guess if I had to say anything, I would start with the fact that "that time has come to me like all 30+ collectors, whereupon my wife and I shall burden ourselves with tiny human life".
aka, time to ditch some cards.
I will list the huge base and insert lots here, and likely on Blowout forum (timelovesahero)
for dirt cheap/shipping only. I am a giver. A real caring nurturer. I want you to have the cards I don't want. First let's get to my plan for incoming cards:

first up:
Due to circumstances as of late, I am considering boycotting topps products altogether.
(when I say it like that, it feels like I'm saying "I'm quitting smoking" there's more to it than just not doing it.)


PROS:
1. They finally made a design in 2013 that I like more than 5/10 (museum collection/flagship tied with 7/10)
2....um
3............eeesh
nope, I got nothing, They've been more or less the same company for the last 15yrs. (I'll get to what changed below)

CONS:
1. Topps "customer service" is a joke (this cannot be understated) I am not the only one who agrees, and this is burning collectors everywhere. Redemptions, replacements, missing hits and damaged cards are causing headaches everywhere; and not just from the nit-picking heads who just want more/something different than they got in their box.

 We are consumers, not customers. Customers get consideration as a group of interested individuals, consumers get taken for granted and ignored unless they don't buy something.

You used to be able to get cards replaced, or even just call or email for info on products and promotions.
No longer is this an option. I personally have tested this to the tune of a total of 3.5 hours of phone (wait) time with the result of ZERO out of 5 calls answered. I have sent two emails...neither has returned.


2. Exclusive rights Topps has a stranglehold on MLB til 2020. A year I hardly thought I would actually see. shit. They are clearly on autopilot/upper deck ripoff mode.


3. Sticker autos in premium products. WHY? Luckily, I don't buy "high end" boxes, so this one hurts the least, but has a long a storied history on this blog as a "screw you, we have a freaking BINDER of those..." from Topps.


as for outgoing....I have so many that would net me money on ebay I don't even have the time to handle that. Any regulars, get at me with needs, we'll see what I can do.
I'm still working on a GCRL package that is so blue. Dodger Blue.



who wants mad base from2011- 2013 topps? series one and two, at least a three-row box full. I gotta get that out of my little house as the boxes are creeping on me since I haven't traded or donated in a while.
(whatever I cannot trade by the time I prep the house this fall, I donate all cards to million cards for kids and the JDRF as well as dropping some off at the children's hospital over at Bon Secours, where my mother met her tender end)


ta for now,
Peterson