Las Vegas Industry Summit: Good Ideas Part 3 - 'Expired Redemption Day'

I was reminded of this idea when I saw Upper Deck update its Twitter account this morning with a message to a collector & blogger I enjoy following.

Fair enough, after all the redemption cards are expired. However, much talk was made about #1 Why do redemption cards have expiration dates at all?? Don't the companies often take much longer than what's stated on the card to return redemptions to you?? Didn't Upper Deck just send out a SPx Monta Ellis RC Card from 2005/06??

Why do collectors have to hold to a strict time frame, and the manufactures get off high and dry?

Seems pretty unfair to me considering if collectors get the shaft often enough - they stop buying (as many already have over the years)

Its time for all the manufactures to step up and get more clear on Redemption Cards. Its unfair they can take 4+ years to get a 05/06 SPx Autograph to you, but basically say screw you if you pull a redemption card 24 months after it was made.

It doesn't matter if you don't have an MLB license anymore, or Derek Jeter's direct line - the collector would at least feel some satisfaction if these 'expired redemption' cards were worth something.

Expired Redemption Day
Probably the best idea that I heard was having the manufactures make special packs/cards (like they do at the National and All-Star games) and let you come into hobby shops around the country to redeem expired redemption cards for the packs. It would take LOTS of expired redemption cards off people's hands, and probably clear up a few phone lines at the CS department on a daily basis. Considering wages in CA, TX, and NY aren't getting any lower - I'd think this would actually save them money in the long run.

In a recession - everyone is looking to save money, so these filthy dollar stores and Wal-Marts were where to shop. But this country & the rest of the world is on its way back. Consumers are going to start demanding better service first, instead of long lines, rude customer service members and overall lack of caring. If you continue to avoid an issue with your customer base, it will come back to haunt you.

If I were in charge of Topps, Panini or Upper Deck - I'd worry less about who was the first with a video card, and who will be the first to clearly address expired redemption cards, how long it takes to get them back to the paying customers, what to do when a player(s) don't/can't sign, and clearly stating that on my website & in as many places as I can find because most average collectors might not know.

Update:


I'm doing my part, but I'm just one voice - make yours heard below ... you'd be surprised to see the changes if enough people speak up.

Panini:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/panini
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PaniniAmerica
Blog: http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com

Topps:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ToppsCards
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/toppscards
Blog: http://www.toppsblog.com

Upper Deck:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UpperDeck
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/UpperDeckSports
Blog: http://www.upperdeckblog.com

Las Vegas Industry Summit: Good Ideas Part 2 - 'Redemption Incentive'

In the next series of posts I will try and recall all the interesting ideas I heard from hobby shop owners, manufactures and others that attended the Industry Summit in Las Vegas, NV last week. If you think its a good idea, or bad one ... let us know in the comments or by posting your own blog about the subject. Send me a link and I'll post it here as well.

(Please Note: I'll have posts on expired redemptions later - and the kinds of things you might be able to do when you pull an expired redemption. This post is more for current/non-expired redemption cards. I honestly think something needs to be done about expired redemption pulls, so stay tuned for that)

Redemption Card Incentive
No one likes getting a redemption card, even if its for Kobe Bryant or Adrian Peterson. People that open boxes or packs on a regular basis are bound to have dozens they have to send in over the course of a year.

What if you got something in return for all those redemption cards you sent in ... on top of the cards you were promised? Think of those restaurant cards you get stamped when you buy a meal and you get a 'free entree' if you buy 5 of them ... something like that, except for redemption cards. Say for example for every 10 redemption cards you send in, you get a free pack of cards .. something like that.

Its tough for the companies to know what would be 'fair value' for something like this. If you think its a good idea - try to be as specific as possible on what cards, packs, boxes, cases, autographs, jersey cards you would be expecting if you sent in 10, 20, 30+ redemption cards over a year. Should it depend on the 'quality of redemption card' you send in (for example a Kobe Bryant Autograph) or should they all be counted the same? You decide. Maybe they can give you a Voucher for special cards/packs you can redeem at Hobby Stores around the country .... give them ideas.

If you like this idea, share it on forums, write a blog, tell your card store owner, and certainly tell the companies you'd like to see this option. They will at least listen to everything you have to say - I promise.

Panini:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/panini
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PaniniAmerica
Blog: http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com

Topps:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ToppsCards
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/toppscards
Blog: http://www.toppsblog.com

Upper Deck:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UpperDeck
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/UpperDeckSports
Blog: http://www.upperdeckblog.com

Las Vegas Industry Summit: Good Ideas Part 1 - 'Hobby Blaster'

In the next series of posts I will try and recall all the interesting ideas I heard from hobby shop owners, manufactures and others that attended the Industry Summit in Las Vegas, NV last week. If you think its a good idea, or bad one ... let us know in the comments or by posting your own blog about the subject. Send me a link and I'll post it here as well.

The Hobby Blaster
You can go to a well stocked Target and Wal-Mart and purchase packs of cards, or 'Blaster Boxes' of 5, 6, 7+ pack quantities that often contain an extra 'hit' or value card inside. Its a great double option for collectors. You sometimes see the same in Hobby Boxes, for example Topps Finest, which is broken down into 'Mini-Boxes' but not every product offers this option to the customer and shop owner.

Someone suggested a 'Hobby Blaster' where you get a box of packs just like Target & Wal-Mart + you could guarantee the customer a hit within those packs. It was brought up because kids can't afford a full Hobby Box, but they do like opening a 'box' instead of just 6 packs that were plucked from the shelf. (Plus kids like getting any jersey card or autographs) It also gives the shop more price points to sell at, and it gives the customer more options.

Sounds like a pretty good idea to me! The thing is, like most good ideas ... you need people to rally behind them in order to make them happen.


If you like this idea, share it on forums, write a blog, tell your card store owner, and certainly tell the companies you'd like to see this option at Hobby Stores. They will at least listen to everything you have to say - I promise.

Panini:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/panini
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PaniniAmerica
Blog: http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com

Topps:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ToppsCards
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/toppscards
Blog: http://www.toppsblog.com

Upper Deck:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UpperDeck
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/UpperDeckSports
Blog: http://www.upperdeckblog.com