Panini has announced that they're going to eventually discontinue their redemption program, replacing it with a new rewards program. This is, in my opinion, a great move for Panini. Only time will tell how it affects collectors, but it's certainly a good move by Panini.
As far as I know the exact details have still yet to be announced but it sounds like rather than placing redemptions into packs where hits would normally be missing, Panini will now start to include point cards. I'm sure the point values will range depending on product, and maybe even vary within the products, but I'd say they'd definitely have to vary between products. Surely the point cards from National Treasures won't be the same point value as that of Prizm.
I think it will be interesting to see how well Panini can get the hobby community engaged in this program, buying and selling these point cards. I'm assuming that eventually you'll see selling points such as Kobe Bryant has now signed his Panini Certified cards, which are only available by using 100 points, or whatever. The thing to keep in mind is that the players that would have been a redemption before still won't be included in the product when this new rewards program takes place. The only thing that changes, basically, is that Panini isn't going to guarantee you a specific card of a specific player anymore, which again I feel like is a smart move on their part.
For the collector it will be interesting to see what people choose to do with these points, or point cards. I can see them becoming a big selling item on eBay eventually. People will definitely be looking to buy these points, especially when that might be the only way of obtaining specific player cards other than just buying them. They likely won't sell for a premium, but they will sell. I expect that eventually there will be a price value that is placed on the points, and one that is very likely to fluctuate month to month depending on the products (cards or otherwise) that Panini has available to purchase using these points.
Let's hear what you all have to say about Panini's new rewards program. Good idea, or bad idea?
As far as I know the exact details have still yet to be announced but it sounds like rather than placing redemptions into packs where hits would normally be missing, Panini will now start to include point cards. I'm sure the point values will range depending on product, and maybe even vary within the products, but I'd say they'd definitely have to vary between products. Surely the point cards from National Treasures won't be the same point value as that of Prizm.
I think it will be interesting to see how well Panini can get the hobby community engaged in this program, buying and selling these point cards. I'm assuming that eventually you'll see selling points such as Kobe Bryant has now signed his Panini Certified cards, which are only available by using 100 points, or whatever. The thing to keep in mind is that the players that would have been a redemption before still won't be included in the product when this new rewards program takes place. The only thing that changes, basically, is that Panini isn't going to guarantee you a specific card of a specific player anymore, which again I feel like is a smart move on their part.
For the collector it will be interesting to see what people choose to do with these points, or point cards. I can see them becoming a big selling item on eBay eventually. People will definitely be looking to buy these points, especially when that might be the only way of obtaining specific player cards other than just buying them. They likely won't sell for a premium, but they will sell. I expect that eventually there will be a price value that is placed on the points, and one that is very likely to fluctuate month to month depending on the products (cards or otherwise) that Panini has available to purchase using these points.
Let's hear what you all have to say about Panini's new rewards program. Good idea, or bad idea?
That said, I really do think this could be a good move for Panini. I just wonder how it'll work out for the collector, especially collectors like me who don't open a ton of personal packs or boxes.
