2013 ESP Elite NRL Cards Thread (Updated 5/8/13)

An update from ESP:

We would like to thank all collectors and yourselves for your valuable feedback and support.

NRL Elite has sold very well, we are extremely pleased with the support collectors have shown, and we will take away from this release a number of key learning’s that we will apply to all future releases.

A final delivery of stock will be sent to Ikon tomorrow (50 sealed cases) this will be the last delivery we can provide Ikon before all the remaining stock is delivered to participating news agents. A list of the participating news agents can be found on the ESP website should a collector need this information.

 
Thanks, Matt for continuing to pass on info

Are we able to find out what specifically they have learnt? It would be nice to get more than a very generic, vague statement that could apply to any past or future release. (not a criticism, but a plea for more genuine communication). Is there a chance to have a question and answer forum like Select used to do?
 
Thanks, Matt for continuing to pass on info

Are we able to find out what specifically they have learnt? It would be nice to get more than a very generic, vague statement that could apply to any past or future release. (not a criticism, but a plea for more genuine communication). Is there a chance to have a question and answer forum like Select used to do?

No problems, leave it with me.
 
I'd be happy if it was:

Releasing the number one cards to us in packs like any other card.
Spread the box hits evenly at one per box.
Different player photos on the parallel cards compared to the base cards.

Apart from that, it's been a bloody brilliant release. Well done ESP!!!
 
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Some of my suggestions for ESP would be as follows-

I think for it to be a parallel set, it has to use the same photo, but have them with different colored variations ( like the fast and furious gold and silver versions), and maybe a rare numbered version ( to say, #50)

Continue with the same theme for the sensations signature, and have 1 or 2 players Per team per set release. It's a very good, clean design, and I would love to get more star players especially of my own team. It's frustrating only getting a few autos of your team each year, and they're all different designs.

Card stock is fine.

Numbering on all inserts

Different inserts. Don't just make parallels. Stat leaders, all time leaders, historical players etc

More than 1 hit per box on average!! For the price we're paying, we should be getting 3-4 hits per box, and that's autos not just numbered inserts. As far as I'm concerned, an insert is not a hit!

All numbered cards released. None of this bullshit of holding back cards. You're making these cards for collectors, so don't disrespect the people who are making you money. I don't really understand the low number craze that only seems to happen in Australia, but I do relate to the jersey number collectors, and since a lot of the star players are fullbacks, the number 1 does become a significant number for that reason. To me a #1,2,3,4 or 5 etc, for say a Paul Gallen shouldn't be worth any more than a #120, but that's just my opinion. #13 however, should command a premium. Same with #1's for slater, inglis etc, and hence, everything should be released.

Clear communication!!!! Checklists available before release. If your releases are of quality, then this will only increase interest prior to release and help presales.
 
I would add stop bullying re-sellers and price fixing, let the quality of your product set the market price.

Place the bloody holograms on the cards neatly and squarely, same goes with the post production numbering.

I'm actually a fan of checklist cards or even a checklist flyer. I also like team logo cards as these are great for players who don't have an official card to sign.

Deliver on time, stop buLLsh^tting us, respect us and release to the public the full release i.e. #1s

Apart from that I like what I am seeing, touching and feeling.

Ross
 
Im astounded sometimes by the sense of entitlement that some collectors have. Buying boxes is and will always be be a gamble and the "i must get multiple hits per box or im going to have a whinge" attitude is ridiculous.

I know my thought process here might piss some of you off but I was the first to bitch (very loudly) about Limited Edition and Traders. So when they get it right its time to give credit where its due.

Apart from the collation of the auto's in the boxes I cant really fault this release. To me Elite was is up there with one of the best releases over the past 5 years.
 
Place the bloody holograms on the cards neatly and squarely, same goes with the post production numbering.

Ross

As an old NBA collector from the 90's, I'm wondering why the holograms needed to be stuck on by hand in the first place? Companies like Upper Deck print the holograms on the cards and they actually contribute to the appeal of the card rather than detracting from it.

Agree with the other comments though and, as far as quality goes, this is a very good release
 
Im astounded sometimes by the sense of entitlement that some collectors have. Buying boxes is and will always be be a gamble and the "i must get multiple hits per box or im going to have a whinge" attitude is ridiculous.

I know my thought process here might piss some of you off but I was the first to bitch (very loudly) about Limited Edition and Traders. So when they get it right its time to give credit where its due.

Apart from the collation of the auto's in the boxes I cant really fault this release. To me Elite was is up there with one of the best releases over the past 5 years.

Yeah, I think it's a push to complain about the value people are getting out of this set. It's a small market here, two sigs on average for every three boxes, and a top line player from each club, is already easily the best we've ever seen from NRL clubs.

Forgot about the holograms though, they could be lined up a bit better in future.

I'm happy with the numbering of the cards in this set, numbering all inserts would be overkill. I do like how they've printed the amount of each card on the back of all the inserts though, I think that's an awesome touch!
 
Im astounded sometimes by the sense of entitlement that some collectors have. Buying boxes is and will always be be a gamble and the "i must get multiple hits per box or im going to have a whinge" attitude is ridiculous.

I know my thought process here might piss some of you off but I was the first to bitch (very loudly) about Limited Edition and Traders. So when they get it right its time to give credit where its due.


Apart from the collation of the auto's in the boxes I cant really fault this release. To me Elite was is up there with one of the best releases over the past 5 years.

It is a gamble on who you get, it shouldn't be a gamble on what you get!! For a $130/box you SHOULD be getting multiple hits. If you don't want hits, then buy the low end stuff like traders and power play and pay less for your cards. I personally would rather have 3 or 4 autos from my team that are only worth $50, than 1 overpriced card.

There's plenty to fault about this release, and if people don't say anything, ESP won't listen. The quality of the cards and autos isn't a problem, but if people are buying 6+ boxes and not getting a hit, then that's utter bullshit. $800 for base and minor inserts= fucking crap!! $130 should give you value, and value's in hits, not base and parallels.
 
It is a gamble on who you get, it shouldn't be a gamble on what you get!! For a $130/box you SHOULD be getting multiple hits. If you don't want hits, then buy the low end stuff like traders and power play and pay less for your cards. I personally would rather have 3 or 4 autos from my team that are only worth $50, than 1 overpriced card.

There's plenty to fault about this release, and if people don't say anything, ESP won't listen. The quality of the cards and autos isn't a problem, but if people are buying 6+ boxes and not getting a hit, then that's utter bulls***. $800 for base and minor inserts= f***ing crap!! $130 should give you value, and value's in hits, not base and parallels.


Yep - thanks for making my point for me.
 
As an old NBA collector from the 90's, I'm wondering why the holograms needed to be stuck on by hand in the first place? Companies like Upper Deck print the holograms on the cards and they actually contribute to the appeal of the card rather than detracting from it.

Agree with the other comments though and, as far as quality goes, this is a very good release


Terry mentioned to me that originally the holograms were meant to be much smaller and an oval shape and this was taken into consideration at the time of design. The NRL then changed the design of them and they had to be placed on to the card.

Not sure if anyone has noticed this but the QR code on the back of the hologram can be scanned and it takes you to a website called www.verifythisnow.com/nrl (you can do it manually) by typing in the address and you can enter codes from the back of the cards to verify that they are authentic.

Only problem is that I dont think the NRL has uploaded any codes yet!

Cheers
Matt
 
IMO series one/traders should not have any signatures (as young guns where to hard to pull anyhow) but with still some nice inserts sets with plenty of hits and to be sold cheap everywhere servos, newsagents, Kmart etc..

Series two should have 2-3 quality signature sets and be sold only by dealers, with a bigger price tag and very limited edition for the more serious collector.

Would have much rathered the young guns set in the elite series 1-72 packs and the emerging future stars like milford/hampton etc.. would have been used for next years young guns. Now I don't get a sezer, Jackson, burgees sig because I'm not going to buy cases of worthless traders to get them or pay $300 a pop for them.. Unless they where part of the elite series.
 
Terry mentioned to me that originally the holograms were meant to be much smaller and an oval shape and this was taken into consideration at the time of design. The NRL then changed the design of them and they had to be placed on to the card.

Not sure if anyone has noticed this but the QR code on the back of the hologram can be scanned and it takes you to a website called www.verifythisnow.com/nrl (you can do it manually) by typing in the address and you can enter codes from the back of the cards to verify that they are authentic.

Only problem is that I dont think the NRL has uploaded any codes yet!

Cheers
Matt

I tried forever to scan that code, wouldn't work ... coz of the hologram, I think! Great idea, though.
 
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