Q&A Session with Alex from ESP - Answers are in! (Page 7)

Brendan_B · Sep 15, 2014

I like the idea of sigs / high end cards being in packets but ESP need to ensure ALL inserts are in the middle of the packet. I have had 3 x WCHP and one YG from the front of packets that have had significant corner damage. ESP have been sensational in replacing them so far but I think it can be easily avoided.

Noark-99 · Sep 15, 2014

Yeah the #1 is annoying. I don't care if we have the chance to get the #1 or not. I care that there is only ONE. I have no interest in the number ones that are the same...... The cowboys 001 feltd doesn't interest me in the slightest.... Seeing someone else walk off with the 001 redemption (because it is a different card) is painful though... I have a pretty concise cowboys collection..... I don't care about numbers... I care about range and rarity.. At least with the signature tazos there were ten! It might have taken my 5 years... But I got them all... I'll never get the scott 001.... That sort of stuff makes me hate the idea of collecting... 1/1 cards are a terrible idea.

M.

parrathruandthru · Sep 15, 2014

Not a fan of the 1/1 ( and I am in possession of the Mannah ) maybe only the first 5 or 10 can be redeemed. Give more people a chance to have complete collections. I only chased the Mannah for the 1/1. Don't really care about low numbers or the framed jersey but felt I needed the 1/1 to have a complete collection.

Noark-99 · Sep 15, 2014

parrathruandthru said:
Not a fan of the 1/1 ( and I am in possession of the Mannah ) maybe only the first 5 or 10 can be redeemed. Give more people a chance to have complete collections. I only chased the Mannah for the 1/1. Don't really care about low numbers or the framed jersey but felt I needed the 1/1 to have a complete collection.

Exactly how I feel. Except. I didn't get the scott

Richard · Sep 15, 2014

Noark-99 said:
Exactly how I feel. Except. I didn't get the scott

Me too but with Ennis

thenamesgould · Sep 15, 2014

Interesting to hear the different perspectives on this.

pharoh · Sep 15, 2014

Don't mind the 1/1 redemption for the No. 1 sig, myself. Just seems to be one of 130 sigs of that particular player, to me. The redemption card merely sets apart the 'No. 1', which has not been previously available, as everyone is well aware, and in my short time collecting footy cards since being young, this is the greatest step forward in my opinion. This has also been probably the biggest factor in me buying multiple boxes on more than one occasion for the first time - the draw of getting that No. 1. (any No. 1 really, although the Mannah would have been superb)
This also has some other benefits:

1. reduces the risk that the No. 1 sig is one of those cards inserted into the front of the pack, which more often than not sustains some damage, entailing the process of having the card replaced.
2. allows the completionist collector to keep a card (the redemption card) with the remainder of the signed set, if they keep/display those cards together as a subset - as opposed to having a blank space there.
3. has the obvious benefit of also getting a signed/framed jersey (for most)

What I really don't like, however, is the multiple parallel sets, period. One parallel set in each release is more than sufficient for mine.

P_Phillips · Sep 15, 2014

For me it is all about the different cards. I am a master set collector been collecting since 1991 which since Dynamic has gotten quite hard and expensive with all the different inserts and sig cards. As a result have a few sig gaps in my collection (along with several series when I had things that required my money but I do plan on filling) I also use a heap of folders with parallels.

I personally wouldn't care if ESP released the #1 or kept them like Select all I am after is a nice looking sig card regardless of the number. The signed jersey I also personally don't care about if I got one as I like Footy cards have a few small pieces of memorabillia that have taken my fancy but a signed jersey is not one of them. But due to the 1/1 redemption I know I will not be able to get all 16 without taking on another mortgage there is also the probability that someone may get one and not want to part with it so I haven't bought a single pack of Elite as I don't want to start something I cannot finish.

Billyhoyle · Sep 15, 2014

So what if esp did not return the redemption card? Would that make it better? Then there is no differentiation except the person gets the number one card and a signed jersey

Victor The Viking · Sep 15, 2014

I'm not really a fan of the 1/1 redemption card either. It was a bit of a downer seeing it and knowing I'll now most likely never have a complete set of my team's cards as that one card will always be missing from my set.

Victor The Viking · Sep 15, 2014

Billyhoyle said:
So what if esp did not return the redemption card? Would that make it better? Then there is no differentiation except the person gets the number one card and a signed jersey

I'd be happy with that.

P_Phillips · Sep 15, 2014

Billyhoyle said:
So what if esp did not return the redemption card? Would that make it better? Then there is no differentiation except the person gets the number one card and a signed jersey

Yes it would

Billyhoyle · Sep 15, 2014

Billyhoyle said:
So what if esp did not return the redemption card? Would that make it better? Then there is no differentiation except the person gets the number one card and a signed jersey

Or what if the redemption was plain like the nba ones so it had no team significance to it?

Richard · Sep 15, 2014

Billyhoyle said:
So what if esp did not return the redemption card? Would that make it better? Then there is no differentiation except the person gets the number one card and a signed jersey

It would help although I think you would find no one would redeem them as the 1/1 redemption is what is making these go for $1300 (not the fact its #001). Even that plain one you showed has the player name so marginally better but still not ideal. The point is they shouldn't make anything in such a ridiculously short print run. I understand they were trying to be creative and provide a bonus, but I think it wasn't fully thought through the implications it has to us collectors and potentially their future business as it has demotivated alot of people, because what is the point in paying top $ for other cards when you know you can never ever complete your set.

Noark-99 · Sep 15, 2014

I wouldn't redeem the card.

I want the card, not the jersey.... Or the signature... I have three of those already... And I have player worn jerseys.... So a framed signed jersey is of no use to me..

P_Phillips · Sep 15, 2014

Billyhoyle said:
Or what if the redemption was plain like the nba ones so it had no team significance to it?

I kept my 2001 Future Force Redemption Cards. The ones I missed only bought cards that had the matching redemption card. The only difference with the redemption cards was the back which had the player name and card number.

Billyhoyle · Sep 15, 2014

I guess this is the odd thing for me as an NBA collector, 1/1s have been around since 1997-98.

I think that ESP should be applauded for what they have done with the #1 cards not howled down. This is much better than what select does. They have tried to do something outside the square (and I think should also be applauded for) and providing something additional to collectors. Ok so it's not everyone's cup of tea, head over to the AFL forum and ask those guys there who continue to get the same stuff produced by select year in year out - ESP are actually doing something for the collectors and also listening to the collectors.

So let's get this back on track - here's an opportunity to ask ESP directly some questions - not every company gives you that opportunity!

parrathruandthru · Sep 15, 2014

when I rang Alex re the Mannah I confirmed that you get the redemption card back. It is framed with the jersey. If he had said they kept it I would not have sent it in. I chased it only for the 1/1. The No 1 card and jersey are a nice bonus. I don't care that the jersey is unsigned. I am a Parramatta card collector and as such I want at least one of every card. There are others like me so I think the 1/1 is not really suitable for the Australian market which has a different attitude to the US one.
I applaud ESP for their attempts to try something different. Remember they have only been doing NRL cards for 2 years and forums like this question blog are our opportunity to give them our feedback on what we want and don't want. Great to see some well thought out posts here.

Billyhoyle · Sep 15, 2014

parrathruandthru said:
There are others like me so I think the 1/1 is not really suitable for the Australian market which has a different attitude to the US one.

Geoff, I'd be interested to hear more from you on this. (whilst I agree and believe I understand from many of the above posts), one could readily assume that both select and esp would take a lot of guidance from the US sports. It might provide some really great feedback to ESP.

The Mad Hatter · Sep 15, 2014

I love the 1/1 idea.

It's like a piece of treasure.

Doubt I'd ever hit one, doubt I'd ever chase one, but if I did, wow…a nice piece in the collection.

Q&A Session with Alex from ESP - Answers are in! (Page 7)

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