Showing posts with label Panini Rewards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panini Rewards. Show all posts

Friday, January 25, 2019

Which Do You Prefer?

When I broke a box of 2018 Panini Contenders football last week I found one of those dreaded Panini Rewards point cards in my box and began to argue with myself, "what is better? Pulling these points or pulling a redemption card?"

Well that's when I had to do a lot of deep thinking and couldn't come up happy either way.

I know some collectors actually like finding the point cards and saving them up for some decent cards, but not myself. I find these so far and few in-between that it would take me a long time. Especially since 95% of the ones I have pulled are 250 points which is the lowest of the group. I usually end up trading these away to a buddy of mine who enjoys them and I get a card I want in return. Guess it's sort of like this program but I get a better card. I can't find didly on the website for 250 points and I have to pay $4 for shipping. Pay for shipping for something I already spent money for a box on. That part doesn't seem right to me. That's double dipping.

As for redemption cards, most of the time those are guaranteed to at least be someone good. However, you may wait your whole lifetime to get it back. On the other hand, at least with Panini, you can request a replacement after four months and normally Panini will let you specify team and player and they usually hook you up. Which is good.

So what choice is it? Using the points on a card immediately but having to pay shipping? Or is it better to know a card of some sort is coming for free four months or later?

I Guess for me I give the edge to the redemption just because that shipping is free. Which I still think it should be for the rewards points.

So what's better to you? Pulling a Panini Rewards points card or a redemption card? Let the conversation begin in comments!

Friday, July 7, 2017

REVIEW:2016-2017 Panini Threads Basketball

Panini Threads returns to the Hobby hard court after a hiatus as an retail only product and it comes offering a variety of different inserts and parallels in the product. It's pretty deep.

So let's take a break of the box and see how it goes.

Every box of 2016-2017 Threads basketball has 20 packs of 6 cards each. There will be one autograph and one memorabilia card per box. and Two Leather Rookies! Also find 18 Inserts/Parallels Per Box. Boxes have been running about $70 per.

The base set is 200 cards deep with players of today and top rookies, but the master set is 287 cards deep. More on that in a second.

They stick with the same kinda feel on the base card design focusing more on the players and using rookie shots from the premier. It's simple, but a clean design.
 
 
I spoke of the master set, well, that will take one dedicated set collector to fill. Making out cards 201-230 are these Leather Rookies you only find 2 per box.
 
Cards 231-254 are printed on wood and are randomly inserted in ONLY retail packs. Cards 255-287 are printed using the micro etch technology.
 
Like in my description, the box is loaded with inserts and parallels. 
 
These both are red base card parallels /199. It was a nice find on the Westbrook.
 
The inserts are pretty typical for threads with some nicely named basketball themed ones. They all appear to have parallels as well. Those include, Dazzle, Holo, Red, Dazzle Orange /25, Dazzle Green /15, Dazzle Purple /15, and Platinum 1/1. I only found reds in my box that are not numbered.

Hardwood Pioneers has the players of yesterday, the pioneers of the game you can say. While Floor Generals has players that like to drive the lane.

 
Front Row seats capture those shots under the hoop and gives you a front row seat as well.

 
Board Directors includes players of past and present who are the big time rebounders in the game.

 
High Ocatane are those extra players that help provide the spark.

 
Team Threads was my favorite insert of the group taking a players jersey design die cut. This would be a fun but challenging set to put together with 100 cards to chase.

 
2016-2017 The Rooks is all rookies and all micro etched.

 
And finally, Century Stars is micro etched and die cuts out the bottom of the card into a star shape. This is also a Case Hit so it's a nice find. I like the fact that Panini has been doing this with their products. Making inserts worthy to find again.
 
Now onto the hits! There were two to find including one auto and one mem.

However, when it came to the hits in my box..they weren't the best.

My autograph of the box was a 400 pt Panini Rewards card. I would have actually preferred a redemption. Panini Rewards costs shipping even though you get to pick out your card or cards. Redemptions are free and after 4 months if the player doesn't sign, you can replace it with a team you want anyways. So that sounds better to me and I am a very patient person when it comes to spending money.

Of course a product named Threads, has to have some threads. This was my pull. Not too shabby on the player. Design is nice.
 
 
Other hits not found in my box include,

Autographs, Century Collection Materials, Debut Threads Jersey, Materials, NBA Legends Ink, Signage, Rookie Signage, Team Threads Die-Cut Autographs and Team Threads Rookie Die-Cut Autograph. Lots of things to find with a pretty solid autograph checklist.
 
OVERALL, well, my box fell flat with the hits. I did well however with the base rookies I pulled in the box pulling most of the key ones. The Westbrook parallel was nice and I pulled good players on the inserts. The case hit was also a nice find, just too bad the player hadn't been one of the better ones like Lebron or Curry. However, it may have been the saving grace of the box.

I am glad that the product returned back to hobby as Target retail exclusives I believe hurt the hobby more than help it. Especially for someone like me who doesn't have a Target nearby and for the hobby shops that need promoting.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Panini America for providing this box for me to review and to be able to do a future GIVEAWAY with some of the cards. Follow Panini America on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Beach Boys + Rueben Randle: A Panini Reward Mail Day

With 300 Reward Points to use and no patience with saving onto them, I was waiting for the opportune time to jump on a couple cards. With daily check-ins on the Panini Reward website, I finally caught two cards I really wanted with my remaining points.

First up is a new Randle for that PC. Pretty decent size swatch. I just wished it wasn't one color.


And then this......
Yes. A Beach Boys Concert Gear card. Why? You may ask. IT'S A FREAKIN BEACH BOY! It's a piece of music history!! I also like the colorful swatch.

I thought these were two pretty nice scores overall and I am glad to see the Panini Reward site expanding more. The shipping cost still stinks, but at least the cards have gotten nicer on there and I didn't have to wait for a redemption card either.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Best Panini Rewards Mail Day Yet!

With my recent run on Panini Reward points, saved up 950, I knew I either had to trade them away or find something that catches my eye. The first time I used Panini Rewards I didn't find anything I really wanted, but this time something stood out to me and I had enough points to grab a few nice cards.

2014 Panini Certified had some beautifully done Freshman Fabrics this year and when I saw a Giants player as one of them offered, I had no choice but to snatch it.

I first snatched this, yes Sims didn't get much playing time, but it's sometimes important to take a chance on the future. And for 150 Panini Rewards, I would have been stupid not to have.


Then I went on to grab TWO of these for 250 Panini Rewards points a piece. Normally I am not a person who likes to do doubles on things like this, but I think Andre Williams has a bright future and with him being a Giant and the cards looking as nice as they do, I couldn't walk away without a least a couple.

Really liked this one especially. Nice patch!
Overall, I spent 650 Panini Rewards leaving me with 300 for another future pickup. I will say I am a bit antsy with holding onto them and was tempted to pick up another Williams. I still might. Whatever I decide on will be posted on here of course! Stay tuned!