Bradford 1/1 was opened as part of quality control
Last week, it was revealed on the Blowout Card forums that the Sam Bradford Mirror Black 1/1 from 2010 Certified Football was given to a customer as a replacement.
This was arguably the best card in the product and many collectors were frustrated that it didn’t end up in packs and instead as a replacement.
Panini looked into the claims and responded with this statement:
“To ensure quality product in the marketplace, it is Panini America‘s practice to pull product from the production run for quality control purposes. The cards from the product pulled for QC go to Customer Service to be used to correct any problems that may occur in an individual product. Extensive efforts are made to re-introduce rare cards to the pack-out before the cards are routed to Customer Service. However, under certain, unusual circumstances, this is not possible.”
Apparently, the Bradford card was one of these cards that were opened for quality control.
This is a normal business practice for all card companies. Boxes need to be checked throughout a run to ensure the cards are in their proper condition. When a rare card such as the Bradford is pulled, companies usually try to get it back into the product. However, sometimes that’s just not possible.
Some collectors are still going to be angry about this. It may seem shady, but this is just the reality of the business. I think Panini should be given credit for responding to the issue. They could have not said anything at all and continued to create product without listening to the voices that have churned up through social media websites.
Without message boards, Twitter, Facebook and blogs, this situation would have never come to light to so many people at one time. Also, we likely would have not heard a word about why this occurred.
I feel this is a good practice by Panini to explain part of the production process with collectors. While many still may not like it, at least there is better understanding as to why and how situations occur.
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I still call BS. There is no way all of the boxes for that product had been packed out. The card could still have made it into a pack, or if someone ALL of the product had already shipped, how about a contest?! And further, to just give it away to someone who had multiple high end redemptions pending? Fail. Panini should get NO credit for responding after the fact. I would have given them credit if they put out a statement as soon is they pulled the card, or BEFORE they had sent the card to a customer. Thumbs down Panini.
I know some people are still going to be mad, but consider a few things.
Tracy didn't release the statement, he is just their spokeperson. He had to find the right people to speak to about this.
Meanwhile many people from the company were in Raleigh this weekend for the hockey All-Star Game.
I think they deserve credit for answering because I don't think is another company out there who would even respond to something like that.
I totally agree with you Sooz on the fact that Panini said anything at all. I don't think I would expect Topps or UD to put out this kind of statement or address it at all. I still think the response was kind of a BS boilerplate PR response.. mumble mumble, quality control, mumble mumble, beyond our control, mumble mumble, GRIDLOCK.
And will probably never know what this guy was suppose to get that he got a Bradford 1/1 Mirror Black auto/jersey instead.
Please…
EPIC FAIL!!!
The purpose of quality control is to catch problems/issues BEFORE the print run is completed. This should have been seen as a HUGE issue and they should have made 110% sure that card was packed out.