New Year Wishes for Stickers and Cards in 2018?

[LeicesterRob]

Good Afternoon All!

As we approach another New Year what are you looking forward to the most in 2018 and what did you think of the 2017 collections? Do you have some great ideas that would transform ordinary collections into the best ever?

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2017? I started 8 (finished 5) It will be 8 out of 8 in the next few weeks (I hope)!

2. Which was your favourite (and why)? Mine was Panini Women's Euros as it was easy to collect, a surprise that it was launched too and great to have a different aspect of football in stickers.

3. What are you looking forward to in 2018? I would like the best ever World Cup album with the hope for stadium stickers/managers/team shots included too.

4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be? My answer is to keep the background pages less cluttered so the stickers stand out better! Yep the early 80s did it well!

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)? I'll come back to that one as I have some thoughts!

*It must be the old fashion way only - buying packets, getting swaps, buying remaining stickers from Panini etc! Full sets bought are excluded but tell us anyway!

Over to you!

 

[Bidus]

Here after my toughts about 2017 and my wishes for 2018

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2017?

None, as I'm only collecting World Cups. Hope I helped some of my friends to complete theirs ;-)​

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2. Which was your favourite (and why)?​

No favorite one, just some satisfaction to had some items to my collection.​

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3. What are you looking forward to in 2018?​

An awesome World Cup Album, with old school stuff like in the 70, 74 and 78 albums and also a 1970 Album.​

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4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be?​

Less variations from countries.​

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5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)?

Very diffcicult question, Stickers of course, I need to think about it.​

Above all, I would like everyone to help each other around our common passion​

 

[D8ct9r]

That's an interesting topic so I'll give it a go.

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2017?
In my case the small print with a star plays a significant role (where I'm from it's cheaper to buy complete collections, which are not sold in my country so I also use that in some cases), but I'll start with the ones that I did finish the old fashioned way.
a) I finished FIFA 365 2018, with the exception of L1-L60, which is currently on the way from a swap.
b) I managed to complete all 22 (or 23 if you count Panathinaikos twice) Extra Teams from FIFA 365 2016. To be fair I »cheated« with a couple of extra teams, which I bought, but I mostly used swaps. I did prepare a quite long review on my blog and actually listed what I offered for swap to get all of them (I did buy Universidad de Chile, Saprissa & Alajuelense and Slovan Bratislava & Victoria Plzen, but just because I would need to offer what I thought was crazy swaps, so it was just cheaper (but not cheap) to buy).
c) I was also able to swap for the 8 Extra Teams from FIFA 365 2017 South America.

Now to the what I got outside of the “old-fashioned way”.
a) 28 Italian stickers from FIFA 365 2017 (swap was not successful so I found a different seller)
b) 8 Spanish stickers from FIFA 365 2016 (swap was not successful so I found a different seller - they are on the way).
c) Women’s UEFA EURO 2017
d) Women’s FIFA World Cup 2015 (is on the way)
e) REWE DB Stadium set from 2011

2. Which was your favourite (and why)?
This was my favorite (even though it was not obtained in the old fashioned way) and also I’m never doing this again





Thats REWE DB 2011 Stadium Set - If some of you don’t know which set is that, the review is coming to my blog in early 2018.
A question about this set was one of the first that I ever posted here on CardzReview (in late 2016) and I think that I managed to find a lot of information about this set, so hopefully some of you will be interested in that review.

Why was this my favorite? Because I now have all older collections that I ever wanted (this + Women's 2011 World Cup) and I can focus on the future. Frankfurt was the only sentimental buy that I ever did (twice) and I’m sure it will remain this way

3. What are you looking forward to in 2018?
I don’t have high expectations for FIFA World Cup 2018, which I think will sell either way.

As my main collection is FIFA 365 I hope that this collection will have a new 2019 edition. And if there will be another edition I hope that football clubs, which were not included in previous versions will be included in this one. I don’t really care which clubs, I only want them to be such that were not included before.

4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be?
Similar to what I said above. I want that Panini includes different clubs in FIFA 365 and leave both Messi and Ronaldo ”out” of this collection (in a way that is not centered around those two).

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)?
That’s a hard question, I really can’t say how the collection would look but I can say what I would want to see as a section in let’s say FIFA 365.

I would like to see autographs of legends/current players in the form of a sticker, here’s how I see that. Autographed stickers wouldn’t be more valuable because they would be printed (so the autograph would not be real/original), but if Panini would be able to let’s say add a section of autographs from 50 great players (from history and currently) that would be great.

The other option would be to add a larger sticker (let’s say puzzle of 4 stickers) which all members of one team would sign as a substitute for team photo sticker.

Will this ever happen? I don’t think so because I don’t think that any “football star” would be willing to give an autograph, which would then be distributed in unlimited amount by Panini, but hey if we’re talking perfect collection . Also when it comes to albums more stats would be awesome, but again I don't have high hopes.

Ease of collecting is I topic that I would save for a different post, because my post is now getting to long, so I don't want to turn into boring

 

[Rom1Marseille]

1. How many new albums did you start (finish) in 2017?
I don't finish my albums,but I collected stickers from something like 12-13 collections.

2. Which was your favourite (and why)?
FOOT 2017-18,because the design of both stickers and albums are pretty simple and clear,only a few errors (Yannick Cahuzak with a K for ex)

3. What are you looking forward to in 2018?
Of course the Fifa WC 2018 album,hoping that we'll have a special part for eliminated countries during qualification

4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be?
To have collections from Eastern and Northern Europe,for example in Hungary,Denmark,Iceland,Norway,FYROM,Ukrain,...

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)?
Oh god,what a hard question. First of all,the perfect collection might be a sticker collection from the most important clubs in Eastern Europe who didn't had the luck to be in CL. This can be solve by a collection for EL tho...
Then,the design have to be the same as usuals (like for example CL 2016),but within the names of the clubs written,with of course the emblem.
Ease of collecting ? Well,same as all others classics collection I think...

 

[Suisse]

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2017?
Only my album World Cup , Uruguay 1930 .

2. Which was your favourite (and why)?
My favorite album is Espana 82 . Because , it's my first World Cup see on T.V. .

3. What are you looking forward to in 2018?
Of course , Panini's album Russia 2018 .

4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be?
A map at the back of album Russia 2018 like from 78 to 2010 , and a place at the end of the album for put every updates .

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)?
Only one version for all contries .

 

[dantzig]

Nice idea Rob, I'll try to answer:

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2017?
Started 6 new albums, I think... Stickers and Cards for portuguese league, Confederations, Women Euro, Champions League cards and also FIFA 2017 (always late in this one)... Didn't finish yet the Women Euro and also the CL MA... Probably finished some incomplete sets from previous collections too.

2. Which was your favourite (and why)?
Might sound surprising, but maybe it was CL MA... Had some fun getting hero packs and the set is my favourite from CL MA (doesn't mean it's the best)... FIFA 365 is always fantastic, so nothing new about it.

3. What are you looking forward to in 2018?
Naturally the World Cup collections (both stickers and cards) and also the sticker portuguese collection... Would be also excited for the portuguese card collection, but there's some rumours Panini won't release it this season

4. If you could change something in 2018 what would it be?
Returning to a great portuguese sticker collection, like the 2016/17... This season was worse, not only talking about the design and quality, but also due to half of the stickers were far easier to get than others, which was a waste of time and money... Panini, don't be so greedy, you know you already have amazing profits with the sticker collection, no need for these devious schemes.

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)?
A World Cup collection with the FIFA 365 style... Or any collection where Panini really tries their best when they want too.


Wish you all a great 2018!

 

[LeicesterRob]

Good Afternoon All!

Well I just thought I'd resurrect this thread after a year! So how was your 2018 for sticker and card collecting?

My plus points were:

+ The news that Panini will return to UK in 2019 (well that was an easy one!)
+ Panini World Cup Gold sticker collection - wonderful quality!
+ Excellent hardcover albums for World Cup, Foot, Brazil Campeonato and Calciatori
+ Panini selling Mexico 86 stickers on their site! No badges though
+ Very good pricing from Topps (10 stickers per packet is a great idea) and unlimited sticker service on old collections

The not so good...
- Price of the main World Cup collection packets - made it hard for less avid collectors
- Topps Bundesliga and Premier League albums with too few players and no league depth
- More leagues going without national league collections - Greece (potentially not happening), Romania, Poland, Mexico etc
- Apart from the Gold album and the excellent Calciatori there haven't been enough innovations

Lots more we can discuss of course!

 

[dantzig]

Agree with basically everything Rob, points well outlined

I think this year was NOT a good one overall, mainly "thanks" to Panini completely dissapointed with the World Cup... It was one of those years where expectations are even higher due to two main factors: in terms of football, we had the most important football competition and in terms of collection, Panini presented us with some major improvements since last World Cup.

However, Panini failed in both stickers and cards. Stickers returned to former (average/bad) quality, with almost no innovation except for posters (which wasn't a complete success because some countries didn't have them as stickers). Since a long time too, Panini made shinies very rare, to the point where you needed to buy, in average, 2x more than necessary. Gold Edition had at least a great quality and this shiny rareness didn't apply.

But Adrenalyn was, by far, the biggest dissapointment for me in 2018. No Team Logos, team pages were just boring base cards, even special categories let down. After a wonderful Euro 2016 set, Panini presented us a set that would maybe be acceptable in 2014, but not now after so many brilliant ideas in last Adrenalyn collections (FIFA 365).

And no, I'm not forgetting the horrible price increase: 30% for stickers, 50% for cards. A major stain in Panini credibility, but not only them. FIFA, sponsors, federations, players, all of them contributed for a less fan enjoyment. It was still a great time nonetheless, as it always is when collecting World Cup stuff, but all those mentioned before filled even more their pockets for the same or less than previous World Cup.

UK buyers were also presented with good news from both Topps and Panini, as Rob pointed out. But Panini Adrenalyn became more expensive, with the reduction of 9 to 6 cards per packet. Although this was "necessary" to make it +/- even for all other europeans, it was natural for UK collectors to be angry about it.

About the only league collection I do, the portuguese one, it was basically a copy of last year (which was a shadow of the brilliant 16/17 collection). Also, too many mistakes found in the collection. The good thing about portuguese set is the sticker quality, the updated players (I don't envy one bit our "nuestros hermanos") and free packets given away, that make it more affordable to collect. This also happened last year and also during World Cup, but it's limited to first weeks though. I'm thankful anyway.

So, this year I can't pick a favourite collection. Not even the 365 one, though I would be drawn naturally to it. I kinda liked collecting CL MA set, Topps is definitely improving in the card department (stickers have still a horrible paper quality) and it's so much easier to collect than Adrenalyn, for the same price. Well, there were some cards unusually tough to get, like the Hat-Trick Heros or Messi Man of the Match, besides the usual special cards in team pages got more difficult to get all... Still way easier than Adrenalyn. Also, Topps ended with the GSB Limited stuff, which many were fed up with it. If I still have a complain about the Limiteds is disliking the idea of getting Limiteds in boosters that are, for sure, in tins and starter. I understand though that many don't collect tins (or can't buy them) and at least, it's not like Panini, where hundreds of different limiteds are printed and scattered around the world.

2019 is one of those years where the expectations are "normal" again. The first Panini Premier League set since long time headlines, followed by a possible Nations League album (which I think, like many here, will be just a section in a very probable Road to Euro 2020 album). Perhaps we'll get again another Women World Cup album, which I hope so. FIFA 365 and Topps CL will defintely show up too, at least until 2021.

Sorry for the long post!

 

[LeicesterRob]

Great response @dantzig!

Yeah I think the difficulty of collecting the World Cup album may of done more damage to sticker collecting long term. Lots of new collectors barely got off the ground and I expect incomplete albums by new collectors was very high.

I'm sort of thinking that the non-World Cup/Euro years are better for collection variety too.

I think there are more collections than ever and I remember in the 80s/90s you'd expect to get 1.5 football collections a year (domestic league annually and international competition every other year). Now we have so many on our shelves which means we rush to finish an album as the next one is released.

I really liked the Topps 10 stickers per packet idea and hope Panini adopt it too.

More ways to help collectors finish albums would be ideal and Topps seem to have a better service these days. After a while you can buy any missing sticker and you're not restricted to 50. In theory you can buy the whole collection through the missing stickers route! I really like this.

 

[dantzig]

great points i would add to the Topps 10 stickers per pack theory though...

Worked well for PL as the 50pack box guaranteed a complete collection but the UCL collection worked out pathetically as the boxes only contained 30packs and therefore not a complete set, to make matters worse a lot of the boxes were the same meaning everyone getting loads of swaps for certain sticker numbers and none of the others. Not all a rose garden unfortunately for that set.

It's not a Topps problem only, though their are more blamed for it because they have boxes with low pack number.

Main problem about this "sorting" is how the machines sort the stickers, which are not randomized at all, they follow a predefined sequence to appear random.

No wonder many times you find "twin boxes", where contents are similar or even the same. Or the other way around too, complete opposite boxes... Well, in UCL this is not entirely true, as the shinies have a different pattern than the normals... For example, I bought 5 sticker packets some days ago and I had all 20 normal stickers, even though I'm still missing more than 200... But didn't have any of the 5 shinies.

It's not bad at all in a community, because many times you get too much of what others have too little and with swaps, it balances out... But it's damn annoying to get the same batch of stickers over and over.

 

[Ceesmk]

Hello
I changed the year of your questions ;-)

1. How many new albums* did you start (finish) in 2018? For season 2017/18 or 18/19, Honnestly, I don't know. Around 50, and of course more if I count the older collections too.

2. Which was your favourite (and why)? For the year 2018: Panini KHL 2018, very beautiful, especially for the 10 years of the KHL, and Tschutti Heftli 2018, because it's Tschutti!

3. What are you looking forward to in 2019? Panini Premier League! Panini Premier League! Panini Premier League!

4. If you could change something in 2019 what would it be? A come back for African Nations Cup...and for the Mexican League!

5. What would your perfect collection look like (stickers/cards, designs, ease of collecting etc)? You just have to open some Panini albums from the 90s!

 

[dantzig]

totally makes sense Carlos... but we have NEVER had that problem before over here getting exactly the same packs it didnt happen last year with 17/18 UCL stickers in our boxes. This is the first year it has happened... normally we just would get 2 or 3 players in the same rotation in differing packs which happened with the Premier League stickers this year but also the box ensured a complete set of stickers (like Panini used to do a decade ago)... the problem arised with the UCL one because of just 30 packs per box. Its simply ridiculous if they continue with that as im sure they dont expect you to get 12 of the same number and none of others!!! Also the cut of the stickers for the UCL sticker collection made sticking them in perfectly absolutely impossible, ie some leaving white space around sticker on differing sides, dunno whether that was just UK version or worldwide but for something so basic is just not acceptable in 2019!!!
That being said 10p per sticker for the set is great price and somewhat negates having so many doubles of the same sticker!!!

I dont think the UCL will have 30packs boxes next year, a real oversight on their part and they've been heavily criticised I know for it... that being said you have to speculate that Topps UK have no say whatsoever in the Topps brand and are still seen as the old crappy Merlin company by the main Topps guys... ie MA bundesliga dumping the GSB scam in Match Attax after one season, UK continue not to listen to complaints and continue with the ridiculous scenario smacks of 2 totally separate entities...

But it did happen last year Andy, you probably just had luck with your boxes and not this year... I have a good portuguese friend who was hating on Topps for that, getting too many similar boxes... Process was similar as this year, trust me (even with big shiny stickers being the easiest stickers of the set).

The way Topps make the sets is great if a full box has more stickers than the actual collection, that's why PL was good... If UCL had 100 pack boxes, you would have almost all different, I'm sure of it... Depends a lot how the set was printed, if it's a balanced set... Topps usually does that, Panini not so much (just remember FIFA 365 2018, where some apparently "normal" stickers were very tough to get).

Still didn't stick the stickers in the album, but I take your word for that... One thing I praised Panini in portuguese league album is how the spaces are a bit smaller than the actual stickers, which is great... Guess Topps needs to pay attention to it too, unacceptable to have white borders when the sticker is well stuck.

The 10p is a blessing for you there, even more when it's the same price to order from Topps Direct, with little postage to pay too... Panini is 2x more, with much more postage to pay... And currently, Panini is failing with the orders, as I have many complaints from friends who ordered more than a month, some already with month and half, without receiving the letters... I'm waiting over a month too for an order placed in mid-November... With Topps, 3/4 working days and you get your order.

In my opinion, Topps made boxes smaller for the sellers... Since they have to pay for full boxes and not by packets, it's better for them as it's easier to sell 30 than 50.

Very curious how Panini will make the PL album next year, both stickers and cards... I know quality and design will be fantastic, but would like to see how they will do the sorting and rarity of the stickers