Why contenders and hate for R&S

[splitrockgamer]

I am still relatively new to the hobby, but I don't understand why people love contenders and hate R&S? As far as value goes for 2016 football lets say.

Contenders $224 a box
Rookies and Stars $64.11 a box

a base auto in contenders of Goff is $300? For R&S jersey auto /49 is $50? I dont understand what makes contenders so much better. I have watched so many openings of contenders and just see garbage after garbage auto of people I have never heard of.

I understand supply and demand, but at the end of the day the R&S look a lot like contenders and I just dont get the huge disparity in the two?

[TWard]

I loved Rookie & Stars last year. Probably my favorite release in all of 2016. Not exactly sure why i liked it so much but i really liked the design of the cards and it was so much fun opening boxes (i also bought a case at the National and actually MADE money).

[starfox]

Rookies & Stars is a low-end product; collectors just typically don't have an appreciation for it. Contenders, on the other hand, is a very popular mid-end product that carries the potential for certain of its cards to be high-end (ex: 2016 Ezekiel Elliott base auto rookie or 2014 Derek Care base auto rookie). There is comparison, but very little.

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[splitrockgamer]

I guess what makes R&S low end and contenders mid end, is it just supply and demand? Like I can tell the difference between spectra and NT and contenders, but there really isnt much different between contenders and in look and feel and hits.. just the fact that contenders is 4x the cost and is loaded with terrible cards.

[Viking6]

I guess what makes R&S low end and contenders mid end, is it just supply and demand? Like I can tell the difference between spectra and NT and contenders, but there really isnt much different between contenders and in look and feel and hits.. just the fact that contenders is 4x the cost and is loaded with terrible cards.

Contenders usually does great team sets and includes rookies that don't get autos in earlier products. It is huge in the set building community.

It also has a notable history and most importantly has the RPS guys on card.


R&S sucks because it is filled with event used junk and stickers.

[socal805]

My comment is based on 2014...lol.

Similar to the OP, i'd rather purchase multiple boxes of R&S than 1 box of Contenders. Yet I'm also the type of person who'd rather save $$$ by getting the Vizio over the Samsung.

[splitrockgamer]

My comment is based on 2014...lol.

Similar to the OP, i'd rather purchase multiple boxes of R&S than 1 box of Contenders. Yet I'm also the type of person who'd rather save $$$ by getting the Vizio over the Samsung.

This is perfect, I guess it boils down to what you like. Ultimately you are the one spending the money so spend it on what you like. Lets be honest no matter what wax ya bust you will lose your ass off in the end so have fun. I just thought it was crazy to see the separation between two (in my incorrect view) similar products.

[splitrockgamer]

My comment is based on 2014...lol.

Similar to the OP, i'd rather purchase multiple boxes of R&S than 1 box of Contenders. Yet I'm also the type of person who'd rather save $$$ by getting the Vizio over the Samsung.

Also i have 4 R&S boxes on their way that I got for $80 on Black Friday, I know most of it is garbage but I will have fun ripping it with my dad and son.

[chrisfaceoff]

Contenders has the longevity(pun intended)

But serious,

Contenders has been one of the few remaining staples in the hobby that hasn't experienced much change. Its not cheap, but also not crazy expensive so its a happy medium between Low end and high end that collectors all gravitate to.

Its also the same reason Topps Chrome has the following it does. Continuity and clean designs(for the most part)

These sets prove why you don't always have to re-invent the collecting wheel.

[splitrockgamer]

Contenders has the longevity(pun intended)

But serious,

Contenders has been one of the few remaining staples in the hobby that hasn't experienced much change. Its not cheap, but also not crazy expensive so its a happy medium between Low end and high end that collectors all gravitate to.

Its also the same reason Topps Chrome has the following it does. Continuity and clean designs(for the most part)

These sets prove why you don't always have to re-invent the collecting wheel.

That is fair, funny in the 7 months roughly I have been collecting my two least favorite products are contenders football and Topps Chrome baseball, from a value stand point they both seem like a waste to me. I guess I am just different than most collectors. Thanks for the explination though that does make a lot of sense about the design and kind of flag ship products for Panini and Topps.

[chrisfaceoff]

That is fair, funny in the 7 months roughly I have been collecting my two least favorite products are contenders football and Topps Chrome baseball, from a value stand point they both seem like a waste to me. I guess I am just different than most collectors. Thanks for the explination though that does make a lot of sense about the design and kind of flag ship products for Panini and Topps.

Outside of the Rookie Ticket autos Contenders doesnt have anything, but the value is there for the autos. You can also complete a base set with the box you open nearly 100% of the time. Even scrub players have the following. They do Short Print(SP) and Super Short Print(SSP) of the base and varaitions(almost all autos have a variation which could be as simple as a different photo, switching numbers on the front of a notation on the back, it changes yearly)

But if one of those scrub auto player who has an auto in a normal product that barely sells for $2, their SP or SSP could easily become $300+ for some people.

Chrome's value likes with the rookies, and the refractors in addition to the autos. Some of the refractors will sell for big money if they are of the right player regardless of rookie or vet. Also there is no nicer car din the hobby than a Superfractor.

[chrisfaceoff]

also no problem. I do like rookie and stars as well, just secondary value if you are looking to buy and hopefully flip, just inst there.

[splitrockgamer]

also no problem. I do like rookie and stars as well, just secondary value if you are looking to buy and hopefully flip, just inst there.

Ok I have another question for you then, what about heritage high number. Why do people like that so much or what is there for resell? Because 1 jersey for $70 a box? What am I missing. Sorry if this derailed from my original point, but I am trying to learn about the hobby since I just got into it and it is overwhelming

[socal805]

Also i have 4 R&S boxes on their way that I got for $80 on Black Friday, I know most of it is garbage but I will have fun ripping it with my dad and son.

Let me know if you pull any Raiders (Khalil Mack and Co.)!

Good Luck!!!

[splitrockgamer]

Let me know if you pull any Raiders (Khalil Mack and Co.)!

Good Luck!!!

Thanks I have that and '14 prizm too. Speaking of contenders though lol I have a Mack rookie ticket jersey swatch(the stock one they put in the retail boxes) if you would be interested. I can let ya know if I get any raider stuff though after I get that from BO and maybe we can work something out.

Although the raiders are kind of my second favorite team, rough year though for them and my favorite the cowboys.

[Grid]

To answer your question directly, the base contenders auto ticket is a true rookie card. People like signed rookies from popular sets.

Your R&S jersey/auto /49 is just a Freshman Orientation insert card. It is not a rookie card and the card numbering shows it is just a subset, that also has an auto/jersey. His true rookie (what people like to chase) is just a base card in R&S.

So popular set, fueled with the history of some of the best and most valuable cards in modern football (Manning Contenders, Brady Contenders ETC) and a true rookie will outsell a convoluted set like Rookies & Stars that is filled with subsets, retail & Hobby level releases. They had certain levels you could only get in fat packs, others in blasters, some in hobby, some in Target exclusive boxes ETC. While Contenders is Contenders. Retail Contenders is the same, just with garbage autos in them pretty much. They dont make an additional 5 levels of contenders for retail like they do with R&S.

[socal805]

Thanks I have that and '14 prizm too. Speaking of contenders though lol I have a Mack rookie ticket jersey swatch(the stock one they put in the retail boxes) if you would be interested. I can let ya know if I get any raider stuff though after I get that from BO and maybe we can work something out.

Although the raiders are kind of my second favorite team, rough year though for them and my favorite the cowboys.

Love me some 2014 Prizm! Mack actually has 2 versions of the Rookie Ticket Jersey Swatch. I have one, but missing the variation. Once you break open them boxes and the thrill of it all has left you...lol...hit me up with the cards you'd be willing to let go.

If interested in trading, you can check out my FS/FT cards at https://sportscardalbum.com/u/socal805.php

PS. In regards to their season...I prefer not to speak about it. BUT at least there young!!! LoL

[huskerman47]

Outside of the Rookie Ticket autos Contenders doesnt have anything, but the value is there for the autos. You can also complete a base set with the box you open nearly 100% of the time. Even scrub players have the following. They do Short Print(SP) and Super Short Print(SSP) of the base and varaitions(almost all autos have a variation which could be as simple as a different photo, switching numbers on the front of a notation on the back, it changes yearly)

But if one of those scrub auto player who has an auto in a normal product that barely sells for $2, their SP or SSP could easily become $300+ for some people.

Chrome's value likes with the rookies, and the refractors in addition to the autos. Some of the refractors will sell for big money if they are of the right player regardless of rookie or vet. Also there is no nicer car din the hobby than a Superfractor.

This. The SP's in contenders sell for ridiculous prices. I sold a Zac Dysert SP for $250 a few years back

[twisty571]

My comment is based on 2014...lol.

Similar to the OP, i'd rather purchase multiple boxes of R&S than 1 box of Contenders. Yet I'm also the type of person who'd rather save $$$ by getting the Vizio over the Samsung.

It has Sony guts! Don't mess with the Zohan! :flex:

My opinion is Contenders is so watered down anymore it lost it's luster. I have never been a huge fan of Contenders in the 1st place. Thru the years until UD's death I would have bought a SPA instead. Every single year there is a product I would much rather have than the Contenders if buying singles. I think I may have broke 2-3 boxes of Contenders in my life time. I would rather break a box of Topps Chrome.

[Bassplayah101]

That is fair, funny in the 7 months roughly I have been collecting my two least favorite products are contenders football and Topps Chrome baseball, from a value stand point they both seem like a waste to me. I guess I am just different than most collectors. Thanks for the explination though that does make a lot of sense about the design and kind of flag ship products for Panini and Topps.

Respectfully, you would be incorrect.

They are, in fact very valuable in several cases, and are 2 of the most popular releases.
They have also been known to hold value over time.
Both have been around for a very long time, (90's) and have large followings.
Chrome color baseball is heavily chased, as well as Contenders football on-card RPS autos, and variants like cracked ice, superbowl 1/1 tickets, and SSP autos.

That said, they are both watered down to the point that you can and will pull 5th/6th round rookies that you will never see or hear from, ever..
On the flip side, pull a star RC and cha-ching.

[starfox]

With everything said here, give me a box of Contenders with 5 or 6 autos for $125. If I get 2 nice autos, I'll be happy. As for the other 3 or 4 autos, who knows what they'll be in a couple of years? Could end up being the Stefon Diggs or Bobby Wagner of that year. Who saw those two coming?

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[deltapi1049]

I love people trying to justify that R&S is a worthwhile product just because it is cheap.

Shall we forget what the cards look like? Some of those subsets are freaking hideous looking.

Lets not even mention the great american heroes set this year, which makes absolutely no sense. Randy Moss is on the checklist - I mean, he is a great player, but not sure he measures up to being a hero?

Similarly, the product has been around for a long time, but is longevity of a product enough to really make it worth keeping around? R&S has been a joke for over a decade, which is why they seemed to have axed it previously.

I personally believe that this minimum of 31 products per year plus NCAA garbage is as bad as it can be. We end up with so much worthless trash that it takes time away from and dilutes the good stuff.