My only beef with BBR, and my solution...

[meatmancgy]

Toploaders are good, attleast i like them.

Slabs in current UM in otherhand are not that good, Beckett slabs are alot better because they interlock (bit language probs here, hopefully that is correct word) when current UM slabs wont.

I actually brought that up with Dr. Price at Expo last May - because they don't use Beckett's services anymore, they purchased their own slab machine which is slightly different, i.e. no interlocking. It frustrates me as well, Sami. I like the interlocking feature.

 

[sholi2000]

If Dr price is coming I have a question as well.

1. "What's the story behind the base cards with the manufactured patches"?

If the answer is something different, than that fine. But I'd like to here a story

Was it something like this?

a. You were walking down the street and saw the card as a vision?

b. A little boy said that the All Star patches are amazing.

c. Manufactured patches are the new thing. IE. SPGU Number and Letter marks.

2. How does everyone feel about these base card patches in a 500.00 product?

Personally I think they are great looking. But it's the reason I passed on the book, and went to eBay.

No offense intended, and great job. Can't wait to see the next Original Six, I still collect the Montreal memorabilia, but they are super hard to come by.

 

[cardz1976]

Here is the issue as I see it, with ITG delivering their product with a security seal you at least know that the card left the factory and arrived to you intact without some little puke altering the card for a premium. I would personally like to see them move to a sealed one touch as the current cases are a pain but I realize that the sizing and weight would be an issue.

 

[The Fonz]

I also have issues with the curling of the cards in the casing of UM8 and BBR.

I like the Ultimate cases but like someone else pointed out, the older ones have wear and scratching that dont show very well in scans or in ebay pictures.

I do NOT like the sealed top loaders... i dont know but it just doesnt look right.
Also, i got a Beliveau BBR card where half of Beliveaus face was covered by that dumb sticker... Boooo!

 

[bidds55]

Can anyone please clarify, preferably with scans, or some more detailed explanation, what "curling" or whatever it's being called, is supposed to be happening with the UM8, and BBR cards?

I haven't noticed any issues with my BBR cards, and I don't own anything from UM, so clarification would be appreciated.

 

[dahabsfan]

Not exactly stellar pictures but a couple quick H&P pics taken last night. This is exactly what the BB&R singles are doing as well. They're warping enough to break the seals on the toploads AND physically curve the toploads as well. Ultimate 8 ditto just they can only warp so far in the slabs.


It seems to be the thicker memorabilia cards only, the autos I have in hand are fine.

Darren

 

[cards-gotta-go]

I would bet that this is MOSTLY a molecular reaction between the glue that affixes the layers of the card together, and the lasyers themselves. Too much or too little on 1 side versus the other can cause something like this to happen. Especially between different lots of glue. Could be any number of other factors as well....

 

[DredJAw]

I hate slabs, and I strongly dislike the 'toploaders' that come out of Superlative and BBR.

I love most ITG stuff but I really don't like how they are distributed/kept. What a catch-22.

I wish they did the 1-touch idea.

 

[drewsky]

I'm a HUGE fan of the toploader - as a collector of 03/04 UM4 autos & auto/jerseys, having Superlative come in sealed toploaders appeals to me.

I don't like the slabs... never have... never will. Give me toploaders any day over slabbers.

I agree. I bought a few slabbed cards a while back and really don't know what to do with them. Nothing beats toploaders and team bags for me.

 

[FrozenInferno]

I was skeptical about slabs too, but they're kind of growing on me. The extra protection is a plus, and like someone else said if the card does happen to curl the slab will keep it from getting too bad or breaking seals like a top-loader could. My Tretiak jersey/auto from UM8 is the only PC card I display on my dresser instead of locked under my bed, because I'm confident the slab will protect it if it does happen to fall. Even a one-touch can pop open quite easily even if dropped only a few feet. The thing I don't like about the top-loaders is the seal, I don't like the idea of my card becoming less valuable if the sticker is missing or broken. I'm still debating whether or not to pull my Tretiak Superlative auto out of its top-loader and put it in a one-touch of my own, I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it yet for fear of the card loosing value.

Also, my Tretiak UM8 card has a bit of a curl in the slab but I really don't mind. I enjoy the card for what it is, the sentimental value trumps warped cardboard.

 

[brado8236]

I am also interested in hearing Dr. Price's comments regarding the curling issue, but keep in mind that curling has been around since manufacturers started creating cards with multiple layers. It may not happen at first (or at all), but I've got thick cards from both UD and ITG products that have gotten a little bendy over the years.

And for those of you who are complaining about slabs getting scratched up or one touch holders popping open, just put them in graded card team bags. It protects the surface of the case and keeps one touch holders from opening if dropped. A simple fix that can keep everyone a little happier.