I've seen a lot of positive talk and a lot of negative talk about Panini's Customer Rewards Program. I'd don't normally use this site to editorialize, but this case is an exception.
To the people who feel corporate america is out to get them, take a deep breath and calm down. The only thing all manufacturers are out to get is your business.
The reason redemptions exist is because many players don’t like signing autographs. The BIGGEST complaint collectors have is the length of time it takes to get their redeemed autograph back from the manufacturer. And, the manufacturers know that when customers are angry, it negatively affects sales. Panini has come up with a program to NEARLY ELIMINATE redemptions and award customers by allowing them to accumulate points across all products and pick a card/product/memorabilia you actually want.
I had the honor of sitting down with Panini decision makers to discuss upcoming products and the rewards program at length during The Summit. These guys are smart and they know that doing the rewards program the right way is important. I’ve owned a successful sports card shop for 22 years and did card shows for 8 years before that. I know what customers want and I was impressed by Panini. These guys are coming up with a Game Changer.
No more redemptions for players you don’t care about. Top Level Stars will have redemptions which read (for example) something like “Russell Wilson Auto Prime Patch #d/25 OR 250 Points (point values are yet to be determined). Panini will soon come out with detailed information as the program is scheduled to launch in May. The program may require some minor adjustments as time goes on. I see this program getting better and better.
Think about it. Panini knows customer satisfaction is important to company success. Panini is out to put a smile on your face. Panini is out to get this right and be your manufacturer of choice.
