Bench Draft 2.0

[Dashcol]

Seeing as the first Bench Draft was so successful, I think it is inevitable that we will be having another one!

Let’s use this thread to discuss the changes we would like to see for 2.0.

We need to keep track of what worked, and what did not work.

We need to keep track of new ideas and everything else that we can come up with to make 2.0 even better.

By the way, I am in no way trying to hijack this from @NEPatriotsFan ! I am just getting the conversation going as he is out of town on business. He did a great job on 1.0!

 

[Dashcol]

Reserved for the finalized rules of Bench Draft 2.0!

1) Only a moderator/trusted agent not in the draft will handle the cards between members. Everyone will ship to the mod and the mod will ship them out to the winners.
2) All cards must be mailed in an appropriate sized bubble mailer (this mailer will also be used to mail back to you, keep that in mind), all cards must be individually penny sleeved and top loaded, unless the card is already encased by a grading company or manufacturer.
3) All participants must send a note to the moderator that includes their bench ID, what cards they have sent, and their mailing address they want the cards shipped to.
4) Return shipping must be supplied to the mediator by either $5 cash in the envelope, or sending a SASE (bubble mailer only) with sufficient postage for whatever weight may be won.
5) Participants must be able to take their own photos/scans and upload them to the draft thread. If no photos, no participating.
6) Only single sports, no combined sports drafts will be done.

 

[Dashcol]

Reserved to keep track of new ideas to try out.

1) Monthly? More? Less?
2) Theme based or value based? Or both.

 

[katester44]

As the person receiving all the cards, here is what I would like to see:
1 - all cards sent in a 6 x 9 bubble mailer
2 - all cards packaged in their own top loader
3 - a note inside the package with return address and bench username included

 

[Dashcol]

As the person receiving all the cards, here is what I would like to see:
1 - all cards sent in a 6 x 9 bubble mailer
2 - all cards packaged in their own top loader
3 - a note inside the package with return address and bench username included

That is an easy fix!

Also, that is the way $100+ in cards should always be shipped anyways…

 

[Rabs]

That is an easy fix!

Also, that is the way $100+ in cards should always be shipped anyways…

I usually use 4x7 not 6x9 but do think the larger size makes more sense for this.

 

[Dashcol]

I usually use 4x7 not 6x9 but do think the larger size makes more sense for this.

That’s why I think it’s better to just say adequate size. We don’t want anyone to try and squeeze five cards into a small bubbler.

 

[NEPatriotsFan]

thanks again to dashcol for setting up this thread...

Im back from my whirlwind business trip...learned a lot, it was great to meet some of my coworkers for the first time...

I am interested in another draft..and if I dont have to run it, even better. Going into my work busy season, my time is going to be more restricted going forward...I know shig wants to run a football specific one, and hopefully I can participate. The rules are there and anyone can use them...but obviously moderator participation is critical. For the most part, only a few hiccups with shipping, etc, but overall the feedback I have received is positive for Bench Draft 1.0...Im okay with monthly, and we can change up the theme, and get it going...the first one was mostly baseball, and it looks like we could run another one just baseball no problem. Some other suggestions have been inserts only, etc. If the objective is to include more Benchies, then making the criteria wider casts a larger net. Personally I would love to try one that includes graded cards or graded only. We could run a high end one, or autos only...I am open to whatever keeps us all engaged...rich

 

[Rabs]

I think we should keep the sports separate like we are doing with the Football one. I noticed in this one the football cards weren't picked until much later on.

So keeping a Baseball specific one and a Football specific one is cool. If there is enough interest I think there should also be a Basketball one even though I don't collect that sport but know others do.

You are right in that categorizing within sport (just graded, just insert, etc.) does limit the ability of some to participate. To me, I would have no interest in just an insert one since I'm not a fan of just inserts. But everyone collects different things. So keeping it broader does make it more appealing for everyone.

If we just did a graded one also keep in mind all grading companies are not created equal. I honestly would only want PSA or BGS and not any of the others. Also I have no interest in cards that are graded lower than 9.5 or 10 usually, so another thing to think about if doing a graded draft. Plus you can't really calculate BV with graded cards so there would have to be many more guidelines created around a graded draft.

I really do think for future drafts (across all sports) there should be photos of the cards submitted. If the person that gathers all the cards doesn't want to take a short 2 minute video of all the cards at once, then each submitter can easily either snap photos or take a video of their submissions before sending them out to initiate the draft. Often times people like to collect a certain card just because of how it looks. It also can be hard to know what team the player is pictured with. If it is a jersey or patch card, the color(s) of the jersey can make a difference. Centering is a big issue and you don't know that without seeing the card. So lots of reasons why photos can be beneficial. I ended up looking up a lot of what the cards looked like from the 1.0 draft since I had no idea at first.

Hope all that feedback is helpful.

 

[NEPatriotsFan]

I think we should keep the sports separate like we are doing with the Football one. I noticed in this one the football cards weren't picked until much later on.

So keeping a Baseball specific one and a Football specific one is cool. If there is enough interest I think there should also be a Basketball one even though I don't collect that sport but know others do.

You are right in that categorizing within sport (just graded, just insert, etc.) does limit the ability of some to participate. To me, I would have no interest in just an insert one since I'm not a fan of just inserts. But everyone collects different things. So keeping it broader does make it more appealing for everyone.

If we just did a graded one also keep in mind all grading companies are not created equal. I honestly would only want PSA or BGS and not any of the others. Also I have no interest in cards that are graded lower than 9.5 or 10 usually, so another thing to think about if doing a graded draft. Plus you can't really calculate BV with graded cards so there would have to be many more guidelines created around a graded draft.

I really do think for future drafts (across all sports) there should be photos of the cards submitted. If the person that gathers all the cards doesn't want to take a short 2 minute video of all the cards at once, then each submitter can easily either snap photos or take a video of their submissions before sending them out to initiate the draft. Often times people like to collect a certain card just because of how it looks. It also can be hard to know what team the player is pictured with. If it is a jersey or patch card, the color(s) of the jersey can make a difference. Centering is a big issue and you don't know that without seeing the card. So lots of reasons why photos can be beneficial. I ended up looking up a lot of what the cards looked like from the 1.0 draft since I had no idea at first.

Hope all that feedback is helpful.

Yes it does...I like the sport specific idea...so if you want hockey, there is a draft...basketball? same thing...also not being quite as specific as you suggest makes sense...there is a smattering of different type of cards in these drafts, so you like a specific type of card, then that is what you draft...makes the whole trading of draft picks much more appealing ...

Ive been thinking about the graded draft...value is really hard to pinpoint on those...of course we could use OPG graded value if there is one...I think i would limit it to the big three (BGS, SGC and PSA), with the idea that the same thought process applies (you like a card, you negotiate a draft swap for it)...might suggest the vote for draft place on that one...especially if there is no stipulation on value...

 

[Steelers8873]

I think we should keep the sports separate like we are doing with the Football one. I noticed in this one the football cards weren't picked until much later on.

So keeping a Baseball specific one and a Football specific one is cool. If there is enough interest I think there should also be a Basketball one even though I don't collect that sport but know others do.

You are right in that categorizing within sport (just graded, just insert, etc.) does limit the ability of some to participate. To me, I would have no interest in just an insert one since I'm not a fan of just inserts. But everyone collects different things. So keeping it broader does make it more appealing for everyone.

If we just did a graded one also keep in mind all grading companies are not created equal. I honestly would only want PSA or BGS and not any of the others. Also I have no interest in cards that are graded lower than 9.5 or 10 usually, so another thing to think about if doing a graded draft. Plus you can't really calculate BV with graded cards so there would have to be many more guidelines created around a graded draft.

I really do think for future drafts (across all sports) there should be photos of the cards submitted. If the person that gathers all the cards doesn't want to take a short 2 minute video of all the cards at once, then each submitter can easily either snap photos or take a video of their submissions before sending them out to initiate the draft. Often times people like to collect a certain card just because of how it looks. It also can be hard to know what team the player is pictured with. If it is a jersey or patch card, the color(s) of the jersey can make a difference. Centering is a big issue and you don't know that without seeing the card. So lots of reasons why photos can be beneficial. I ended up looking up a lot of what the cards looked like from the 1.0 draft since I had no idea at first.

Hope all that feedback is helpful.

Photos are highly important it's the one thing about the first draft that I REALLY didn't like and considering I have had really bad experiences with members dishing off damaged cards to me so I think for my participation pics are a must they're a deal breaker for me going forward.

 

[NEPatriotsFan]

Photos are highly important it's the one thing about the first draft that I REALLY didn't like and considering I have had really bad experiences with members dishing off damaged cards to me so I think for my participation pics are a must they're a deal breaker for me going forward.

Ive never done a draft with pictures...could we avoid that by having the moderator reject damaged cards? but that become problematic with draft picks, etc...is the only concern damaged cards? @katester44 did you notice any damaged cards in all the cards you received? It is a criteria in the draft instructions to send non damaged cards (just like shipping, etc)...

 

[Steelers8873]

If someone guarantees that the cards won't be damaged that would suffice but when I say guarantee that means if I receive a damaged card not caused by shipping I would expect to be compensated for it. As far as seeing the card just to see what it looks like I just look the card up on ebay so ONLY because of recent bad experiences do I want to see the card it's to the point where I will no longer do individual trades with anybody.

 

[Rabs]

Condition isn't the only benefit you get from photos. There are several I mentioned earlier.

Would you buy a car without seeing it? No.

Would you buy a card on eBay without a picture? No.

Everyone uses photos these days. It would literally take me 30 seconds to take 5 pics of the cards I'm submitting or a continuous video showing all 5 at once. Super easy.

 

[Steelers8873]

@Rabs -Agreed. I just was giving my own reasons which is condition since that is what I have had problems with but all points you have are valid.

 

[NEPatriotsFan]

If someone guarantees that the cards won't be damaged that would suffice but when I say guarantee that means if I receive a damaged card not caused by shipping I would expect to be compensated for it. As far as seeing the card just to see what it looks like I just look the card up on ebay so ONLY because of recent bad experiences do I want to see the card it's to the point where I will no longer do individual trades with anybody.

We can do a visual inspection of the cards and make sure none are damaged, but certainly once its mailed that is beyond our control...and yes, you can always search on ebay (or becketts online price guide) to see what the card looks like...

 

[Steelers8873]

I don't want to seem hard to deal with but we all pay way too much money for cards to receive,or give,damaged cards to people I can tell you now I will never seek out a trade with anyone again on this site it's strictly buy/sell/breaks for me there are unsavory characters on the bench and I've accepted the last damaged card and paid others postage for the last time it's absolutely unacceptable to me.

 

[katester44]

Ive never done a draft with pictures...could we avoid that by having the moderator reject damaged cards? but that become problematic with draft picks, etc...is the only concern damaged cards? @katester44 did you notice any damaged cards in all the cards you received? It is a criteria in the draft instructions to send non damaged cards (just like shipping, etc)...

Nothing appeared damaged - but I didn't pull cards out of toploaders, etc.

I understand the request for pictures, etc. - but I can tell you right now I am not going to do it. I just spent the better part of 3 hours packing up the cards from this draft to send out. There is a new football draft started. you guys are talking about doing one of these every month. That is fantastic, love the participation that members are jumping into. If this all comes to fruition, I can't handle it all. Other moderators are going to have to jump in, or you are going to have to handle it yourselves on the honor system, I just don't have the time to do it all by myself.

I saw every package come in - and the majority only packed for shipping, not receiving. Before everyone starts adding their two cents worth in regards to condition, packaging, etc. think long and hard about how you sent the cards to me, and how they would come back to you. I am not trying to **** in anyones cheerios, I am just trying to let everyone know not to cast a wide net when it comes to certain things.

 

[NEPatriotsFan]

Nothing appeared damaged - but I didn't pull cards out of toploaders, etc.

I understand the request for pictures, etc. - but I can tell you right now I am not going to do it. I just spent the better part of 3 hours packing up the cards from this draft to send out. There is a new football draft started. you guys are talking about doing one of these every month. That is fantastic, love the participation that members are jumping into. If this all comes to fruition, I can't handle it all. Other moderators are going to have to jump in, or you are going to have to handle it yourselves on the honor system, I just don't have the time to do it all by myself.

I saw every package come in - and the majority only packed for shipping, not receiving. Before everyone starts adding their two cents worth in regards to condition, packaging, etc. think long and hard about how you sent the cards to me, and how they would come back to you. I am not trying to **** in anyones cheerios, I am just trying to let everyone know not to cast a wide net when it comes to certain thin

Andy...I heard four things...

First, it IS a time commitment for both moderators to run a draft, and maybe we need to tweak that before we start another one...

Second, guess we were not specific enough on how to mail and package, etc...

Three...you are the only staff member I know, I can approach another staff member if you can point me in the right direction...

Fourth, taking pictures, althought a noble request, may go onto the parking lot for a future draft once these other issues are under control...

just my two cents rich

 

[Rabs]

Nothing appeared damaged - but I didn't pull cards out of toploaders, etc.

I understand the request for pictures, etc. - but I can tell you right now I am not going to do it. I just spent the better part of 3 hours packing up the cards from this draft to send out. There is a new football draft started. you guys are talking about doing one of these every month. That is fantastic, love the participation that members are jumping into. If this all comes to fruition, I can't handle it all. Other moderators are going to have to jump in, or you are going to have to handle it yourselves on the honor system, I just don't have the time to do it all by myself.

I saw every package come in - and the majority only packed for shipping, not receiving. Before everyone starts adding their two cents worth in regards to condition, packaging, etc. think long and hard about how you sent the cards to me, and how they would come back to you. I am not trying to **** in anyones cheerios, I am just trying to let everyone know not to cast a wide net when it comes to certain things.

Completely understand what you are saying. I don't think you should be the one worrying about the pics since you are already doing a lot with this which we appreciate.

Each member can easily submit pics of their cards as they are packaging them up to be sent to you.

I would recommend maybe sending a PM to the people you are referring to that didn't package up their cards correctly, as otherwise they may not be sure if the method they used was adequate. I honestly don't know if the way I sent them was good or not based on your needs to send them back out.