Card quality

[Guest]

[Tower]

Let's talk a bit about the less valuable cards now.

The card quality of the base cards is better than it was in the GOFU-set in my opinion, i didn't like these base cards. But i have a lot of miscutted base cards now, mostly almost cutted numbers. Making sets of only correctly cutted cards is more difficult than it was ever, you have to take care ...

And i don't like the Case Loaders, less quality.    They should have used the same lenticular cards as they did in every set yet. 

[HPfamily]

Honestly, I haven't checked my base cards yet to see
if I have this same problem as you!  I'll check in a few.
I actually am disappointed in the case toppers, box toppers,
and the chase set!!! They look so "blah" to me!! 
I really have not liked the cards that come from Singapore!!
I know it's cheaper for Artbox to have them produced there,
but I just don't think the quality is as good as the ones
produced before GOF! My 2 cents worth! 

[kbmum]

I don't like the smell of the cards.  As soon as I opened the first box, I started to choke a bit and had to turn on a ceiling fan to get rid of the odor.  MM had different card stock, but both COS and GOFU seem to have the same type. 

I didn't have a problem with any of my base cards (other than one box being six cards short of two complete sets), but there are some dings, rough edges, and rounded corners on some of the inserts.  A couple of eBay sellers also noted similar problems in some auctions.

Not every card can be perfect, but like Jackie said, the quality has gone downhill since Artbox sent production overseas.

[HPfamily]

but there are some dings, rough edges, and rounded corners on some of the inserts.  A couple of eBay sellers also noted similar problems in some auctions.

I've noticed the same thing also!! Looks like they have been mishandled/dropped...
whatever!! Some don't look "mint" condition! 

[kbmum]

I wonder if maybe the cards aren't being cut properly.

[Roz]

I take this as an example - Jackie's Ginny PJs - it has a nice swatch, but just look at that bottom left hand corner. Cards shouldn't come out of the pack like that!!!



I know I do rant and rave sometimes, but I really resent their cost cutting on this. I am 100% certain that the Japanese customers of Artbox's parent company would not tolerate such poor quality cards (for those that don't know the Japanese are meticulous about things like this. Anyone who has just received a piece of post (mail) from Japan will know what I mean). None of the saving in production costs have been passed on to the customer, so essentially we're just getting a poorer quality product for the same money, does that make sense to anyone else?

[rns91294]

My Filch costume corner looks the same  

[jfer21]

Yeah, I had a couple of cards like that.  I had a few base cards that had been cut a little close to the numbers, but not enough to complain to Artbox.  I have had problems with GOF and GOFU (discolorations and mis-cut sides) which I complained about.  It is annoying though.  I seem to get more dings with the new packaging.  I miss the old wrappers.

[mcgonagall]

i would be sending the cards back  until i get mint ones

[kbmum]

I seem to get more dings with the new packaging.  I miss the old wrappers.

Thanks for mentioning that.  The new packs are very difficult to open with that clear plastic layer inside.  I use scissors and try to be very careful.  The colors on the backs of my COS base cards vary -- some are much darker than others.  It looks as if more than one printer produced the cards, or maybe one set of equipment made some of the cards darker.

[wedge1977]

Overall, I too am disappointed with the quality of the cards.  The printing is fairly nice, but many are off-cut, as Tower has said.  Most of my inserts came with rubbed corners as well, and I wouldn't classify any of them as true mint.  Near mint to mint maybe, but 100% perfect, no.  I always handle my stuff with extreme care, and yet to someone else, it might look like I was rough on them.  I hope Artbox will hear our pleas for the return of mint product inside our packs!  Those of you who know me know that I only collect the autos and sell off the costumes and props to help pay for my auto habit.  I know I cannot get as much as I would need out of the props and costumes with cards in conditions like this.  And not only are the autos now getting a bit dinged too, but the redemption cards as well!  Since the actor never held the redemption card in his/her hand, I'd like to hear Artbox come up with an excuse for why those are anything less than perfect.  Something thick like a costume or prop might be one thing, but a single, "regular thickness" card?  Absurd!


- Greg

[Bogleg]

i would be sending the cards back  until i get mint ones

A nice thought, but when they can't even be bothered to answer an email about missing cards (eight coin cards from a case of Memorable Moments) and the problems some people have had with redemption's, I don't think a dinged edge would be high on their list of priority's 

[Galea]

I'm still waiting for replacements of 2 cards I sent back in August, no reply to any of my many emails either . And I had missing MM coins too, I won't risk sending COS cards, not until they do something about their customer service (or lack thereof).

[mcgonagall]

Wanders if they would like an aussie employee  who would work from here  lmao

[savage727]

It is frustrating to read your posts as I can certainly sympathize with all of you!  We all spend hard earned money on our hobby of collecting cards and it is our right to be assured of mint quality product from any manufacturer.  I do not collect Harry Potter but I do collect Lord of the Rings from both Topps and Decipher and I too have seen problems across the board with their products most recently in the Masterpieces Base Set cards with edges chipped and corners scrapped - terrible quality control and no excuse in this day and age.  I don't know what the answer is as it seems Artbox is unresponsive to you collectors.  The only thing people understand is money and if you hurt them financially they notice so maybe it will take all of you refusing to purchase Harry Potter product until quality improves.  Human nature being what it is I don't really expect that to happen.  Numbers talk so maybe you all can organize an online petition to voice your complaints and concerns backed up with numbers and the amount of money you spend on their product. 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I agree with you all about the annoying plastic layer included in the wrap and also the smell and quality of the base cards in the later sets. I've taken out some PoA cards to compare with GoFU ones and there is a marked difference in the quality. I don't have my CoS boxes yet but I am hoping they won't be as bad as some of the cards I've seen. My commiserations to all people who have these poor cards.

Roz is right - the savings that Artbox makes from outsourcing production to Singapore should not come at the expense of consumers. If I were Artbox, I'd be very wary - even rabid Potter fans won't let their chains be jerked around like this for much longer

[rns91294]

I wouldn't even bother sending my Filch costume back to them if I didn't pull a redemtpion card as well.  I figure since I have to send that, I might as well send the other.

I will say, I did not like the packaging either.  Like Cindy, I use a scissors to open my packs and with these, I had to be really careful.

As for the smell, I must be a little strange, as I liked it .  I like the smell of books and paper and this reminded me of that. Alright, call me weird.  Its okay

[Galea]

As for the smell, I must be a little strange, as I liked it .  I like the smell of books and paper and this reminded me of that. Alright, call me weird.  Its okay

I'm sure many people here like the smell of books/trading cards/printed matter, some of us might be a bit addicted too .

[HPfamily]

As for the smell, I must be a little strange, as I liked it .  I like the smell of books and paper and this reminded me of that. Alright, call me weird.  Its okay

HA!! Not weird at all Sara!! I LOVE the smell of fresh paper and books!! 
I liked the smell of the old cards that were produced. Actually, loved it!!!
But I don't like the smell of the new ones!! 

[HPfamily]

But i have a lot of miscutted base cards now, mostly almost cutted numbers. Making sets of only correctly cutted cards is more difficult than it was ever, you have to take care ...

I just sorted out six boxes into base sets and I don't have this problem...yet! 
I'll have to pull out boxes from the other case and see if those are OK.