frozenheroes

The recent announcement that Panini products would be distributed in Canada by Universal Distribution only and that Grosnor Distribution had been cut out of the picture is rather disturbing on several levels. Allowing only ONE distributor in Canada is going to create several problems with very unfavourable results. Not only will this mean increased prices to hobby stores and to collectors it will also mean more stores and collectors buying from US based suppliers. It will also add further credence to the rumours about product loading and preferred 'store' stock to certain shops. We have seen in recent weeks a number of higher end cards ending up in one Ontario location causing several collectors to come in to the store screaming.

I don't understand the reasoning for Grosnor to be cut out of the picture as they have always dealt with me in a professional way and I have never had a problem with them. Universal on the other hand has had several issues with ordering and they seem to be more concerned with the big stores and the smaller ones like us seem to get no service or help at all. I am very disappointed at this ill made decision by Panini who obviously didn't give any thought to the hobby stores and collectors when they made it. I guess we have only a few choices with either dancing to Universal's music, buying from 'other' sources or not selling Panini product anymore. Since boxes and packs are very small profit margin items when they sell and they usually end up in the grand scheme of things costing us money we may just stop selling them
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