Upper Deck's 3rd ePack Release

[theboxbreaker96]

I don't like the idea of a computer randomizing what cards I will get. Then combine that with the fact that a lot of high end cards will never be available for us to pull is garbage too. I have no problem with it with UD S1/2 and stuff but Ultimate is too much.

I completely understand the ratio thing too I just don't like the idea. The main reason its not for me is the computer randomization.

[Gallinator]

It's not that people somehow can't understand that Upper Deck is calling ePack part of the "Hobby" release, it's that we refuse to accept UD's attempt to redefine what "Hobby" means to us, the actual friggin' hobbyists!

UD is attempting to state that something which is very clearly a separate distribution with its own allocation of product "hits" - vampired from the actual "Hobby" release - is in fact part of the good old Hobby release that we have come to know and recognize, if not love. The trouble with this is that there are very different stakeholders beholden to each distribution channel. The "Hobby" stakeholders - both the dealer itself and the hobbyist who supports their LCS whenever possible - are in fact harmed by the ePack release due to the closing off of the revenue stream from ePacks (which appears to be limited to UD and COMC) and the lack of information available to end buyers. Even if we were to have full disclosure of the internal distribution of the product, that would merely allow us to make a slightly more informed decision about how to buy a particular issue.

Does anyone really think UD will be somehow "randomizing" which hits are pulled from ePacks? I've got some land in Florida for you to buy.

It is absolutely, 100% obvious that Upper Deck is seeking ways to maximize profit at the expense of Hobby stores and I'll bet there is someone high up in the company with visions of 100% online revenue streams, virtual card collectors who eagerly pay "processing" fees to get physical cards and the elimination of those pesky distributors and those nasty store owners who dare to try to make a living off of cards.

I hope I'm wrong about this and that UD is just stupidly fumbling around in the dark and that the guy Derrick talked to ACTUALLY thinks UD is trying to do good things for everyone involved in the "hobby" - whatever the hell that is anymore - but I've got to go with the simpler explanation of greed and manipulation at this point, in the absence of anything to indicate otherwise.

Smell the coffee, people!

[maple19]

I like this as I live in a area were only like opc, mvp, ud ser 1 & 2 are sold I wish they did this in other sports too I not a big ultimate fan but I try my luck

[MacDuff77]

I do have concerns with this logic too. When I go to my LCS and buy packs, I usually have a pretty good calculation of what is left in a box and what I may expect to hit (these boxes are behind the counters and handed to the store clerks, no pack searching etc). For instance, if there is 1/2 or 3/4 box left of Upper Deck Series 1/2, then good chances I'll pull 2 or maybe 3 YG if I bought 10 packs (again, as long as box hasn't been picked clean, searched, etc).

For epacks, do the packs that you purchase come from virtual boxes of 24 pack counts... or is it completely computerized random? The reason I ask, is that I've never pulled so many Shining Stars in my life from purchasing epacks. I've pulled more Shining Stars at a time then would be alloted to a single box, and that concerns me going forward with epacks.

Edit: PS - This is not any UD bashing whatsoever, I've bought my fair share of epacks with my eyes wide open, but it does concern me if I want to continue going down this road.

I don't like the idea of a computer randomizing what cards I will get. Then combine that with the fact that a lot of high end cards will never be available for us to pull is garbage too. I have no problem with it with UD S1/2 and stuff but Ultimate is too much.

I completely understand the ratio thing too I just don't like the idea. The main reason its not for me is the computer randomization.

[theboxbreaker96]

I eleted my account on there so I don't get suckered into anything. Ill just buy from DA or Steel City with free shipping for the same price maybe cheaper. Get to open the box myself and not have to worry about someone shipping my cards to me either.

*Why do people buy these epacks? I understand they are addictive but isn't much more fun to open the packs yourself? Even if you don't have a LCS you can buy form an online retailer.

[ronfir]

I hate the idea of epacks and so far have refused to buy any as I support the two locals in my area. For me I seriously doubt about the randomizing of the cards. While I have long been a supporter of Upper Deck, I simply don't buy that the cards come out in an even ratio from the pack out and the epacks. Total lack of trust.

From the epacks from series one that I read about the hits were coming out of those packs at a far greater ratio that what we pulled at our stores. I opened around three cases of UD1 and hit zero high gloss cards, in prior years I usually hit one or two per case, even if UD announced they were changing the odds and making it harder, you would think at least one card would have showed up in my breaks.

Personally I hate to see this happen to a hobby that I enjoy or used to enjoy.

If the McDavid or Eichel shields come out as an epack I really think UD is putting one over on the hobby. I hope I am wrong and both of these shields come out of packs you buy at your local.

[oogabooga99]

I am absolutely disgusted at the idea of these E-packs. I let it slide when they started with UD series 1, but they are transitioning too much and too fast to this idea. I don't believe UD has collectors(as well as distributors) best interests in mind. I agree with many points that many of you have already stated. And it definitely has an impact on the odds of these rare cards such as shields. It would only be same odds if you bought both e-packs as well as physical packs as you chase your cards.

It's only the first year since UD has taken over the wheel... and look at the direction they are sending the hobby...

That's all the ranting I'm gonna do :)
Hope Dubnyk has some cards in ultimate this year

[hduong]

I'm not going to buy epacks period. I rather buy packs and boxes from my local shops. UD is just being greedy and cutting out the middle men. They are going to kill the hobby if they continue this route.

[geschrocks33]

I eleted my account on there so I don't get suckered into anything. Ill just buy from DA or Steel City with free shipping for the same price maybe cheaper. Get to open the box myself and not have to worry about someone shipping my cards to me either.

*Why do people buy these epacks? I understand they are addictive but isn't much more fun to open the packs yourself? Even if you don't have a LCS you can buy form an online retailer.

Because it's right there at the click of a button. Sure you can order a box from Dave and Adams, wait a few days, and it arrives. With ePack you can take 3 minutes to check out via PayPal and bam you can open a box on the spot. It's also probably grabbing people that don't like to order boxes online and have them shipped.

A fun statistic from the UD Rep:

The highest activity on the ePack site, and the time where the most purchases occur: Between Midnight and 8AM. Aka, when a shop isn't open. So you're bored up late at 2AM, and say hey maybe I'll open some packs.

They still have a lot of work to do with this, and will surely be irritating some people along the way.

[atruong317]

I hate the idea of epacks and so far have refused to buy any as I support the two locals in my area. For me I seriously doubt about the randomizing of the cards. While I have long been a supporter of Upper Deck, I simply don't buy that the cards come out in an even ratio from the pack out and the epacks. Total lack of trust.

From the epacks from series one that I read about the hits were coming out of those packs at a far greater ratio that what we pulled at our stores. I opened around three cases of UD1 and hit zero high gloss cards, in prior years I usually hit one or two per case, even if UD announced they were changing the odds and making it harder, you would think at least one card would have showed up in my breaks.

Personally I hate to see this happen to a hobby that I enjoy or used to enjoy.

If the McDavid or Eichel shields come out as an epack I really think UD is putting one over on the hobby. I hope I am wrong and both of these shields come out of packs you buy at your local.

Do we actually have proof that the hits came out at greater rates on the E-Pack side?

I only purchased 1 box online and the hits were the same as a physical box except for the online exclusives such as the Code to greatness cards.