Who believes UD is using fake stuff?

[Rib93]

I just dont understand where UD gets the 1/1 logo sheilds of older players- like Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, ect. Back when they played I dont think the jerseys had NHL logos on them, but correct me if I am wrong. I just dont understand if they werent on the jersey, how is it game worn?

[30ranfordfan]

That's a great point actually.

I'm not sure when it happened, but I'd guess sometime in the late 90s? Once the NHL told the card manufacturers that the players had to play an NHL game before they could be included in sets. (Becuase from 1990 and onward, many players had their RC released 1-3 years before their NHL debut).

Also, not to get too OT, but I've been curious about this...at what point did the RC release schedule change from the way it used to be? A player's RC never used to be released until well into their first pro season (late in the product schedule within a series 2/update set), or in most cases, wasn't released until the following season/product year.

If the RC release schedule reverted back to the way it used to be, it seems that the whole photo-shoot thing could be done away with, as there would be more actual gamers available from the player's rookie season. Oh yeah, my bad...MeiGray vs Dick's...might cut into UD's profit.

[Prime B]

I just dont understand where UD gets the 1/1 logo sheilds of older players- like Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, ect. Back when they played I dont think the jerseys had NHL logos on them, but correct me if I am wrong. I just dont understand if they werent on the jersey, how is it game worn?

Those guys all played in an era where they had shields on their sweaters.

In fact, because he tucked in the right side of his jersey where the shield was typically on the hem, Gretzky actually had TWO shields on a lot of his sweaters.

I, will say, in their defense, every now and then they dropped some cash.

I know for a fact they did drop a wad on a old Stan Mikita Blackhawks sweater, I want to say like $15-20K on that and a Gordie Howe Wings sweater, maybe $40-50K there?

This of course was before the economy tanked and they were spending wildly. (which is now biting them in the ***!)

Now with the current economic climate it strengthens my belief they are being cheaper than ever and not giving us true game used stuff of said player(s).

You also have to wonder when UD depletes their supply of "game used" where the materials and shields eventually come from?

I mean, if they are too cheap to purchase rookie gamers for use in The Cup or other players sweaters, do you really think they are going to splurge on high end stuff of those older superstars/legends over and over? Nope.

[30ranfordfan]

When I see the prices that they get for the garbage manufactured patches from sets like OPC Premier.... I'm convinced it's only a matter of time before manufactured Sheilds make their way into cards. I don't think UD will try and pass them off as real ones, but they'll just stick a non-GU sheild into a card, make 100 copies of it (with parallels #ed /50, /25/, 10, /1) sell the packs for $150 each, and tell themselves that this is what consumers want.

You also have to wonder when UD depletes their supply of "game used" where the materials and shields eventually come from?

I mean, if they are too cheap to purchase rookie gamers for use in The Cup or other players sweaters, do you really think they are going to splurge on high end stuff of those older superstars/legends over and over? Nope.

[JordanStaal11]

You have remember when they say game worn. If it is worn or used for ONE shift, it was technically "used in an NHL game".

In gretzky's last game I think he used almost 100 sticks. (if not more)
They are all, again, technically game used.

He also wore three jerseys. One for himself, one for the Hall of Fame and one for Gary Bettman.

[Prime B]

When I see the prices that they get for the garbage manufactured patches from sets like OPC Premier.... I'm convinced it's only a matter of time before manufactured Sheilds make their way into cards. I don't think UD will try and pass them off as real ones, but they'll just stick a non-GU sheild into a card, make 100 copies of it (with parallels #ed /50, /25/, 10, /1) sell the packs for $150 each, and tell themselves that this is what consumers want.

Really, what makes a photo shoot shield any different? Nothing except it is attached to a jersey. Would these be "disembodied" photo shoot shields?

Really, I think you're headed in the right direction. While UD says they want to be the most innovative in the market I guess they mean the best at being lazy, unimaginative and cheap!

According to the Urban Dictionary UD's actions would be "outdumbing" themselves.

Honestly, while I am no design whiz on the computer, their basic concepts of cards and sets are weak. I (and I am sure mots of you do as well) have better ideas floating around but I am saving them to share with Brian Price in case he gets relicensed.

Obviously UD can't come up with these things or they are so short on money that they have the same ideas and are trying to stretch and milk them as far they can. I guess they figure introducing a new subset or concept in The Cup every 2-3 years is progress.

Yippee..........................

You have remember when they say game worn. If it is worn or used for ONE shift, it was technically "used in an NHL game".

In gretzky's last game I think he used almost 100 sticks. (if not more)
They are all, again, technically game used.

He also wore three jerseys. One for himself, one for the Hall of Fame and one for Gary Bettman.

True, but is UD even getting these types of jerseys? I think not.

Why?

Becuase they could put a simple text on the back and say this jersey was acquired direct from the NHL (if that is the case which it SHOULD be with their exclusive) worn in _________ on _________ by__________. Wow, that was hard.

AT least ITG had Ted Sakin's sig endorsing things as they got almost all their pre-lockout material from the NHL & NHLPA. At least we KNOW the source there.

I think companies should provide provenance on the back or have someone affiliated with the NHL and/or PA put THEIR name backing up these cards.

[marekschwarz33]

did anyone else notice on the 09 OPC Premier rookies that the put Game Used on the front only to explain how the jerseys were worn in a photo shoot on the back?

rather misleading I think.........

[Drifter2000]

did anyone else notice on the 09 OPC Premier rookies that the put Game Used on the front only to explain how the jerseys were worn in a photo shoot on the back?

rather misleading I think.........

They do that in more sets than just OPC Premier. Off the top of my head I know that the Series 2 Rookie "GU", and Ice Fresh Threads are all photo shoot or event worn jerseys.

On top of that they only give us a swatch the size of my thumbnail.

[avalanchefan21]

Responding to the Topic...

Exactly why I don't collect autos/Gu anymore.

[mw83krk]

innocent until proven guilty, or in this case authentic until proven otherwise, I guess.

I too, like most, question the authenticity, especially with UD's verbiage on the back of cards... For the most part though, I think UD is honest about trying to put the actual player jersey/patch on their card, but for variables out of their control, ie. sometimes they can't be sure what they are getting from the teams/players etc., hence the disclaimer change.

I know that Andrew Raycroft cards picturing him in a Leaf uniform still featured a Boston swatch almost 2 years after he had left the orginzation. It wouldn't be hard for UD to just stick a random white swatch in there if they were dishonest, and yet they continued putting a yellow/white swatch... so that leads me to believe that (while the jersey was dated) it was still authentic.