Please Read this Upper Deck Blog!

[bprice]

Rumor has it that it that UD's other licensors (Hockey and Football) were not happy with UD fighting with MLB over the use of their marks.

Makes sense, I couldn't figure out why UD would enter into this monumental battle and then settle it so quickly.

Again, just a rumor but it came from a very good source.

Brian Price

[TMacfreak91]

I just see a great deal of fear coming from the main people in charge of Upper Deck. How do they manage to keep what they have? And how would they be justified to keep a monopoly, even after we all have spoken. Should it not be us in the end that have a say? If so, then I do believe we all get a hold of the major players involved in the CBA process, and voice our concerns. It's like getting a hold of your local politician in charge.

I've given this some thought as well. Does anyone know who some of the higher-ups in the NHLPA are? If so, IS there any way to get ahold of them? If we can figure that out, then I would GLADLY start an online petition on the various sites where I am a member asking the NHLPA to give ITG a share of any licensing agreements. I think that if we really take some initiative on this, we could actually make a real and significant difference.

It's OUR hobby...let's show the powers that be what we want.

Steve

[reoddai]

Rumor has it that it that UD's other licensors (Hockey and Football) were not happy with UD fighting with MLB over the use of their marks.

Makes sense, I couldn't figure out why UD would enter into this monumental battle and then settle it so quickly.

Again, just a rumor but it came from a very good source.

Brian Price

What a very interesting rumor. I don't think that any has yet mentionned that the other sports agencies might have had an issue with UD pursuing MLB.

Could this translate into traction for ITG, or would it simply favour the introduction of other large companies, like Panini ot Topps?

Cheers,
reoddai

[Inferno]

I just see a great deal of fear coming from the main people in charge of Upper Deck. How do they manage to keep what they have? And how would they be justified to keep a monopoly, even after we all have spoken. Should it not be us in the end that have a say? If so, then I do believe we all get a hold of the major players involved in the CBA process, and voice our concerns. It's like getting a hold of your local politician in charge.

The only language they seem to speak is money, I don't think they give a damn what the collectors want. I they did there wouldn't be an exclusive in the first place.

[steen101984]

If UD can pull it together, why wouldn't we want to hear that statement? When Upper Deck is at their best, we know what they're capable of doing - unfortunately for us hockey fans, it's been a while since that has been the case. I certainly don't want to see the exclusive renewed as my preference is for UD & ITG to get licenses, but I don't want to see UD wither and die away as they can still produce some very nice cards.

Dont get me wrong Richard I dont want to see them die either as they make some great cards but I think if they keep up the way they have been over the last 5 years of the exclusive i think the hobby would be better off without them. They have lost their ability to care about us somewhere over the last 5 years and until they make a real effort to stop screwing up and own up to their mistakes and stop whining about hypocritical junk like this and put some innovation in their ideas maybe we would be better off without them.

If ITG or Topps gets a license and puts forth a strong effort (I know ITG will) then they might go out of business anyways. In the last year they have:

- been sued by the government for creating a fake tax shelter (100 million plus dollars)
- lost basketball
- lost baseball
- lost out on the UFC contract
- been sued for making fakes of their own product
- been sued by MLB because of the licensing agreement in baseball.

ITG has had those same standards that UD has in baseball and embraced them. UD IMO is not very financially stable. Imagine going from 4 and having a chance at 5 sports to 2 and being sued 3 times. Id say thats a pretty bad year. They dont have any cash flow. If they lose the exclusivity they may go under anyways as people would finally have a choice and i would expect a decent spike in ITG sales coupled with a decline in UD.

[RGM81]

I agree on that front, it is not good times for them. There was a rumour going around the other day that there were also some pretty big layoffs made at a major staff meeting. If that's indeed the case, the writing may be on the wall. It's unfortunate but like most empires they rotted away from within.

[doniceage]

I agree on that front, it is not good times for them. There was a rumour going around the other day that there were also some pretty big layoffs made at a major staff meeting. If that's indeed the case, the writing may be on the wall. It's unfortunate but like most empires they rotted away from within.

In these economic times you can bet layoffs are coming. I hate to see any company lay off good folks. Of course if they looked at their customer service they could definitely shore up the way they handle those transactions. Yet a little to late when you been not taking care of all customers like you do some.
Too many complaints all over the hobby newsgroups, boards, blogs, etc. on how UD continously does not live up to the grade. Of course I seen some good ones as well. Of course you should see more praises then the horro stories if you truly want to guage the success of your CS deparement.

D
o
n

[30ranfordfan]

Of course you should see more praises then the horro stories if you truly want to guage the success of your CS deparement.

D
o
n

Unfortunately, that's almost never the case (doesn't matter if we're talking about Hockey Cards, Gasoline, Groceries, or anything).

Please expect good customer service, and will rarely talk about it when they get it. Something doesn't go their way? Then they'll talk about it.

[bprice]

I would like to say something upfront. Upper Deck's health is important to the trading card industry.

The industry in general will get a black eye if its largest and most well known company goes out of business. Let's hope this doesn't happen.

Let's hope that the licensors will listen to collectors and bring some healthy competition into the hobby.

No company should have an exclusive in any sport for trading cards, its not healthy.

I am not optimistic about our chances of getting a license in the near future becuase I don't think the NHLPA is making their decisions for the right reasons.

Panini has an exclusive in basketball right now, no one that I speak to is thrilled with their products, sure they do hockey stickers but that's a far cry from trading cards.

We deserve to get back in the game, but don't be surprised if this doesn't happen.

Hope I am wrong.

Brian Price

[Inferno]

I would like to say something upfront. Upper Deck's health is important to the trading card industry.

The industry in general will get a black eye if its largest and most well known company goes out of business. Let's hope this doesn't happen.

Let's hope that the licensors will listen to collectors and bring some healthy competition into the hobby.

No company should have an exclusive in any sport for trading cards, its not healthy.

I am not optimistic about our chances of getting a license in the near future becuase I don't think the NHLPA is making their decisions for the right reasons.

Panini has an exclusive in basketball right now, no one that I speak to is thrilled with their products, sure they do hockey stickers but that's a far cry from trading cards.

We deserve to get back in the game, but don't be surprised if this doesn't happen.

Hope I am wrong.

Brian Price

The newest rumor going around is that a Panini exclusive may already be in place. Only the almighty dollar could convince the NHL to ignore collectors and grant an exclusive to a company with no hockey card experience. I really hope the rumors are not true, if they are my collecting future is in your hands.