Bootleg Cards?!?

[ralral33]

yep everyone boycott upperdeck at the expo and just buy panini and in the game to get the redemptions .lol

[MatsSundin13Rocks]

This all has to do with Upper Deck and Panini's stupid policies about who can sell their products. Really that is why it isn't profitable for stores to sell cards anymore. I talked to a shop owner who sold board games, magic cards, other collectibles, as well as sports cards but the problem was he had to buy from distributors at prices that were too high so eventually he stopped selling sports cards. Upper Deck wouldn't certify his store as it wasn't 80% cards and the other 20% other sports memorabilia. I seriously doubt the few stores remaining that sell sports card in BC are Certified Diamond Dealers as with the requirements they wouldn't be profitable.

[mingus_md]

Very interesting thread. I have noticed a big drop in the amount of 2011-12 OPC out there this year because of UDs new policy. I am going to the Expo for the first time this year and it will be interesting to see how many dealers do not have the newer products.

[dble_g2k]

Well my plans fell through and I'm no longer attending the expo. Hopefully some of you can report back as to how this went?

I'd also just like to say that I'd much rather forge a relationship with my LCS and buy a case from him knowing I'll crack 90% of it myself than save a few bucks for nothing more than a risk elsewhere.

I made this purchase to prove a point because you know they're not going to let me take pics in the store of the product. Now it's off to the LCS to buy some more (barcode/holograms intact) :)

[RGM81]

For sure there will be people selling them there.... but those people will be authorized Diamond Dealers.

UD Series 1 is a set I always like to collect. At the expo most years..... you see a variety in prices. Some tables will be $65, others might be as high as $75.

What I'm expecting this year - way less dealers will have them (i.e. only the ones that are authorized) and the price will be the same at every single table.

What they've also done this year is changed the redemption program. Used to be that I could buy a couple of boxes from my local store, take them to the expo, and get the redemptions. I've heard that this will NOT be the case this year. Upper Deck will be giving certificates to all the diamond dealers @ the Expo, and they will give you one when you buy a box from them. You need to bring the box and the certificate to the UD booth to get your redemption card.

Among the many command & control measures is setting minimum pricing levels on the produts so that those who are authorized to sell can't try and undercut one another. It's a shame that they didn't impose a "maximum pricing level" on the distributors that have been fleecing store owners for years.

[TeamChevelle]

This is just so anti-capitalist in nature, I know why they have done it I am just not so sure it best for the people buying the product??