Get on this, UD!

Triple B said:
From the lack of anything innovative beyond ePack, I'd imagine this was the case. Still, UD has a stable of exclusive "spokespersons" that they do very little with. I'd have to imagine that with what they have at their fingertips and what they've accomplished, there must be something disabling their ability to do more.

Topps coming back would be great, but so would me winning the lottery. The reality of it is that UD (unless the NHL hates money, too) needs to think like Topps does and bring some spark to hockey cards. Cards made out of wood can only bring so much excitement.
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HammerHawks said:
I think the fact of the matter is one of two things need to happen. One, UD actually makes a legitimate effort to improve the quality of their products, or two, another company (better yet, companies) needs to be licensed. The hockey card scene is just being watered down and lowered in quality with each and every release from UD. Does UD have the potential to turn things around? Yes, absolutely. Will they without external pressure? Definitely not.
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So let's just say it about WHY UD isn't doing more. I've inferred, suggested, hinted, etc. You can only lead the dog to water, but I can't do it anymore blatantly than this:

UD has financial woes. Glad we have that out of the way. LOL

When you have a business, you need to make money to maintain said business, including paying your overhead, your employees etc. When people complain UD isn't innovative or progressive enough I agree. I also understand they need to take care of their employees and remain a viable business or they have to close. So you guys are gonna have to take what they're giving you and keep dreaming they will ever do what Topps is doing, or be on a level with them. Sorry.

This story is a microcosm and may help you guys understand where they are at. I have a friend who saw a great UDA piece at one their booths at a show. He had some side banter with an employee. He inquired about purchasing quantity of the item. He was told they were basically made to order and couldn't do it right then. They needed the funds up front, would secure the signatures of the athlete depicted during a forthcoming signing, and make/deliver the item. See where we are going here? Same with cards, one product essentially can fund the next. And on and on we go...............

As far as another licensee pushing them? Oh yeah it would, we would all win, and the hockey card market would be better for it. But seems the NHL and PA like comfortable, kind of like why the National remains in ****ty venues and/or cities. Someone said to me the National doesn't move because it requires zero planning, they know Cleveland and Chicago, know the ins and outs, repeat, recycle, repeat. Complacency will eventually be to your detriment.

But I digress. I don't see anyone else coming in for the time being. My best hope/scenario, is UD is bought by Topps, who keeps the UD brand and morphs their own products like C55, Heritage, Bowman Chrome, Finest, etc, etc to some of UD's existing lineup. Worst case scenario, UD goes under finally and Topps or someone can buy them up and hopefully not have to take on the huge hit of a financial bailout.
 
Triple B said:
From the lack of anything innovative beyond ePack, I'd imagine this was the case. Still, UD has a stable of exclusive "spokespersons" that they do very little with. I'd have to imagine that with what they have at their fingertips and what they've accomplished, there must be something disabling their ability to do more.

Topps coming back would be great, but so would me winning the lottery. The reality of it is that UD (unless the NHL hates money, too) needs to think like Topps does and bring some spark to hockey cards. Cards made out of wood can only bring so much excitement.
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Look at all the online exclusives that Topps does. Alot of them rely on nostalgia with recycled designs. Alot of history to look back on and reinvent. UD doesn't have that luxury. That's no excuse for UD. Their Game Dated Moments program would be so much better if they introduced autographs and memorabilia.
 
While I personally don't LOVE all of the cards from Project 2020, some of them do look amazing. The flips that some people have being doing on the secondary market for these cards are mind blowing too and the card community has been going nuts over these things. Like them or hate them, the demand is huge.

Gotta give kudos to Topps on making big waves in the hobby during this sportsless time and breaking new ground on cards once again. Very nice.
 
OT Sports said:
Look at all the online exclusives that Topps does. Alot of them rely on nostalgia with recycled designs. Alot of history to look back on and reinvent. UD doesn't have that luxury. That's no excuse for UD. Their Game Dated Moments program would be so much better if they introduced autographs and memorabilia.
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You nailed the first part and it is the reason I just dream about Topps ending up back in hockey. Their vast vault of designs, especially all their hockey sets, could be incorporated into current cards and we would all be broke.

Also, UD game dated thingamabob is a once-a-week program versus the Topps NOW which is every. single. day. Plus the aforementioned memorabilia and autographs. And the latter part is definitely not happening for the reasons mentioned above. Dinero.

Deuces!
 
creasecollector said:
While I personally don't LOVE all of the cards from Project 2020, some of them do look amazing. The flips that some people have being doing on the secondary market for these cards are mind blowing too and the card community has been going nuts over these things. Like them or hate them, the demand is huge.

Gotta give kudos to Topps on making big waves in the hobby during this sportsless time and breaking new ground on cards once again. Very nice.
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And right there is why these things are exploding, they aren't cards as much as they are miniature pieces of ART. Something appeals different to everyone, but there is something for everyone as well!

Jeremy and I discussed this before the actual show and it's nuts how big a following many of these artists have already. Now they're getting card collectors involved. Stacks on STACKS being made.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
And right there is why these things are exploding, they aren't cards as much as they are miniature pieces of ART. Something appeals different to everyone, but there is something for everyone as well!

Jeremy and I discussed this before the actual show and it's nuts how big a following many of these artists have already. Now they're getting card collectors involved. Stacks on STACKS being made.
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Very true. Also, the 'cult following' that just naturaly will stem off something popular like this pulls the train up the hill that much further too, so to speak.

I wonder how many collectors (whether keeping or holding to eventually sell) say to themselves: "That new 2020 card this week isn't my thing and doesn't look great, but I'm going to buy it this week anyway to keep my ongoing complete set going". Probably a lot.
 
Thanks for the heads up. Not a huge baseball guy but will be picking up some of these for sure for nostalgia purposes
 
Does Topps get everything else right? Like I'd rather UD just get their current products on time, with less redemptions than try to further branch out. Or are Topps products often delayed and/or filled with redemptions of key players?
 
Everyday I log into Twitter I see hundreds of posts about Topps 2020. Its very reminiscent of the Cryptocurrency bubble of 2017. People that have made quick money off of being in early on pre-sales are saying that the price will never go down. Now you're seeing prices go down a bit on some cards and people are saying "just because it went down a little doesn't mean anything, its natural!". A bag holder is a bag holder, it doesn't matter what market you're playing.

Away from the investment perspective, I love the idea of direct to consumer sales from customers. I think it would eliminate a lot of the terrible product these companies put out and force LCSs to buy in order to get access to premium products.

Upper Deck has an exclusive, the infrastructure (e-pack) and the warehouse (COMC) to move to this model. If they cut out the distribution network and sold directly to breakers or individual consumers they could partner with a company like Amazon to handle shipping and storage. All of this should lead to cheaper prices for the buyer but I don't see any incentive for Upper Deck because it eliminates their ability to play favorites with product.
 
The art kind of reminds me of a mid-late 80s video game caricature like from the Bards Tale or something of the sort. Good memories for someone my age...people like buying things that remind them of good times. People have their opinions about art cards, but in general, I like them.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
I disagree, they’re hurting, hand to mouth, trust me.

As far as the Topps Project 2020, I’ve been buying what I like, focusing on a few sets, and also picking up some of the ones I know people are going to be hot for. It’s so much fun! Yay Topps!

Ryan should be cheering for Topps to be back in hockey, rather than worrying about UD doing stuff they won’t do..............until Topps gets into hockey! ;)
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We can agree to disagree on this. Neither of us have any inside scoop to determine this as a factor in degrees of certainty. However to lets do a gentlemans bet. If in 5 years UD is still around and making cards, you need to wear a Team Canada shirt and proudly host how Canadian you really are.. err this is getting complicated,, nm. carry on..
 
99goals said:
We can agree to disagree on this. Neither of us have any inside scoop to determine this as a factor in degrees of certainty. However to lets do a gentlemans bet. If in 5 years UD is still around and making cards, you need to wear a Team Canada shirt and proudly host how Canadian you really are.. err this is getting complicated,, nm. carry on..
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Look, they've always found a way to do "creative financing" and I never said they would go away, I just said they have financial woes. I would say that is almost common (public if you dig deep enough) knowledge if you've been around long enough and know the same people in the same circles. (You know the same peeps!)

Now size up a "U S A" shirt since you Northerly gents are buying up baseball and baseball art cards like it's Canada's game! ;)

Cheers man, play ball, haha! :beer:
 
TheGriceBoys said:
Look, they've always found a way to do "creative financing" and I never said they would go away, I just said they have financial woes. I would say that is almost common (public if you dig deep enough) knowledge if you've been around long enough and know the same people in the same circles. (You know the same peeps!)

Now size up a "U S A" shirt since you Northerly gents are buying up baseball and baseball art cards like it's Canada's game! ;)

Cheers man, play ball, haha! :beer:
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That's all good. We love that you love Canada's game.. its a fair trade off as long as we win GOLD each and every time BAHAHAHAH
 
99goals said:
That's all good. We love that you love Canada's game.. its a fair trade off as long as we win GOLD each and every time BAHAHAHAH
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HA!

I do love hockey, it's incredible. I am very proud of the fact I was one of the few huge Kings and knowledgeable hockey fans among my friends growing up in LA before that Gretzky guy showed up and made it the "in thing" to be at the GWF. (SO LA these Johnny-come-latelys!)

And you can keep your gold medals, we will take your NHL teams! Except the Leafs, you can have them. Haha

I am sure we will have some really fun banter one day at an Expo, or, a National?
 
 
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cygnusx1 said:
Sorry Peter but I need to save my thousands for these gems:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Topps-PROJ...965596?hash=item1a993b899c:g:ed8AAOSwdxRez4Ad

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Topps-Proj...493547?hash=item3b47e88e2b:g:8QUAAOSwUxFeze2y

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2020-Topps...896094?hash=item2ae98c0cde:g:AJUAAOSwu4xezcbI

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Topps-PROJ...564228?hash=item1f109ac384:g:Fx8AAOSwEtJezyj2

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2020-Topps...688986?hash=item445b9b6dda:g:OCgAAOSwJ9RezyYi

https://www.ebay.com/itm/King-Salad...456328?hash=item263c2ec908:g:PwcAAOSwDmBeyEsv
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a few of these are pre sales. Smart play, I wish i had thought of that. I think these will settle eventually .. but I will keep buying my fav ones, I am a huge fan of King Saladeen art work and of course mister cartoon
 
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99goals said:
a few of these are pre sales. Smart play, I wish i had thought of that. I think these will settle eventually .. but I will keep buying my fav ones, I am a huge fan of King Saladeen art work and of course mister cartoon
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For me, I am losing my mind, SO many good artists. My favs are Andrew Thiele, Matt Taylor, Ben Baller, Efdot, and Blake Jamieson. And Oldmanalan is growing on me, has that "vintage" look and feel.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
For me, I am losing my mind, SO many good artists. My favs are Andrew Thiele, Matt Taylor, Ben Baller, Efdot, and Blake Jamieson. And Oldmanalan is growing on me, has that "vintage" look and feel.
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Yup, the key is what will have staying power. I have my theory and i combine that with my favorite artists. That will save me about a million dollars over the next while.
 

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