How Long for UD to Catch Up?

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How long does everyone think it will take Upper Deck to catch up on all of their releases? How many more 20/21 products will be cancelled? With another delay in Series 1 yesterday, I'm thinking it will be years before they catch up.
 
I think all turns on the supply chain and what "catching-up" looks like accordingly - e.g., does UD move to distributing product less through traditional channels and instead focus on direct to retail/consumer to shorten the timeline on the distribution route or to the stick to the way it's always bit? So much pressure on sticking with the historic model that I think something will have to give.

I don't think we're close to "normal" timetables though, to get to your core question.
 
As I understand it, the biggest hangups right now are twofold:
1) Materiel shortages - certain foils, finishes, stocks are not available.
2) Printing availability - as has been mentioned elsewhere, access to high-quality printing services is very limited. There are two major printers for cards in the USA: one in Virginia, the other in Dallas. Leaf and Panini were both making use of the Dallas-based company, but Panini just muscled Leaf out to make exclusive use of that entire printing facility. UD at the time of expo was trying to source high-quality printing in Germany.

So, when do they catch up? When the above return to Before Times levels of availability.
 
A perfect storm where print rooms can’t get enough materials due to pandemic supply chain problems and rising demand means card companies want to print even more product which strains the supply chains even more.
 
I would watch Jeremy's episode of Sports Cards Live with Upper Deck's President on it. A lot of the timing issues are brought up and honestly answered on that episode. But Quincy hit the nail on the head of a lot of it.
 
Hopefully Upper Deck finds a good resource in Germany, as the squeeze certainly seems full on in North America.

I kind of geek out over printing trivia...

The last CHL set (19-20) and the 20-21 AHL set were printed in Canada. That printer may be limited in scope or capacity, hence the Germany search. However, it seems like it could be used to pull off the MVP type products.

I always found it fascinating that ITG would switch back and forth between USA and Canada for printing Heroes and Prospects.

Topps is also now utilizing a printer in Mexico (2021 Topps Archives) to go along with the Italy printer.
 
Good Luck with Germany - they are a mess.

Shipments of goods from Germany (UPS hub of Europe are taking FOREVER).
So are getting product from Germany ( I carry 3 German lines in my shop).
 
quincy said:
As I understand it, the biggest hangups right now are twofold:
1) Materiel shortages - certain foils, finishes, stocks are not available.
2) Printing availability - as has been mentioned elsewhere, access to high-quality printing services is very limited. There are two major printers for cards in the USA: one in Virginia, the other in Dallas. Leaf and Panini were both making use of the Dallas-based company, but Panini just muscled Leaf out to make exclusive use of that entire printing facility. UD at the time of expo was trying to source high-quality printing in Germany.

So, when do they catch up? When the above return to Before Times levels of availability.
Click to expand...

Sunrise Florida. Major printing facility doing big work.

Topps and Panini are status quo for the most part on releases, but number 1 you pointed out DID come into play for a Topps set. It was supposed to release in August, and had to be rescheduled to December because it involved TONS of complex refactor parallels.

UD going to Germany? I agree with Bruce, that'll just cluster**** it up more. Unless UD is going to pay for the CRAZY high air freight expedited shipping that some companies are using now to get caught up? I don't see UD doing that, sorry.

Hockey is a TOUGH sport to collect these days. And by that I mean disappointing and frustrating.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
UD going to Germany? I agree with Bruce, that'll just cluster**** it up more. Unless UD is going to pay for the CRAZY high air freight expedited shipping that some companies are using now to get caught up? I don't see UD doing that, sorry.
Click to expand...

No different than Topps utilizing print facilities in Italy.
 
Never probably. They shouldn't be allowed to release 2020-21 products once the 2021-22 season has begun, and there is no logic having 2020-21 and 2021-22 sets released simultaneously (I am using the years as an example, but this has been going on for a decade, or well, years now) - Absolutely ridiculous.

These are my two Euro cents, which are more valuable than US or CAN at the current rate. :beer:
 
Kharlamov17 said:
Never probably. They shouldn't be allowed to release 2020-21 products once the 2021-22 season has begun, and there is no logic having 2020-21 and 2021-22 sets released simultaneously (I am using the years as an example, but this has been going on for a decade, or well, years now) - Absolutely ridiculous.

These are my two Euro cents, which are more valuable than US or CAN at the current rate. :beer:
Click to expand...

LOVE that bold and italicized part.

Also fully agreed on the beginning, absolutely comical and insulting pulling cards in packs 5-6 years after the initial release.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
It really is when you have varying financial situations and are literally printing money versus working hand to mouth. Being in the black and red are two very different things.
Click to expand...

Long range plans of the Upper Deck Company starting around the 1 hour 8 minute mark

Sportscardlive interview with Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFJCnuR9cE
 
TheGriceBoys said:
LOVE that bold and italicized part.

Also fully agreed on the beginning, absolutely comical and insulting pulling cards in packs 5-6 years after the initial release.
Click to expand...

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic (English being my third language). Anyways, I think my first reply to this thread was fairly logical, not realistic, clearly, since Who run the world (?) - It's not girls unfortunately, but dollar bills. Especially when it comes to cardboard with men skating on ice.
 
DCUnited96 said:
Long range plans of the Upper Deck Company starting around the 1 hour 8 minute mark

Sportscardlive interview with Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFJCnuR9cE
Click to expand...

Ok? Am I missing something? What does this have to do with being profitable and not in financial troubles? Jason actually mentioned doing some things that maybe weren’t in their best interests for profitability? Haha
 
TheGriceBoys said:
Ok? Am I missing something? What does this have to do with being profitable and not in financial troubles? Jason actually mentioned doing some things that maybe weren’t in their best interests for profitability? Haha
Click to expand...

The guy just posted a helpful video, not everything is an attack on you
 
cygnusx1 said:
The guy just posted a helpful video, not everything is an attack on you
Click to expand...

What are you even talking about troll guy? This is NOTHING about me, just asking what it had to do with what I was discussing, financial stability, I was asking him what he meant? Little clowns like you have ruined this place. I can not post for months and poof, here you are. Man you must love me, there’s a few of you on here who do this, it’s so cute! But seriously, grow up.
 
TheGriceBoys said:
Ok? Am I missing something? What does this have to do with being profitable and not in financial troubles? Jason actually mentioned doing some things that maybe weren’t in their best interests for profitability? Haha
Click to expand...

He stated rumor after rumor about Upper Deck have been proven false. They just renewed NHL/NHLPA in the current card climate and are not facing the licensing issues of the other card companies. He also stated Upper Deck is acquisition mode. Surely, they are capable of conducting business in Europe if that's what is required to get cards to market.
 

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