No longer buying UD boxes

[nohands70]

Some of you may know that I am a staunch supporter UD. I only buy UD cards, boxes, cases, etc. Well when SPA came out, I ended buying 7 boxes from different cases. Of these 7 boxes, 3 had NO autos, and 2 had no Spectrum FX cards. I contacted UD and explained the situation. They were very helpful to me as they usually had been in the past. Fast forward to 12-16 weeks later, and I get notification that my replacements were shipped. On the day they arrived, I was a little nervous. Here is what I received from them.

20220906_133038 by blinex72, on Flickr

Needless to say, I am pretty annoyed. The 2 Spectrum FX cards are from 2017-18. The only autos that were released in the SPA release were the 2 SOTTs, and the Olofsson base auto. The other 4 autos were FWAs that had previously been released. One is from 2015-16, one from 2017-18, and 2 from 2018-19. These were all live in their year of release, not updates released on 2020-21 SP Authentic.

So I call them and tell them I am not happy with what I received. At $400 US/box I would expect to get cards released in 2020-21 SP Authentic. The rep on the phone agreed, so I sent pics of what I received. Told him that I am not expecting the moon, just cards released in the year I bought. He says I'll take it to my boss, and we'll go to the distribution department to see what can be done.

I hear nothing further from them until today, when I get a package from UD out of North Carolina. So I open the package, and there is ONE card, 1 card.

20221007_140358 by blinex72, on Flickr

A 2014-15 Chirogrpahy of John Tavares /35. After I calm down, and stop cussing, I call them. The rep on the phone basically told me, why are you not OK with this card. They would have sent you cards from 2020-21 SPA if they had them. I then informed him that with the price of the boxes of this product, and you have multiple boxes that do not have the hits that are advertised, why would I be OK with a card that recently sold for $33 US.

I told him that as a result of them basically telling me that I need to accept what they send, that I will no longer be supporting them in any future releases.

This does not mean I will not buy my PC players, but I will not support UD buying boxes, or cases. They have lost me as a customer.

Sorry for the long read.

Benny

 

[ronfir]

Benny, this is beyond horrible and I can confirm that you didn’t get the autographs in the boxes because I saw you open them!!!

You have long defended Upper Deck to others and you have spent tens of thousands of dollars on their products.

When Upper Deck looses Benny, that should be awake up call to UD

Simply this SUCKS!!!!!

 

[dahabs26]

I also appreciate the post! You're not the only person who feels the pain of opening expensive for nothing Upper Deck cases. I recently opened a master case of SPA this year...one inner was absolutely atrocious; the other was much better. Sad that you have to spend in the upwards of 5K on their products to get a few "decent" hits. I also had one box with NO autos but the very next box had two autos IN ONE PACK! I NEVER buy random boxes anymore....this has always proven to be a disappointing experience, such as yours. Sorry to hear about your story....I guarantee you are NOT the only one! I can see so many collectors moving into collecting other sports. If Upper Deck doesn't give their heads a shake, they will be losing many more valuable customers.

 

[SNobles]

When Upper Deck looses Benny, that should be awake up call to UD

This...100% this. I hope that PJ or someone else from UD is reading this and connects with Benny to make this right. Perhaps even if someone said that they didn't have any 20-21 SPA to replace it with that might have helped as well.

Very sorry to hear this Benny, I know how much you love ripping UD products.

 

[spooner9ball]

Sorry to see this, but very happy to see others voting with their wallets.

 

[Dallaz77]

Been with you via phone during this journey, and they have absolutely jobbed you on this. I don't break as many cases as you anymore, but I too will be resorting to only grabbing PC cards. That's only like a 7 case a year loss for them, but maybe others will follow suit. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

 

[hockeyguy2006]

Absolutely brutal.

 

[GabbyGuy]

Sorry to hear this.

And that's why I only buy Leaf and President's Choice. Been hosed over by Upper Deck so much, that I gave up as well. Last straw was a redemption auto patch rookie card that I purchased fairly high $$ ($150). Waited about 3 years and finally told them "I'm done waiting...please send me a replacement." I get sent a $20 card. Their argument..."Well, in the 3 years, the value of that player went way down." Wouldn't have happened if I got the card within a few months!!! :curse:

So they lost another customer, but I wasn't as big of one as Benny.

--Curt

 

[Kharlamov17]

Sorry to hear, but is anyone surprised? UD has been a ****show for ages and I pray they’ll go bankrupt. I have no preference for who holds the license as long it’s not UD, Leaf (Jesus Christ, that would be even worse) or President’s Choice.

 

[hduong]

Happened to me twice. I got double the autos in next box I open the first time. I'm not expecting much from UD from the case I opened for the 2nd box. We'll see in a couple of months.

It's happened so often that UD ran out of lower end 20-21 FWAs to include. Looks like they didn't learn and correct things from 19-20 UD as that year also had missing auto boxes.

 

[Burner]

Time for Fanatics to step in and put the final nail in UD's coffin.

 

[BergyShines03]

I would like to see PANINI.

 

[JR]

Time for Fanatics to step in and put the final nail in UD's coffin.

For how crappy this situation is I’m not sure that is the answer. These replacement issues seem like a staffing issue. I was under the assumption that UD was connected throughout various hobby channels. A top 10 customer through Hobby/ePack/Breaks and probably a sh!t ton of redemptions is having a major issue. I’m guessing whoever is calling the shots in the redemptions and replacement department is not connected to hockey/hobby social media, ePack , case breaker channels, eBay, etc. Maybe it’s the interns responsibility’s? Is there a special victims unit?

Sorry about the crappy replacements Benny we got your back!
Another pitfall of this situation is now Nohands will have more dough to buy the nice Dallas cards I like. Gah UD F’d me again but I still love them haha

 

[ronfir]

I would like to see PANINI.

Panini is no better! Last month I bought a box of 2022 Elite football, Two autos and one jersey card in each box. Well I got T J Watt jersey card but zip on the autos.

File quality claim with Panini and I will give them credit the turn around time was excellent but my package arrived this week and in it were two nobody Elite autographs from 2021

And to make it worst, I had already pulled in 2021 one of the autographs they sent me, Nico Collins.

I filed another claim with Panini saying same as Benny I am buying 2022 product, I want 2022 autos, not those from earlier years.

Let's face it, card companies will not change because they know most of us will continue to buy their product.

 

[quincy]

Your treatment in this matter is regrettable and poor. Regardless: press the point. Reach out to the folks who DO pay attention on your socials and get them to help you press the point.

This is unacceptably poor treatment of any customer, let alone a high volume one.

 

[frankiefives]

Hey Benny. Sorry this happened. Sent you a PM.

 

[hockeyguy2006]

I would like to see PANINI.

They're in the process of being sued over redemptions.

 

[jasonspezza19]

Sorry to hear and I truly feel you. Ripped almost 2,5 masters of SPA myself and it's a horror story most of the time.
I've seen several "replacements" from UD regarding the missing 20-21 SPA autos. Some are even worse than this in my most honest opinion, cards that sell for $3-4 at best for a $300+ box.
I'm waiting myself for a response regarding 3 boxes and I don't expect anything at all at this point. I don't want to pile on and spreading this unneccesary negativity, but it's very, very hard not to when talking about UD's quality these days.

As naive as I am, I hope there's change somewhere down the line. We need more companies with license desperately.

I hope you all doing well.
Andreas

 

[bto3105]

Very sorry to hear your situation Benny. I remember when UD got the exclusive for the second time, many people warned of their downfall of the product and service and now we see this coming to fruition .

I sure many understand the complications over covid with getting product out but if UD are upsetting their most diehard and loyal customers then there is a major, major problem. Are people finally getting fed up with UD's lack of quality control, decline of box hits and customer service at these higher price points?

With the above mentioned and threats of a global recession looming ...will UD get the message?

Sounds like a broken record but only the wallets can spark change

 

[MMarch]

Very sorry to hear your situation Benny. I remember when UD got the exclusive for the second time, many people warned of their downfall of the product and service and now we see this coming to fruition .

I sure many understand the complications over covid with getting product out but if UD are upsetting their most diehard and loyal customers then there is a major, major problem. Are people finally getting fed up with UD's lack of quality control, decline of box hits and customer service at these higher price points?

With the above mentioned and threats of a global recession looming ...will UD get the message?

Sounds like a broken record but only the wallets can spark change

UD has had issues for decades and nothing has changed. They allow certain distributors to hold everyone hostage and get rich charging insane prices right out of the gate, but they bust the little mom and pop shops (like Titan) and treat them like crap when they are just trying to keep the lights on. And, as long as there are group breaks and ePack going strong, they obviously couldn’t care less. I know many say there are good people at UD who care, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Everyone has witnessed the decline over the last two decades but keep expecting it to get better?