UD gets a taste of their own medicine...

[MMarch]

does anyone remember that a couple fo years ago, UD had to slash half of their production of Basketball products because they just werent selling?? This is more a revalation of the NBA and their "customers" and audience. Theres more money in overseas collectors.

I remember, which struck me as very odd at the time because basketball seemed to have the highest secondary market value of any products.

If ever there was a time for hockey collectors to stand together and make a statement, it is right now. They will most likely cut basketball out of their product lineup as I can't see them going the way of ITG with no logos, so they will lose out on a product line. The only way to make a stand is with your wallet, so hit them hard now while they are dealing with the basketball fallout.

 

[calgore7]

It was actually only last year that Upper Deck cut its production of basketball cards due to lack of sales. Also, last year for higher-end products (e.g. UD Black), you were guaranteed an "A-List" player autograph per case or so. The A-list consisted of player autos like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell. Is this something you would ever see to push hockey card sales?

For the 2008-09 season, it even got to the point where neither Upper Deck nor Topps went for player exclusive rights. Players like OJ Mayo and Derrick Rose, both in the lead for Rookie-of-the-Year, don't have exclusive contracts for autographs. Topps and Upper Deck are usually battling it out for rookie rights!

We started off as basketball card collectors, but the hobby side of that really wasn't fun at all.