What's up with UD game used card wording?

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chicagoblackhawksfan

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I'm not saying that these cards are fake first of all, but I think it's incredibly illogical if they're real.

I've noticed that pretty much all Upper Deck game used cards have 1 of 2 types of wording on the back, where it says 'congratulations'

Now, I want you to tell me which sounds more reliable:

Version A: (example card used: 05/06 SP Game Used Authentic Fabric - Bill Guerin AF-BG)

"You have received a Game-Used Jersey trading card from The Upper Deck Company. On the front of this card is an authentic piece of a jersey worn by Bill Guerin in an official NHL game..."

Version B: (Example card used: 08/09 Artifacts Treasured Swatches /199 Alexander Ovechkin)

"You have received a trading card with Alexander Ovechkin Game-Used hockey memorabilia. The memorabilia has been certified to us as having been used in an official NHL game..."

Before we go any further, here's the Webster definition of 'memorabilia'

1 : things that are remarkable and worthy of remembrance
2 : things that stir recollection or are valued or collected for their association with a particular field or interest

That said, the 'memorabilia' mentioned in the description might as well be the picture on the card. My main point, is that why would they change the wording to something more shady and one sentence longer? It's not like it's consistent either, 08/09 SPx has Version A wording on the back (At least the rookies). I also remember that the wording on the back of Draft Board cards was really bad as far as credibility goes. So why would they do this if it only questioned their credibility?

Wouldn't it be safer to just say that the game used jersey on the front of the card was worn by player X, rather than changing it up every other set? Or maybe there's some very logical reason for this I'm just unaware of. Heck, ITG not only states that the player wore it, but what jersey it's from as well. (Not starting a ITG vs UD thread, just using it as a valid comparison).

So really, why does Upper Deck do this? I can't honestly say that when I pick up a card with that kind of wording that I feel it's 100% authentic.
 
chicagoblackhawksfan said:
I'm not saying that these cards are fake first of all, but I think it's incredibly illogical if they're real.

I've noticed that pretty much all Upper Deck game used cards have 1 of 2 types of wording on the back, where it says 'congratulations'

Now, I want you to tell me which sounds more reliable:

Version A: (example card used: 05/06 SP Game Used Authentic Fabric - Bill Guerin AF-BG)

"You have received a Game-Used Jersey trading card from The Upper Deck Company. On the front of this card is an authentic piece of a jersey worn by Bill Guerin in an official NHL game..."

Version B: (Example card used: 08/09 Artifacts Treasured Swatches /199 Alexander Ovechkin)

"You have received a trading card with Alexander Ovechkin Game-Used hockey memorabilia. The memorabilia has been certified to us as having been used in an official NHL game..."

Before we go any further, here's the Webster definition of 'memorabilia'

1 : things that are remarkable and worthy of remembrance
2 : things that stir recollection or are valued or collected for their association with a particular field or interest

That said, the 'memorabilia' mentioned in the description might as well be the picture on the card. My main point, is that why would they change the wording to something more shady and one sentence longer? It's not like it's consistent either, 08/09 SPx has Version A wording on the back (At least the rookies). I also remember that the wording on the back of Draft Board cards was really bad as far as credibility goes. So why would they do this if it only questioned their credibility?

Wouldn't it be safer to just say that the game used jersey on the front of the card was worn by player X, rather than changing it up every other set? Or maybe there's some very logical reason for this I'm just unaware of. Heck, ITG not only states that the player wore it, but what jersey it's from as well. (Not starting a ITG vs UD thread, just using it as a valid comparison).

So really, why does Upper Deck do this? I can't honestly say that when I pick up a card with that kind of wording that I feel it's 100% authentic.
Click to expand...

They do it that way, so they don't get sued. Plain, and simple! I don't know for sure, but could it be possible they are purchasing stuff through a 3rd party source, and just want to word the back, so as to if it is ever found not to be legit, they can't be sued? Maybe, ITG buys direct from Meigray, or the NHL clubs? Who knows? All I know is Upper Deck is a joke, and if they can't stand behind the authenticity of their product, then they shouldn't be granted an NHL license. They use to word the autos differently, too. At one time they use to have everything signed, witnessed by an Upper Deck rep. Now they state on the back that it was sent to them by such, and such player, again covering their own arse. They are an embarrassment to collectors, the NHL, the NHLPA, and mostly themselves. Quite frankly, I don't think they even care. :|
 
What kind of wierds me out is how UD will say where the jerseys are from on some cards, but not others.
An example is right here on my desk, ann 07-08 Sweet Shot Ryan Smyth Sweet Stitches. It says on it the jerseys was worn by Smyth and that it came from an Oilers jersey.

I'm wondering why they don't do that with all of the cards, especially when they're from the same set.
 
I remember back when I collected vanek, I had two of his 05-06 Upper Deck rookie ultimate collection cards, one was his normal patch that said it was a photo shoot, the other was his premium patches which said it was used in an NHL game. I always thought that every memorabilia card from a rookie season was a photo shoot. If not, why would one card from Ultimate collection be a photo shoot, and another be a game used jersey..lol..makes you wonder.
 
I analyzed several UD card backs around a year ago and found no less than 12 versions.
 
chicagoblackhawksfan said:
Would anyone happen to have a draft board on hand? I'd really like to see what it says on the back.
Click to expand...

I questioned this one myself...from the back of the one draft board I own.

"Congratulations! You have received a trading card with a piece of the 2006 NHL Draft Board bearing Semen Varlamov's draft announcement and autograph. This memorabilia was certified to us as being used in the NHL Draft and the autograph was signed in the presence of a company representative or sent from, and certified to its authenticity by, Semen Varlamov. etc."

The portion of the sentence I have highlighted is what intrigues me. Are they saying that this is the actual slot board bearing Varlamov's NAME or a random name plate (let's say, the 24th pick from Buffalo D. Persson) from the same board on which Varlamov's name appeared?

I love this set, but it makes me wonder if UD would go out and buy Sidney Crosby's draft board and cut it up. Now, would they go and get nameplates from the draft for 49 other players?
 
I've been pointing this out for a while now: UD's "COA" reads less and less like a certificate and more like a disclaimer as time goes on.

In a sense, I can understand their position - the memorabilia market, in particular the vintage, is rife with dishonesty and forgery. Unlike ITG, UD does not have the luxury of having people in house with the sort of depth of expertise that Brian Price possesses - so UD is forced to make do with ostensibly reputable dealers, and thus put the onus on THOSE people for veracity of claim.
 
Triple B said:
I love this set, but it makes me wonder if UD would go out and buy Sidney Crosby's draft board and cut it up. Now, would they go and get nameplates from the draft for 49 other players?
Click to expand...

They didn't have to go out and buy these. As the sponsor of the draft they received all of the plates. Their sponsorship began in 2005, so they should have the nameplates for all first round picks from that year forward.
 
quincy said:
I've been pointing this out for a while now: UD's "COA" reads less and less like a certificate and more like a disclaimer as time goes on.

In a sense, I can understand their position - the memorabilia market, in particular the vintage, is rife with dishonesty and forgery. Unlike ITG, UD does not have the luxury of having people in house with the sort of depth of expertise that Brian Price possesses - so UD is forced to make do with ostensibly reputable dealers, and thus put the onus on THOSE people for veracity of claim.
Click to expand...

If they can't prove their authenticity to anything more than that extent, why should we even believe that these are authentic when jo-shmo can sell some fake to them without anyone knowing.
 
The changes in the "COA" are all reflections of the attorneys at Upper Deck doing their jobs. When the game jersey card started there was a very limited number so tracking them was easy. That meant that the "COA" could be very specific. Once more jerseys were acquired, and one can argue that the tracking system became inadequate, the "COA" changed and became less specific. Once cards starting popping up with pieces of a different jersey, say Flyers instead of Rangers whent he player played for both teams, the "COA" changed again.

What we see today is a direct response to two things: Upper Deck not being able to track the jerseys well enough to say for sure where the piece on the card came from, and that the piece on the card was actually worn by the player on the front of the card.

All of the changes have been done to avoid litigation losses. Is that the best way for the hobby? Absolutely not. But I believe the attorneys at Upper Deck realize that changing the internal workings of the company and how they track the memorabilia is going to take a long, long time, if it changes at all. So they change the "COA" and the bossman is happy.
 

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