Yet another UD mistake!

[Triple B]

LOL- you don't buy UD but you do have an opinion regarding it... Well put then.

I'm not saying that the company isn't perfect, far from it, it's just far too many people like to tag them as useless and then go to the other areas and trade-buy-sell their product. If you don't like UD, don't buy UD! really doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out.

AND for those who might even wonder or care, I cut down buying UD products and switched over to Pacific and OPC vending. Still won't find me starting threads condemning them, just stopped buying most of the product.

Craig, is that you? No offense, but by the time you started reading "Brain Surgery for Dummies", I had already written the book and had it published.

I bought Upper Deck (and tons of it) for the better part of 20 years. As I became an adult and started making real money (vs the fun minimum wage paid to me as a teenager), I spent more. I bought case after case of Upper Deck products and sold their cards at shows. My opinion is based on me becoming fed up with the whole dog and pony show they put on and walking away completely. There's a reason they lost the NBA license, the UFC license and the Marvel license.

Those who berate them yet continue to buy uncontrollably deserve the reaming they continually get.

 

[PitbullX]

Craig, is that you? No offense, but by the time you started reading "Brain Surgery for Dummies", I had already written the book and had it published.

I bought Upper Deck (and tons of it) for the better part of 20 years. As I became an adult and started making real money (vs the fun minimum wage paid to me as a teenager), I spent more. I bought case after case of Upper Deck products and sold their cards at shows. My opinion is based on me becoming fed up with the whole dog and pony show they put on and walking away completely. There's a reason they lost the NBA license, the UFC license and the Marvel license.

Those who berate them yet continue to buy uncontrollably deserve the reaming they continually get.

Actually no, I'm not Craig. I'm Damien and I've been in the business for close to 20 years now.
You seem to have confused the issue. I'm not defending UDs decision making or lack there of. It's the repeated posts when a patch shows up that's not correct, it seems that there has to be a post condemning them and making it seem like this is a daily occurrence. The actual numbers are minute at best and generally it is the same run of card with the error.

Also, UD didn't LOSE the UFC license, they never had it. The NBA fiasco was based on Panini outbidding both Topps and UD, let's see if they survive more than a few years. Marvel, I thought, was still had by them? Did it change? Let me know if you can, I've been buying Masterpieces and like it, hope it's not ending--again! (BTW, you should see the sketch card I pulled from series 2, just a blue outline, no dark pen or color, can't even make out who it is...)

Economic situations will put a huge spin on the hobby in the coming months and years. I'm waiting to see what happens, I'd like to see Topps get an NHL license and put the heat on them.

As for your final comment-Those who berate them yet continue to buy uncontrollably deserve the reaming they continually get.- Truer words have never been spoken, just stop starting threads about it! :beer:

 

[Hama]

I see what you are saying, but that goes onto the most fundamental/important issue--- their creditability. Please remember the fact that a lot of times, there is only one color featured. Because of the nature of their business, the customers can only take UD's word for it. As a result, any obvious mis-hap would be understandably magnified.

Food for thought - does Topps have any less credibility for photoshopping cards or intentionally making absurd variations in order to generate buzz? Or in the case of Josh Gibson, cutting up a game model bat of his, which had not been proven to be game used into a $300+ product? DLP has had its own issues as well. What I'm saying is that no company is blameless, look hard enough at any situation, and something is bound to come out. Everyone is looking very closely at UD here because of the majority of members being hockey-oriented.

How many people know here that Topps had two separate, complete variations of its baseball base set issued in blasters available only at Target and Wal-Mart respectively. That's pretty nasty considering the amount of master set collectors that Topps has. Or the bait and switch on Topps Mayo FB...

 

[queball3201]

maybe UD should make the cards with some room for the collector to draw a line to match up the correct patch/jersey swatch...ya think ?...kinda like collector participation

 

[pathshot]

I'm fairly certain that if Upper Deck actually responded to customer service issues, the concerns about the rare misplaced jersey or patch wouldn't be so laughable.

Accidents and mistakes happen. People will confuse Nicklas Backstrom and Niklas Backstrom, or Semen Varlamov and Alexander Semin. It's human nature, and if Upper Deck wants to look human, they need to show they can do right by the collector.

With all that said, hasn't the most significant ITG error ever been the 2 Nicklas Lidstrom 1/1 Sportsfest mistake - seen here: http://www.itgtradingcards.com/president2.html How do you get upset at a company when you get that sort of response to a mistake they made?

-Michael

 

[jasonspezza19]

I got a similiar errorcard

Actually I don't care that much, would have been worse if it was a piece in there from a 3rd team. Still it makes you wonder

 

[foley2k]

I'm fairly certain that if Upper Deck actually responded to customer service issues, the concerns about the rare misplaced jersey or patch wouldn't be so laughable.

Accidents and mistakes happen. People will confuse Nicklas Backstrom and Niklas Backstrom, or Semen Varlamov and Alexander Semin. It's human nature, and if Upper Deck wants to look human, they need to show they can do right by the collector.

With all that said, hasn't the most significant ITG error ever been the 2 Nicklas Lidstrom 1/1 Sportsfest mistake - seen here: http://www.itgtradingcards.com/president2.html How do you get upset at a company when you get that sort of response to a mistake they made?

-Michael

Difference there is that ITG owned up to and admitted the mistake and made a public apology for it.
Wheres the apology letters to collectors from UD?

 

[bunny651]

Food for thought - does Topps have any less credibility for photoshopping cards or intentionally making absurd variations in order to generate buzz? Or in the case of Josh Gibson, cutting up a game model bat of his, which had not been proven to be game used into a $300+ product? DLP has had its own issues as well. What I'm saying is that no company is blameless, look hard enough at any situation, and something is bound to come out. Everyone is looking very closely at UD here because of the majority of members being hockey-oriented.

How many people know here that Topps had two separate, complete variations of its baseball base set issued in blasters available only at Target and Wal-Mart respectively. That's pretty nasty considering the amount of master set collectors that Topps has. Or the bait and switch on Topps Mayo FB...

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt that the other companies screw up as well. But like you said, I am a hockey collector. Therefore, I am more inclined to notice when UD or ITG makes a mistake. As far as some cheap marketing, I don't really have much of a problem just like when UD produced a card to mock the former CEO of Disney. Of course, UD didn't help themselves by proclaiming they have the best redemption program in the industry.

 

[Triple B]

Actually no, I'm not Craig. I'm Damien and I've been in the business for close to 20 years now.
You seem to have confused the issue. I'm not defending UDs decision making or lack there of. It's the repeated posts when a patch shows up that's not correct, it seems that there has to be a post condemning them and making it seem like this is a daily occurrence. The actual numbers are minute at best and generally it is the same run of card with the error.

Also, UD didn't LOSE the UFC license, they never had it. The NBA fiasco was based on Panini outbidding both Topps and UD, let's see if they survive more than a few years. Marvel, I thought, was still had by them? Did it change? Let me know if you can, I've been buying Masterpieces and like it, hope it's not ending--again! (BTW, you should see the sketch card I pulled from series 2, just a blue outline, no dark pen or color, can't even make out who it is...)

Economic situations will put a huge spin on the hobby in the coming months and years. I'm waiting to see what happens, I'd like to see Topps get an NHL license and put the heat on them.

As for your final comment-Those who berate them yet continue to buy uncontrollably deserve the reaming they continually get.- Truer words have never been spoken, just stop starting threads about it! :beer:

From day one, I have said that the Carlsbad Boys have bitten off more than they can chew and with the sheer amount of crap they have to make and the number of issues they can't seem to figure out, they prove it to be true.

UD made the announcement that they would have UFC cards in October 2008 and just as quickly it was cancelled. Topps picked up the ball and ran with it.

Panini offered more market share than UD could offer and the NBA went with them. I don't care if it survives or not because basketball isn't what it used to be and the cards show it.

Marvel made the decision to go with Rittenhouse Archives exclusively starting this year, which will be a good thing. RA has been awesome with everything they have put out and if they take over Marvel Masterpieces, I expect it to somehow be better.

Whatever, end line is that I have stopped collecting hockey as a direct result of Upper Deck's lack of care in what they release. Good luck to those who continue to buy this stuff.

 

[Dewwen]

The expectations placed on UD's quality control by some collectors is absolutely ridiculous. When you look at the number of errors found versus the number of cards actually produced, it's a minuscule amount. I'm sure UD makes 10's of thousands of jersey cards each year. If we see 100 errors a year - and that's a very overblown estimate - you're looking at an error ratio of 0.001 if they made 100,000 cards. ANY manufacturing company would kill that that accuracy level.

Seriously, you're talking sports cards here. You're not talking about prescription medication, automobiles, or airplanes. Cards. Anyone who expects 100% flawless production of every product hand-manufactured in the world, you're going to have a lot of disappointments in life.

 

[GoCanGo]

The expectations placed on UD's quality control by some collectors is absolutely ridiculous. When you look at the number of errors found versus the number of cards actually produced, it's a minuscule amount. I'm sure UD makes 10's of thousands of jersey cards each year. If we see 100 errors a year - and that's a very overblown estimate - you're looking at an error ratio of 0.001 if they made 100,000 cards. ANY manufacturing company would kill that that accuracy level.

Seriously, you're talking sports cards here. You're not talking about prescription medication, automobiles, or airplanes. Cards. Anyone who expects 100% flawless production of every product hand-manufactured in the world, you're going to have a lot of disappointments in life.

100 is actually a very UNDERblown estimate. If you want to add factory damage on top of that it goes yet much higher.

Quite frankly, I've seen several jersey cards with wrong swatches, upside-down autos, etc. I would think that many here have seen more than 100 errors from 08-09 products...and not everyone has seen the same ones!

I will admit I think there's been a bit of progress compared to last year collation-wise...but man is it me or are there a LOT of wrong swatches in SPGU this year?

 

[jasonspezza19]

The expectations placed on UD's quality control by some collectors is absolutely ridiculous. When you look at the number of errors found versus the number of cards actually produced, it's a minuscule amount. I'm sure UD makes 10's of thousands of jersey cards each year. If we see 100 errors a year - and that's a very overblown estimate - you're looking at an error ratio of 0.001 if they made 100,000 cards. ANY manufacturing company would kill that that accuracy level.

Seriously, you're talking sports cards here. You're not talking about prescription medication, automobiles, or airplanes. Cards. Anyone who expects 100% flawless production of every product hand-manufactured in the world, you're going to have a lot of disappointments in life.

Yes it is, but the reason flaws are pointed out is because many collectors are tired of UD in general. Redemptions, replacements, quality, prices, etc etc, this is just another paper in an evergrowing pile. If there were others with a NHL-license the whine would be less then it is now as people had a choice. Most aren't ready to stop collecting NHL-cards for principles only.

Imagine a world with just one chain of stores, just one type of car, just one brand of coffee, it's obvious people would buy these things even if it meant the 3rd worldwar. I don't feel hit or struck that hard personally but I do feel for those fellow collectors that has been and some cases are quite rediculous. People spend a got portion of their salaries so complains and skyhigh expectation is here to stay as long as there's money involved, or until all collectors get what they want - which will never happen.

 

[chadsexington]

UD made the announcement that they would have UFC cards in October 2008 and just as quickly it was cancelled. Topps picked up the ball and ran with it.

Dude, to be fair...the set was actually an unlicensed one called "The Art of MMA" and was supposed to feature guys outside of the UFC as well. I seem to recall Tim Sylvia, Royce Gracie, Andrei Arlovski and possibly Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Antonio Rogerio Noguiera on the prelim auto checklist. When the UFC signed with Topps, UD could've easily continued the set by signing the likes of Gegard Moussasi, Crocop, Fedor, Bas Rutten and others, but chances are nobody outside of you, me, cloutier39 and 2fnlo would've bit. Like I said when it was announced, it was a smart business decision to cancel the set because there was really no way for the set to work in North America without the UFC.

I will also say that if the card year ended today, SP Game Used would be my repeat choice for worst in show. At least they got Miroslav Satan's name right in this set

 

[Triple B]

Dude, to be fair...the set was actually an unlicensed one called "The Art of MMA" and was supposed to feature guys outside of the UFC as well. I seem to recall Tim Sylvia, Royce Gracie, Andrei Arlovski and possibly Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Antonio Rogerio Noguiera on the prelim auto checklist. When the UFC signed with Topps, UD could've easily continued the set by signing the likes of Gegard Moussasi, Crocop, Fedor, Bas Rutten and others, but chances are nobody outside of you, me, cloutier39 and 2fnlo would've bit. Like I said when it was announced, it was a smart business decision to cancel the set because there was really no way for the set to work in North America without the UFC.

I will also say that if the card year ended today, SP Game Used would be my repeat choice for worst in show. At least they got Miroslav Satan's name right in this set

If that's the case, then my sincerest apologies to Upper Deck, it's owner and everyone involved.

Topps sure did put out a kickass set though, no?

 

[DCUnited96]

Food for thought - does Topps have any less credibility for photoshopping cards or intentionally making absurd variations in order to generate buzz? Or in the case of Josh Gibson, cutting up a game model bat of his, which had not been proven to be game used into a $300+ product? DLP has had its own issues as well. What I'm saying is that no company is blameless, look hard enough at any situation, and something is bound to come out. Everyone is looking very closely at UD here because of the majority of members being hockey-oriented.

How many people know here that Topps had two separate, complete variations of its baseball base set issued in blasters available only at Target and Wal-Mart respectively. That's pretty nasty considering the amount of master set collectors that Topps has. Or the bait and switch on Topps Mayo FB...

Agreed. I used to buy Topps HTA boxes (I collect Topps Black Parallels) until they started the photoshop nonsense in 2007 and drove the prices through the roof. Now they are just running rampant with nonsense on a lot of their sets, and thus they've lost most my wax business.

BTW - what is the Target variation? I've seen the Walmart variation when I do my Topps Black searches.

 

[Hama]

Agreed. I used to buy Topps HTA boxes (I collect Topps Black Parallels) until they started the photoshop nonsense in 2007 and drove the prices through the roof. Now they are just running rampant with nonsense on a lot of their sets, and thus they've lost most my wax business.

BTW - what is the Target variation? I've seen the Walmart variation when I do my Topps Black searches.

They're printed on the old cardboard stock and have the vintage Topps logo on them I believe. But again, they are only in the $19.99 blasters like the Walmart Blacks are

 

[SkyFire47]

Of course, UD didn't help themselves by proclaiming they have the best redemption program in the industry.

they do have the best redemption program in the industry. it's only ITG and UD in hockey and ITG doesn't do redemptions. in the words of homer simpson, "YES! the 2 greatest words in the english language -- DE FAULT!"

 

[DCUnited96]

They're printed on the old cardboard stock and have the vintage Topps logo on them I believe. But again, they are only in the $19.99 blasters like the Walmart Blacks are

Thanks for the info. My guess is this will alienate a few hardcore Topps collectors...