Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ More Bad News For Upper Deck, Yes this could a big, maybe final Blow

[scottssportcentral]

Hey was just surfing around on some various Sports Card sites and found this article... it is very intresting.

Monday, April 12, 2010
Uh-Oh, More Terrible News For Upper Deck?


This has not been a good month for Upper Deck. That's for sure. After losing the football license in epic fashion, seemingly right after getting it secured for another few years, there may be more bad news on the horizon.


I just received an email from a shop owner who said that his distributor let him know that ALL Upper Deck release dates have been indefinitely postponed. Not just football, but Hockey and other stuff too. Obviously, Upper Deck was in dire straits to begin with thanks to loss of their only remaining big three sport, but this may be the final straw before UD has to decide on the company's future for the rest of this year and beyond.


Who knows what this news actually means long term, but right now, its not good news for anyone in Carlsbad or in the hobby.


Just like the author states, this could be very bad news for the Hobby and in general the employees of UD. Hope the hobby can last....

retrived from http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com/

[jwman92]

This could be bad, very bad.

I wonder if what will happen to people with outstanding redemptions. Can you say lawsuit?

[scottssportcentral]

i wouldnt doubt, but that would be a final blow.....

[Gsil84]

Not to be rude.. But every Upper Deck product I have bought in the last 10 years has been junk.. I hate Upper Deck and they always seem to rip you off on your redeamptions..
Only good products I care to look at every year are Topps Chrome and National Treasures.. But Even they are going to the junk pile..
I hope something new comes along to change the out look of the card landscape soon..

[northicehero99]

Has anyone else heard this rumor? I do not see anything posted in the UD forums about it, and you would think that more than one dealer would have heard this by now?

[Tromni]

There's a 5 page thread on HI, but so far no independent confirmation there either.

One poster there did say that the website source was one of the first to report on the football license problems.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Tromni]

And upper deck's facebook feed answers the question:

"This is 100% incorrect. All hockey releases this year remain on schedule. "

[aceecards]

HERE IS THE SPIN THAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO MANY IN THE ud DIAMOND CLUB.

there will be some restructuring within the company. They are still excited to be in the mix for Hockey and the NCAA licensing. They will continue to explore entertainment and possibly golf to fill the void.

My take on the whole matter is such. UD and Mcwilliams need to slim down substantially and re-establish itself with collectors. if they cannot re-connect with us then they should just write it off. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize they are reeling from cash flow problems resulting from the MLB settlement , not to mention a product ready to ship (Goudey) and another in deep process (SPA baseball) . The hockey deal just forces them to "have to be" better than panini or even ITG (should they decide to stick around). The losses of their exclusive deals with Crosby and such probably hurt worse than the sharing of the license! The Football loss was a solid blow but the rumor mill had been circulating since late February that this would happen. When UD cancelled the draft day product I was pretty sure it was more than a rumor! What their actually out of pocket losses with football being pulled remains to be seen but I have a feeling that at least UD series 1 was probably all drawn up but not printed!

Will UD survive with just Hockey, collegiate and its entertainment and golf interest?? Depends.

They still have the MLBPA's blessing so I keep expecting an announcement of a players in street clothes product so that they can dump their thousands of labels and swatches on us!

Football wise they still have the NCAA license and they can blast out all their stickers and relics thru that marketplace as they are doing most efficiently in their basketball releases!

I expect mr. mcWilliams will continue down this path until 1. collectors quit buying it or 2. he runs out of employees and then money!

Bankruptcy? Who knows? None of us are part and parcel to the companies financial statements so that would be pure speculation on anyones part. Filing for a corporate Reorg would seem the most logical plan if there is substantial debt on the books to printers and packagers or even unpaid license fees! if there is no debt then the reorg would be internal amongst employees which I can 100% vouch for ahs already happened. Karvin Cheung resigned his position weeks ago , the Diamond Club liason has been moved into customer service and other key parties have had job changes thru elimination of departments. (the dealer liason dept was eliminated and merged into C/S also).

Its a profitable business even in the time of recession. The demand is certainly still there with most products selling out within two weeks of sales sheets being sent to dealers/shops/distributors!

Am i worried? A little! Months ago I replaced most of my outstanding redemptions that were a year or more older mostly because i got tired of waiting and a little because of the MLB filed lawsuit. i wasnt going to get "bit" like I did with Fleer. I have about 10 outstanding redemptions currently worth probably $1K+ (2 museum pieces from 09-10 champs, mystery cut from last years leg cuts, 1 percy harvin spa gold patch auto, a percy harvin regular patch auto from SPA, the entomology from Goodwin, lawrence Taylor from Ultimate and a few others. My decision at this point is to take a wait and see approach instead of rushing in for a replacement!

If UD's next release (SPA hockey) is loaded with redemptions then I will cancel my order and ask for replacements. if it has 98% pack out live then I probably will take my order and continue waiting.

Delays should be the LEAST of our concerns at this point!

[northicehero99]

If UD's next release (SPA hockey) is loaded with redemptions then I will cancel my order and ask for replacements. if it has 98% pack out live then I probably will take my order and continue waiting.

Champs seems to have a fair amount of redemptions and that was just released so should we be somewhat concerned by that?

[scottssportcentral]

Thanks ace, I didn't know for sure. But was not hoping the worse. I guess I should say it's all a rumor.

[Beavers98]

Please Please give me my redemptions....

[aceecards]

I have it direct from the horses mouth!

UD isnt going anywhere!

There have been changes and new Admin (aka cash infusion) have entered the scene!

Redemptions are being fulfilled as I saw most of the Champs autos get mailed (brian got his Howe and I got my Price)

Other redemptions are moving along and Percy Harvins should be set to mail at months end!

No word on the mystery cut program from legendary Cuts baseball yet!

All Hockey Release dates are bing met and Ice just released yesterday!

Cash Infusions do wonders!

[Lew47]

Their Facebook page has information on the Mystery Cuts...a bonus package for waiting is supposed to be sent out to us.

I actually got a redemption in from them yesterday (Griffey Auto)

[aceecards]

RUMORS OF THEIR DEMISE ARE GREATLY EXAGERRATED!

[Tromni]

Glad to hear they aren't going away.

As much as I like to gripe about them, the hobby would be worse off without them.

[cardcrazed]

I still wish they would get back into the Football scene!

Justin