UD Not paying players for autographs?

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I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

This may have already been posted (from NY Times).

Message From Union Says Upper Deck Owes Players
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/sport ... cards.html

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
Published: April 16, 2010

Major League Baseball’s players union told agents in an e-mail message on Friday that the trading card company Upper Deck was experiencing financial difficulty and had not paid a large number of players money it owed them.

The union said it was working with Upper Deck to ensure that the players would be paid. The union strongly advised players not to return to Upper Deck any autographs they had signed for the company or to enter into any new agreements with the company until the payments were made.

The e-mail message was from Evan Kaplan, the union’s director for trading cards and collectibles, and was sent to all player agents. A person who received the e-mail provided a copy of it to The New York Times on the condition that the person not be identified.

A spokesman for the union declined to comment. A spokesman for Upper Deck did not respond to an e-mail message.

About a month ago, Upper Deck settled a lawsuit by agreeing to pay Major League Baseball Properties a “substantial” but undisclosed amount for issuing three sets of cards since last year without a license. It also agreed to pay baseball $2.4 million to settle previous debts.

In the lawsuit filed in January, M.L.B. Properties accused Upper Deck of trademark infringement and asked that it be restrained from using teams’ uniforms, helmets and cap logos.

Last summer, baseball chose Topps as its exclusive licensee, leaving Upper Deck without a license for the first time since 1989.

 

[AMAZIN HOF COLLECTOR]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

I had 3 long oustanding redemptions that I asked for replacements. I asked for the replacement 3 months ago and called to see where they were. I was told by CS they "have been working on basketball redemptions for a few months and should be getting to baseball in a couple of weeks." Figured with them losing both MLB and NFL licenses the redemptions would be gone as well. Im pissed as one of them was a Griffey auto/jersey. I wonder if they go under does they oustanding redemptions become part of the creditors?

 

[manningmurphyfan]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

I just emailed them asking for a replacement on a card I redeemed almost 3 years ago. I told them I would prefer something from baseball so we'll see what happens. I guess I should've asked them in the email what their definition of 'soon' is...

Redemption Code Date Received Description Status Status Date
5/10/2007 NIKLAS GROSSMAN
06/07 SP AUTHENTIC HOCKEY AUTO FUTURE WATCH # TO 999 Athlete committed to signing soon, please be patient. 5/10/2007

 

[moxacaine]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

they still owe me a damn mystery cut.

 

[dherm360]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

they still owe me a damn mystery cut.

I got an Eddie Accaro TWICE

 

[sabrgeek]

According to this NY Times article; they have not been. Considering autographs are the best insert UD can now put into packs after the MLB settlement; does this mean the final death knell for UD?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/sport ... ndex.jsonp

Regards
Rich

 

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viewtopic.php?f=2&t=85918

 

[vandybill]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

I have each of the redemptions out of 2008 SP Authentic (13 I think) - Kershaw, Denker, Span, etc.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

Upper Deck has a history of not paying and/or paying incredibly slow...and this is not new.

They have financial problems that are far more serious than anyone is letting on.

Of course, when they declare bankruptcy or however they resolve this, they will undoubtedly blame the economy even though the problems started and finished with Upper Deck internally. These problems existed before the economy tanked.

 

[JackLondon]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

they still owe me a damn mystery cut.

Me, too. Since last July.

 

[Sean_C]

Re: I would hate to be holding an Upper Deck redemption

They'll blame the economy, the lost licenses, anything that doesn't make it look like management's fault which is what in fact it was. What's amazing to me is that there will still be people here and in the hobby in general that will believe it.

At this point, if you have any pending redemptions with UD, I'd take whatever you can get and run, even if it's the wrong sport or a sport you don't collect. Better to get something than hold out hope and get nothing.

The only 3 things I hope for:
1). Hope Chris got paid for their advertising here, and actually gets those prizes that they offered in the contest.
2). that anyone due redemptions get something, instead of ending up at the back of the line when the inevitable comes.
3). that Hunt Auctions doesn't go out of business as a result of the UD flameout, or is able to relaunch under a new name pretty quickly, as they are one of my favorite auction houses.

Upper Deck has a history of not paying and/or paying incredibly slow...and this is not new.

They have financial problems that are far more serious than anyone is letting on.

Of course, when they declare bankruptcy or however they resolve this, they will undoubtedly blame the economy even though the problems started and finished with Upper Deck internally. These problems existed before the economy tanked.

 

[sebpoo]

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

 

[Sean_C]

I head a similar story from my LCS that UD Ice now no longer had a shipping date.

How many collectors were screwed over when Fleer went bankrupt? Remember that whole mess when it came to the court authorized selloff and fulfillment? Just imagine that with a lot more collectors and a lot more valuable items. I wonder who will be the high bidder this time around (Paging Mr. Gray, Mr. Brian Gray, please come to the white courtesy phone).

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

 

[matty07]

Man if this is true. Alot of canadian shops are going to be facked. 95% of their sales are hockey and with the state of UD at the moment and possibly not releasing products down the road it can mean a huge disaster

 

[Sean_C]

Panini has a license for next year. It's just unfortunate that this is all happening during the NHL playoffs, a key time to be promoting and releasing hockey cards.

Man if this is true. Alot of canadian shops are going to be facked. 95% of their sales are hockey and with the state of UD at the moment and possibly not releasing products down the road it can mean a huge disaster

 

[Leaf]

I head a similar story from my LCS that UD Ice now no longer had a shipping date.

How many collectors were screwed over when Fleer went bankrupt? Remember that whole mess when it came to the court authorized selloff and fulfillment? Just imagine that with a lot more collectors and a lot more valuable items. I wonder who will be the high bidder this time around (Paging Mr. Gray, Mr. Brian Gray, please come to the white courtesy phone).

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

Despite your obvious tone, I would indeed be at that auction ready to buy (just as I spent over $300,000 at the fleer auction) should it ever happen. Let's hope for the hobby and its patrons' sake that it doesnt.
BG

 

[Sean_C]

Actually Brian, there wasn't any bad tone in my comment at all. While I may have a lot of issues with Razor, I'd much rather see you end up with UD's inventory than some of the other tossers out there. I do honestly think you guys would try to do right by redemption holders that were left holding the bag.

No sarcasm intended or implied.

I head a similar story from my LCS that UD Ice now no longer had a shipping date.

How many collectors were screwed over when Fleer went bankrupt? Remember that whole mess when it came to the court authorized selloff and fulfillment? Just imagine that with a lot more collectors and a lot more valuable items. I wonder who will be the high bidder this time around (Paging Mr. Gray, Mr. Brian Gray, please come to the white courtesy phone).

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

Despite your obvious tone, I would indeed be at that auction ready to buy (just as I spent over $300,000 at the fleer auction) should it ever happen. Let's hope for the hobby and its patrons' sake that it doesnt.
BG

 

[G $MONEY$]

Panini has a license for next year. It's just unfortunate that this is all happening during the NHL playoffs, a key time to be promoting and releasing hockey cards.

Man if this is true. Alot of canadian shops are going to be facked. 95% of their sales are hockey and with the state of UD at the moment and possibly not releasing products down the road it can mean a huge disaster

Your telling me. This is the time of the year that all of UD's high end products should be on the market or at least coming out in the next few weeks. SP Authentic, UD Ice, Ultimate Collection and The Cup are all still due to come out. Thats 2 mid level and 2 high end products still to come out and the playoffs have already started!!

 

[Mr.Whipple]

I head a similar story from my LCS that UD Ice now no longer had a shipping date.

How many collectors were screwed over when Fleer went bankrupt? Remember that whole mess when it came to the court authorized selloff and fulfillment? Just imagine that with a lot more collectors and a lot more valuable items. I wonder who will be the high bidder this time around (Paging Mr. Gray, Mr. Brian Gray, please come to the white courtesy phone).

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

Despite your obvious tone, I would indeed be at that auction ready to buy (just as I spent over $300,000 at the fleer auction) should it ever happen. Let's hope for the hobby and its patrons' sake that it doesnt.
BG

And Dealers like me, Bought stuff from the disgruntled soon to be ex-employees at shows for next to nothing.. A master set of 02 Fleer Gotg for 400 bucks.. Ultra, Clemens, Gwynn and reggie white autos for 2 bucks a piece and tons of other high end stuff. Right before they made the annoucement, People who worked their were shopping stuff to every dealer, Some times 4 of them at the sametime to one dealer. I feel bad buying cards people got screwed out of, But the price was right.

 

[Sean_C]

I'm sure the local shows in CA and some of the bigger regional shows will be seeing it as well. I'd hate to own any big $ non-serial #'d UD items (and would be concerned about some of the serial #'d stuff as well!).

I head a similar story from my LCS that UD Ice now no longer had a shipping date.

How many collectors were screwed over when Fleer went bankrupt? Remember that whole mess when it came to the court authorized selloff and fulfillment? Just imagine that with a lot more collectors and a lot more valuable items. I wonder who will be the high bidder this time around (Paging Mr. Gray, Mr. Brian Gray, please come to the white courtesy phone).

I talked to my LCS owner yesterday and as you know, Upper Deck is exclusively producing hockey cards since 05-06. He told me that they have no clue about everything that was supposed to come out in the next month (SP Authentic, Upper Deck Ice, OPC Update and such). They got SP Game Used a couple weeks ago and they haven't heard anything from anyone since.
Things aren't looking good.

Despite your obvious tone, I would indeed be at that auction ready to buy (just as I spent over $300,000 at the fleer auction) should it ever happen. Let's hope for the hobby and its patrons' sake that it doesnt.
BG

And Dealers like me, Bought stuff from the disgruntled soon to be ex-employees at shows for next to nothing.. A master set of 02 Fleer Gotg for 400 bucks.. Ultra, Clemens, Gwynn and reggie white autos for 2 bucks a piece and tons of other high end stuff. Right before they made the annoucement, People who worked their were shopping stuff to every dealer, Some times 4 of them at the sametime to one dealer. I feel bad buying cards people got screwed out of, But the price was right.