UD, We really miss you!

[andy09]

I hope UD gets their NBA license back next year, cuz the All Time Greats made us really miss the UD black, SP Authentic....., especially their design, On card autos! UD really made card hobby more enjoyable!!!

[Dobber2330]

Well since the Panini deal still has several more years to run (I heard that it was a 5 year exclusive when it was signed) I would not hold your breath....

If UD has a full license they would not have produced anywhere near the quality of the products that they have this year.

Being painted into the corner forced UD to up their game..... They still suck as a company.

[cj52racers]

If UD has a full license they would not have produced anywhere near the quality of the products that they have this year.

Being painted into the corner forced UD to up their game..... They still suck as a company.

UD Black says hello. Their quality in 08-09 was far higher than Panini's is now.

[WillC]

Being painted into the corner forced UD to up their game.....

So how do you explain the high quality products produced by Upper Deck in years gone by (Exquisite, UD Black, etc)?

Seems like a flawed argument if ever I saw one. It's not like Upper Deck were crap and suddenly started making nice products for the first time this year.

[440shane]

If I may say, I thought the exclusive was for 3 years? With this being year 2

[friarbolt]

Well since the Panini deal still has several more years to run (I heard that it was a 5 year exclusive when it was signed) I would not hold your breath....

If UD has a full license they would not have produced anywhere near the quality of the products that they have this year.

Being painted into the corner forced UD to up their game..... They still suck as a company.

Certainly a flawed argument, what it proves is that UD can put out quality products even when they are at a disadvantage. Competition will always bring out the best in an industry, and hopefully leagues will see that after these past couple years of leagues being exclusive with certain companies. We need to go back to all major companies having licenses with all major leagues.

[UltimateDeron]

I thought Panini's contract was up after the 2012-13 season?

[BennettCollecta]

To be honest, UD made all crap except for 1 to 2 basketball products each year... SP Authentic was never that special (overpriced for 2 autos). That being said, only UD Black seemed to be the only product worth the money. Oh and 07-08 Premier, but that stuff was loaded beyond belief.

[SPauthentic84]

[QUOTE=BennettCollecta;1521082]To be honest, UD made all crap except for 1 to 2 basketball products each year... SP Authentic was never that special (overpriced for 2 autos). That being said, only UD Black seemed to be the only product worth the money. Oh and 07-08 Premier, but that stuff was loaded beyond belief.

Not sure you can say crap, they put out low end stuff, but SP RAP's were usually the most desired rookie cards of players every year.

[cj52racers]

To be honest, UD made all crap except for 1 to 2 basketball products each year... SP Authentic was never that special (overpriced for 2 autos). That being said, only UD Black seemed to be the only product worth the money. Oh and 07-08 Premier, but that stuff was loaded beyond belief.

Exquisite says hello.

[Zerokruel]

Certainly a flawed argument, what it proves is that UD can put out quality products even when they are at a disadvantage. Competition will always bring out the best in an industry, and hopefully leagues will see that after these past couple years of leagues being exclusive with certain companies. We need to go back to all major companies having licenses with all major leagues.

No, we don't. There is no reason that all the Major companies need to have license, in the big 4 sports... We will come right back to where we started, and have an over saturation of crap and product worth nothing.

Giving one company the exclusive license isn't the answer, but giving it to all isn't either.

[SPauthentic84]

It should be pretty simple for the NBA, give topps, UD, and Panini all licences, but only let them put out 5 or so products every year. Problem solved

[77ncaachamps]

I'd back that^^^

I think UD is producing products in an audition to get the license back.

And for those who are screaming for UD back, you think they did a good job stewarding the hobby when they HAD the license?
-Redemption replacements scandals
-Large production runs
-Multiple products
-Loser autos inserted in their products
-Questionable COAs

The above list of complaints can also be applied to Panini BUT their redemption process. I've been very satisfied for the turn around time and its transparency, though I still disdain waiting for a card.

[cj52racers]

The above list of complaints can also be applied to Panini BUT their redemption process. I've been very satisfied for the turn around time and its transparency, though I still disdain waiting for a card.

Really? What about the Bradford mirror black? Panini is a complete joke.

[77ncaachamps]

Really? What about the Bradford mirror black? Panini is a complete joke.

Listen, dude.

I don't worship at the altar of UD...nor Panini.

So anyone who does so needs to understand that each company will have their issues. Yes, that includes their revered manufacturer.

UD had their turn. Let Panini do the best they can.
If you don't like Panini, then ridicule them all you want.

But to say UD is better is a topic that is debatable, not gospel.

[77ncaachamps]

Really? What about the Bradford mirror black? Panini is a complete joke.

I didn't know about the Bradford incident so I looked it up.

Yes, they messed up on that 100% percent.

But UD has been (allegedly) notorious for replacing redemptions then months later using those cards (that were replaced) as replacements themselves!

Also, UD doesn't use Beckett values when it comes to rare cards. This has happened to me. So if you don't ask for something, you will probably get screwed. Or if you're not a "whale" with them, you're just a nobody.

BTW, none of my redemptions have been replaced by Panini. *knock on wood*

[cj52racers]

Listen, dude.

I don't worship at the altar of UD...nor Panini.

So anyone who does so needs to understand that each company will have their issues. Yes, that includes their revered manufacturer.

UD had their turn. Let Panini do the best they can.
If you don't like Panini, then ridicule them all you want.

But to say UD is better is a topic that is debatable, not gospel.

I don't either. I think UD has many faults, I just believe that Panini (as an exclusive NBA supplier) has done a poor job. I buy some Panini hockey as it has been far better than basketball, but they just don't seem to try that hard. They re-use TONS of designs that aren't that great to begin with. Their value/box ratio has been quite poor and the amount of redemptions is above and beyond what anyone should accept.

That being said, they have had some very good releases, I just feel that UD has done more with less (no license).

[BennettCollecta]

Exquisite says hello.

Exquisite is a good product, but not for what they charge. If it was $350 or $400 like the Cup it would be worth it.

[Freedub21]

While I miss UD, but i'm more for the good cards rather than a certain company... :(
I would agree that it's a good idea to bring UD or Topps back,
but after all i think what we all want is to have quality products... no matter which company it's from... :)

[cj52racers]

But UD has been (allegedly) notorious for replacing redemptions then months later using those cards (that were replaced) as replacements themselves!



Couldn't that be due to the person with the redemption requesting a replacement and then the card finally gets made? We do have to remember that they are handcuffed by the players to an extent. I just think the Bradford Mirror Black is a HUGE deal because they with-held one of the biggest chase cards out of any product they had last year.

[77ncaachamps]

Couldn't that be due to the person with the redemption requesting a replacement and then the card finally gets made? We do have to remember that they are handcuffed by the players to an extent. I just think the Bradford Mirror Black is a HUGE deal because they with-held one of the biggest chase cards out of any product they had last year.

That is definitely what may have happened in some instances.
And while I do acknowledge that they are "handcuffed" by players, we must also remember that is what happens whenever you advertise (read: promise) the consumer that you are going to get this card.

If you know you may be handcuffed, you shouldn't enter promote that player, right?
For the consumer who buys the product with the full faith that he will get what's advertised then get something different, it's a simple bait-and-switch.

Outside of exclusively signed players, it's like saying Omer Asik is going to sign these cards, sell to that fan base, then say "oops. it's his fault for not signing the cards so we're going to replace them."

So far, Panini has limited the damage UD had done on the redemption end.

SO FAR.


[Note: Some of my comments are not to disparage UD completely. They have created some amazing cards and signed some of the hobby's best. But based on my personal experiences with their redemption program and the time and money I had invested in acquiring some cards, esp. redemption ones, it has been a mixed bag at best. Furthermore, Panini is not to be seen as a favored brand, just *another* brand.]

[Bizzydesigner]

I'd love for UD to come back. I'd also love for Panini to stay and I really want Topps to come back (For the chrome products, mostly)

Mostly, I want a competitive market forcing these companies to up their quality (I'd hope) The more competition in the market, the better for the consumer usually.

[DrJ Converse]

I'd love for UD to come back. I'd also love for Panini to stay and I really want Topps to come back (For the chrome products, mostly)

Mostly, I want a competitive market forcing these companies to up their quality (I'd hope) The more competition in the market, the better for the consumer usually.


I keep seeing this argument, but it is so far from the truth. When we had 3 or more manufacturer's they all flooded the market with junk products and really only had 3 or so products worth the money each year. Is Panini ideal...of course not, but if UD was still in the game you would have a similar number of worthless products.

[tikitomoka]

Well since the Panini deal still has several more years to run (I heard that it was a 5 year exclusive when it was signed) I would not hold your breath....

If UD has a full license they would not have produced anywhere near the quality of the products that they have this year.

Being painted into the corner forced UD to up their game..... They still suck as a company.

Lol there is absolutely nothing correct about this post. Nothing.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Lol there is absolutely nothing correct about this post. Nothing.

Unfortunately he has a point. If you pull up threads from when UD was losing their license many were happy. UD was busy cheating Yu-Gi-Oh cards etc. UD products like SPX were coming out at $150 a box and quickly dropping to $100 or less. 07/08 was about $80 a box for a LONG time. Most of their product were junk with terrible odds at hitting something decent. That being said, their good products like Exquisite, Sp Authentic, UD Black to name a few were above and beyond anything Panini will EVER accomplish. THATS why we want UD back. Panini puts ZERO thought into design and provides the customer with ZERO value.

[tikitomoka]

Unfortunately he has a point. If you pull up threads from when UD was losing their license many were happy. UD was busy cheating Yu-Gi-Oh cards etc. UD products like SPX were coming out at $150 a box and quickly dropping to $100 or less. 07/08 was about $80 a box for a LONG time. Most of their product were junk with terrible odds at hitting something decent. That being said, their good products like Exquisite, Sp Authentic, UD Black to name a few were above and beyond anything Panini will EVER accomplish. THATS why we want UD back. Panini puts ZERO thought into design and provides the customer with ZERO value.

If he has a point, then it's simply that UD sucks as a company. Everything else is incorrect. The exclusive ends after next season, they proved fairly easily that they can produce better conent than panini, and the lack of a license has done nothing to influence their desired quality one way or the other. It's still the same. This latest product was great, and the world of sports product (among others) sucked. Always been the UD way, and its still better than just about anything panini has put out.

[cj52racers]

If he has a point, then it's simply that UD sucks as a company. Everything else is incorrect. The exclusive ends after next season, they proved fairly easily that they can produce better conent than panini, and the lack of a license has done nothing to influence their desired quality one way or the other. It's still the same. This latest product was great, and the world of sports product (among others) sucked. Always been the UD way, and its still better than just about anything panini has put out.

World of Sports wasn't very exciting looking, but I liked the product as a whole. It was relatively cheap ($70 or so) and provided some high end autographs and some that aren't available in other products. Definitely not a product for everyone though. They haven't had too many misses this year though.