card sharks

72skywalker

Has anyone read the book "Card Sharks" about the Upper Deck company. I am just finishing it up and it really puts a slimy picture in your head about the company. The book mentions reprinting of certain cards for executive to sell in order to make money and how all the executives are at each others throats for the love of the almighty dollar. After reading it it points to Upper Deck as the one to changed the hobby to an actual investment business instead of a hobby. The investment was always there but with the release of 1991 French Hocky and the inserts it really boomed as a mini wall street. This is a very interesting must read for anyone in the hobby.

theczar

i have read and they screwed over a lot of people. dealers, collectors, creditors just to name a few...

gemmintrarities

I can assure you, that it is not isolated to UD.

72skywalker

<< <i>I can assure you, that it is not isolated to UD. >>



I agree, The story of how Topps got the monopoly in 1956 was pretty underhanded as well.

vladguerrero

yeah, it's a interesting book

ndleo

I still think some of that crooked DNA still exists in the current Upper Deck management.

I don't think they ever did anything illegal, but unethical? Maybe, depends on what you think about a card companies responsibility to the hobby.

When I was working part-time at a store, I recall getting several phone calls from distributors offering "special" cases if we bought a certain amount of product.

vladguerrero

the same guy is still running the ship... and has driven them into the ground of what their current state is.

VikaSoy

<< <i>I still think some of that crooked DNA still exists in the current Upper Deck management.

I don't think they ever did anything illegal, but unethical? Maybe, depends on what you think about a card companies responsibility to the hobby.

When I was working part-time at a store, I recall getting several phone calls from distributors offering "special" cases if we bought a certain amount of product. >>



Nothing illegal? They just got sued and lost for counterfeiting. UD is full of scum and I will be happy when the coffin is nailed shut. No I do not care about therre poor employees.

leftofdial

I've read the book a few times over the last 6-7 years and it's a pretty entertaining book. It's certainly worth $10 of your collecting dollars to check out a copy. Mine was a remainder copy and they used to be like $3.99 a copy or so. Game Over (?) The book about Nintendo is also a very interesting read. Even if modern cards are not your thing, there is a fair amount of the book that talks about players- the big ones they signed to help hype the company and Angels fans will find it interesting to read about the startup of the company with Dewayne Buice and Wally and anyone in the printing business/ graphics industry might like it too

Ironmanfan

while you're feeling warm and fuzzy about the hobby, i suggest you also read "The Card" the story behind Bill Mastro & the Honus Wagner card

corvette1340

I'm gonna purchase a book and then cut it up and make game used book cards.

ShawnyD

slimy for sure, but i made a fortune with the 89' product as well as the 1990-91 football (pre sold boxes for $45!)

onebamafan

Not read the book, but that was a great game show back in the 80's...........................

ndleo

<< <i>

<< <i>I still think some of that crooked DNA still exists in the current Upper Deck management.

I don't think they ever did anything illegal, but unethical? Maybe, depends on what you think about a card companies responsibility to the hobby.

When I was working part-time at a store, I recall getting several phone calls from distributors offering "special" cases if we bought a certain amount of product. >>



Nothing illegal? They just got sued and lost for counterfeiting. UD is full of scum and I will be happy when the coffin is nailed shut. No I do not care about therre poor employees. >>



I have no love for UD, but the Yu Gi Oh! case you are referring to was a civil case, not a criminal case. If anything, UD printed "unlicensed" Yu Gi Oh! cards since the agreement between the two companies expired.

UD was good for the hobby since they forced the other manufacturers to improve the product. I know that a lot of people on this board do not like modern, but I don't think it I would still be collecting is it was just regular packs.

I think UD is having financial problems. When they made the offer to purchase Topps, one reason that Topps rejected the offer is that the financing was questionable to best. Now that they have lost the MLB and NFL license, I wonder if they can afford to stay in the hobby. They said they are going to continue to print cards without logos, but that will look cheap and I don't think collectors will buy the product.

Also if UD were to go under, the flood of product to hit the market will make the Fleer liquidation look like a garage sale.

VikaSoy

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I still think some of that crooked DNA still exists in the current Upper Deck management.

I don't think they ever did anything illegal, but unethical? Maybe, depends on what you think about a card companies responsibility to the hobby.

When I was working part-time at a store, I recall getting several phone calls from distributors offering "special" cases if we bought a certain amount of product. >>



Nothing illegal? They just got sued and lost for counterfeiting. UD is full of scum and I will be happy when the coffin is nailed shut. No I do not care about therre poor employees. >>



I have no love for UD, but the Yu Gi Oh! case you are referring to was a civil case, not a criminal case. If anything, UD printed "unlicensed" Yu Gi Oh! cards since the agreement between the two companies expired.

UD was good for the hobby since they forced the other manufacturers to improve the product. I know that a lot of people on this board do not like modern, but I don't think it I would still be collecting is it was just regular packs.

I think UD is having financial problems. When they made the offer to purchase Topps, one reason that Topps rejected the offer is that the financing was questionable to best. Now that they have lost the MLB and NFL license, I wonder if they can afford to stay in the hobby. They said they are going to continue to print cards without logos, but that will look cheap and I don't think collectors will buy the product.

Also if UD were to go under, the flood of product to hit the market will make the Fleer liquidation look like a garage sale. >>




I see! I will just completely ignore any Civil court matter since it is not illegal.

Jeez you idiots stop making excuses! It is collectors like you who let these companys get away with such scams.

ndleo

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I still think some of that crooked DNA still exists in the current Upper Deck management.

I don't think they ever did anything illegal, but unethical? Maybe, depends on what you think about a card companies responsibility to the hobby.

When I was working part-time at a store, I recall getting several phone calls from distributors offering "special" cases if we bought a certain amount of product. >>



Nothing illegal? They just got sued and lost for counterfeiting. UD is full of scum and I will be happy when the coffin is nailed shut. No I do not care about therre poor employees. >>



I have no love for UD, but the Yu Gi Oh! case you are referring to was a civil case, not a criminal case. If anything, UD printed "unlicensed" Yu Gi Oh! cards since the agreement between the two companies expired.

UD was good for the hobby since they forced the other manufacturers to improve the product. I know that a lot of people on this board do not like modern, but I don't think it I would still be collecting is it was just regular packs.

I think UD is having financial problems. When they made the offer to purchase Topps, one reason that Topps rejected the offer is that the financing was questionable to best. Now that they have lost the MLB and NFL license, I wonder if they can afford to stay in the hobby. They said they are going to continue to print cards without logos, but that will look cheap and I don't think collectors will buy the product.

Also if UD were to go under, the flood of product to hit the market will make the Fleer liquidation look like a garage sale. >>




I see! I will just completely ignore any Civil court matter since it is not illegal.

Jeez you idiots stop making excuses! It is collectors like you who let these companys get away with such scams. >>




I should feel honored that you spent one of your 8 posts on me. Sounds like you must have gotten a bad box from UD.

Let me sum up my thought since you cannot comprehend nuance, UD was good for the hobby at the start, but their practices are questionable, probably unethical. Does that sound like an excuse to you?

No one asked you to ignore the civil case, but how does that affect your enjoyment of the hobby? Unless you are a 10 yr old collecting Yu Gi Oh! cards.

Did Richard McWilliams fire you from your call center job?

ChrisStufflestreet

I read Card Sharks after having it recommended by somebody mentioned in the book (Adrian Gluck, a former UD board member). He said that not all of the info was "correct" but wouldn't elaborate on that once I read the book.

It definitely changed the way I viewed UD from that point forward...

toc1000

Someone suggested a serial number on each card to prevent counterfeit. In this case, to restrict the # of rookie Griffeys, Randy Johnsons, and Scheffields to less than infinity.

itzagoner

<< <i>I'm gonna purchase a book and then cut it up and make game used book cards. >>



you're way behind the times, babypup.....i'm looking for GU Kindle cards now.

Aric

While we are on the topic, Mint Condition by Dave Jamieson is a great book about our hobby that came out last year. I think some guy is selling a copy on the BST forum.

vladguerrero

<< <i>I have no love for UD, but the Yu Gi Oh! case you are referring to was a civil case, not a criminal case. If anything, UD printed "unlicensed" Yu Gi Oh! cards since the agreement between the two companies expired.
>>



There was more to it than that.

Albertdidit

<< <i>I read Card Sharks after having it recommended by somebody mentioned in the book (Adrian Gluck, a former UD board member). He said that not all of the info was "correct" but wouldn't elaborate on that once I read the book.
>>



What info wasnt correct? did they make 5 million extra griffeys instead of 1 million extra? lol

lsutigers1973

<< <i>Jeez you idiots stop making excuses! It is collectors like you who let these companys get away with such scams. >>



And it's people like you that give douchebags a bad name.

VikaSoy

<< <i>

<< <i>Jeez you idiots stop making excuses! It is collectors like you who let these companys get away with such scams. >>



And it's people like you that give douchebags a bad name. >>



MMM suck on my douchenozzle boy.

Guru

Can't find this book anywhere and the libraries in Indy don't carry it. Would anyone be willing to loan me their copy and then I can send it back?

vladguerrero

<< <i>Can't find this book anywhere and the libraries in Indy don't carry it. Would anyone be willing to loan me their copy and then I can send it back? >>



half.com has a couple for $2.50

eBay $9.99

Guru

Thanks!

ShawnyD

fun game show too!

Guru

Picked up "The Card" about the Wagner T206 yesterday afternoon from the library. Really great book. Almost done reading it.