The Industry and Integrity Are Mutually Exclusive Sometimes

Back in early 2008 I had my first conversation with Upper Deck football managers about the loaded Exquisite boxes that were sent to Beckett. Those boxes had birthed this site from the chaos, and I was going to show people what was behind the curtain of the hobby. The problem with my rage was that the top level people I spoke to at UD were incredibly understanding of the situation. They apologized for the frustration they had caused and told me that they would no longer be sending football boxes to Beckett any more. They had learned their lesson.

Since that time frame, only one football box has been sent to Beckett, an honest mistake as I was told at the time. Today, all of that ended in typical Panini fashion when Beckett received an EARLY box of 2009 Base Upper Deck. Not only had UD reneged on the one policy that none of us disliked, but they did so with a product that had not hit shelves yet. I was actually unaware of this until a very loyal reader pointed it out, and now I am feeling like its 2008 all over again. Im sure all of my haters out there love the fact that this is happening, but regardless of their personal relationships with UD's competition, its one of those things I expected to happen eventually.

A note before I move on. Over the last year, I have received quite a few reader emails asking about the absence of UD football boxes on Beckett's glorified "box breaks." Each one was happy to see that none were being done, and most were wondering if I was the reason. I can assure you that UD's policy was just as much me as it was the other hundred collectors who actually called into customer service after March 2008's Exquisite Break. They were just as angry as I was, and UD took the hint. Obviously those unhappy customers have lost their voice, but thankfully, I still have mine.

Personally, I want to know why I was lied to, along with the fifteen people who sent me emails today. All of us were told the same thing in 2008, and I think its quite poor decision making to go back on that. Our dissatisfaction with Beckett and their giant conflicts of interest havent changed, so why has the policy? Although I wouldnt put it past the douchebags over at Beckett to run crying to Carlin and the gang, I think its just as much the brass at the company, at least this time around.

A blogger said it best on the UD facebook page today, and I wholeheartedly agree. RA Dave from First and Goal said, "Beckett? Seriously? Wow, Upper Deck, I thought you were the one company that had grown a pair..." Really, as Mr. Dave has so eloquently said, its about doing something thats right rather than being a pussy and giving in to all the douchebaggery that has become a regular thing now. For close to a year and half, UD has been the one company that has risen to the top because they didnt have to stoop to Panini's level, and now Im fearing things are about to change.

Attached to this post, you will probably see a long fat joke filled thread about how UD has paid me to do all that I do, how I am trying to butter them up for something, and other shit like that from sad people who dislike the soapbox I have created. Even though I doubt think many of you fall for the diarrhea those people spout, I will say this. Blogging has never been more than just saying what you think, and since 2008, that is all that SCU was about. Based on that principle, all of those thoughts were infused into the writing on this site, most of the time mistaken for being in the company's pocket. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth, as my opinion has continued to take center stage without any fear of any retaliation from people in the industry. This has been something that the regular readers have very much appreciated, and has actually led to some pretty cool relationships with collectors from all over the world. The reason I mention this is two fold. First, those are the parts of this site that I value, not packs or wax or money from a company who doesnt care about the principle of distributing them. Second, its gotten to the point now where I expect the crap from industry insiders, and that should say something to everyone.