Glen Soustek of Westlake Cards, Comics, and Coins in Roselle, Illinois saw the news that Upper Deck is changing its shipping policy on new Yu-Gi-Oh! releases (see 'Upper Deck Changes Shipping Policies on Yu-Gi-Oh!' and 'Upper Deck SVP Rich Henry Sends an Open Letter') and is skeptical:
Mr. Henry's 'open letter' sounds familiar. It's the same letter sportscard dealers received after the manufacturers entered into agreements with mass-marketers many years ago. It's the same letter comic dealers received from publishers when they (the publishers) entered the mass market arena; and it's certainly the same letter used by any popular gaming manufacturer when they've over-favored the mass market. Where exactly is the substance? An enforceable street-date? When has any manufacturer 'enforced' a street date against a mass-marketer? There is no promise and there is no guarantee. It's a 'new' policy... and policies are 'made' to be changed and made to be abandoned in favor of next weeks 'new policy.' The letter panders to hobby dealers' egos...yes, we know all about this 'backbone of the industry' stuff; as long as hobby-dealers pre-pay for product (either in advance or with uncancelable and unreturnable pre-orders) we are the backbone...of the manufacturers bottom-line. Any neophyte looking to take Mr. Henry's letter to the bank would be better served booking a flight to
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