Len Osborne, Executive Vice President of Cardhaus Games in Lynnwood, Washington saw the comments by the representatives of Topps (see 'Ira Friedman from Topps on 'The Dozens'') and Score (see 'Jason Taitano of Score Entertainment on CCG Retailer Exclusives') and responds:

Manufacturers can talk all they want about 'target demographics' and 'driving traffic to hobby retail stores.'  In the end, the same manufacturers take a small, short-sighted profit from this exclusivity while they lose the only people who can make them money in the long run, the retail storefronts.  These same card companies are driving margins to near zero for the retail store by selling to anyone directly who can provide a business license.  These same 'retailers' that live out of their basements and sell on eBay for little or no profit do nothing positive for the overall health of the gaming market.

Maybe the card companies should try to foster some good will with the store owners who will ultimately decide a game's fate when they choose to offer or not offer a game for sale in their venues.  Upper Deck has at least made the overture of not supplying the mass chains with product weeks before the hobby market and this has proven to be a great move for our company since its inception.  Now, we make the sales for Yu-Gi-Oh!  When it is first released, which makes us much more receptive to hosting organized events.

Shaman King, Epic Battles, The Dozens, none of these titles will ever see the light of day at my store.  In the end, the manufacturers will either be forced to give the products to us first or they will continue to produce games that are 'Dead On Arrival' with no hope of longevity.

The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.