UD Mystery Cuts update (updated 10/23/10)

[gp2001red]

I'll start this story at the beginning. In June 2009 I redeemed three 2009 SP Legendary Cuts "Mystery Cuts" redemption cards online through the Upper Deck website. I figured 4-6 months before I would receive anything. By December 2009 I still hadn't heard anything so I e-mailed them for an update. They responded by saying that because of the "high value" (BV $350) of the cards, it would be awhile before the cards were produced. They asked if I would be interested in receiving replacements for the "Mystery Cuts" and if so, to send them the sport and a list of the players I would consider. I accepted the "replacement" offer and sent them a list of about 25 different players. Was then told it would be 4-6 weeks to get the "replacements".

When I still had not received anything by April, I again wrote and asked how much longer it would be before I received the cards. They wrote back saying that they appreciated my patience in the delay but -- no time frame was given.

At that point I just figured that I would never see any of the cards because of the problems at Upper Deck. Then, in today's mail I get 3 packages that I wasn't expecting. I thought that I had finally gotten my "Mystery Cuts" cards. I carefully open the first package and it definitely wasn't a "Mystery Cut". Then I read the enclosed letter:

"Dear Valued Customer,

Enclosed you will find a complimentary trading card from Upper Deck. This Trading card is being sent as a gesture of good will, rewarding you for your patience with our Mystery Cut redemption. Please note this card is not a replacement for your Mystery Cut. We are working on completing the Mystery Cut redemptions as soon as possible. Once the remaining cards have been authenticated and produced, you will receive your random Mystery Cut. We would like to thank you for your continued support and hope that you enjoy this complimentary keepsake in the mean time.

Sincerely

The Upper Deck Company"

I think it was a nice gesture on their part -- BUT -- I want my "Mystery Cuts". I have scanned the 3 cards I received below. All are for trade if anybody wants them.

Thanks for the long read and PLMK what you guys think.

Gene


Carlos Lee - 2009 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Patch (06/35) BV $60

Chris Young - 2009 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Patch (27/35) BV $60

Nicky Delmonico - 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Autograph (067/100) BV - $10

 

[Myerburg311]

nice cards just for waiting!

 

[cjay101]

I've seen regular redemptions take over a year before a solid replacement was issued. To have a gesture of 'good will' before the year mark is remarkable in itself. I would have a hard time complaining knowing they're essentially giving me freebie patch cards.

 

[mindbinge]

pretty good deal so far $130 worth of goodwill...as long as you get the cuts or equal value at some point then i guess its all good...they just got a new president so i think they plan on sticking around for a while...maybe out of 3 cuts you will get something nice.

 

[mintman2]

I think that's awesome. At least you know they're on the case AND treating you like a valued customer.

 

[mlbme22]

A+ for Upper Deck- Sweet patch cards!!

 

[gp2001red]

Thanks for the replies. You all seem to agree with my thought that is was a very nice gesture on their part to send something for my patience. But they still didn't answer my main question -- "what kind of timeframe am I looking at to get the Mystery Cuts?" At least they're telling me that I haven't been forgotten about and that some day -- I MAY get the "Mystery Cuts".

 

[chaplain11]

Thanks for the replies. You all seem to agree with my thought that is was a very nice gesture on their part to send something for my patience. But they still didn't answer my main question -- "what kind of timeframe am I looking at to get the Mystery Cuts?" At least they're telling me that I haven't been forgotten about and that some day -- I MAY get the "Mystery Cuts".

I got one of the Chris Youngs myself today. UD has a facebook page strictly about the Mystery Cuts: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=9326&post=65503&uid=61698633950#topic_top. This is the last thing they posted:

"Upper Deck We are in the process of building the sheets for them and getting them scheduled with production. Once we have a completion date we feel confident in, we will share it here. We do not want to speculate however as we want to convey accurate information to you. Everything is progressing with this project however and they will definitely be completed. This remains our top outstanding redemption priority."

Take care,
Dewayne

 

[bear0555]

So that's where those ultimate patches are coming from! Several of the ultimate patches on the beckett checklist were never placed in packs and I just assumed they were never produced. A couple ones I've never seen before started appearing today where the sellers claim to have received them from ud. I don't know how those patches have book values because I've never seen either of them. Good luck if you're ebaying them. If not, I am interested but I'm not sure if I have anything you can use.

 

[mrmopar]

Nice gesture on their part. They should be "paying" much more for this type of crap though. Redemptions have become the joke of the industry.

How can so many items not be available, YET they were used as bait, getting consumers to buy their products. It's not just UD. It's most of them! Maybe a lesson will be learned here...only pack out the goods you have in hand or only promise items you can actually deliver on! Maybe if they were fined/penalized for these issues, it wouldn't happen. Instead we sit at their mercy and wait, and wait, and wait...

I am still extremely bitter about the whole Fleer bankruptcy, but only to the extend I was robbed of my redemption cards. The 3 for 1 "reward", although appreciated at the time, was a joke! The only silver lining is that the redemption cards I wanted were never made apparently, so I was robbed, but so was everyone else holding the same cards.

 

[gp2001red]

I got one of the Chris Youngs myself today. UD has a facebook page strictly about the Mystery Cuts: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=9326&post=65503&uid=61698633950#topic_top. This is the last thing they posted:

"Upper Deck We are in the process of building the sheets for them and getting them scheduled with production. Once we have a completion date we feel confident in, we will share it here. We do not want to speculate however as we want to convey accurate information to you. Everything is progressing with this project however and they will definitely be completed. This remains our top outstanding redemption priority."

Take care,
Dewayne

Dewayne -- Thanks for the link. Seems like I'm not the only one that has had his patience stretched to the end. At least it sounds like UD will fulfill the Mystery Cuts sooner or later -- Gene

So that's where those ultimate patches are coming from! Several of the ultimate patches on the beckett checklist were never placed in packs and I just assumed they were never produced. A couple ones I've never seen before started appearing today where the sellers claim to have received them from ud. I don't know how those patches have book values because I've never seen either of them. Good luck if you're ebaying them. If not, I am interested but I'm not sure if I have anything you can use.

The Carlos Lee has listed BV $60 (common) and since the Chris Young is also a common it's BV should also be $60. Both are on OPG list. As for trading for them -- anything of equal BV?

Nice gesture on their part. They should be "paying" much more for this type of crap though. Redemptions have become the joke of the industry.

How can so many items not be available, YET they were used as bait, getting consumers to buy their products. It's not just UD. It's most of them! Maybe a lesson will be learned here...only pack out the goods you have in hand or only promise items you can actually deliver on! Maybe if they were fined/penalized for these issues, it wouldn't happen. Instead we sit at their mercy and wait, and wait, and wait...

I am still extremely bitter about the whole Fleer bankruptcy, but only to the extend I was robbed of my redemption cards. The 3 for 1 "reward", although appreciated at the time, was a joke! The only silver lining is that the redemption cards I wanted were never made apparently, so I was robbed, but so was everyone else holding the same cards.

I agree with you -- redemptions are far too prevalent in all manufacter's sets these days!!! If you can't have the cards ready when the sets come out -- don't simply stick in a redemption card for it in hopes they'll be there at a later date.

I had 3 redeemptions with Fleer when they went under. One was for an A-Rod and another was for a Piazza. I ended up with neither player but they sent a Jeff Kent and Ivan Rodriguez plus other guys I'd never heard of before or after!! Enough said!!

 

[gp2001red]

After waiting since June 2009 for the 2009 SP Legendary Cuts "Mystery Cuts", they finally arrived today. Having followed the progress of this set on the Upper Deck Facebook page, I didn't know what to expect. By the Way, a BIG THANK YOU to Dewayne (chaplin11) for providing me with the link.

All-in-all, I am not disappointed. I could have done better BUT, I could also have done worse as far as who I received. Could have done without the first one but the next two made up for it. Thankfully there won't be anymore of these kind of redemptions in my household. If I ever pull another redemption of this type -- it will be on eBay in a heartbeat!!

PLMK what you think of this episode.

Thanks,

Gene

*******************************************
Anway, here's what I got for my nearly 17 month wait:

1st package:

Not the way I wanted to start!!!

ROY DEMEO: A mafia hitman!! Don't even know how Upper Deck could consider this guy a "personality"
Here's some info on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMeo_crew

2nd package:

At least it was getting better!!!

BERT BELL: NFL Commisioner, owner of Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Hall of Fame Member.
More info on Bert Bell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Bell

3rd package:


and finally....

RED BARBER: Sportscaster -- Best known as the NY Yankees radio announcer. MLB Hall of Fame member as Ford C. Frick Award winner.
More info on Red Barber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barber

 

[pltcards]

Wow, the Bert Bell and the Barber are awesome, those were worth the wait. Red Barber, wow. Congrats. Pat

 

[timfsu2k]

Wow, that Barber is SWEET! Congrats!

The Demeo is crazy. Why in the world would they put someone like that in there? I'm sure the family of some of the Gambino victims would love to run across that one.

 

[aspoe093]

Congrats I love all three and actually think the Demeo is kind of interesting

 

[mrmopar]

Nice Bell and Barber. I have to agree with the consensus on the other one, but then again that was not totally unexpected from what I understand from the issue. I suppose there are people who collect gang/mafia/death type memorabilia out there.

 

[gp2001red]

Thanks everyone. I wasn't really disappointed with the cards I got. Oh well, maybe a little with the Demeo. But it could have been worse. I could have gotten Charlie Manson or Ted Bundy!! That would have been gruesome!! At least the guy I got only shot other mobsters (I hope).

The Barber is headed to my Hall of Fame PC. The other 2 -- will trade if someone wants them or I may put up on eBay and see what happens.

I've seen a lot of the people complaining about these cards and a lot of "no-name" signatures. This was a POT-LUCK card. You pay the price and you take your chances. There was never a guarantee of receiving a superstar in any catagory.

 

[mrmopar]

If you were going to get a "negative celebrity", then Manson, Bundy or the likes probably would be more universally known and demanded, albiet not as socially popular.

 

[pltcards]

Thanks everyone. I wasn't really disappointed with the cards I got. Oh well, maybe a little with the Demeo. But it could have been worse. I could have gotten Charlie Manson or Ted Bundy!! That would have been gruesome!! At least the guy I got only shot other mobsters (I hope).

The Barber is headed to my Hall of Fame PC. The other 2 -- will trade if someone wants them or I may put up on eBay and see what happens.

I've seen a lot of the people complaining about these cards and a lot of "no-name" signatures. This was a POT-LUCK card. You pay the price and you take your chances. There was never a guarantee of receiving a superstar in any catagory.

what kind of value would you need on the Bell? I have'nt looked to see sales of if it or if it has a bv but he is associated with the Steeler history so I might be interested if we can find something you could use in trade. Thanks Pat

 

[gp2001red]

If you were going to get a "negative celebrity", then Manson, Bundy or the likes probably would be more universally known and demanded, albiet not as socially popular.

I just meant that I could believe UD would consider people like Demeo popular personalities. Guys like Demeo, Manson, Bundy, etc. are not people you would want your children to idolize.

what kind of value would you need on the Bell? I have'nt looked to see sales of if it or if it has a bv but he is associated with the Steeler history so I might be interested if we can find something you could use in trade. Thanks Pat

Looks like a couple of Bell autos sold for $40-$50 on eBay.
How about trading the Al Kaline Greats of the Game auto you have for it?
Thanks and PLMK,

Gene