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Redemption
Can Now Be Found Online
Love
'em or hate 'em, redemption cards are now a regular part of the hobby.
They've been used in the past to offer late-signing players' autographs
or ultra-rare that might not fit in a regular pack. Increasingly they're
being used to circumvent rules in the NHL that bar any player from appearing
on a card before they play their first professional game. Basketball
redemptions are frequently used to make rookies available in early release
products. All sports seem to be moving towards redemptions as a way
of including late-season call-ups into their regular sets.
Redemptions, however, pose several problems. Sometimes players don't follow through with autograph requests and collectors are left with a replacement, that is if any are offered and they've waited a long period of time already. Mix-ups can also happen. In January I sent out five hockey rookie redemptions. It's now June and I still haven't received them (although I was promised last week that replacements are on their way, according to a polite customer service rep).
Sick of such mix ups, Upper Deck is moving towards an online redemption program that should streamline the process and speed up turn around times. All Upper Deck redemption cards will now include a scratch off serial number. Collectors must register with Upper Deck's website and enter the code. The website will then keep tabs on the redemption's status showing when it was registered and when it was sent, as well as information about the cards themselves.
The first set to use this new redemption program is Piece of the History football, which is available now.
Links:
Upper Deck - official
site