Panini America relaxes hobby shop online-selling policies; Upper Deck has yet to comment on providing dealer assistance
This entry was posted on March 18, 2020
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Brick-and-mortar hobby shops -- the heart of the hobby for years and one of several options for collectors these days -- are facing some potentially uncertain times right now and in the coming weeks because of the effects that Coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, will have on their walk-in sales.
Panini America sent an email to its brick-and-mortar dealers on Wednesday, giving them notice that it's allowing them to relax their online-selling policy for the next 45 days, a move that aims to help shops bridge problems or potentially avoid short-term issues that could have taken hold -- or still could be to come -- with their businesses. They are now being allowed to sell newly released Panini products online so they can reach a wider audience beyond their shop's typical clientele.
Earlier this week, Blowout Cards owner Thomas Fish contacted Upper Deck privately via email as to whether it will help its Certified Diamond Dealers by allowing them to sell its products online -- a move that would help them in the short-term but also add some competition with its Authorized Internet Retailers -- or offer return privileges.
A Certified Diamond Dealer is a hobby shop with a physical brick-and-mortar location that must meet a number of requirements that you can see here. Upper Deck also currently has several Authorized Internet Retailers (eight in the U.S., 18 in Canada) -- you can see a list here -- and some do not offer UD products. One listed there doesn't even have a currently functioning website. (How do you order from them online without a website?)
Blowout Cards followed up on the subject with public tweets (below) supporting the move that would assist already struggling shops but has not received a response.
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