Erik,
you seem to be a pretty knowledgable guy so I will ask you. Why hasn't UDE printed more MVL and DCL since they know it will sell. I mean it appears they are losing money by not doing so and isn't that why the game I use to absolutly love has went down hill because they were making so many cutbacks to the game so they could make money?
Just curious,
Kj

The ammount they would be able to "guarantee" selling is too little to make a reprint. The cost of a print run is based on how much they print at the same time. So, for example, half the initial print run would mean it would cost more. They would have to charge more from the distributors. Distributors would charge retailers more. And finally, retailers would have to charge the players more. And, considering that there IS some MVL and DCL available now [at higher prices] ... it wouldn't help things much. If anything, it risks Upper Deck taking a loss on Vs. which is something that would definitely end up causing the game to go down.

They are not losing money by printing the bare minimum. They make back all their expenses on the sets. Printing too little DOES risk missing out on potential profits [if they sell out, the MORE they sell out the better]. HOWEVER, anything they do NOT sell out ... eats into the profits. Overprinting is a bigger risk than underprinting. Underprinting risks hurting player morale and preventing newer players from getting into the game, but overprinting can hurt the bottom line [not to mention if too much gets out, then retailers and distributors can get caught with their pants down, having to sell the product at cost, or at a loss ... like some past Vs products]. Part of the "problem" they are attempting to overcome is an opinion that Vs. "doesn't sell". By having it sell out ... it's more likely that distibributors and retailers will be willing to take a risk on it.

Well I will give you that makes since but like you said it does hurt player moral and the urge to actually purchase the product. I know Vs is close to being extinct in a competitive manner here on the east coast of NC. I use to love this game but in no way will I pay $100 for a box of cards. Just isn't happening. Main reason...I'm married and the wife would kill me;). lol. But seriously I have never bought a single pack or box of MVL or DCL and probably never will at those prices. Just isn't worth it to me. I will get what I can through trading and playing sealed and that is it.
Thank you for your response Walter as it does make perfect since though.
later,
Kj

Compensate with extra MUN purchases, if you over-buy (giggle) you can tell the wife based upon the availability of past sets and their current value that it is a wise investment and that that case will more than pay for itself in the extra rares you sell off (try to believe it and it won't be a lie) that's how I got a case of DCL.

Mathwise it doesn't make sense either.

I went over this a few times before but let's say the minimum print run is what they did. Assume that print run satisfied 75% of the market, with 25% having to pay higher prices (that's not saying there isn't product to satisfy the other 25%, it just costs more).

So if they have to reprint... it would be the same amount. This would satisfy the other 25% but now you have an overstock of 50% of your market. This is bad for distributors and retailers... this is why you see all the other non Legend VS sets going for $30 a box... overprinting.

Now, I understand this doesn't totally apply to the Legends+ because these sets will stay in the format longer but I don't think UDE has fully understood what the lag between set times has done to their forecasting model. There is a huge diffence in factoring between a new set every 3 months and a new set every 6 months. In addition, the sets remaining legal for the block formats is giving it a longer shelf life than expected. Whereas with previous sets... sales stop after 1.5 to 2 months in anticipation of the next set... for the new schedule, players are still drafting/buying 4 to 5 months out (but then again... that may be due to scarcity driving up the secondary value of cards making it more enticing to draft/buy).

I am a little bit confused why UDE didn't pad their productions numbers more after MVL/DCL but the factors I assume are at play here is the impact of Marvel Ultimate Battles and the postponing of the next DC set, which had them worried about their market size for VS. Add upon that the preorder forecasts not being much more than MVL and it makes sense that those who make decisions for VS and are interested in keeping it around would be very cautious with production numbers.

So here's the next question. Will it make any sense to reprint this set? With a longer lag time between sets, larger set prints (requiring more purchases to get the cards you need/want), and the insane previews, would it make sense for UDE to consider a reprint of MUN?

Obviously, with stores not being able to have purchased all they wanted based upon our requests (although after the fact), the demand is there for the product.

The only time it will make sense if distributors make a guaranteed reorder request that equals the minimum print run (whatever UDE deems that may be for VS). This should also have the caveat of no return policy (varies by product/company/distributor).

What has been shown to happen though is the sell through for re-order product is nowhere as strong as the initial order so distros (and stores) get a little trigger shy ("I know I can blow through my 3 cases... but can I really afford to order 3 more if I have to hold it for the next 6 months?").

If there were a stronger indication of a stable (and large) market for VS... I'm sure UDE, distibutors and stores would have no problems with a reprint run. However, despite what we see on here... not every store wants to carry VS. Not every distributor believes in the current strength of the VS market. This is all based on past sets which are collecting dust in many stores and distributor warehouses all over the world.

People claim there is still this high-demand for MVL/DCL but is there really? I am in the biggest market for VS yet I barely sell any sealed product 3 months after it breaks. I have a few individuals (thanks guys) who still buy packs here or there but basically... everyone is waiting for Marvel Universe. The other thing is this claim "that there is no product" is really "there is no CHEAP product". Sure... stores should be able to rebuy VS at their normal discount rate but they should also order more if they know that product will not be available to reorder.

So there are a lot of factors here that involve consumers, stores, distros and UDE... it's just a matter of getting the right balance... and for a marginal product... it's actually better for UDE and us in the long run if they play it safe. It does make it harder to get newer players in... but at the same time, it ensures that the costs for VS are kept low enough to allow UDE to continue producing sets.