In an effort to improve it's redemption card program, Upper Deck is turning to hobby shops across the country.
200 hobby stores were recently selected to represent Upper Deck and serve as redemption centers for the company's insert cards.
Collectors will be able to register their redemption cards through the shops and receive some expedited service on their fulfillment. Upper Deck has
provided these shops with special promo cards of Sidney Crosby and
Alexander Ovechkin to use with customers who choose to redeem their
cards through these centers. These centers will be shipped recently
returned redemption cards before any other customer in most cases.
Upper Deck has built a special interface for shops to monitor the status
on customer's redemptions and to note customer contact information for
each card. Once cards are received by the hobby shop owners, they will
contact the customer and invite them in to pick the redeemed item up.
Upper Deck has included a Frequently Asked Questions page to the website
to address inquiries regarding the new Preferred Redemption Program at http://sports.upperdeck.com/redemptions/.
"There are many benefits for consumers and hobby store owners. We have
created a program where we are empowering store owners and directing
more customers to their locations," said Chris Carlin, Senior Customer
Service & Call Center Manager for the Upper Deck Company. "This is a
great opportunity to work hand-in-hand with our hobby partners and show
how we all have a vested interest in this industry while providing some
enhanced service to those closest to our collectors."
In addition to being a member of the Preferred Redemption Program,
stores will be provided with free advertising and specially created marketing campaigns produced to increase awareness of the retailer and the program. The shops will be featured on the Upper Deck website and in future press
releases.
Additionally, Upper Deck is no longer taking mail in redemptions.
Customers can either redeem their redemption cards on-line, have them
entered through a Preferred Redemption Center or register their
redemptions by calling (800) 873-7332. Additional phone staff has been
brought on to help with those calling in.
"Redemptions can be inconvenient for customers and we do not believe they should have to pay to package the card, pay to send the card in and then call to see if it was received," Carlin said. "We have made tremendous strides in recent years to make the redemption process as easy as possible for collectors. We have heard what customers want and spent time and money on developing those programs to meet and hopefully exceed their expectations."
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