Sat
10
Jul
2010
Customer Feedback: Russell Westbrook (7/10)
Share your feedback and experience here with us and other customers: (Please keep feedback constructive while being honest)
40 Comments
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#1
The signing was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! The auto and jersey price were great too. Westbrook let you take pictures with him. If all the signing are like this I will go back again. Thanks Sports Integrity and Upper Deck
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#2
it was a good event just sucks that the kid only initals
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#3
@abc123 - he's been just signing his initials since he was a freshman at UCLA.
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#4
you know, you guys ought to offer refunds to customers whose items get botched, lousy or substandard autographs from athletes. some autographs are so disfigured or indiscernible that we deserve our money back.
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#5
great event, you guys! it was a lot of fun getting to meet a future superstar of the sport!!
AL - i've seen people that got their autograph smudged or something happened to it and joe or bob always try to resolve the issue. also, it's partly the customer's responsibility to be specific in what they want on their item. i know whenever i get my items signed, i always bring my own pen (because i'm super particular) and let them know where i want the item signed. -
#6
Al,
If you ever get an autograph that you're not happy with all you have to do is see Joe and Robert with Sports Integrity or me. We don't want you to have anything that you're not happy with. If you still have the autograph that you're not happy with give me a call and I can replace it with another. Unfortunately, I can't get an inscription on it but I can get you a better autograph on one that was issued to the store. We usually have 8x10s, 16x20s and basketballs or baseballs. Let us know what you need. BOB -
#7
My first time to Retail signing, i had two jerseys, and a ball (with Durant on already + now westbrooks) wow.. love it, get to take picture also. so nice and professional. i was @ Frank & Son for Jennings... too rush not even a chance to take a quick picture when i get 2-3 items, spent like $200+
Good Job Upperdeck store and thanks so much..
i'll wait for Pau, Ron or Lamar, if even possible. -
#8
Al - If your autograph got smudged at the signing then you should have asked us about it but we cant refund you if you dont like the way the athlete writes! They control how they write their name. Let me know if I have answered your question. From your message I cant tell if it was smudged or you just dont like the way he wrote his name.
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#9
Dear Sports Integrity, Russell Westbrook totally botched on my jersey and the autograph looks HORRIBLE and disfigured. I'd appreciate a replacement. How can I reach you? Thanks.
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#10
These athletes are quick to take your money but when it comes time to taking instructions on how to sign and where to sign they're always in a hurry or their rep will manage to screw up. Artest is a perfect example. If we ask for a FULL, crisp autograph the player should oblige. If not, they are more than welcome to give us back our hard earn money. There's no excuse for any of us to end up with a crappy signature - none whatsoever considering we're paying good money for it.
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#11
Want to address the comments on Westbrooks autograph. I cant control the way he signs his name. I or no one else can tell a player how to write his name. It doesnt work that way. its the same on all my merchandise that I have. So, I a msorry but I cant refund autographs based on some of these statements. he has been signing that way since college as well. You will find more and more athletes signing initials at times and its a shame but that is how they do it
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#12
Both Joe and Bob are incompetent and doesn't seem to know what customer service is about. While these athletes take our hard earn money and I understand no 2 signatures are alike, they are nonetheless accountable for delivering a quality product and autograph. Signing half-ass or rushing through a signing with scribbles and incomplete signatures is unacceptable period. We paid FULL value and good money for these memorabilia. It's the promoter's responsibility and the athlete's duty to make sure they maintain some type of quality and consistency in a professional manner. No one in their right mind would pay $70+ for a sloppy autograph that seems rushed and signed so poorly there's no words to describe it. Furthermore, future disclaimers should be provided as well warning customers that athletes won't oblige with full signature request. I'm sure there are A LOT of you out there who ended up with botched autographs that are just as frustrated as me and it's about time we held these promoters responsible. While I don't expect a mint, perfect autograph, we should be able to walk away with a decent one. If the athlete is going to come late and leave early, or rush through the signing with sloppy, half-hearted efforts than we should get something back for our inconvenience. Bob, you especially as a manager should learn better customer service skills. As a collector yourself, you should be concerned how UDA is getting a bad rap working with horrible promoters.
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#13
KL,
Sorry you feel this way about your recent experience with us. You've dropped off items at many of our signings and haven't had any problems before so I can't understand why you have an issue with this particular signing. We have been more than accomodating to you by allowing you to drop off your items and follow, as best we can, any specific requests you have provided.
We have not had any complaints with our promoter Sports Integrity and have received many compliments on their signings held in our store. As far as the quality of the athlete's signatures go, we cannot control how they sign their name. A person's signature is unique and an expression of their individuality. To tell one how to sign their own name defeats the purpose of an autograph signing to begin with. -
#14
KL: We have already talked on the phone and I told you I would swap a jersey because I do care about customers but I must say the way you are going about this is completely wrong. You allegations are preposterous and I think Bob out it right above. You also said you would retract these comments but I felt I needed to address this board. I may consider not having any send ins in the future.
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#15
*USERNAME REMOVED*: "I am actually with KL on this one..Joe and Bob should be a little more sensitive and not act so defensive.. you guys are turning me off from attending anymore of your events. The price per signature is already insane as it is and for you guys to have an attitude toward KL is bad. The autograph business is pathetic."
I have deleted a comment, but have reposted the contents here without the lewd username posted. We believe in an open forum here and allow all of our guests to express their opinions candidly, but we will not tolerate foul/vulgar language in comments or usernames. Please express yourselves in a family-friendly manner. Thanks. -Tim -
#16
You guys run a very unprofessional business. Take care of your customers. This autograph business is going down because of businesses like you who rip people off and to top it off, have bad customer service. I will no longer attend your events and will make sure none of my friends go too after seeing how you treated KL
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#17
I BELIEVE IF THE ATHLETE IS ONLY GOING TO
INITIAL HIS NAME THE CHARGE FOR AN AUTOGRAPH
SHOULDN'T BE A LOT AS ITS NOT A REAL AUTOGRAPH. -
#18
I dont understand what the problem is. That is how Westbrook signs, his initials. You should know going in how he signs.
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#19
i agree with KL and DJ's statement above. i myself, ended up with a HORRIBLE signature from westbrook. and i mean HORRIBLE. it's definitely a turn off when these players just scribble instead of taking the time to make sure that we get a quality auto. just my take. anyone here agrees?
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#20
I 100% agree with you perryj! if we're paying that much money, the promoter can at least inform the athlete to take their time and effort to sign their name..it takes less than 10 seconds to sign your name so take an extra 5 seconds to sign it nicer. It takes us hard working customers a full day's work at McDonalds/Walmart/office just to pay for one signature!
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#21
Bravo, SI! Bravo! Not only do you NOT GET what we're complaining about, but remain oblivious to the issue at hand. IMPLEMENT QUALITY CONTROL! AS FANS, WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD AUTOGRAPH AND A SLOPPY AUTOGRAPH! JUST LOOK HOW MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SLOPPY AUTOGRAPHS! I'M SURE YOU CAN WORK SOMETHING INTO YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE ATHLETES. AS CUSTOMERS, WE DEMAND RESPECT AND QUALITY FOR THE SERVICES WE'RE PAYING FOR. THE ANSWER "I DON'T KNOW" OR "I CAN'T CONTROL" IT WON'T CUT IT. YOU'RE THE PROMOTER, SO YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS RENDERED.
Not only are your athletes rushing with the signing with their sloppy autographs, but it's also costing us an arm and a leg for the autographs! $90 for a Bynum autograph???
Alas, we have learned our lessons and will NOT PARTAKE IN ANYMORE AUTOGRAPH EVENTS. YOU CHARGE FIRST-CLASS BUT PROVIDE THIRD-CLASS SERVICE. I wonder if THAT'S WHY YOU ONLY DOING A MAIL-IN FOR THE BYNUM SIGNING? HMMM...BECAUSE YOU GUYS CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH AND FACE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
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#22
huh? did i read it right? bob/si are accomodating fans by taking their money and allowing them to drop off their items for the signing event? my, my! what inconvenience us fans put you through. i'm sure it's rough to charge us an insane amount for the terrible autograph and keep our items for the autographs.
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#23
$90 for bynum? this is insane! we're talking about an often injured player that averages 7 points and 7 rebounds during the playoffs! c'mon bob this is ridiculous. i agree with the complaints posted. the athletes and event promoter should RESPECT customers and have QC. it takes less than 10 seconds to sign nicely. stop rushing us like cattle herders. BRAVO incognito! you said it the best. "THE ANSWER "I DON'T KNOW" OR "I CAN'T CONTROL" IT WON'T CUT IT. YOU'RE THE PROMOTER, SO YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS RENDERED."
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#24
I must admit.... Westbrook was not very friendly at all... He scribbled his initials and had his arm all over his auto as he was signing.... For what we paid for a second year player we should of gotten a nice clean auto.... As a promoter u have the right to tell him how to sign.... And so should we.... Cause we are the one paying.... The attitude and autograph was as if I caught him at courtside before the game... This is why people pay to get autos.... We expect a nice clean auto that can be displayed.... As a paying customer I should have the right to tell him how to sign and where to sign....
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#25
I was disappointed that I couldn't buy any
inscriptions for the Bynum jersey. It makes no
sense i have to buy his autograph again when I
have it. I purchased inscriptions before at upper
deck in the past w/o any problems. I was told I
couldnt buy inscriptions because they didnt know
if my autograph was legite. which I understand,
I tried to explain the Bynum autograph I had
I purchased it at upper deck when Bynum was there
last year. They couldn't accomodate me. The upper
deck employee had better customer service than the
supervisor I spoke w/. Hopefully this doesnt happen
again. -
#26
hmmm...where are the administrator and forum moderats gone...? no response...? how typical. guess they'll be doing more mail in signing than in person signing as they probably can't take the heat from the customers. daniel, you probably ruined their day because you didn't bite the bait and give them your hard earned money. watch out...the inscription might be sloppy too!
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#27
guys, did you raead this from the bynum signing ad:
"Upper Deck reserves the right to determine the pen color used to sign personal items. Upper Deck reserves the right to have the athlete sign the item in a location that would best showcase the signature."
SAY WHAT??? IF WE'RE PAYING WE CHOOSE WHAT COLOR PEN AND WHERE TO SIGN. WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE BY UPPERDECK AND SI? GET REAL GUYS!!! -
#28
say what? we can't resubmit items signed in the past for inscriptions because UD can't verify the legitimacy of the signed item? ummm, isn't that what the UD hologram is for? and if you can't verify or accept the item even though it has your sticker on it then what good is your COA and label? seems like daniel sandoval should be able to send in his signed bynum jersey held previously at the ud store for the added inscription. i mean how silly is it for ud to say they can't verify? if you refuse to accept your certified items then what good is your COA to the public? it's worthless! danny is right again in the second part... if we're gonna get initials then lower the price please! be fair to customers! thank you!
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#29
First off, I want to say that none of your comments are being ignored or overlooked. The reason these feedback pages were created was to promote discussion on how to improve these signings. Not every signing is going to run perfectly, but we would like to do everything we can to make them run as perfectly as possible.
In response to the issues brought up for the Russell Westbrook signing, again I must reiterate that an athlete's signature is a personal way of signing one's name. All of the items signed that day were signed with the same signature. We are working with Joe from Sports Integrity to resolve issues like this from arising in future signings. In the future, we ask that you take up your concerns with your autographs with us right then and there. Nobody brought up any issues to us on the day of the signing, so it was impossible for us to know that you guys had any complaints.
In response to the person arguing about us allowing people to drop-off items for signings, we weren't complaining about drop-off items. We WANT our customers to be able to get an autograph, even if their schedule (or location) doesn't allow them to be here. Understand, though, that it DOES factor into our signings, because every signature location, color of signature, and individual person's signature has to be accounted for. These athletes are not paid by item count, but by time (our ticket limitations are set for that very reason), and it requires a great amount of attention to make sure everything our customers drop off get signed, signed right, and are given back in a condition we can stand behind. Again, we're not complaining about drop-offs or mail-ins, we're just explaining how it works.
Addressing the issue brought up about the Andrew Bynum signing: First off, this signing is not a Sports Integrity collaboration. This is a private signing that Upper Deck Corporate set up. They allowed us to offer our customers the opportunity to mail-in/drop-off their items for this private signing because their contract with him is coming up, so he might not do a signing for us in the near future. The prices were set by corporate and include return postage for the signed items. All the legal print was drafted by Corporate and the athlete's representatives, so us, as a store, have very little say in that aspect. Inscriptions are an "add-on item" and not available for purchase separately. This is because of the Upper Deck 5-Step Process for Authenticating Autographs. Even if the original autograph was purchased through us, the original autograph has a certificate of authenticity that corresponds to that initial autograph alone. By adding an inscription, we cannot provide an authentication for "inscription alone" and because of our 5-Step Process, we can't have any items overseen by Upper Deck to be signed or inscribed and NOT authenticated. It's a process that we stand behind because of its integrity to the collectability market.
We appreciate your feedback and will do everything we can to make our future signings as successful (to everyone involved) as possible.
-BOB -
#30
thanks for the explanation bob. you made it very clear! i had no idea they were paid for time and not item count. your answer to the potential conflict of another sticker might cause is clear as well. ud had very good prices in the past for fisher and bynum. just wish prices would remain the same cuz we're in a recession! hope corporation would factor that as well into future pricing.
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#31
A guys just wanted to let you all know that I collect a lot of autographs both free and paid the promoter pays a flat rate to have the athlete sign.of course they have to make there money back and some on top of that that's how the prices are made nobody would have a buisness just to have one the object is to make money so let's no chew them out about prices and the inital thing is upsetting as I also got initals from westbrook but hey that's his signature what can I say I can't make him change it just have to live with it imagine waiting in line for 6 hours and have your autos messed up its just the nature of the hobby
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#32
I am going through the other people's concerns, I went to Russell Westbrook signing. I had a pleasant experience, I took two jerseys from ebay and a basketball. I did not know you would be selling them there, seeing how much nicer yours were, I put one away and bought one for $100. The only problem is the one I bought from you was autographed in black. In total I paid for three large autographs and one new jersey, I've kept it in perfect condition with the certificate of authenticity, can you replace the jersey I bought from you for a jersey signed in silver pen, please. Thank you for your time.
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#33
I missed the westbrook signing. What was the price?
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#34
Price was ridiculous. check out ebay and you will find a signed Westbrook jersey for less than $40 with the UDA sticker and nice jersey too.. waste of money getting it signed at upper deck retail.just buy it in the underground markets
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#35
Bob Thanks for clearing up a few things. TO sum this up, we can't control the way the athlete signs their name and that's they way it works. No matter what, we can't control it Im sorry about that. Also we have nothing to do with the Bynum signing as Bob mentioned. That is an Upper Deck Corporate thing.
Rates charged are based on rates we pay the athletes and these prices were extremely fair for Russell. With that said we had about 30 people show up for this event. Guess who had to take the rest of the autographs to make up the $$ guarantee Russell got paid for the appearance? We did. Sports Integrity. IN addition, we got the same autographs you received. Why? because this is how the kid signs and nothing will change it. I wish it could be changed.
Also note that some of the posts above are made by the same person and I wont mention any names. It is their way of adding to the negativity.
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#36
i just want to clarify that its a lie that upper
deck cannot provide a certificate for inscriptions
only. i have a cerficate from upper deck where
it clearly says inscription only on it and i
can provide my words with evidence. its ok though.
lets move on.no hard feelings. i look foward to the next signing. -
#37
Daniel Sandoval, I was at the corporate office today in Carlsbad and mentioned your concern to our Upper Deck Authenticated Team who is running this signing. They said we might be able to do something for you. Give me a call at the store and let's see if we can do something to get this taken care of. Call me at (714)898-8000 or email me at bob_nevarez@upperdeck.com and we'll see what we can come up with. Thanks, BOB
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#38
Wow! UDA staff, Bob, Joe... I feel for you all. All you so called fans/complainers stop your crying!
Collecting is an investment! As wit any investment do some research before you spend your hard earned $ (KL). There's enough info on the web that shows how Westbrook signs. Bob's right! You can't control how the athlete will sign, I had two 16x20s done and both were nice and big! And just before he signed mine Westbrook's mom asked him to sign a canvas for her. She got the same sig I got. If that sig is what he gives him own mom, than I'm good with that,
Let's remember you now the price going in. There's no pressure sales that I've experienced.
To KL, have u ever signed for something you bought (credit card/check)? What would you say if the seller said I can't sell this to you because your signature is ugly! Would you change it so you can get what you want? Don't thing so, Man up! Stop your crying and do your research before you continue investing I'm memorabilia! Maybe you should stick to buying stuff already signed. Some of us real fans go to signings just for the opportunity to say I got it done myself. -
#39
Wow what negativity, upperdeck and si are doing a great job! I don't see any one else asking who we would like to see. keep up the great work joe and the upperdeck staff!
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#40
Yeah, I dont get it. I mean do your homework on autographs... Westbrook just initials, if you knew that a head of time, then you wouldnt be complaining now after the fact about the autograph. Upper Deck has always been doing great since I been going there for a few years now. They replaced Slam n Jam with Sports Integrity, and things are going even more smoother than before. So keep up the good work Upper Deck, no complaints here. Rules are in place for a reason people, try following them or dont bother showing up.
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