I don’t know how you all do it. It’s like a full time job trying to get through the Pokemon center queue, getting a Japanese phone number or like organizing some international supply chain logistics to get like one box of current product. And then it’s part time complaining on the internet about how much it sucks. And now we live in a time where the secondary market is beyond optimized so it really is just all-or-nothing and there’s no realistic middleground on the price of these items.
You ever just think its not worth it? Not to get caught up in the fomo? Just live life on easy mode and not worry about whatever the current pokemon center etb is? It can’t just be me. Tell me why I’m right or wrong.
The other day there was some prismatic evolutions drop (ordinarily I don’t like that word but in the context of modern retail it feels right) on the Pokemon Center website.
I was at the driving range when I saw; at first I opened my phone to check, and got put in the queue straight away. I kind of caught myself and laughed when I realised what I was doing.
I enjoyed my time in the glorious sunshine instead, no regrets.
This is the point of the grieving process I’m at as well currently. It’s to much work to spend money on pokemon anymore at MSRP and it’s not fun. I just want to waste my money quickly, not work for it. It will go back to normal soon
I have to admit, I had some FOMO in the beginning, but by now all that camping on websites has just become too exhausting.
I registered a small business and place orders with wholesalers whenever there’s a new release. I usually keep one box for myself, pass most of the rest on to friends and acquaintances for around MSRP—often still well below current market prices.
If I get a good allocation, I’m happy. But if I end up empty-handed as a small seller, I don’t really mind either.
I don’t mess around with product releases either, it’s generally not worth the energy to me and logistically I can’t just leave work every time a drop happens.
If I didn’t work from home with a flexible schedule, I wouldn’t bother trying. I don’t subscribe to any restock bots or anything, but if I catch wind that PC is releasing something, it’s not much work to split my Slack monitor with the queue and see if I get through.
I’ll walk past the card section at the front of the store when I’m at Target or Walmart and see if there’s anything there too.
I live here more than I should during work hours (re: split monitor situation), so I do commiserate and post memes about it all
Not sure if it’s just me but the last couple of PC drops seemed to actually allow me to get product well after me being alerted that there was a drop. Prior to that though it never worked in my favor so I always just waved the white flag of defeat.
For EN, the fact that you have to no-life camp waiting for random product drops that you’ll only get if you clicked on the link within 5 secs of it dropping is absurd to me. Who does this benefit, especially for product that is supposed to be a “pre-order”? Scalper bros and bot bros, that’s who.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but the JP side with lottos actually feels more fair. 抽選 (lottery) is so standard for product and concert ticket applications that this just feels par for the course. Would I rather just be able to buy the product outright? Of course. But once you get over the hurdle of figuring out their systems it’s at least more fair to everyone (the domestic crowd should be prioritized over foreigners since that’s who this is being made for) rather than those who just happened to be around at the exact second a new product dropped.
I haven’t bought a retail product since 151. I don’t have any interest in keeping up with whatever’s happening today in the world of modern because tomorrow it’s old news. I’ll take my time to catch up on what I’ve missed. I much prefer to buy singles of vintage cards or affordable artwork I like from newer sets. To be honest I haven’t even been doing that much lately.
I’m in a weird spot with the tcg right now. I feel content with what I have and that makes it much easier to not get fomo with cards or products but it also means my engagement is lower. Slow and steady is good though.
I used to chase because I thought all the recent sets were really cool, but I have limited time and funds. Not worth it to chase 3x MSRP ultra-modern when I can casually pick up JP vintage while its at a 5 year low
I used to, but now that I can get it without waiting hours in line, whenever I see one, I say “nice.” and going to my seller (god I’ve mentioned this too much)
Until Mega evolution set, I probably wouldn’t worry about it.
Also the amount they’re charging for black bolt and white flare is so laughable I actually think that 99% of them don’t know what they’re doing.
I don’t engage with English retail at all these days beyond what is readily available in stores, which right now is nothing. I can’t spend time refreshing twitter for restock info or waiting hours in Pokemon Center queues. It just isn’t worth it for me. I wait 4-6 months after release to buy singles and that’s usually the best option for me for modern.
Japanese Black Bolt/White Flare is actually very exciting for me, but I will just buy on the secondary market from trusted sellers.
The toxic “culture” of what seems to be 99% of the modern community
Online retail bots
These are the biggest reasons why I stopped engaging with and opening modern product. I do play the TCG competitively/casully with a group of my friends, but outside of that I could really take or leave modern.
I do have certain species of mons and artwork Ill buy modern singles for, thats it though.
I work from home, and even with notifications on and having access to a computer all day, I still only score something from PC every couple of months. I still cannot believe how difficult it is to land new product.
I still like to open some packs from sets where I’m chasing a bunch of cards, but most of the time I end up just purchasing singles.