Finding a bit of joy as history repeats itself

It was November 2021, towards the end of last Pokémon Boom, the flippers like Zubat in the light were retreating. Pokémon was printing cards. The darkness was fading. The light was arriving in the form of Celebrations . At the end of that very long cave trough Mt Moon there was invigorating fresh air. Celebrate I would! I purchased 2 Celebrations Collectors Tins from my regional big box store. To my grave disappointment, it appeared that TPC in the haste to print more cards or perhaps it was the rookie printing facility, the packaging was poorly executed. My promos were damaged. All creased or dented. I felt like Leon in his defeat to Eternatus during the Darkest Day! Yet, like the heros of our hobby, I did not give up, I refused to be over whelmed by darkness again. I wrote TPCI. Documented the damaged, I took photos with arrows and diagrams explaining each flaw. Mailed the cards off to the indicated address and waited.

Escalation! That must be a good sign! I was encouraged… Briefly.

I waited. I sent another reminder. I waited. Two more years passed. Then I received this!

I could not believe it! As a waited in the “Welcome Trainer Room on PC”, and the new Pokémon darkness threatened to overwhelm me. A light! Today I received this package from TPCI.

They didn’t have any Pokémon Promos form this decade so they sent me a promo from an earlier one. As you can see they still have some SM packs there at TPCI too! No complaints here. I was in a dark place with the hobby. This just made my day and restored my faith. Maybe they do care…

There are many ways to view this tale. I am choosing to feel the joy.

29 Likes

Super nice of them to send you the Toys R Us (RIP) Charmander promo!

7 Likes

Wonderful that you received not only a response but some closure from it. I have been seeing a few of these reports pop up recently and it has been such a long time that hope was almost lost.

Hope the pulls are in your favor!

3 Likes

I am still wondering if I open these. Nothing really as exciting as ripping packs seeking that hit. Maybe an Alt Art! or I could find a CT scanner…

2 Likes

Thats awesome! I went through this process a few years ago with them as well and it took nearly two years to get my exchange back, they threw in some extra goodies but this is really a lot better than what I got lol

3 Likes

That’s a brutally long wait, but I’m glad to hear they threw in some really nice goodies to make up for it! Glad to see these types of things get resolved!

2 Likes