Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Is Nintendo treating PTO/TO's and customers correctly?

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The only way that anyone gets hosed on prizes is if the prizes are changed, for the worse, after the tournament begins. I've never seen this happen.

If you know what the prize support is before you sign up. If you don't think it's fair then don't play. If you sign up to play and then gripe about the prize support well...

I can't believe the language used here about Nintendo making people do things. They make you sign an agreement? They make you pay the same for less prize support? I suppose that they are making me take off work to drive down to Florida later this week?

I've played this game for a number of years on and off in a number of stores, I even signed up to be a TO and have hosted a few small tournaments, and I can tell you that Nintendo has never made me do anything.

I chose to agree to their rules. I chose to pay whatever entry fees and compete for whatever prizes. It's my choice.

And it's your choice too.

I quit the game about the time that Team Rocket came out and I rejoined with the Dragon ex set. From everything I've seen, TV and magazine advertising, prize support, the tcg.com page with the my pokemon stats, being able to search for sanctioned tournamaments and leagues online, posting rules updates here each week, the prereleases, the City, State, and then Nationals (fiasco that it was, but I don't blame Nintendo), the Gym Challenges, the Stadium Challenges, Worlds (with all the side events), the trips, resetting the standings for next year, how can anyone say that Nintendo isn't doing all they can to promote this great game?
 
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Adv1sor said:
I suppose that they are making me take off work to drive down to Florida later this week?
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You too!!! They are making me take work off and go down to Florida with the wife to help out at Worlds, the little ones are staying with Grandma, and plus I have to play Pokemon all weekend, can you believe the nerve of some people ;)

Boy life is good. :p
 
Actually, they are making my wife and I take their complaints at GenCon. We volunteered to Judge and run the events, not take complaints about prize structures. Also, they HATE being called Nintendo, they're a separate company known as Pokemon USA, Inc. I've made the same mistake.
 
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What can I say Steve, Nintendo is making you do things you don't want to do. You have a hard life. :)

I hope you don't get too many complaints at GenCon.

Good luck with the prerelease.
 
DaytonGymLeader said:
Actually, they are making my wife and I take their complaints at GenCon. We volunteered to Judge and run the events, not take complaints about prize structures. Also, they HATE being called Nintendo, they're a separate company known as Pokemon USA, Inc. I've made the same mistake.
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Steve,
I'm sorry you seem so upset with us, however, this hardly seems the place to discuss it.

We certainly aren't 'making' you do anything, let alone take any complaints. If you receive them, you're perfectly aware of what email addresses you can give out to direct complaints about prize structure, or anything else, directly to us.

I'll email you privately and we can discuss this further.

Thanks,
Prof. Dav
 
Um Dave, a question came in my mind reading these posts about PTOs and leak infos: here outside US, you sorely know that there are no PTOs, there isn't even a PTO program (I heard that this will happen soon, but for now there isn't).
What about people who are NOT PTOs, who have not signed ANY contract, but leak informations?
They are not aware of the prohibition (besides havenig heard it on Pokégym)...
What kind of consequences would you take in a case like that?
For my knowledge of the new set, I've been requested by the distributor not to tell anything, but I haven't signed any contract.
It's only a question of responsibility of the TO (again, not PTO)? And if yes, how can you take actions against this TO if there are no mentions about leaking infos for it?
 
My post wasn't taken correctly, but don't take that as backing down from my position. I'm not complaining about taking the complaints. We've been doing it from Day 1 and will continue to do it until we decide not to. The post was to illustrate that there are things that we must do as TOs and event staff that we don't like.
 


I think that the point Steve was making was missed, by some.

We have been forced to take complaints since the start. How? When the software would cause 1-3 hour delays we would get complaints. We would give those emails and tell them to complain. Did these stop players/parents for chewing us out, no.? Giving them a name and email address is not a magic fix all that puts a smile on a face or a civil tone in a voice.

At Origins during National you and other staffers were right there to personally take complaints, yet Steve still got his head chewed off and accused of things. Through out the weekend we handled complaints to the best of our ability.

As for the boards not being the place to complain, I was under the assumption that we as a player base/judge/TO etc could make complaints here, that we could voice our thoughts and opinions either for or against PUI. In the WOtC days and until now we have always felt that we could voice our opinions on the gym, it seems that those days are slipping away.

The information about the pre release may be on PUI’s website however not all players even know about it. There is a thread somewhere on the boards where players talk about the GenCon pre releases and winning the same prizes that are offered at other pre releases so clearly not everyone knew of the prize difference.

Just my 2 cents on the matter, I could give $5 but....

 
Pokeplayer said:
In my opinion PUI is treating PTOs/TOs really well...
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Thats a very sweeping all-encompassing statement! I think you missed out the SOME in your first sentance.

Tommorrow will see the last pre-release that I'll be running in Crawley.
 
Historically the Gym has been a place to COMPLAIN and express your opinion. I cannot say I've been happy about the tone nor all the topics that were discussed but PUI has made it clear that they do not browse this site to solve, discuss, and take care off those complaints HERE *no need to discuss that legitimacy paradox here, that's a WHOLE other topic and I am not qualified to discuss that one* (IF they have the time they'll visit -tho I do not know if their stance has changed much in the past few months-) but PUI wants to know of them directly, they always have and probably will.

I feel far ya DGL & DM =) ; I tip my hat to both of you for all that work... GenCon took a lot out of me LAST year *on a LONG judging break*
 
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Giday

In my opinion PUI is treating PTOs/TOs really well...
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In the US, possibly yes.

Intl ... No.

I've seen the contract ... i suspect it was from a slip up by PUI since i'm an Intl TO, but given the chance ... I'd sign it in a heartbeat.

As for the leaking of information ... it quite clearly states what you can & can't do in the contract ... it's legally binding & a smart business move on PUI.

I've been confirmed as a PTO by my local distributor, yes i know, it's just an extra letter in the title & not the proper fully fledged PTO status like those of you in the US, but it's a start .

I organized, staffed & ran our Nationals back in early May, with NO assistance, except for prize support which i was expected to pay for when i recieved the surprise invoice AFTER the event.

My advertising included nationwide poster coverage & radio adverts. Our TV networks were also given the information, but i didn't see or hear of them airing it, but then it probably aired during the afternoon when i was still at work.

I supplied the trophies which were made & paid for prior to the news from the distributor, that PUI would be suppling them. To date, i've been told by the distributor they've been sent to the players, but nobody has got them yet ... almost 4 months later !!

I got a massive 34 players, down on the 99 i had approx 6 months earlier at my Fan Appreciation. The Australian Nationals, i understand were organized & run by the distributor (i could be mistaken) had about 25. It was then that i got told my 2nd - 4th got invites to Worlds ... approx 1 month before worlds ... too late to arrange for them.

In the perfect world, ALL WORLDWIDE players, TO's & PTO's would get an even share of prize support, intact league kits & information, but it's not perfect.

All i can say is ... IMO i would make a good PTO, given the chance ... SO BRING ON THE PERFECT WORLD !!
 
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For shame on your distributor Juggie.
For shame on International.

I'm not after a level playing field. Rather one without the sheer drop !

Yesterdays pre-release was a lot of work and I've only just covered my costs. Profit LOL! The players had fun but I wont be doing another one. I CANT afford it.
 
Yesterday I had a long conversation with both Dave S. and Jarrod Nack.
I was tired from 2 days Worlds but got invited by Dave to at least speak with Jarrod.
From what I heard of both I don't think international will be ever the same as local.
They want it to be equal, but by given National Distributors so much power controlling OP it will not work.
At least not the way they expect it.

Even if they have the new leagueyear coming up with plans to have to same program for everyone, there are still to much "powerlevels".
About the missing badges, all distributors were offered at the start last year to order those. But it was only possible to order them for the whole season and only at that time.
But ours and more of the distributors didn't,.
Why"? Because our distributor thought that those badges were not that much wanted and I think the same happened in other countries.
So when the year went on and TO's were asking about the badges, there was no way for them to order them.
I tried to explain that already on that point we are at the point were it goes wrong. Decission made about OP by people not knowing the playersfield.
PUI thinks (don't know if they are still so convinced about that) that distributors know their market.
Yes they know the selling boxes market, but not the playersmarket and that's not the same.

There is more to say but I'm still tired, even after a normal night of sleep.
I will overthink what I have heared and will post.
 
Rainbowgym said:
Yesterday I had a long conversation with both Dave S. and Jarrod Nack.
I was tired from 2 days Worlds but got invited by Dave to at least speak with Jarrod.
From what I heard of both I don't think international will be ever the same as local.
They want it to be equal, but by given National Distributors so much power controlling OP it will not work.
At least not the way they expect it.

Even if they have the new leagueyear coming up with plans to have to same program for everyone, there are still to much "powerlevels".
About the missing badges, all distributors were offered at the start last year to order those. But it was only possible to order them for the whole season and only at that time.
But ours and more of the distributors didn't,.
Why"? Because our distributor thought that those badges were not that much wanted and I think the same happened in other countries.
So when the year went on and TO's were asking about the badges, there was no way for them to order them.
I tried to explain that already on that point we are at the point were it goes wrong. Decission made about OP by people not knowing the playersfield.
PUI thinks (don't know if they are still so convinced about that) that distributors know their market.
Yes they know the selling boxes market, but not the playersmarket and that's not the same.

There is more to say but I'm still tired, even after a normal night of sleep.
I will overthink what I have heared and will post.
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Yet again someone somewhere is lying to us, our distributor told us that they had ordered the badges, that we were going to get them and then that PUI did not produce enough! Not our fault we ordered them was the cry..

Now we can't tell who lies but someone is if it's the distributor well come on PUI do something about it .. if it's PUI well we've had it anyhow.. if as I suspect it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other shame on them both..

The real trouble is that Jarrod Nack and Dave will take the 5th again and tell us all to go talk to the distributors.. talk is cheap action is what is needed.. and so far the distibutors can continue to blame PUI, PUI can blame the distributors and nothing happens..

NoPoke will tell you what he thinks of Int'l.. ask him about Jarrod continually pointing to the OP provider and saying ask them .. Int'l it sucks and it doesn't look likely to get any better until someone acts instead of talking.. :(

The real acid test is will Int'l get the new league kits in Sept' 04.. my guess is NO NO NO and that we will be very lucky indeed to see anything of 1st Set at all ... I HOPE PUI PROVE ME WRONG.. the OP provider tells me they have ordered them so just who do we contact when they don't turn up? And the distributor tells us it's PUIs fault .. I can feel that 5th coming up again.
 
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International blames the 'layers'. But wasn't it International that put the layers in in the first place? International seems to be awash with Toothless Tigers and Chocolate Teapots.

Still I'm told sales are good and I suspect that its only that particular bottom line that counts.

[Aside: I'm saddened that that the only way that we seem able to get anything is by embarrasing someone into acting. I really really really REALLY don't want to have to keep prodding the Hornets nest in the hope of stiring up some activity. Why? because its the whistle blower that always get sacked thats why! ]
 
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NoPoke said:
[Aside: I'm saddened that that the only way that we seem able to get anything is by embarrasing someone into acting.
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You're totally right. As for my personal experience, we obtained FR/LG prereleases only talking live with Jarrod, telling to him that the distibutor always told that our manager told that it was PUI who decided us to not have these events...
And the same thing for trips and invited for Worlds, and a lot of other things...

Distributor want to act as they want.. But when they feel that PUI discovered their unfair acts, they come back and give us everything... Certainly not a way of running OP.

I'll surely laugh at them, when I'll go to a tournament telling that I'll play instead of organizing/judging :p
 
Dayton_Pokémom said:
As for the boards not being the place to complain, I was under the assumption that we as a player base/judge/TO etc could make complaints here, that we could voice our thoughts and opinions either for or against PUI. In the WOtC days and until now we have always felt that we could voice our opinions on the gym, it seems that those days are slipping away.
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As far as the 'Gym is concerned, everyone is free to voice whatever opinion they have about PUI, TC, the PokeGym, or whatever (as long as it is done with respect and without bashing). Dave was not speaking for the Gym-member relationship, but for the PUI-PTO relationship.
 
PokePop said:
As far as the 'Gym is concerned, everyone is free to voice whatever opinion they have about PUI, TC, the PokeGym, or whatever (as long as it is done with respect and without bashing). Dave was not speaking for the Gym-member relationship, but for the PUI-PTO relationship.
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DaytonGymLeader is not a PTO. I am the PTO in the family and that is currently under personal reassessment.
 
Pop, sorry, but I'm not PTO. I'm a TO, League Leader, and Player Advocate. I was posting in the latter of the three.

Juan, it's good to see your presence and real world take back on the boards. GenCon was an absolute cakewalk compared to last year's GenCon and Nationals this year.
 
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