Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

All vendors but one forbidden at U.S. Nationals?

Ness

Ness

Member
I was recently very disappointed when talking to some store owners. I asked if they would be setting up shop at U.S. Nationals and I was told they were forbidden from doing so - that only one store, the Gathering Ground (located in St. Louis) would be allowed to sell.

Nothing against the Gathering Ground, but I was disappointed as well. This seems not only unfair to the other businesses, but to the players as well. I don't see who this benefits, other than the Gathering Ground.

U.S. Nationals is a once a year event that I'm sure many Pokemon TCG sellers rely on as a significant share of their Pokemon-related profits. If you take that opportunity away from them, you hurt the stores, and ultimately the players.

I really hope that PUI considers allowing multiple dealers to sell, rather than allowing one dealer to have a monopoly. This kind of unfairness goes against everything the Pokemon TCG stands for.

Jason Klaczynski
 
If the above is true, it is likely that PUI struck a deal with Gathering Ground to be able to sell there. Its annoying for people looking to buy stuff there, but it probably benefits PUI. There will be alot of people setting up shop and trading though (Drew will probably have an entire card universe worth of stuff). They cant stop that.
 
I'm alarmed at the extent to which this disrupts the power of the buyer.

The only situation in which this is good is that they're concerned no one would have shown up otherwise, but that seems incredibly unlikely since many professors are tied to stores who would've loved to sell at nats.

I'd really like if someone could get on here and comment on Gathering Grounds's selection, prices, etc. While not relevant to the heart of the problem, could be a silver lining or make things worse.
 
ChaosJim said:
I'd really like if someone could get on here and comment on Gathering Grounds's selection, prices, etc.
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Something I'd like to know too. I wasn't all that impressed with them at Origins and thought that their price for booster boxes was too high compared to other venders. 0 competition is always a bad thing, IMO.

The Gorn said:
I am actually surprised that they are allowing ANY vendors.
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Unless they'll do it themselves, who would sell dice, card sleeves, deck boxes, booster packs, the TFG, and other things?
 
Well..I guess it's kind of expected. In the past, PUI has never had to pay for all the vendors at Origins, and they might not be able to pay for them at Nationals.

What did people expect, though? An event the size of Origins at our Nationals? That isn't going to happen. It's going to be what our Nationals has been each year, just in a new location, by itself in a convention center room. That's it. Worlds wasn't anything more than that, so Nationals isn't either.
 
Ness said:
I was recently very disappointed when talking to some store owners. I asked if they would be setting up shop at U.S. Nationals and I was told they were forbidden from doing so - that only one store, the Gathering Ground (located in St. Louis) would be allowed to sell.

Nothing against the Gathering Ground, but I was disappointed as well. This seems not only unfair to the other businesses, but to the players as well. I don't see who this benefits, other than the Gathering Ground.

U.S. Nationals is a once a year event that I'm sure many Pokemon TCG sellers rely on as a significant share of their Pokemon-related profits. If you take that opportunity away from them, you hurt the stores, and ultimately the players.

I really hope that PUI considers allowing multiple dealers to sell, rather than allowing one dealer to have a monopoly. This kind of unfairness goes against everything the Pokemon TCG stands for.

Jason Klaczynski
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While I agree that having only one vendor is bad, but I think I know some of them and they are pretty cool. I wish there were either a bunch or none, but you need at least ONE vendor to sell stuff because if you don't then there are things that players need (sleeves and singles) that might not be available.

Diaz said:
If the above is true, it is likely that PUI struck a deal with Gathering Ground to be able to sell there. Its annoying for people looking to buy stuff there, but it probably benefits PUI. There will be alot of people setting up shop and trading though (Drew will probably have an entire card universe worth of stuff). They cant stop that.
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Hmmm, I like that. A whole universe worth of stuff, I should call my store Drew's Card, oh wait..... :tongue:. I am not sure what I will be bring stuff and as long as I am respectable they really will have a hard time telling me I can bring my items to Nationals. If POP did ask me, I would graciously accept doing what they ask me not to do. :thumb:

Drew
 
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I know at Origins we were not allowed to sell. But since this year it is a stand alone event will players be able to sell. Who would we ask about it to make sure?
 
Prime said:
Well..I guess it's kind of expected. In the past, PUI has never had to pay for all the vendors at Origins, and they might not be able to pay for them at Nationals.
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Errr, you have it backwards. Vendors pay the show operator (Origins or PUI) to sublet the rented floor space in order to showcase their wares. The vendor earns back the cost via their own sales. Basically, opening up to vendors is free money to offset the cost of renting the convention hall, which is why I find it baffling that PUI would limit things in this manner.

There are a couple major vendors that went to Origins solely because of Pokemon. Now these good guys are left twisting in the wind. I have a feeling that if they go through this year with just one vendor, they will come away realizing what a major error it was.

Prime said:
What did people expect, though? An event the size of Origins at our Nationals? That isn't going to happen. It's going to be what our Nationals has been each year, just in a new location, by itself in a convention center room. That's it. Worlds wasn't anything more than that, so Nationals isn't either.
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PUI did its own vending at Worlds, so it's not surprising that they didn't open things up to the outside. Obviously Nationals is going to be different.

Usually, if someone is going to restrict things like this to a single vendor, they allow multiple vendors to submit proposals and choose the best. A unilateral decision like the one that's apparently been made just feels wrong.
 
I'm hoping once we hit a week day we can get some official remark to clarify, maybe even explain.

Even if people are unhappy, hopefully knowing exactly why it is this way can offset that a little bit.

And Rambo, calling Drew spineless was completely uncalled for.
 
Yeah there should be at least 2-3 vendors for competition.
Like you could get more at one dealer than another or a card cheaper.
 
IF PUI isnt going to do the vending, I'd prefer to allow mutliple vendors. I like looking at the different things each vendor brings. Some bring more plush than others. Some have more dice. Just depends on what floats your boat or what you need that day.

GG is a good store. Vince holds events there all the time. Just would have liked the variety myself.

Keith
 
I'm shocked PUI is only allowing one vendor. In this tough economy I would expect them to allow more then one vendor to sell so everybody makes a profit. Why shouldn't their be no competition? I hope we do get some official comment.
 
PokePop said:
Are you sure you have that phrased the way you want it to mean?
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Yeah, I messed up when typing, I fixed it. :thumb:

Rambo1000 said:
since you're spineless.
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I fixed my typo, I meant that I would comply with their wishes. :biggrin:

evil psyduck said:
I know at Origins we were not allowed to sell. But since this year it is a stand alone event will players be able to sell. Who would we ask about it to make sure?
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I know for a fact that it didn't stop most people from doing this anyways. If you going to sell, there isn't much they can do to stop you if your really really determined to as hard as they might try. I think that you have to remember if they say you can't and someone comes up and asked you can I buy that, aren't they at as much fault as you are? :rolleyes:

ChaosJim said:
I'm hoping once we hit a week day we can get some official remark to clarify, maybe even explain.

Even if people are unhappy, hopefully knowing exactly why it is this way can offset that a little bit.

And Rambo, calling Drew spineless was completely uncalled for.
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It's okay, I screwed up on what I was trying to say but thanks for sticking up for my Jimmy. :thumb:

POP has had times where they had posted here on the weekends, so if they see this there is a chance they would post as I have seen them post and answer emails well after office hours. :biggrin:

Drew
 
I'm not looking for just an official comment, but rather news that multiple vendors will be allowed. PUI isn't like WotC where they would do things that didn't make sense and say "too bad." PUI, as a whole, has done a great job with our organized play system, and I trust this will be no different. I hope they read what the players want, and realize it will cost them little or nothing to allow multiple vendors at Nationals, and follow through with it.
 
I think Rambo understood what you meant Drew.
What he apparently doesn't understand is how the world works, that if PUI were to come up to someone at their event and tell them to desist in what they are doing, the only thing they could possibly do is to do as they ask.

Otherwise, what does Rambo think would happen?
That they'd get tossed out of the event on their ear.

But I'd sure like to see a demostration of "spine" by Rambo at Nationals. Please do something that a Pokemon USA Rep tells you directly not to do so we can see some spine.
 
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