Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

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

PokePop said:
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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errr... Let's all calm down. 1000+ people converging on one site brings with it its own concerns. I'd much rather PUI be concerned with matters of physical security instead of having to worry about a display of hooliganism that comes with "someone trying to prove he has 'spine'".
 
Wooooow sooo um are the other guys going to be reduced to vending out of the trunk of their cars?
 
Maybe Gathering Grounds is the only vendor large enough to be at both Origins and Pokemon US Nationals on the same weekend.
 
Having only one vendor makes no sense, with no competition the price of singles, boosters, boxes and accessories will be stupidly inflated. You guys should know that when Jason actually takes the time to post here it is always something important.
 
The Gorn said:
Maybe Gathering Grounds is the only vendor large enough to be at both Origins and Pokemon US Nationals on the same weekend.
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You make the faulty assumption that GG will still send a booth to Origins.

I am good friends with one of those "other" vendors that has had a booth at Origins for several years running. Pokemon accounts for a significant portion of their Origins sales. With Pokemon no longer at Origins, there is little reason to go since they won't even break even on the show. And with the decision by PUI, they no longer have an opening to market to one of their target audiences.

Any way you look at it, this decision by PUI makes very little sense.
 
ChaosJim said:
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.
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just google their store and you will find a website
 
I am pretty sure that they are already located in St. Louis, Missouri and that they can restock their selection at will with a simply car ride most likely doesn't hurt.

Drew
 
TheDarkTwins said:
I am pretty sure that they are already located in St. Louis, Missouri and that they can restock their selection at will with a simply car ride most likely doesn't hurt.

Drew
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And I'm pretty sure you and your universe have more Pokemon cards and swag then they
do :thumb:


I don't like this decision. I guess Origins (and all the vendors there) spoiled
me .




I already miss Columbus :(
 
I would love to claim to be the mastermind behind that, but I can't.

All I know from PUI is that they are handling all vendor arrangements.

Talk to you all later.

Vince

Post Script.

This is the FIRST time Pokemon has let an outside vendor into its events since, that disaster with Shuffle and Cut a few years ago?

At EVERY other PUI event in the US, there have been NO vendors, not even for Worlds.

So this is at least a step up, from zero to one.
 
Why would they just allow Gathering Ground? Those guys went back on their word last year at Origins. They're the ones who had said they'd buy cards. When I went there to sell cards they told me that they weren't buying anymore (even though they said they would be buying them for another whole day) unless I was selling them in lots of 1,000.
 
I just talked to Jason, the owner of The Gathering Ground on the phone. Let me again say that I have no problems or ever had any with the Gathering Ground. I didn't want anyone to think that I was singling them out or attacking their store. I have bought tons of cards from the Gathering Ground and they have always been more than fair, reliable and friendly to me.

Jason told me that he signed a contract with PUI and was paying to rent a room. We both thought it was important that people know he was paying to vend at Nationals so that people don't have the impression he was just randomly given exclusive rights to sell. If he was paying to sell, and other vendors were allowed, he could end up losing money because he may not sell enough cards to cover the cost of the contract.

He also told me that PUI preferred to have only one vendor because there isn't much space, and that he was chosen because he is from the area, and would be able to direct people to nearby attractions.

I told him the concerns of players (that they would be ripped off or that their wouldn't be enough cards) and he assured me that all cards for sale will be at their web-site price. Additionally, he let me know that the Gathering Ground is the nation's largest seller of Pokemon singles, and that they will be buying and selling ridiculous amounts of cards at the event.

Just wanted to make sure Jason's take was also on here. I'm sure many of you still would prefer to have multiple vendors at Nationals (as would I), but we'll have to wait to hear from PUI.
 
Personally, I was very please with the service that I received both at US Nats last year and afterword.

Both my PTO buddy and I sold cards to them there, and were given very good deals - Added a lot to my spending money while there, but after the event we both sent roughly 80,000 cards to them. Which I was able to pay for a trip to Worlds for my wife and I.

Again - one very satisfied customer!
 
Ness said:
I just talked to Jason, the owner of The Gathering Ground on the phone. Let me again say that I have no problems or ever had any with the Gathering Ground. I didn't want anyone to think that I was singling them out or attacking their store. I have bought tons of cards from the Gathering Ground and they have always been more than fair, reliable and friendly to me.

Jason told me that he signed a contract with PUI and was paying to rent a room. We both thought it was important that people know he was paying to vend at Nationals so that people don't have the impression he was just randomly given exclusive rights to sell. If he was paying to sell, and other vendors were allowed, he could end up losing money because he may not sell enough cards to cover the cost of the contract.

He also told me that PUI preferred to have only one vendor because there isn't much space, and that he was chosen because he is from the area, and would be able to direct people to nearby attractions.

I told him the concerns of players (that they would be ripped off or that their wouldn't be enough cards) and he assured me that all cards for sale will be at their web-site price. Additionally, he let me know that the Gathering Ground is the nation's largest seller of Pokemon singles, and that they will be buying and selling ridiculous amounts of cards at the event.

Just wanted to make sure Jason's take was also on here. I'm sure many of you still would prefer to have multiple vendors at Nationals (as would I), but we'll have to wait to hear from PUI.
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We decided to include a retail vendor so that our attendees would have access to card supplies and accessories for the event.

Managing the activity of adding one vendor is a lot of additional workload on the team here at PUI, and upping it beyond that gets to the point of silliness, at least at this stage in our development of this event.

If we were to feel that our selected vendor was gouging our players, or taking advantage of their position, they certainly would not be invited back. I'm certain that the vendor has a long term view of the potential of this relationship, per the comments Ness posted above, and that this will simply not be an issue.

Thank you,
Dave
 
Hopefully he can also have a supply of the other Poke-stuff that people will be looking to get.

Hey Vince (or someone), maybe it can be suggested to GG that they start a thread on the Gym to see what items people will be looking to buy so he can make sure to meet his customer's desires (and make even more money).
 
The Gorn said:
Maybe Gathering Grounds is the only vendor large enough to be at both Origins and Pokemon US Nationals on the same weekend.
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I came up with 3 OTHER than GG without even thinking:
Hill's Wholesale Gaming *I know for a fact they've done two big shows on the same weekend*
Dave and Adam's Card World
Troll and Toad
 
deogg said:
I came up with 3 OTHER than GG without even thinking:
Hill's Wholesale Gaming *I know for a fact they've done two big shows on the same weekend*
Dave and Adam's Card World
Troll and Toad
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Hill's is a great store. I have nothing but the highest praise for him. He has ALWAYS been willing to help me out when I need it.

Drew
 
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