You don’t need me to tell you that the Pokémon TCG hype is still massive. Standard sets continue to fly off shelves at a pace that would make Greninja jealous, and special sets? Don’t even get me started. So, when I found out that my local shop would have Pokémon 30th Celebration stock, I was excited. At least, until I got turned away.
Was I upset? Of course. But, in reality, I understood why, and eventually, I even grew to agree with the decision. They didn’t turn away a paying customer—they turned away a collector, so that local players could get the chance to buy cards first. And in the Pokémon TCG, that can only be a good thing.
Callum Self
With so much talk about value and chases, it’s easy to forget that Pokémon sets are made to be played. The valuable cards are just bonuses on top, but the main bulk of each expansion is for people to play with their decks. As stock has dwindled, players have had to either try and find stock at retail or buy single commons, but the latter removes the fun in opening packs.
Players are players. That’s it. They might collect, too, but they’re keen to play competitively and casually, and, at the very least, be involved in the local scene. Collectors, on the other hand, span massive subgroups; you have your standard collectors (like me), chasers, investors, scalpers, and those who see cards as assets to make quick profits. Of course, not every collector will fall into one group, nor will they all be bad for the TCG, but it’s a huge amount of people.
When the dust settles and the hype dies, many of the more casual collectors may fall off in favour of other hobbies or no TCGs whatsoever. The players will remain, and when that happens, it’s even more important for local stores to have their key demographic—players and fans—remain happy. If they alienate them, then when the Pokémon TCG calms down, they could lose a big part of their revenue.
Callum Self
Even though I was turned away, I was still offered the opportunity to play. The store told me when they held events, what to do to get a Trainer account, and they even promised to teach me how to play. I’d still get the packs I wanted to buy, so long as I became part of the community. I didn’t, mainly due to time constraints, but the offer was still lovely to receive.
In the end, we collectors have to remember that the Pokémon TCG is much bigger than the cards we put into binders. It’s the players who attend events weekly. It’s the stores that focus on the community. It’s those who were around before the hype blew up, and those who will likely remain after it settles. And focusing on those, well, it can only be a good thing.
