Adjust Your Expectations: Pokemon TCG Shortages Will Continue Into 2021
- Thread starter Water Pokémon Master
- Start date
So... they've always had the power to print more product to meet demand and just haven't until now? Am I missing something? Or am I reading too much into this?
To play the game.
With the amount of large box sets i saw just lying around, just to dissappear the very next day, indicates it wasnt scalpers and i think they were recalled by vendors; and that this is an artificial shortage to drive up sales and value. I say conspiracy
I mean, I hope for the best, but... I'll believe it when I see it.
I was typing a lot about all of the factors and hypotheticals about this whole mess, but I scrapped it because that sums up what I think.
Edit: Though, I will say that demand outweighing supply has been an issue before the pandemic happened.
I was typing a lot about all of the factors and hypotheticals about this whole mess, but I scrapped it because that sums up what I think.
Edit: Though, I will say that demand outweighing supply has been an issue before the pandemic happened.
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Let me start by saying, regardless, I'm glad they're acknowledging things. That's a good sign. A lot like @Skeleton Liar I'm going to hope for the best but I'm only going to believe it when I see it.
I'd love to believe that Pokémon will do their best to improve their supply, and I completely understand the difficulties the pandemic has wrought upon the supply chain of basically any business and industry. It's inevitable that there were going to be issues and any sensible person would understand this.
However... They haven't been printing to demand since Hidden Fates came out. Which is why I'm remaining cautious on how much this is going to change things. Returning to the Hidden Fates level of stock isn't going to fix issues at all. So are they going to make an attempt to go beyond that? Or are they going to try and just go back to that old level of "Normal," where we're still going to have scalpers and whatnot buy everything out, just in greater numbers.
I'd like to remain hopeful that the former is what will happen, if not anytime soon, then once the pandemic, who knows when, settles some more and the supply chain is able to fully work to the levels it would in a normal situation. I understand the difficulties, as said before, but I also hope Pokemon takes the time to analyze the supply and demand situation and adapt. Otherwise, nothing will be solved, even post-pandemic.
As an aside-and I don't know how feasible this is- I think both a preorder window and/or the ability to backorder, would be a great way to combat the scalping issue. Giving customers a preorder window could give them a time to order what they want (within a certain limitation per person, of course) of the new release, Pokemon produces it to order, and then everyone who ordered gets their shipment of it, so long as they ordered within the preorder time period.
Backordering too, would allow for more reserves to be made even if the product goes out of stock. I did this with some Lego products that went out of stock the day they came out, and although there was some waiting, the point was I still got what I wanted. Even though it took some time to wait, which is fine, that backorder still allowed me to get the product even though I technically "missed" it. Pokemon allowing this for product releases would help as well, though scalpers would still be an issue. There would just have to be sufficient enough shipments to ensure that those who can backorder have ample time to do so.
Granted, I'm no supply chain manager, but I think if other industries can do this, Pokemon is well able to as well. They're only losing out by not giving the supply that matches the demand. Scalpers will always be an issue, don't get me wrong, but whatever improvement we can get we should encourage.
I'd love to believe that Pokémon will do their best to improve their supply, and I completely understand the difficulties the pandemic has wrought upon the supply chain of basically any business and industry. It's inevitable that there were going to be issues and any sensible person would understand this.
However... They haven't been printing to demand since Hidden Fates came out. Which is why I'm remaining cautious on how much this is going to change things. Returning to the Hidden Fates level of stock isn't going to fix issues at all. So are they going to make an attempt to go beyond that? Or are they going to try and just go back to that old level of "Normal," where we're still going to have scalpers and whatnot buy everything out, just in greater numbers.
I'd like to remain hopeful that the former is what will happen, if not anytime soon, then once the pandemic, who knows when, settles some more and the supply chain is able to fully work to the levels it would in a normal situation. I understand the difficulties, as said before, but I also hope Pokemon takes the time to analyze the supply and demand situation and adapt. Otherwise, nothing will be solved, even post-pandemic.
As an aside-and I don't know how feasible this is- I think both a preorder window and/or the ability to backorder, would be a great way to combat the scalping issue. Giving customers a preorder window could give them a time to order what they want (within a certain limitation per person, of course) of the new release, Pokemon produces it to order, and then everyone who ordered gets their shipment of it, so long as they ordered within the preorder time period.
Backordering too, would allow for more reserves to be made even if the product goes out of stock. I did this with some Lego products that went out of stock the day they came out, and although there was some waiting, the point was I still got what I wanted. Even though it took some time to wait, which is fine, that backorder still allowed me to get the product even though I technically "missed" it. Pokemon allowing this for product releases would help as well, though scalpers would still be an issue. There would just have to be sufficient enough shipments to ensure that those who can backorder have ample time to do so.
Granted, I'm no supply chain manager, but I think if other industries can do this, Pokemon is well able to as well. They're only losing out by not giving the supply that matches the demand. Scalpers will always be an issue, don't get me wrong, but whatever improvement we can get we should encourage.
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Didn’t they say the SAME thing regarding Champion’s Path’s supply issue back in October and it only resulted in the ETBs being reprinted?
That said I’m more of pessimist and, until I actually SEE more products in stores and said stores putting HARSH limits on the amount of product a person can buy per day, I’ll continue to see Tweets like these as “heartfelt” pleas to the crowd that ultimately ring hollow.
That said I’m more of pessimist and, until I actually SEE more products in stores and said stores putting HARSH limits on the amount of product a person can buy per day, I’ll continue to see Tweets like these as “heartfelt” pleas to the crowd that ultimately ring hollow.
Now let’s get them to acknowledge that their game is boring so they can do something about it.
Agree completely. They are just saying what they have to say, but in the retail stores it won't make a difference. There will still be bare shelves. And what's left at independent card shops will be 2x or 3x the price. I never was able to obtain a Champion's Path ETB at retail price.
Please reprint tons of Cosmic Eclipse, and not just the booster boxes.
Just wondering is this shortage the reason why cards have been so expensive recently?
That was one of the rambling bits that I scrapped from my post. They tweeted there would be more Champion's Path in October, and I only saw products in a Target once over a month later. Never again. And I never saw products in stores before that tweet. That was the only time I witnessed Champion's Path in the wild. I mean, I know that's anecdotal, but I at least thought I would have seen this set more than once. And I recall the Pokemon Center having pre-orders for the ETB reprint, but that lasted a whopping whole day, if that; I don't remember how long it was up before being filled.
You're not alone. I saw product on shelves one time, for part of a day, and then never again.
Jeez what a shitty take. I'm a collector and I don't mind these being reprinted at all despite being around when these came out and having some of the sets.
I only care about what's in my collection, not how rare or limited it is..
I don't mind if people want their cards to retain value, but if people are complaining that cards don't retain value from the newest set, then that's a problem.
It's not like TPCi would want to decide to reprint some Black & White sets.
It's not like TPCi would want to decide to reprint some Black & White sets.
Pokémon TCG is dying, but it isn't dead. In fact, the fan base in the United States has seemingly grown in recent years, rather than wither away like other countries.
Then it's not dying.
Where did you even get this information from? In the UK it was thriving before the lockdowns.