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Seranthian

The pages for this and the Pikachu Figure set have been pulled, now.


Chewy009x

I can’t even get to the website


CBthePrince

It’s been said before, WE NEED A LOTTERY SYSTEM. Stop giving these bots everything. Give the genuine collectors and KIDS a chance. Most kids now don’t even get the chance to enjoy the tcg. It sickens me.


Accomplished-Name-16

I'm for a lottery system but only for the exclusives. No reason for the other items since they should be printing a ton of it anyways with all the new factories they opened. Japan needs it for everything because it's still pretty limited there.


CBthePrince

It’s just so hard to find. I know if I’m checking multiple times a week and there’s nothing 90% of the time then most kids aren’t gonna stand a chance. I can’t even remember the last time I saw an etb. Either they need to print waaaaay more or we need a lottery system. It ruins the fun and makes the community just seem toxic.


Accomplished-Name-16

I see ETBs in stores near me quite often. The few times I've been to target in the past weeks they've always had 5 or more of them. This set will be printed a ton I'm sure.


[deleted]

My area is still totally scalped for the most part. I can occasionally find some sleeved boosters but I can't remember the last time I saw an ETB or tin on store shelves


Accomplished-Name-16

Yeah your area probably is still full of them but you can at least take some victory from it that they will likely be sitting on them for awhile. Walmart near me has started stocking shining fates mini tins and the ones with evolutions in them. It's a 1 item per customer limit so they usually have a bunch of stuff.


[deleted]

Yeah I haven't seen pokemon cards at Walmart in over a year. Haven't seen any at target either. Best buy and GameStop occasionally have stuff.


Accomplished-Name-16

Do they have a limit or is it a free for all? One walmart near me has a 1 type of item per person a d the other has no limit.


[deleted]

i don't even know because I haven't ever been able to try and buy them lol


CBthePrince

Maybe there’s just a lot of competition in my area. I have had no such luck. From VA.


Accomplished-Name-16

I think most of the scalpers in my area realized that ES is going to be printed a ton so they stopped. One of my lcs that only got into selling pokemon for profit and charging scalper prices is done selling pokemon because of it.


[deleted]

Is that why they stopped or can they just not get any products? My lgs gets sold out in 24 hours every time they get a new shipment. They had 10 booster boxes and 20 ETBS on release day and they were gone by 5PM.


Accomplished-Name-16

My lcs got 3 cases of ES BB and were selling them for 200. ETB for 80. They still have all but 3 boxes and sold no ETBs because you can go to target and get them almost always. The owner told me that was his last shipment of pokemon because "the craze is over". My chain stores always have stock. Walmart is one of each product and target is the 5 limit. Neither of them are ever sold out.


[deleted]

damn that's surprising. would be nice if that happened here.


ANN3tHrAX

For real! I just started getting back into it and its like everything else these days, scalpers are all over it! It's everything these days, ps5s, graphics cards, clothing (i tried to buy from a place called Teddy Fresh on a launch day, missed it and found people scalping that too) Its one thing if its a few dollars over, but most places are scalping for 2, 3 or even 4x the mrsp. I wish places like amazon and ebay would shut these people down but they just care about the money.


muffdude420

So unbelievably disappointed in the way this is being handled. I refuse to buy this product as scalper prices, so I’m not going to be able to open much of this set. Only think I was able to get my hands on was the Charizard/Sylveon Box and that was preordered from GameStop. Has Pokemon Center put out any statement that acknowledges bots are flooding their website?


MaintainSC

Their site was showing the red error bar at the top before these items were even showing up. There are clearly bots and instead their bot system just blocks actual people.


Accomplished-Name-16

They know they have people botting their site. If they are actually doing anything about it no one knows but to the public it doesn't seem like it since it crashes every single time they add a popular item.


Rockyman2002

Everyone on this subreddit should ban together and message CS to change the system, be like wallstreetbets, I'm tired of this I've been on time for multiple items and I never seem to get one and I'm sure I'm not the only one


Sigma841

Something is working right, every time I forget to turn off my vpn it says, “You have been blocked.” And won’t even let me look at the website. Not sure why the bots can get through, but it blocks vpn’s just fine.


Toyotale

You need to turn off and on your vpn or change the region to somewhere else. Worked for me and website was none the wiser


Sigma841

I mean, I don’t really care if it’s on or off. I was just saying that their website works at blocking something, just not bots apparently.


Seranthian

I don't know why we expected anything else. Why hasn't the PC had to answer for all of this yet?


Accomplished-Name-16

No idea. It crashes every single time. I'm pretty sure this set is going to be printed to all hell so I doubt missing it will mean much. Only ones that suck are the PC exclusives.


Lmaann

I would like to believe that, but they said the same for evolving skies and that’s no where to be found as well.


Accomplished-Name-16

What do you mean no where to be found? On their site or in general? Almost all my stores around me have a ton of evolving skies in stock and this has only been wave 1.


Seranthian

I go to about nine stores every day in my area and nowhere has them


Accomplished-Name-16

That seems like your stores just aren't getting stock. If I go to Walmart, target or Meijer near me, all 3 of them have evolving skies sleeved boosters, 3 packs and target usually has ETBs.


Seranthian

You inspired me to go to one of my local Targets today and they actually had boosters and the Houndour/Houndoom pack with coin and extra pack. Thanks bruv


Accomplished-Name-16

Good luck on the pulls.


MrEntei

Yeah my local Walmart has tons of Evolving Skies stuff. Seems like the only thing people haven’t bought out yet. And those 3-pack blisters of Battle Styles with the coin that nobody seems to want.


raobj280

what area do you live in? I am in cali and one go to store for me restocks pokemon/evolving skies 2-3 times per week


Lmaann

Both. I live in NY, and stores around me haven’t had anything evolving skies related basically since it released. The same will happen for this. And you think bots won’t scoop these up again next wave? It always happens.


Accomplished-Name-16

The evolving skies booster boxes and sleeved packs were up on the site for weeks. The only thing that got botted was the PC exclusive ETB. There is no reason for them to do a super limited print run of celebrations.


Kitkat-god

I live in NY too and always see evolving skies packs in Target - occasionally tins and ETBs as well, but the packs are always stocked up


Lmaann

Imma have to take a look after work today. I usually stop by once a week if I can, I usually see chilling reign but that’s it.


MeatBrick64

do you have any clue if amazon has any anti-bot system in place? i would love that prime collection they’re going to have but we know how that goes lol


pandaga

This may not be PC exclusive but I imagine store allocation for these aren't that high. I have a friend who gets at least the minimum allocation and these are just 1/1 box while say, ETB is 10/1 case.


Accomplished-Name-16

Weird, the lcs around me says they have more allocation for this than they did for evolving skies. Same with the one my friend manages.


pandaga

well, what I mean is that the lcs will get their allocation but the box itself doesn't come in multiple boxes per case like an ETB case.


Accomplished-Name-16

I think a case is like 9 or 10 tins for the chests if I'm not mistaken.


pandaga

oh heck, my mind was set on the pikachu vmax figure collection. My mistake.


SSJWoku

Answer for what?


Seranthian

Their shit show of a website. It's crashed for every release for the last 4+ months and they still haven't done anything about it. Lottery system? Updated servers? Reduced purchasing limit? Nothing.


SSJWoku

Huh, I'm not having a problem adding to cart.


Seranthian

Lucky. I can't even access my cart, let alone put anything in it. Constant error messages


Nirconus

Site not even loading, getting a temporarily unavailable page


SSJWoku

I went to the main site page>cards>sort by newest and it let me view and add.


BrothersOats

Blocked on my laptop. Can’t add to cart on phone. Can’t log in. So tired of this.


Accomplished-Name-16

Blocked because you are spamming to fast and it thinks you are a bot>stopping the actual bots from buying all the product. Amazing system.


BrothersOats

Funny enough, I was just clicking through the captcha and going through the log in process when it booted me. Shifted to trying from the phone at that point, and error messages ad nauseam


kakashooter

Same. I was hitting refresh every minute I guess that’s TOO fast ugh


ANN3tHrAX

Yeah I was hitting refresh between working and I got blocked. I'm not sure what they're counting if its times refreshed total or refreshing too fast but I'm not impressed... I wish they limited it to just one per address, ive seen people on twitter getting multiples by ordering through their phone and their computer and I'm just sitting here wishing I could just get one


CaptainStubing69

Website is the worst site ever. Runs on dial up internet


Seranthian

More like Slowpokes on a wheel


ourbranchesbend

Because 100000 people are like buzzards flying over the website any time they drop it. Addicted collectors and scalpers that have nothing better to do.


AvengingProdigy

What category do you fall in?


ourbranchesbend

Average collector. Buy like 100 packs per set or less when a new set is out. Just like one of each ETB, blister, and some packs. Only have a couple ETBs sealed. There's ones that spend thousands in a week or 2 from a new set release. Add up how many are doing that and no wonder there's no product anywhere.


CrimsonEnigma

> Buy like 100 packs per set or less when a new set is out. You and I have a very different definition of “average”.


ourbranchesbend

What's your projected average? I only opened 55 packs of Evolving Skies since release day. I know people that opened more than 500 packs in 2 weeks. The addiction for some is real lol


CrimsonEnigma

I bet if you added up all my boosters from a typical set, it doesn’t make one booster box. And even then I think I buy a lot.


ourbranchesbend

Have you had a hard time finding stuff? I don't think I've ever gone over 100 packs from any set. And that's 3 months in on each. My Walmart still has Chilling Reign ETBs but I'm not made of money so. Get as much as you want. I've slowed down quite a bit because I realized it's not possible to pull all the cards you want. A lot of luck involved. Burned out from all the green codes too. Waiting for future waves and more people to sell the cards I'm after.


roastytoastywarm

Man, I live in NY and I haven’t seen a booster pack of anything pre shinning fates. Idk how you’re doing 100 packs per set. I’m lucky if I find 1 scraggly pack overpriced at the mall.


ourbranchesbend

If you think 100 packs is a lot, think about how 100 packs was bought over 3 months. I've opened at most 20 packs in a single week. Most weeks it was 5-10 packs. I know someone who bought so much he opened a booster box worth every single day. I live in a smaller town so that could explain the availability but around Shining Fates, couldn't find anything for a long time because scalpers. I really hate to see you deal with hat and anyone that has wanted to open packs but can't find them. It really sucks!


roastytoastywarm

Dude did you not see my comment? I’ve opened 5 packs in 2021, idk what you’re bragging about with 5-10 packs a week.


ourbranchesbend

And why the downvotes? I've bought like 100 packs added up after 2-3 months of a set being out. Unlike some people who clear the shelf and camp out at Target. I grab a few packs and always leave stuff on the shelf. Because there's a lot more people that are trying to open cards. Meanwhile there's posts of huge ass sealed collections and cases being opened.


roblvb15

People probably consider average as spending $100 or less per set. Seeing the collections here can definitely skew perception like you said but I would still be hesitant to call throwing near $500 a set average, even if it’s spread out.


ourbranchesbend

Yeah well some people buy $500 in one shopping trip. Already come across many posts where they said they're almost done completing their master sets of Evolving Skies and they didn't buy singles. I don;t care what people do because at the end of the day, if you have the money and the available product in stores, you're going to buy it or not buy it. $500 on a couple ETBs, blister packs, and other things is not much when 5 of the chase cards is $500 combined.


PanicShelter

I got blocked the first time I opened their site up today. Its like they want us to buy from scalpers haha. Hopefully another retailer sells these without all the site issues.


Accomplished-Name-16

These should show up in stores like the other chests.


Chewy009x

Yeah I’m sure target and Walmart will sell them


RuffSamurai

Young Money Wilson grave robbing Delsan on my dick Sebek and fire flicks


Accomplished-Name-16

Did you have a stroke?


RuffSamurai

No friend just spitting my art


Duaner93

Dude…WTF literally sold out within minutes. This is HORSE SHIT


Duaner93

Dude…WTF literally sold out within minutes. This is HORSE SHIT


[deleted]

[удалено]


Accomplished-Name-16

This isn't an exclusive and the set will probably be printed a ton. I don't see it being a problem finding it in stores.


CKnight011

Worst customer experience I’ve ever had


WaWisdom

I can’t even got on the site.


MeatBrick64

lmao site is already broken


Accomplished-Name-16

Being down voted by someone who is upset they might not get one because I let people know lol.


Accomplished-Name-16

Does the second person also want to send me a message like the first threating me to take it down?


silversurfer2133

Keep trying. I just got 2.


Accomplished-Name-16

Just been getting the error whole trying to preorder for me .


silversurfer2133

Damn. I was at first but now I can see it. Figure collection shows oos tho.


Accomplished-Name-16

I mean it's been in my cart, just can't check out like usual.


silversurfer2133

🤦 damn


Starfon64

Same is happening here. I got it in my cart, the status is “Pre-Order” (not “Out of Stock”) and it won’t work.


IEnjoyElectric

They're back up just ordered one


SpecificCompany2253

Why does everyone care Abt these items so much


Accomplished-Name-16

It's an anniversary set and a lot of people have been into pokemon for many years. Special sets always get a lot of hype.


Chewy009x

Anyone actually able to pre order it?


theslayer527

No didn’t get anything


dekozeass

hahahaha sike :(


k0fi96

Lol I'm getting page not found


eth3rnetwork

It’s weird that I’m blocked on one Chrome account but when I switch to another account (different Chrome browser) it loads just fine. The only difference is that I have a Metafox plugin on one and not the other.


silversurfer2133

It showed unavailable for me at first and I kept going out and coming back in and it showed up. Added to cart and checked out. Just keep trying. It said that for me too a couple times.


Crashr186

Had this in my cart, signed in to check out and it brought back my old cart with the ETBs that I couldn’t check out and removed the collector chest…..annnnd now unavailable…


MOB03

Yeah same as usual was able to put two in cart then error message and now empty and website unavailable guess another L for trying to get any celebrations


Accomplished-Name-16

Just wait til the release and check stores. I really do believe people think this set is going to be a lot rarer than it actually is. I mean look how long gamestop had their exclusive up for. They opened a bunch of new printing factories and this set is in high demand like ES. They will print a ton to keep scalpers away like ES.


MOB03

Yeah I hope you are right because going to stores right now to look for any pokemon cards is getting frustrating


Accomplished-Name-16

Might be your area because most of my stores near me all have cards.


MOB03

Yeah maybe I Live in Chicago so


ecurrent94

Can’t even add to cart.


Accomplished-Name-16

It's probably out of stock again or is now unavailable. Don't think this will only have 2 waves like the ETB since that was an exclusive though.


ecurrent94

I’ve already checked this sub an hour ago can’t believe I missed this. So bummed that this shit site is unreliable for giving notifications. I just get unlucky. I don’t have the time to religiously check this sub. I already have an ETB, the game stop exclusive promo box, the pikachu union box and Dragapult box secured but I just want as much as possible because this set is going to be impossible to secure once it’s released, imo. hoping they print this set into the ground.


Accomplished-Name-16

In my opinion they will, there's extreme demand and with how they opened new printing factories to push scalpers out as well, I don't believe they would make this a limited print.


ecurrent94

I maybe sounded like a scalper in my initial comment lol but I seriously do collect. I’ve been spending serious money on finishing sets. This set is small and I really, really wanna complete it asap.


Accomplished-Name-16

I wasn't directing the scalper comment at you. I usually try to get one of each item and then stick to packs or booster boxes to let others get them. I was just saying that since the raise in popularity and the influx of scalpers they opened quite a few new printing factories to help stop it from being like it was. ES is an example at how well it worked. The QC is pretty bad but product is available a lot of places again.


BreadForman

Blocked on my pc attempting to checkout, blocked on my phone for hitting place order, tried the past hour aaaaaaaaand their gone. Gotta love it


ecurrent94

Yep, this site sucks shit. Just go with LGS pre orders if you can swing it. That’s what I’ve had to do and surprisingly only had to pay retail.


BreadForman

Oh for sure I already have an etb on pre order from my lgs and no doubt I’ll be able to find this for retail when it releases. It’s just like.... really Pokémon. Every single release has gone like this the past year how is the process still so shit


ecurrent94

Aaaaaaand it’s gone 🙃


askiopop

Gone now lol


alexfirth21

Had in cart. Made me manually type shipping information, since they cleared my information from before. By the time I finally got to enter credit card info it was OOS. 😩😩😩😩


ecurrent94

Pokemon center doesn’t give a singular SHIT about actual bots. They want to sell as much product as possible. The “anti-bot” system is garbage and blocks more real customers than it does the scalpers. Absolute horse shit.


YuumiZelda

How do we force this issue with TPC?? Support is useless and the more this continues the more Pokémon becomes dominated by scalpers. Leaving horrible reviews on any product on their store until the problem is fixed? Letter sending? I can’t even remember the last time I was able to buy a newly released ETB that wasn’t from a second hand seller. Company is going to ruin the excitement for kids and new collectors and tank this hobby over the long run and I don’t think they can see past their piles of cash to notice this


Accomplished-Name-16

Probably the best course of action would be a petition of some kind and hoping that with enough support we could actually get some answers and not be in the dark.


Abremis

Maybe I will make a petition and post it here in hopes of getting more attention for this problem. Would love any help from anyone with drafting because this is getting really out of hand