So Target’s ETB Sale went out of stock almost immediately. Which is pretty sad. People were lined up outside stores to only find that someone had somehow already gotten to the Elite Trainer Boxes first or that Target employees hadn’t put any out.
Scalpers Target Black Friday ETB
byu/Rekt_uhm inPokemonTCG
One person reported the following happening at their Target store… “Three dude sprinted to the back of the store and then wrestled each other over the entire stock. They let one dude, get 12 ETBs. I’m not trying to get into a fight for Pokémon cards.”
Which is ridiculous as heck. If you’re wrestling for Pokemon product you have gone way too far and need to reevaluate your life. We’re talking about shiny cardboard here not gold. They’re right to say this kind of behavior is killing the hobby.’
It’s also humorous to note that even more people in the comments report Target not having any stock of ETBs in store.
Don’t even try to get the $20 target ETB if you don’t line up 30 mins before store open
byu/Bound0 inPokemonTCG
Another person has reported that their Target has no ETBs and they’re having to make a single file to the trading cards section!
Anyone else’s Target not have any ETBs come in?
byu/BilNiTheRussianSpy inPokemonTCG
Even more people reporting Target not having Elite Trainer Boxes in stock!
Disappointing Black Friday
byu/TangoDeltaFoxtrot inPokemonTCG
And even when you confirm with Target employees you still won’t get any ETBs.
“Last night I confirmed with an employee that the Black Friday promos were in stock, and they said they had four display boxes in stock. This morning I was at the door when it was unlocked, along with about a dozen other people looking for these cards. They were nowhere to be found. None were showing in stock any more, either. Another guy had also confirmed yesterday that they had four displays in stock. A manager came out to tell us that these are vendor managed items and the vendor must not have been around yet.”
I guess vendors weren’t given enough of a heads up about Target’s ETB sales! Which seems to check out seeing as people over and over again are reporting that there are no ETBs to be found.
I want to blame Target for this $20 ETB mess.
byu/Alternative_Plane976 inPokemonTCG
And here we go again, a vendor didn’t come in time for the ETB sale at Target…
“We circled the store and no etb I sight. The staff who was putting up the price signs couldn’t even find it. Finally a store manager told us that the vendor hasn’t come yet.”
I do not understand what Target thought it was doing. That product should’ve been in store long before it was needed. It’s supposed to be a big sale that draws people in, and while they drew people in, they achieved zero sales. I doubt anybody stayed around for popcorn.
$20 Target ETB Rant
byu/SixApplePies inPokemonTCG
Even if there is stock at a Target, you apparently aren’t going to get a single box.
“Went with two of my friends this morning to buy one or two each, got there about 20 minutes before opening, and a bunch of people were also waiting, some of them with a cart. Store opened and everyone started hauling to the back of the store, I walked over and there was nothing on display. We overheard some guy on the phone saying their buddy found them and how they’ll get $400? We asked what store and that he bought the whole display…”
Hoarders and scalpers have seriously effected this hobby. People are not getting the opportunities they deserve to participate in Pokemon sets at MSRP. Instead if they want to participate they have to pay insane prices, which forces people out of the hobby. Scalpers and hoarders are actively hurting the hobby, not helping it. A two per person ETB limit is a good idea, but only if it’s enforced and there’s sufficient stock. Sounds like that wasn’t the case at some Targets.
Target has screwed up with this sale. Even if things went smoothly at every single other store, which I’m strongly guessing it did not, there shouldn’t be this many redditors complaining. It’s disproportionate to their representation in society. But hey, maybe things did go smoothly and we just aren’t hearing in from them yet. Feel free to comment bellow if your Target adventure went well or badly.
Let’s hope that not only does Target figure out its stocking problems but that regular people will be able to get some Elite Trainer Boxes. I mean Black Friday sales should be for everyone and you shouldn’t have to see grown ass people wrestling.
Black Friday seems to bring out the worst in some people, with fist fights and tramplings and wrestling, is this really the society we want? I’m being serious, is this how you want your fellow citizens to behave?
I am quite sure that we’re going to hear about some pretty bad behavior coming up when it comes to Pokemon products.
Update 11/25/2024
Some Target stores are just now getting their ETB displays out! Vendors may have even restocked some displays! Try checking your Target again! I mean don’t be too hopeful but still…