Understanding TCG Pre-Orders: Allocations, Pricing & What You Need to Know
👋 Greetings, Trainers!
We recently contacted customers regarding their One Piece TCG OP-17 (Japanese) allocations.
We understand it can be frustrating to receive less than the quantity originally pre-ordered. However, the terms below are already stated clearly on our product listings. We have prepared this FAQ to reaffirm and clarify our pre-order Terms & Conditions.
Q: Does a pre-order guarantee my full quantity?
No.
Our pre-order listings clearly state in bold red text:
“Allocation is not confirmed.”
The quantity you order is your requested quantity. The final quantity we can fulfil depends on what our suppliers allocate to us.
If our allocation is reduced, customer allocations may also be reduced.
Q: Why accept pre-orders if allocation is not confirmed?
Our original intention was to give customers the opportunity to secure upcoming products at an affordable pre-order price.
The benefit is that your price is locked in early, but this comes with allocation uncertainty.
Because this system has not been well received by some customers, we have decided to close Pokémon and One Piece pre-orders for the time being and focus more on confirmed stock.
Q: Can my pre-order price change?
No.
Your price is locked in when you place your order.
If the secondary-market price goes up, we will not increase your price.
Likewise, if the market price drops, your order will still be fulfilled at the original pre-order price.
We do not adjust pre-order pricing based on secondary-market movements.
Q: What happens to my deposit if you cannot fulfil my order?
Your deposit is held while we wait for final allocation.
Once allocation is confirmed:
- Full allocation - your order proceeds as normal.
- Partial allocation - we will fulfil what we can and advise you accordingly.
- Unfulfilled quantity - the applicable amount will be refunded.
We do not keep deposits for quantities that we are unable to fulfil.
Q: Why can allocations change?
Manufacturers and distributors may receive significantly more orders than the amount of stock being produced.
As a retailer, we can request a certain quantity, but we cannot control how much is ultimately allocated to us.
This is especially common with highly demanded Pokémon and One Piece releases.
Q: Can release or delivery dates change?
Yes.
Release dates and estimated arrival dates are based on information provided by manufacturers and distributors.
Production delays, shipping delays and allocation changes can all affect delivery timelines.
We will provide updates when reliable information becomes available, but these matters are outside our direct control.
Q: When will my pre-order ship?
Please check the release date shown on the product listing before ordering.
A pre-order is for a product that will be released in the future. It does not mean the item is ready to ship immediately after payment, nor does it guarantee that the item will be available on the official release date.
Orders will be dispatched after the product is released and the stock has arrived with us.
Q: What is the difference between pre-order and in-stock?
Pre-order
- Allocation may not be confirmed.
- Your price is locked in.
- Your final quantity may be reduced.
- Unfulfilled quantities will be refunded where applicable.
- Release and delivery dates may change.
In-stock
- The stock is already confirmed.
- You know exactly what quantity is available.
- There is no allocation uncertainty.
If you require 100% certainty, we recommend waiting and purchasing the product once it is available in stock.
Q: Why are you closing Pokémon and One Piece pre-orders?
Our intention was to allow customers to enjoy upcoming products at affordable pre-order prices.
However, because allocations are becoming increasingly unpredictable and the system has not been well received by some customers, we have decided to close Pokémon and One Piece pre-orders for now.
We believe selling confirmed stock will provide a simpler and better experience for everyone.
Q: Will you still sell future Pokémon and One Piece releases?
Yes.
We will continue selling both Pokémon and One Piece products.
We have also secured several new supply channels, which we believe will improve our allocations for future releases, including Pokémon's 30th Anniversary products, One Piece EB05, SPC and later releases.
Where possible, products will be listed once stock or allocation is sufficiently confirmed.
Q: Why can't you guarantee every pre-order?
Simply put, we do not manufacture the products or control distributor allocations.
We can submit our requested quantities, but the final quantity supplied to us is determined further up the supply chain.
We cannot guarantee stock that has not been confirmed to us.
Q: Can I contact your staff about my allocation?
Of course.
If you have questions about your order or allocation, please contact us and we will do our best to assist.
We simply ask that communication remains respectful.
We do not tolerate abusive language, threats or offensive remarks towards our staff.
Final Note
We understand the disappointment of waiting months for a product and receiving less than the quantity originally requested.
Our commitment is simple: fulfil as much as we can from the stock allocated to us, refund quantities we cannot fulfil where applicable, and communicate as clearly as possible.
Going forward, we will focus more heavily on confirmed stock while continuing to expand our supply network.
We’re excited about the upcoming releases, with many great products on the way, including Pokémon 30th Anniversary, Delta Reign, One Piece OP, EB and SPC series, Naruto, and more.
We’ll have these products in stock and available for purchase. Follow us to stay up to date and be the first to know when they drop!
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
- Management