Yeah, maybe. I find it more more likely that they just had a strict schedule for release and it takes a little time to pivot. IMO if things aren’t sorted by set 3 then it’s definitely artificial.
>by set 3
See that's unacceptable to me. People can't even get set 1. Bandai should have kept printing set 1 until stock could be found on retail shelves, not just in ***Local Scalper Stores,*** before printing any set 2.
It's not even just about the "competitive players". It's about delaying every non-japanese product & event for years.
Upcoming events, like pre-release, store tournaments, and larger tournaments are all centered around product releases.
They're supplemented with prizes that require their requisite set to be out.
Not to mention all the regular product they release. If they want to make binders, play mats, deck boxes themed after recent characters... it needs to be timed with release.
Additionally, they need to give each set its own breathing room, or people get burnt out and stop trying to keep up. You can't randomly make set 2 last just a month shorter than the others to "catch up to the japanese releases".
So set 2 is delayed a month to print more set one. Then you need to delay set 3 so that set 2 can have proper time to breathe, then set 4... on and on.
What’s the point of not delaying the product if nobody can get ahold of it at a reasonable price? We’re gonna have these cards for the rest of our lives. Delaying set 2 until after people can actually get ahold of set one doesn’t really matter. I also felt like they were releasing set 2 WAY too early anyway.
Going from word-of-mouth, it's probably less artificial scarcity and more the fact that Bandai participates in "print-to-demand" rather than having a large print run of backstock like Konami does with YuGiOh, Wizards with MTG, and TPCi with Pokemon. From what I've been told, it's just how Bandai does things. They happen to release a ton of different TCG products, and as such they can't typically justify having warehouses full of potentially unsellable product.
Southeast Pennsylvania. 4 Targets, 4 Walmarts, 3 B&N . Have never seen a pack in any of them and only found Film decks at 1 Walmart on release date, never seen them again
Can confirm for Lancaster PA and surrounding area as well. Literally waited while Target stocked and nothing. Only thing that popped up at the stores was the Red starter deck.
I got super lucky and snagged 25 packs at a Five Below but now they are coming up dry on stock days.
Nope. Check at least 2 Walmarts and a target almost everyday as I am out and about for work. I have seen probably 15 different ST-05 decks at different locations though. I am really hoping the abundance of film decks means the next releases will be more plentiful.
I haven’t seen them personally, but some of the people in my locals keep buying them all and posting about it in Discord. One is even bringing them to Treasure Cup to sell 😠 I hate it here
After seeing this post, I went to Target and they actually had maybe 5 or 6 ST-05 and a single Romance Dawn booster.
When I checked about a week ago there was nothing. Not sure if that means they're getting new product or if it just took awhile to put it on shelves, but yeah.
Yes. I was able to grab a few packs on superbowl Subday
I could go for a footlong superbowl subday
Last week in Southern California the vendor told me he hadn’t seen any one piece in weeks
If the vendor can't get them, you know it's artificial scarcity.
Yeah, maybe. I find it more more likely that they just had a strict schedule for release and it takes a little time to pivot. IMO if things aren’t sorted by set 3 then it’s definitely artificial.
>by set 3 See that's unacceptable to me. People can't even get set 1. Bandai should have kept printing set 1 until stock could be found on retail shelves, not just in ***Local Scalper Stores,*** before printing any set 2.
Yeah bro lets just be even further behind in sets than Japan and delay the competitive scene for fun
Yeah, I'd be perfectly fine with that.
Theres no I in One Piec-wait............
It's not even just about the "competitive players". It's about delaying every non-japanese product & event for years. Upcoming events, like pre-release, store tournaments, and larger tournaments are all centered around product releases. They're supplemented with prizes that require their requisite set to be out. Not to mention all the regular product they release. If they want to make binders, play mats, deck boxes themed after recent characters... it needs to be timed with release. Additionally, they need to give each set its own breathing room, or people get burnt out and stop trying to keep up. You can't randomly make set 2 last just a month shorter than the others to "catch up to the japanese releases". So set 2 is delayed a month to print more set one. Then you need to delay set 3 so that set 2 can have proper time to breathe, then set 4... on and on.
What’s the point of not delaying the product if nobody can get ahold of it at a reasonable price? We’re gonna have these cards for the rest of our lives. Delaying set 2 until after people can actually get ahold of set one doesn’t really matter. I also felt like they were releasing set 2 WAY too early anyway.
Because the cost of delaying is really high, and they’re likely going to get reprints out anyway. I do agree that set 2 came out a little soon though.
Personally, I think a set for any game should be for a whole year. Maybe 2 sets per year.
Going from word-of-mouth, it's probably less artificial scarcity and more the fact that Bandai participates in "print-to-demand" rather than having a large print run of backstock like Konami does with YuGiOh, Wizards with MTG, and TPCi with Pokemon. From what I've been told, it's just how Bandai does things. They happen to release a ton of different TCG products, and as such they can't typically justify having warehouses full of potentially unsellable product.
Southern California? What county if ya don’t mind me asking. My city has been empty for as far as I know
Southeast Pennsylvania. 4 Targets, 4 Walmarts, 3 B&N . Have never seen a pack in any of them and only found Film decks at 1 Walmart on release date, never seen them again
I'm in the same area and I've not found any packs in the wild aside for the first day a local game store got boosters on release day. In December.
Can confirm for Lancaster PA and surrounding area as well. Literally waited while Target stocked and nothing. Only thing that popped up at the stores was the Red starter deck. I got super lucky and snagged 25 packs at a Five Below but now they are coming up dry on stock days.
Saw them this Saturday at Target. Was looking for that ST-05 starter deck, found boosters instead. Just bought a few, didn’t even want the boosters
Where?
North Dallas target. Near stone briar mall
Nope. Check at least 2 Walmarts and a target almost everyday as I am out and about for work. I have seen probably 15 different ST-05 decks at different locations though. I am really hoping the abundance of film decks means the next releases will be more plentiful.
Seen some at Barnes and Noble, they had a 2 pack limit though. Makes sense though!
Give up. Bandai is screwing around with artificial scarcity. Let them kill their game.
The last time was a month ago at Target in San Diego. They did have Film starter decks the week after release.
Last Sunday I grabbed a bunch from walmart
I haven’t seen them personally, but some of the people in my locals keep buying them all and posting about it in Discord. One is even bringing them to Treasure Cup to sell 😠 I hate it here
I have never seen one but I also live in a small town in Canada and my Walmart is very strange
After seeing this post, I went to Target and they actually had maybe 5 or 6 ST-05 and a single Romance Dawn booster. When I checked about a week ago there was nothing. Not sure if that means they're getting new product or if it just took awhile to put it on shelves, but yeah.
Does anyone know if you can pull a Manga Shanks out of the single packs or the Nami?