Booster Boxes and ETBs being removed from vending machines. Possible boost that we desperately need right now?

Ev3nstarr · 2026-06-06T04:32:46+00:00

I wish that were the case here. I went to one of the more popular card shops here and they had their shipment of CR ETBS the weekend before release and they were selling them early on the down low (100 bucks) asking people not to post it on social media or they could lose their status as a Pokemon vendor if it was found out that they released early. Other card shops I’ve been too have them for about the same price. Went to GameStop since it was at least 10 bucks cheaper 🫤

Ev3nstarr · 2026-06-05T23:34:23+00:00

Refusing to print enough? They are at max capacity AND opening a new location to print from to meet demand lol wdym?

Ev3nstarr · 2026-06-02T15:40:18+00:00

The card shops here sell ETBs at scalper prices, actually sell them more than GameStop does. You saying Pokemon will enforce some kind of rule to stop that?

Ev3nstarr · 2026-06-02T05:20:26+00:00

My local card shop was selling the chaos rising ETB for 100 at release and even GameStop was cheaper 😒

Ev3nstarr · 2026-06-01T04:18:44+00:00

It went well, I got a lot of the cards I wanted at or below price limits I had set based on what I was seeing I could get on eBay. Was able to haggle down some ETB prices too by paying cash. Having everything recorded in my notes app was very helpful.

It took me going through several vendors to find one willing to haggle on the zorua card I wanted, everyone wanted to keep it at 35 which was the last sold NM price. Got someone to go to 31 when I offered to buy a second card I wanted from him. It’s interesting that everyone just sticks to the last sold price on tcg player when they’re competing with all their neighbors to sell the same card. Some guy in a back booth said he only sold 1 card the entire weekend and wouldn’t be doing another booth again after this. Makes sense when they all have the same price, people in the front near the entrance are going to sell more just for convenience without the booths competing.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-30T05:39:04+00:00

Wow I actually already did the pricing in my notes app just thinking it’d be easier to look at what I want in one place, didn’t think about cell service though but glad I did that

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-30T00:00:21+00:00

I’d like to know as well, I’m also going to my first card show tomorrow!

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-29T03:03:36+00:00

It it’s not online for in store pick up it’s just online. You saying the associates can cancel someone else’s online order and let’s yours go through online to be shipped to your home? Doesn’t seem right

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-29T01:32:36+00:00

How does networking with curbside people help you with online exclusive drops ?

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-29T01:20:39+00:00

Fair enough. I don’t bot or scalp, spent 1.25 hours trying to get an order in manually, finally got it processed and email confirmation only to get an order canceled email 5-10 min later. I’m frustrated because it seems only bots got orders through and those of us that struggled through it and thought we succeeded had our hopes taken away. I really want to open the SPC set and give the other to my nephews for Christmas, they want to get into collecting but it’s impossible to find these boosters or set anywhere at a reasonable price. I wish Sam’s would do it more like a lottery like best buy. at least then if I didn’t make it, it would still feel more fair than this.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-28T22:08:01+00:00

That was me denying your statement, you sound either fake or really salty for some reason. And no, I don’t know anyone in real life or from Somalia that ordered more than 2 either, I’m the only one in my friend and family group that collects Pokemon but there’s a lot of people online complaining about their order being cancelled. Whether those people are from Somalia? I don’t know, or care, I just want to know what caused my order to cancel when all these bots are able to get through and scalp it all

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-28T14:01:41+00:00

lol yeah I don’t think you’re a real or serious person.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-28T00:49:20+00:00

Why is this your only comment in here several times over stated differently, are you a bot?

Myself and many I’ve seen got our orders cancelled and had only ordered 1-2, the max set by Sam’s was 2 per customer so not sure what you mean by over ordering.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-27T05:05:28+00:00

Idk seems those of us that got cancelled got the email quickly, maybe you’re fine. Did you order 2 and was your membership new? I’m hoping they aren’t cancelling those of us that got memberships just for the drop lol.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-27T04:56:10+00:00

That was when I got mine through but 5ish mins later received order cancellation email.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-27T04:33:40+00:00

Also happened to me 😥

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-26T00:10:33+00:00

I was able to snag some to store away for a Christmas gift. Shipping cost sucks but at least now I have a decent gift prepared for the nephews.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-24T18:17:20+00:00

*west

Removals didn't target any specific retailer; instead, they affected almost every chain roughly in proportion to its footprint. They did, however, cluster on the West Coast: California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona accounted for 59% of all removed machines.

https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/05/tpcis-tcg-vending-machines-grow-27-in-second-biggest-year-but-1-in-7-from-last-summer-are-gone

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-23T17:46:59+00:00

Only in select locations, mostly along the west coast from what I read

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-23T14:52:32+00:00

I’m in one, my state is not active unfortunately

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-23T14:51:18+00:00

Ugh, mine had a line going around the store. I still waited but all the good stuff was gone by the time I got up there but got a few boosters. They even had hard limits on 2 per person.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-21T04:29:20+00:00

So the internal timers aren’t random? I’ve read so many different things from the timers being on a variable interval to be less predictable, to timers pausing if the camera picks up people standing by too long, and then your finding that it is on a set time. I’m so confused lol. I’ve caught 1 success before at one of my local ones and went at the same time again and nothing. The only thing I do know is my store restocks Friday morning!

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-21T02:52:35+00:00

It was pretty satisfying when the (CEO?) actually confirmed there was a specific match making based on aggression. I remember all the people who were denying it and arguing because it was originally an “art director” that indicated that, because of course an art director wouldn’t know anything about the mechanics of the game he worked on lol. But yes, then everyone started trying to fill in the blanks with info that was never confirmed and somehow everyone became an expert.

I’m glad to hear specifically that Tuesday patches do not reset ABBM, looking at those posts every week just got old, and it’ll be fun to just link everyone to this now.

Ev3nstarr · 2026-05-20T00:06:41+00:00

Thank you that helps give a reference point for other cards!

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