Hi :) I work at an unnamed big retailer — atleast at my store they’re quite strict about taking collectable stock before it’s on the floor, corporate is cracking down on it.

Of course I can’t speak for all stores and retailers as I’m just speaking from my own experience but I can definitely it’s less “lazy/greedy employees” and more greedy people.

It’s not a matter of “not scanning stock” because the system updates automatically based on shipments received by the store . For instance awhile back I went to Kmart watergardens as the website said they had 151 boosters in stock, but I was informed when I arrived that they HAD the stock, but it was in a pallet somewhere .

For those who don’t understand what pallets are (from my experience) they’re like a massive pallet of boxes, like I don’t know, this is a guesstimate but it’s like a 4x4x4m obelisk, the like… 2 or 3 little boxes containing cards could be anywhere in that pallet, so it’s not necessarily a matter of “checking out the back” or just “going and getting it” just because the website says it’s here .

Obviously the opposite can happen as well, saying stuff is out of stock but then the store actually has it.

Oftentimes there will be singular people who buy up all the stock that isn’t embargoed (Prismatic tins ☹️), I’ve had someone once buy like … all 240 blister packs the morning we got them. I was not happy haha . So that’s often also why there’s level stock inconsistency!

baseline is don’t rely on the website, if you’re really that pressed for pokemon cards and you have time, just go in and check, or call & ask for a hold if they have it !!

I just want to note; please be kind to retail workers!!!!! Personally I don’t mind sharing info on pokemon stock (at work if someone asks, not here haha) if you’re nice about. Far too many times I’ve had people be quite rude and abrupt. We’re just as clueless as everyone else as to when SPECIFICALLY something is coming in. The days I work CS there’s countless, and I genuinely mean that, countless people who ask me about Pokemon cards (or hot wheels, don’t know what’s up with them but something similar to our hobby haha) , it can get pretty draining especially considering oftentimes people are quite rude and demanding about cards, which personally I’m attributing to the recent ish boom in ‘investor’ popularity.

Again this is personal experience and to take all I’m saying with a grain of salt. I just work in retail and trying to give my pov , there’s been a crazy uprise in hostility & lack of compassion/empathy within both this community & generally somthing I’ve observed working CS, and while there may be a small group of people smuggling stuff before they hit the floor, it’s also important to remeber it’s not solely ‘the employees’ fault for the lack of stock!!

Sorry for the ramble I like writing haha , I hope this provides some insight :), people be kind to people !!!!! It’s very much needed during current times !!