Unfortunately, it's rather difficult for us to verify your claims about an unnamed person in an unnamed store.
If this person is actually defrauding customers, then the correct place to go to is not Wizards, you, or other store owners; the correct place to go is the police.
And the better business bearu.
As a browncoat TO this does hurt me because of my location. Folks who didn't live here were only willing to come up for the big events like FNMs and our frist and last gameday.it sucks being out in the middle of nowhere.
I love tins--a good percentage of players tend to toss them at larger card shops and they are great for sorting 5ks if you have too many cards of one block or another to put into a sorting tray. They store more nicely than the L5R mugs, too (although I like the mugs since you can, you know, drink out of them).
you could drink or even eat out of this tin too...:p
well, i may have found something that works for my group, but i'll discuss it with them on Saturday. Its not the best thing in the world,but its better than nothing.
Seriously, compete against Target? The only time any big box store is even in the same ballpark is when the local FLGS are out of product because of limitations on distribution and they still have fat packs from 2 sets ago because no one wants to buy them from those places.
And we won't even discuss the form letter he got in response...seriously 'Wizards Of the Coast Collectible Trading Card Game Magic The Gathering'?
Well considering that its what i said when i sent them the original email asking them and since I don't have an FLGS (Which I've stated numerous times....) its either go with a big box store or not have anymore game days,FNMs or even a chance of a pre-release..
I think folks are still missing a critical point on this. If you get a local store to sponsor you running something and you want to run it off-site, you're going to lag in turnout. This is especially true for prereleases where many players will find out about the event and find a place to play through the Wizards site (the locator). All of the web-based promotional materials for those events (and Launch Parties, Game Days, and FNMs) funnel users to that site to find a place to play.
If you read the FAQ, it's clear that the store sanctioning the event has a major role:
1. It receives the product, promos, etc. No more FedExing them to your house (as they have done for me in the past) or the "alternate" tourney venue. This requires that the store doesn't just put that prerelease product straight to the shelves (something that would be a spectacular and more likely event in the case of a mass retailer), and additional time and attention for them in terms of shipping/receiving/etc. Most LGS's would be ok with this, I think, but a mass market store? Less likely...
2. It's the location listed on the locator. Your alternate venue will only be publicized through your own efforts (flyers, etc). Realistically, players are not going to walk into a store (whether it's your friendly local Target or your favorite-but-too-small LGS), ask an employee "Where's the tournament?" and be happy with an answer of "Oh, that pizza place you passed a few miles back." or the more likely answer of "Tournament? *shrug* I dunno..."
So folks like me who don't have an FLGS should just give up on ever running a major event again?
Hermes> How late does that pizza place stay open for you guys? I would think Target would rather have you playing in thier food court, of course they are only open till 9. Furthermore they aren't going to sell you product anywhere close to wholesale. Are your tournaments just Standard? Where do you get product now?
we normally just play on Saturday unless its FNM then we're normally done by 9 anyway and as part of our local history' the local play group before i joined had gotten kicked out of targets food court due to folks stealing and some other stuff... as for product, i order prizes online same with the last booster box i got when we did a draft...I order and then get reimbursed when it comes to the entry fees... but if target does indeed agree to let me use them, theres a chance that I can find out who their vendor person is and see what they can do in regards to product.
that was the stupidest email I've ever written...now to see if it works
and now i have a reply...
Target is always looking for unique and exciting projects that support our image or give back to the communities we serve. It's great to hear you're interested in us supporting the Wizards Of the Coast Collectible Trading Card Game Magic The Gathering.
We sponsor events that increase awareness of our store, promote Target brand loyalty with current guests and attract new guests. Additionally, the event or group seeking sponsorship must generally meet specific guidelines noted on the sponsorship request form.
Thanks for shopping with us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
John
Target Guest Relations
1-800-440-0680
note that when i wrote them,i indicated that I wouldn't need to use any of their in store space for my play group since we play at the peter piper pizza.
so,if you have a local target,this may be the way to go.
Am I the only one imagining walking into a Starbucks asking them if they'd like to stock a display case of boosters and hang a "Magic: The Gathering® Sold Here" sign in the window? I mean, I've seen Magic sold at a little hole-in-the-wall newsstand/magazine shop in a mall (in a small town, too, so it probably wouldn't be that hard to get them signed up as an FNM location if the players promised to handle all the actual work), so I guess anything's possible, but a coffee house?
this also says "sorry but now you have to do the hard work of getting back up to your current level once you find a new location"....
Edit: I'm currently seeing if one of the big box stores here in my town will help us out. I'll post their reply when i get it.
Down here I got the biggest draw of folks coming for the FNMs,I even had some folks come from Texas to take part in it and due to folks having other things to do friday nights,having a none FNM event isn't going to work.
And as for chance of them making exceptions:
For organizers, such as yourself, that are unable to associated with a store, we will offer an Event Support Kit starting with Mirrodin Besieged. This kit will be identical to the Gateway Support Kit for the most recent Core Set (Magic 2011 in this case), we will refresh with each new Core Set, and it will be available once per TO, after each new release. Organizers not associated with a store will still have access to rated and casual sanctioned events that are not a part of a WPN specific event.
Zephreum
Wizards Play Network
Wizards of the Coast
1-800-324-6496 (US and Canada)
425-204-8069 (From all other countries)
Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm PST / 12pm-8pm EST
Friday 9am-12pm PST / 12pm-3pm EST
Are you guys absolutely sure the item is only to be sent out once a year. My reading of the comment is that it only updates once a year, but that you can order it any time you run out of the product...
well,after each new set,it looks like you can order it again but you'll just be getting the same cards/poster (which is what i meant by once a year kit (sorry for the confusion)
@fistofthor: Once again, please read the thread. Have your TO contact WotC with your situation. If there are nos tores nearby, it is likely be a non-issue.
and for this we finally have answer:
"For organizers, such as yourself, that are unable to associated with a store, we will offer an Event Support Kit starting with Mirrodin Besieged. This kit will be identical to the Gateway Support Kit for the most recent Core Set (Magic 2011 in this case), we will refresh with each new Core Set, and it will be available once per TO, after each new release. Organizers not associated with a store will still have access to rated and casual sanctioned events that are not a part of a WPN specific event."
so yeah we're not getting anything more than that once a year support kit,if we are unable to associate with a store
@fistofthor: Once again, please read the thread. Have your TO contact WotC with your situation. If there are nos tores nearby, it is likely be a non-issue.
Actually to be specific it just locks a TO out of FNM and Pre-release promos. I have seen nothing saying they cannot run Launch Parties, Sanctioned tourneys, Game Day or even gateways.
its covered with "WPN levels and benefits will apply solely to stores" since those are benefits and about FNM it says "as of the December Friday Night Magic solicitation round starting October 15th" which is when this took effect.
And the better business bearu.
As a browncoat TO this does hurt me because of my location. Folks who didn't live here were only willing to come up for the big events like FNMs and our frist and last gameday.it sucks being out in the middle of nowhere.
you could drink or even eat out of this tin too...:p
Well considering that its what i said when i sent them the original email asking them and since I don't have an FLGS (Which I've stated numerous times....) its either go with a big box store or not have anymore game days,FNMs or even a chance of a pre-release..
So folks like me who don't have an FLGS should just give up on ever running a major event again?
we normally just play on Saturday unless its FNM then we're normally done by 9 anyway and as part of our local history' the local play group before i joined had gotten kicked out of targets food court due to folks stealing and some other stuff... as for product, i order prizes online same with the last booster box i got when we did a draft...I order and then get reimbursed when it comes to the entry fees... but if target does indeed agree to let me use them, theres a chance that I can find out who their vendor person is and see what they can do in regards to product.
and now i have a reply...
Target is always looking for unique and exciting projects that support our image or give back to the communities we serve. It's great to hear you're interested in us supporting the Wizards Of the Coast Collectible Trading Card Game Magic The Gathering.
We sponsor events that increase awareness of our store, promote Target brand loyalty with current guests and attract new guests. Additionally, the event or group seeking sponsorship must generally meet specific guidelines noted on the sponsorship request form.
For more information, please visit us online at http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/sponsorship-form.aspx. Here you can find detailed information about eligibility requirements and how to submit your request directly to Target.
Thanks for shopping with us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
John
Target Guest Relations
1-800-440-0680
note that when i wrote them,i indicated that I wouldn't need to use any of their in store space for my play group since we play at the peter piper pizza.
so,if you have a local target,this may be the way to go.
that was the stupidest email I've ever written...now to see if it works
this also says "sorry but now you have to do the hard work of getting back up to your current level once you find a new location"....
Edit: I'm currently seeing if one of the big box stores here in my town will help us out. I'll post their reply when i get it.
if i could get away with it,i'd slip that in with apocalypse and o-ring
And as for chance of them making exceptions:
See my post upthread about exceptions being made, which basicly amounted to "no exceptions"
well,after each new set,it looks like you can order it again but you'll just be getting the same cards/poster (which is what i meant by once a year kit (sorry for the confusion)
and for this we finally have answer:
"For organizers, such as yourself, that are unable to associated with a store, we will offer an Event Support Kit starting with Mirrodin Besieged. This kit will be identical to the Gateway Support Kit for the most recent Core Set (Magic 2011 in this case), we will refresh with each new Core Set, and it will be available once per TO, after each new release. Organizers not associated with a store will still have access to rated and casual sanctioned events that are not a part of a WPN specific event."
so yeah we're not getting anything more than that once a year support kit,if we are unable to associate with a store
hopefully we'll have an answer on monday...
its covered with "WPN levels and benefits will apply solely to stores" since those are benefits and about FNM it says "as of the December Friday Night Magic solicitation round starting October 15th" which is when this took effect.