Pokémon Card Sellers Were Suspended. What now?

[@columbuscardshop3368]

A common expression is "their sandbox, their rules," which applies here. TCGPlayer has every right to restrict unauthorized automated access to their system. I think it has more to do with protecting the integrity of their systems as opposed to a conscious effort to stifle competition.

[@TheLabTCG]

Good point, I think there could be a little bit of both. That being said, you're right, it is up to them and how they handle stuff.

[@xxrenorzxx5118]

@The Lab TCG You can still get access to the API but you need to be a "partner" I think there is a form you can fill out and they tell you yes or no.

[@TheLabTCG]

I've filled this form out so many times and never hear anything back. A lot of others I know have experienced the same thing. Afaik, they aren't approving new API usage.

[@alexandermerry190]

Good to know! Didn’t know this was happening, but definitely scary for anyone who sells full time on TCGplayer

[@TheLabTCG]

Thanks for the comment Alexander! Definitely is, glad you found the video information :)

[@atlasbenedict3313]

i was banned before i even got the chance to list anything, and no one is answering my emails

[@TheLabTCG]

oh no :(

[@StonesTradingCo]

I didn’t know this was happening, and I don’t sell on tcg but still kept me interested all the way through! Great video

[@TheLabTCG]

Thanks Stoneplays! I hadn't seen many people talking about it, really glad you liked it!

[@Kellios3865]

Will, one of your better video's thanks for the info. Your quality has gotten a lot better!

[@TheLabTCG]

Wow, thanks! Super glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind words! :)

[@NAVI7x]

As always appreciate your knowledge you give the community. Also I'm sure many of us are interested in that other website now that you brought it up. If you could make a video about them that would be awesome

[@TheLabTCG]

No problem! I was going to make a video on them, but now I am going to hold off due to the stuff going on with TCGP. In the future when this stuff clears up, I might make one!

[@PokemonTenLV]

sounds to me like keeping tabs on your own inventory is the solution.. i dont deal with 3rd parties leeching off of my already thin margins for sales from cards and packs..not paying monthly for things like shopify on top of a percentage of each sale.... tried it in the beginning and dont understand how others maintain profitability.. i like keeping my money i work for.

[@TheLabTCG]

It is unfortunate that some of the solutions end up lowering margins even further. I wouldn't say they are all bad though, if the business can afford it, the autonomy that these solutions provide is likely well worth the fee for the increase in sales and simplicity.

[@EnochTheMuffin]

This reminds me of the BrickLink/BrickOwl debacle for Lego sellers about 10 years ago. Diversifying to other platforms does increase your exposure, but inventory management is a pain!

[@TheLabTCG]

Interesting, I haven't heard about that! I used to play with legos when I was much younger, really love them. Thanks for the comment Enoch!

[@bestbotreview]

Hi will If an order gets lost in the mail does tcg cover that or does the seller?

[@TheLabTCG]

Unfortunately TCGPlayer does not cover lost mail. It is on the seller to refund the buyer.

[@bestbotreview]

Thanks great content

[@TheLabTCG]

@@bestbotreview Np! Thanks for the comment :)

[@MikeJones-fz3bi]

I would rather buy on eBay than TCG player… About one out of every three orders gets canceled for some reason or another. I just had a blastoise v max get canceled. I’m pretty sure because the price I was starting to go up. This same scenario happens constantly on TCG player and it’s annoying.

[@TheLabTCG]

Yeah TCGP has its ups and downs for buyers. I am a big fan of it as a seller.

[@bennyc365]

Thanks for the update Will! I just signed up for card trader and I am glad I did not link anything yet. I think just having two separate inventories fixes this problem but def adds some complexity to the situation. You are spot on that TCG does not want their mark share taken from under them.

[@TheLabTCG]

Thanks Benny! Totally agree that separate inventory would fix this. I think as long as you don't sync it should be fine.

[@lopoke89]

isnt that illegal?

[@TheLabTCG]

no

[@realcokejam]

I was thinking the Sherman Antitrust Act, but technically not. TCGPlayer isn't saying you can't go somewhere else to sell your cards; they're saying you can run a script from their website to another to simultaneously sell one card on two different platforms. But this could or could not also go down as an Exclusive Dealings monopoly (which is illegal and not permitted in the United States): requiring a buyer or seller to do buy or sell all or most of a certain product from a single supplier. That is, it isn't illegal under the U.S. antitrust laws to be a monopolist in and of itself. A monopolist runs into trouble when it uses its monopoly power or obtains or enhances its market share in an improper way.

[@TheLabTCG]

They aren't monopolizing anything. Just shutting off another platform. Probably in their best interest!

[@shawndcollier]

Looks like card trader has much higher prices

[@TheLabTCG]

Yes. They serve a worldwide base which could be a driver for that.

[@xRagnarokHQx]

Yeah I was one of the stores that was hit. I became a CardTrader Zero seller and then linked the account made a few sales then was shut down for over a week. Lost alot of sales opportunities last week on this. Quite disappointing with the CT/Tcgp debacle

[@TheLabTCG]

Sorry to hear that Raziel, I hope it works itself out soon!

[@xRagnarokHQx]

@@TheLabTCG it did we back up and selling. And didn't lose gold star so that's good. Just wanted to let people know the kekpain is real lol

[@moedark4390]

They need to suspend the lowlifes trying to steal from un knowing customers by charging $1000 for a 50 cent card.

[@TheLabTCG]

I believe sometimes sellers to this as a way to show off inventory. Especially if the card is rare like tropical beach.

[@dirtdigller9350]

Plenty of inventory on pokemon center

[@TheLabTCG]

Sure is!

[@poppinoffthewalls4242]

Thanks for the information I'm glad I was just selling straight on TCGplayer and not using a second party.....

[@TheLabTCG]

Yessir! Glad you weren't affected :)

[@GastlyGrabs]

Thank you for this video. This is very interesting and useful information.

[@TheLabTCG]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thank you for the comment :)

[@ars273]

Yeah, it happened to me, but I'm already back up and running.

[@TheLabTCG]

That is really good to hear, best of luck in the future!

[@erncollects]

I hate saying this but based on how you've explained this issue, it sounds like this is more so Card Trader is putting small businesses into the line of fire and having them take risk unnecessarily by violating TCP's terms of service. TCP has every right to share on platform data and services if they choose to and only when they say benefit. If Card Trader wants to compete, they need to do a better job of playing within the current rules or build their own tech.

[@TheLabTCG]

This is a good point and I believe it is the right one. That being said, card trader does have a lot of seller support and I believe they are trying to do right by sellers. I think they would be an excellent service if they could work something out with TCGP and their API.

[@Normabbot27]

I’m glad this is happening

[@TheLabTCG]

Curious to hear your thoughts.

[@professorburch]

Really interesting video. I can see how this would be a conflict of interest. Keep up the great content, Will!

[@TheLabTCG]

Thank you Professor Burch!

[@realcokejam]

I was thinking the Sherman Antitrust Act, but technically not. TCGPlayer isn't saying you can't go somewhere else to sell your cards; they're saying you can run a script from their website to another to simultaneously sell one card on two different platforms. But this could also go down as an Exclusive Dealings monopoly (which is illegal and not permitted in the United States): requiring a buyer or seller to do buy or sell all or most of a certain product from a single supplier. That is, it isn't illegal under the U.S. antitrust laws to be a monopolist in and of itself. A monopolist runs into trouble when it uses its monopoly power or obtains or enhances its market share in an improper way.

[@s2kutah]

Good video… but that music in the background… also look into the delay between video and Mic.

[@TheLabTCG]

Thank you for the feedback. What did you not like about the music? I also noticed the delay, i'll look into that.

[@psapapii]

Before they were bought by EBAY

[@TheLabTCG]

Yep :(

[@atifmaqvlogs8357]

I’m interested to work with you do amaozn accept your invoice ?

[@TheLabTCG]

Amazon did accept my invoice from my distributor.

[@atifmaqvlogs8357]

@@TheLabTCG can u give me a proper distributor for amaozn

[@ConnorKrohnicles]

Don’t breach TOS

[@TheLabTCG]

Good advice

[@BENDEL420]

If your whole store is wiped out for violations, like you stated at end of video, that would be your fault for using programs they stated to not use! Take responsibility

[@rickford3307]

My only gripe is TCG player end up taking way too much fees. Like upwards of nearly 20% on some sales. They need to take a different approach for sellers imo. Also integrate eBay’s tcg singles delivery confirmation for price of around 1st class stamp.

[@TheLabTCG]

They do take a lot of fees. That being said though, the fees you have to pay are significantly cheaper than what it would cost you to build up tcgplayer's marketing and customer base. Unfortunately that is the trade off, but it enables us to do what we do.

[@Saixjacket]

@@TheLabTCG Well said, I personally have been slow vending for a few years on the platform myself, and with the rise on some of my cards (max rarity monarchs in yugioh for example), the fees are pretty negligible on the ROI. Although, I’m not a fan of how many times we and the customer get taxed throughout the whole process.

[@jazzymichael]

Fees are completely irrelevant to this video.

[@PolleyMorph]

Alot of magic sellers got hit with this for integrating with card trader.

[@TheLabTCG]

Yeah, more than just Pokemon :(

[@thelmaallen8577]

I know I will not buy on TCG again first time buying and I received a card with a crease in it and it was suppose to be near mint that was the first time and my last buying on TCG

[@TheLabTCG]

oof, I'm sorry to hear that.

[@Warzone_HabbitNYC]

Me too

[@TheLabTCG]

Oof, did your account get suspended?

[@Warzone_HabbitNYC]

Yea not sure why I just opened it they still haven’t contacted me and thank you for the reply 1 question can you be my distributor?? Please I need one so bad just wasted 2,000 on retail prices and didn’t make my mark

[@MrChonkachu]

Hope they’re going to find a way to allow this by their own means of control. If there is a desire or need for it then I’m sure they could find a way to make it financially beneficial for them.

[@TheLabTCG]

I hope so. I'd really like to see the monthly pricing on BinderPOS come down. I think this would encourage sellers to expand their store and stay native to TCGPlayer's ecosystem of products while being able to sell on other platforms. 100 a month is just too much for smaller sellers.

[@Somedude...]

@@TheLabTCG Agreed

[@Repsterr]

someone likes chilling reign

[@TheLabTCG]

Bought out a collection and I liked how it looked lmao

[@johnathansilva2823]

PTCGO suspended me the other day for mentioning ebay in a private chat. GREEDY! As if I'm going to cut into their billions of dollars of profit lmao. I'm done with them.

[@TheLabTCG]

That is insane, hopefully the migration to PTCG Live fixes some stuff!

[@throlreynax5286]

Those evolving skies though....

[@TheLabTCG]

Evolving skies is crazy. I might have made a mistake selling my case :(

[@floridajames04]

Ebay is the only format I sell and buy on.

[@TheLabTCG]

Not a bad choice, but even solo eBay could be risky.

[@chiikahda394]

As someone who just made a sellers account and having their account deactivated I was really sad. I was watching your videos and saw in one ykh said to sell for a minimum of $.25 so I changed all my prices of commons/uncommons to that price and my account got deactivated 😞

[@TheLabTCG]

Changing your prices to .25 should not have affected your account status. Were you selling on CT as well as TCGP?

[@chiikahda394]

@The Lab TCG Nope never even sold any cards before. Just started collecting for the first time ever and didn't expect it to be this hard.

[@mikesivad]

What's with the subtitles sprinkled throughout the video? Visually irritating

[@TheLabTCG]

To emphasis points and add popups to keep it interesting. Do you not like them at all or certain ones?

[@mikesivad]

@The Lab TCG it's just something I've noticed a few youtubers doing where you don't put everything you say thru the subtitles but almost every other sentence. I know for some it's a distraction from the actual content and causes people to focus on them so when you put up other information or drop ins people will miss them

[@happyeggroll5267]

I'm 1yr into whatnot and at 140k in sales. It's great guys. Not for everyone but I'm loving it. I'm on tcg and ebay too but WhatNot has become king for me

[@TheLabTCG]

I think i'm going to make a video about trying out whatnot. I have heard way too many good things about it.

[@sahnikahz]

Do you stream or is it only from listing sales?

[@chz1957]

How do you think people will trust comments like this? If you are selling well on whatnot you won't want to invite other sellers

[@TheLabTCG]

@@chz1957 It is pretty insane how much people charge for things on Whatnot. The entertainment value premium really drives the price up. I don't think his number is terribly unrealistic. But that is unlikely to be a profit figure.

[@sahnikahz]

@@TheLabTCG I used to sell on whatnot when it first came out and I was selling uncommon wizards of the coast for like $8 each. But I stopped cause I didn't have a printer at the time and was having to go to the library to print labels all the time.

[@R4WD4WG]

Got banned myself & had to disconnect card trader over it. I'm a small time guy I don't sell enough to be paying for a POS system and what not.

[@TheLabTCG]

Sorry to hear that. I hope it ends up working out!

[@Rossbrian1]

There's always a reason to get banned... it's simple actually

[@TheLabTCG]

True, there are lots of ways.

[@ExposedBen]

Long story cut short someone's paying back handers to get rid of the competition.

[@TheLabTCG]

Seems so

[@TheOriginalHut]

Bro your information is so solid gold , literally enjoy watching your vids theyre not just entertaining bit full of KNOWLEDGE 🛖🔥

[@TheLabTCG]

Thanks a ton man, I appreciate the kind words!