I never thought I would be writing this review.
For months,…read moremy sons and I spent our free time collecting MTG, TMNT, and Lorcana cards.
We spent thousands of dollars with this store, traded in numerous high-value cards, left positive reviews, bought gifts for staff, and genuinely believed we had built a positive relationship based on trust and mutual respect.
That trust was shattered the day I pulled a very high-value TMNT card.
Within minutes of pulling it, I brought it into the store and accepted a store credit offer. Shortly afterward, I discovered a significant difference between what I had received and the store's listed retail value. When I raised concerns, I expected a conversation. Instead, I felt dismissed, challenged, and treated like a problem simply for asking questions.
What hurt most was not the transaction itself. It was how I was treated afterward. The staff, Manager and Owner all involved.
As a loyal customer who had spent thousands of dollars and brought many valuable cards back to the store over time, I felt that my history, support, and goodwill counted for absolutely nothing.
Every concern I raised was met with explanations about why the store was right rather than any genuine attempt to understand why I felt uncomfortable with the situation.
The experience became even more upsetting when I overheard staff discussing and laughing about me while I was still inside the store. Over something a company sent to my family for support and acknowledging our journey "of all the things they send", "that's Hilarious"!
I left feeling embarrassed, humiliated, and completely unwelcome. That moment changed how I viewed the store and the people working there.
When I later raised those concerns with management, I did not feel reassured. Instead, the conversation quickly became defensive. I was told that if I was going to continue believing I had been taken advantage of, "I could take my cards elsewhere". As a long-time customer, that response was incredibly disappointing and reinforced the feeling that my concerns did not matter.
The situation dragged on for months through emails. The manager eventually held the card and allowed me the opportunity to buy it back.
However, calling the final outcome a "Wash" never sat right with me. I ultimately paid full retail prices and taxes on the products purchased with the original store credit, and none of my long history as a customer appeared to factor into any part of the resolution. At all.....Manager seemed insulted I would even ask.
What should have been one of the coolest moments in my collecting journey with my sons became one of the most disappointing customer experiences I have ever had.
The card is back with my family now, and for that I am grateful. However, the trust I once had in this business is gone.
My advice to anyone dealing with high-value cards or trade-ins is simple: do your own research, take your time, never feel pressured to make an immediate decision, and make sure you are completely comfortable with any offer before accepting it.
I wanted to continue supporting this store for years to come. Unfortunately, after this experience, I no longer can.
