How we allocate!
For certain products, particularly those in high demand or limited supply, we use an allocation process to distribute stock as fairly as possible across our community.
This page aims to help explain how that process works, what factors we consider, and how you can give yourself the best chance of receiving product in future releases.
Our allocation process continues to evolve and we appreciate your understanding as we refine it over time.
When Does Allocation Apply?
Not every product release requires allocation. We apply this process when:
- Distributor supply is limited relative to customer demand
- A product is experiencing unusually high interest, such as a major set release or reprint
- We need to balance stock between event support and retail orders
For products with a healthy supply, all orders are fulfilled as normal and without the need for limits.
How We Determine Allocations
When allocation is required, we consider a combination of factors.
| Factor | What We Consider |
|---|---|
| Historical orders | Customers who have consistently supported previous releases of the same product line are given priority consideration. |
| Payment timeframe | Orders paid within the reservation window are prioritised. Orders paid late or after the release date may not contribute to future allocation priority during periods of limited supply. |
| Event participation | Players who regularly participate in our in-store events are recognised as part of their commitment to the local play community. |
| Consistency across releases | Customers who have supported multiple releases over time, not just high-demand sets, receive stronger consideration. |
| Order size | During periods of very high demand, larger orders may be reduced so that more customers can receive some product. |
| Order cancellations | Cancellations may negatively impact future allocation priority. This applies across product lines, not just the one cancelled. |
| Account standing | Customers with outstanding balances, a pattern of late payments, or order cancellations may receive lower allocation priority or be excluded from future allocations. |
Stock Reserved for Events
A portion of our stock may be set aside to support sealed events and prerelease activities. This stock is held for a limited window leading up to the event and is prioritised for players who attend and participate in full.
Any remaining event stock is then made available to customers who missed out on the initial allocation, prioritised based on historical orders.
Consignment Sales
Products sold through consignment are not counted in the same way as direct allocated orders when determining future priority.
One Piece: A Real World Example
One Piece is one of the products where allocation applies most often due to strong demand relative to our expected supply. Here is how the policy works in practice for a typical main series set:
- A portion of stock is reserved for our prerelease event. We aim to offer a ticket-plus-box package for local players and help serve as an entry point for new players without that established history.
- Remaining stock is allocated to customer orders based on the factors above, with priority given to those who have consistently supported the product line across recent releases.
- Orders paid within the reservation window receive priority. Orders placed or paid after the release date may not contribute to priority for future sets during limited supply periods.
- If our distributor allocation is reduced, larger orders may be scaled back so that more customers receive something. Where a proportional reduction results in a fractional amount (for example, 1.5 boxes), we use the other allocation factors to determine the final quantity each customer receives. Equally, if our allocation increases, we will look to prioritise customers who were cut in previous releases, provided we have enough stock to cover our event commitments first.