Round 2 Gaming — Attraction in Lawrence Township

Round 2 Gaming is a great store with sizeable inventory on everything from board games to TCG. That being said, I've been coming to the store since they opened several month ago and have had a mixed bag of experiences there. I typically stick to buying Pokemon singles in store so I can verify the card conditions. Most of the time the prices are very fair with very few exceptions, mainly being their sealed product which is sold at Market Price. This is similar to other stores in the area so I can't really fault them for that. Most of the staff is also very knowledgeable and personable. One of the first and best interactions I can remember was on one occasion where they had misplaced my order. Not only were they apologetic and willing to offer a discount on it but they would also call me back when they had found it so I didn't have to wait for them to find it. Luckily I hadn't left the mall yet so I didn't have to wait too long. Recently I checked their inventory online and saw a card I had been looking for a long time at a great price. I rushed to the store during my break and was able to have a look at it. However when I went to check out I was told that someone had already purchased it online in the brief period since then. Unfortunately I was told that their policy gives the preference to the online buyer, despite the fact I had already driven to the store, had the card in hand, and was ready to pay. I'm not mad at the store worker as they were only following policy and they were apologetic about this. They were even willing to let me look at some new stock that hadn't been put into their system which was very kind. But I can't deny the feeling of disappointment that I couldn't get a card I've sought after despite all the effort I took to try getting it. If I could ask for one requests, it would be for the store to take pictures of the card's condition. It doesn't have to be for every card because that would truly be a herculean effort. But for the highly sought after, expensive, or questionable condition cards it makes so much sense for there to be pictures. This way people like me who are interested but cautious about the condition can buy ahead of time and not have to worry about racing someone else for it. I know it's feature to add pictures on TCGPlayer but I've always been baffled by most stores reluctance to use it especially when it could definitely help sell their higher end items. I still intend on shopping at Round 2 Gaming, but I do wish that there was better policy that could benefit people like me that like to shop in-store or see card conditions. I like most things about the store and I believe that they're already one of the better shop's of their kind in the area just based on the community, prices, and inventory. I've had more positive interactions than bad so hopefully that trend...

Staff were really nice and courteous! If I were in the area I would definitely try attending an event here, they seemed really friendly and wanted to make sure I left happy.

Reviewing the singles purchasing process:

1.) Browsing: I enjoyed looking through binders, except one customer spent forevvvvvvvvvvvver with one of the key binders — like at least 30 minutes; so I never got to take a look at it.

2.) Price: Singles are NOT based on TCGPlayer prices (or are not up to date) — cards are pre-priced, so make sure you do your research! Some cards were on target, others were more expensive; for example, I bought a card for $5.00 that turned out to be 73 cents 🫠 (Temporary Lockdown). It turns out that other versions of this card are, in fact, around $5, but not the one that I purchased. They have a lot of “4 for $1” and 50 cent cards, but I found out these could be a lot less than 0.25 or even 0.10 online.

After finally scanning with Manabox, the cards came out to $48 in value, but I purchased from the store for $64 + tax. So, not feeling the greatest about that. I get it, margins are thin; I think I would feel less salty if I hadn’t overpaid on some of the more expensive cards.

3.) Quality: OK. A few of these cards seem kind of blurred, which is odd…they’re older foils, so maybe expected? Another one of the cards, Master Transmuter, turned out to be warped from what I’m guessing is water damage ($2.70 online, $2 paid in store).

It’s my own fault for not checking these things…I just didn’t want to take the card out of the sleeve out of courtesy, but if I were going to shop for singles again here I would.

I found another store with a better selection of high quality singles in the Jersey area who do use TCG pricing — they look it up on the spot in store — so that’s where I will go to buy singles in the future.

P.S. I also wish they didn’t put pre-marked prices on the cards because the price sticker can’t be removed from the sleeve the card comes in without leaving residue behind. Seems a shame to throw away the 65 otherwise-good...

Round 2 Gaming, a quaint card shop and tabletop gaming store located within Quakerbridge Mall, stands out as a community hub that fosters a sense of camaraderie among gamers. The store’s spacious layout and ample number of gaming tables provide an inviting environment for individuals to engage in various board games and card games.

My fiancé and I have frequented the store on multiple occasions, particularly in recent times. When news emerged that Round 2 Gaming was offering highly sought-after Pokémon trading card game Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs), tins, blister packs, and other collectibles for both pre-order and a lottery system, we were intrigued. Unlike other retailers that may resort to chaotic and unfair practices, such as free-for-all sales at large-scale stores, Round 2 Gaming prioritized transparency and fairness. The store maintained a consistent pricing structure, avoiding any form of upcharging or price gouging. This commitment to integrity earned our trust and admiration. We highly recommend Round 2 Gaming as a destination for gamers seeking an enjoyable and equitable...