The Fan Zone — Attraction in Waite Park

I was excited to build my first physical Magic: The Gathering deck in 7 years and visited Fan Zone hoping to browse singles. I was told customers couldn’t look through singles anymore like they did 7 years ago due to past customer issues and was instructed to email a card list instead. I did so while still in the store, even wondering if they might start pulling the cards right in front of me. After playtesting my deck that night, I realized my deck sucked and I no longer needed the cards and emailed Fan Zone to cancel my request the very next morning (within 24 hours), before I received any confirmation from the store that my order was ready.

4 hours and 49 minutes after I sent them my cancellation, the store replied that they had already pulled the cards (totaling around $250). I felt bad but assumed my prompt cancellation would be understood, especially since I had no way of knowing there was a strict expectation to buy a minimum amount of pulled cards—this was never communicated up front.

Weeks later, after making sure to playtest and refine my deck first, I sent a new list. The Fan Zone refused to fulfill it saying, "Due to past experiences with your lists, we will unfortunately no longer be pulling lists for you. The last time you had us pull a list, it was $300 and we had to put it all back after you said you no longer wanted it. As a busy store we can't allocate employee hours this way." Despite repeated attempts of explaining that this was a misunderstanding, my first time using the process, and apologizing sincerely, they have refused to respond to my emails and waste more time on me.

I understand businesses need to prevent wasted labor, but I feel this rigid policy is unfair for new or returning players—especially when cancellations are made quickly (within 24 hours) and there was no warning about expectations. I would have appreciated clearer communication, more flexibility, or even a small restocking fee instead of being permanently barred from using their singles service after a single honest mistake. I might be naive but I'm not an inconsiderate customer with a pattern of abuse like I have been treated like by the Fan Zone.

Be aware: if you request singles here, be certain you'll buy enough to satisfy them, even if your needs change or you cancel quickly. There is no grace for honest mistakes or lack of experience with their current singles purchasing...

I stopped in 03/24/18 to sell most all of my childhood collection of cards. I haven't looked at cards in 15+ years, but I thought it was time. I tried to research cards a little to prepare myself for what they might (or might not be worth). They checked out my cards in like 15 minutes & only offered me $10. I was severely disappointed... They explained why b/c mine were from the extremely saturated 90s era. They weren't disinterested or dinks about it. They were very matter-of-fact and polite. I was extremely disappointed, but not in them. They said "Hello" when I came, were polite, said thanks for stopping in & were generally nice. Not the outcome I wanted (and I'm sure my face showed that), but the way you treat customers even in disappointment goes a long way.

I may not be a regular customer, but I won't hesitate to...

Visiting this store was a great time. The owner was super friendly and welcoming.

the staff was as outgoing as any staff could be. There's an employee to take you through Baseball cards, Basketball, Magic The Gathering, Pokemon; depending on what you're collecting there seemed to be an employee that had knowledge rooted in a particular franchise or sub-genre of collecting.

Lots of autographs for athletes across many sports. Extensive sports card collection, signed baseballs, jerseys, etc.

I feel the need to reiterate how friendly and outgoing the staff was at this store. How the staff interacts with customers/potential business partners can make a massive difference for an experience when you come into a shop like this. It can make the difference between taking your money or product to the...