Cardhaven Games — Local services in Bellingham

Looking for a good place to play EDH in Bellingham, and I'm definitely not impressed by Cardhaven.

First experience there was for a prerelease. It was extremely disorganized and started almost an hour late, but I figured it must've been a new kind of event for them so whatever.

Second experience is playing at their weekly Sunday EDH event. They tell players that it is a pay-for-play event, charging for each game played (winner takes all...of something unspecified). Employees then split players up into pods depending on how powerful their decks are. That is all totally normal, nothing weird so far.

What was weird is that half the players in the pods didn't pay at all. They said so themselves, and some weren't even aware of any prizes or entry fee. The next Sunday event I went to, I just didn't pay and they put me in an event pod. I have no idea how they calculated winnings or if they gave winnings out at all for either event. Whatever, no big deal, just a bit of cash spent for no reason that first time.

As for the players on both nights, about half of them were wonderfull opponents. The other half brought obviously high-power tuned decks to the low-power pods, and whined constantly about every little thing. Whatever, no biggie, sometimes it is just like that in EDH.

At the second event, the pod I was in started wondering about promo-packs. The regulars told us that they've never seen any promo packs handed out for any event. The employees always tell people to sign up for the event so that the store can get promo packs, but then the store never gives them out. While that isn't technically against any terms or laws or anything, it is generally frowned-upon.

At the second event, I was purchasing a pre-con deck at the counter, and one of the employees spent the better part of 5 minutes just straight up making fun of my name right to my face. I have no idea if he was just being mean or trying to make jokes, but it really wasn't funny. No one laughed. I just ignored him completely and completed the purchase.

So after all of this, I decided to look up reviews of Cardhaven. This led me to some very interesting information about how the owners run their businesses. I don't know for certain if the claims are true, but they are numerous and they definitely fit with...

Visited with my 7- year old son for the first time on Sunday, September 24th, as a suggestion from many a fellow BHamster, following a horrid experience at another local gaming store in town. Kiddo was searching for two Pokémon cards. The shop was quite busy. Searching for the cards with kiddo, the employee went through the display counters with no success. Then he offered to go through a box of excess inventory that I'm guessing hadn't yet been processed, even asking kiddo if he'd like to help sort through the giant box to assist. Together they found the two cards. The employee engaged in some Pokémon banter with kiddo, none of which I quite understood lol. This employee was incredibly kind, attentive, and patient, and my son left the store beaming, saying he could not wait to return! I was concerned kiddo was soured on Pokémon from our previous store experience (rhymes with Caustic Lames), and homie behind the counter really pumped him up. Kiddo couldn't stop raving about the exchange all night. Pretty sure they gained a customer for life. Props to Cardhaven! Yall gonna get all the referrals and good reviews from us. Thank...

Was about to place an order for a pre release box on their website, decided to call them before hand since i couldnt make it to the event itself i wanted to make sure i could get a pre release stamped card. So Before hitting confirm on the order I gave them a ring on the phone, the lady then tells me i have to be at the event to pick up something even if i order it online and picked it up the day after, Nothing on their website states You have to participate in the event in order to receive the items you already purchased so thank god i double checked before placing the order. Work 6pm every night so i cant do the events sadly. I explained myself to the girl on the phone" just to be hit with a laugh and a "yeah you have to be here during the event to pick up the pre release box" I just went to the next shop and they where fine with it and understood I couldn't be there, didn't chuckle and make me feel stupid, only been inside once, but probably wont go back just because of...