Curio Cavern (Springfield Mall) — Local services in Springfield

I would not recommend Curio at Springfield Mall—or any of their other locations—for several reasons.

Price Gouging on Sealed Product The pricing is absolutely absurd. $120 for a Final Fantasy Commander deck that retails for $70 everywhere else? Even GameStop and MicroCenter, of all places, are cheaper. A Lord of the Draft Booster box? $240 here, while it’s consistently $150–160 elsewhere. $15 for a single Pokémon booster pack—when it should be $5. At a card store, no less. (Just some examples, I could go on all day long)

Pokémon product can still be found at MSRP from Target, Walmart, and other major retailers—unless scalpers beat you there. And that’s the issue: local card stores should be the solution to scalping, not part of the problem. This is supposed to be the place for the community. Charging market or scalper prices on everything defeats the whole purpose of having a game store.

Oh—and trade-in values? Expect 30% cash or 60% store credit, give or take. But with how inflated the prices are, that “60%” credit really spends like 30%. Imagine trading in $180 worth of cards at TCGPlayer market value just to afford a Y’shtola Commander deck they’re selling for $120—which retails for $70. It’s insulting. (just an example, one of many I could give)

I even brought this up directly to the owner previously, and nothing has changed.

Dirty, Unkempt Store The store is consistently messy. Display counters often have half-eaten food, drinks, or general clutter. This isn’t a one-time thing—it’s the usual. It doesn’t give the impression of a professional or welcoming environment. The bulk section is an absolute disaster area. And the walls are lined with cheap statues that seem to be sourced from Alibaba, which is kind of funny actually.

Disengaged Staff The staff rarely acknowledge customers. I’ve stood right in front of the counter waiting to ask about singles or product and been ignored more than once. No greeting, no offer to help—just a feeling like I’m in the way.

Minimal Store Support for TCG Communities While there are events, in my experience (especially with Final Fantasy TCG), they’re mostly run and kept alive by the players themselves. The store puts in minimal effort or support. It feels like they’re just happy to let others do the work while still cashing in.

Bottom line: A local game store should support the community—not price-gouge it. I gave Curio the benefit of the doubt and raised these concerns directly with ownership, but nothing has changed. There are far better stores—locally and online—that treat their customers and communities with respect. Spend your money...

Exceptional Customer Service and Expertise in Trading Card Games at Curio Cavern Springfield Mall!

Review: I recently had an outstanding experience at Curio Cavern Springfield Mall, and I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the exceptional customer service provided by the manager, Keenan. His passion for trading card games and his kind demeanor made my visit truly enjoyable.

As a collector and enthusiast of various trading card games, such as Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, I was thrilled to find someone at Curio Cavern who was not only knowledgeable but genuinely enthusiastic about these games. Keenan's expertise and extensive knowledge about different card sets and their unique features were truly impressive. He went above and beyond to educate me and helped me discover new sets that I hadn't explored before.

One thing that stood out to me was Keenan's genuine dedication to customer service. Not only was he patient and attentive, but he also took the time to engage with other customers, especially kids, in a friendly and respectful manner. It was heartwarming to see how he effortlessly connected with children who were eager to learn more about trading card games. Keenan's kind and approachable nature made the shopping experience feel welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

Moreover, the overall atmosphere at Curio Cavern Springfield Mall was fantastic. The store had a wide selection of trading cards, including rare and hard-to-find items, making it a haven for collectors. The staff members were friendly and helpful, and the store itself was well-organized, making it easy to navigate and find what I was looking for.

I highly recommend Curio Cavern Springfield Mall to all trading card game enthusiasts, collectors, and beginners alike. The expertise and customer service provided by Keenan are second to none. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting your card game journey, Keenan will ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable experience. Thank you, Curio Cavern, and a special thank you to Keenan, for creating a welcoming and exceptional environment for trading card game enthusiasts.

Five stars...

I love shopping in the store for pokemon whenever I stop by at the mall. Great modern selection for someone like me that loves to play. My recent visit wasn’t the greatest, I walked first thing to see an employee playing a card game with a customer. I needed assistance but it was very difficult to be noticed because the employee wasn’t facing me he was in the other direction. After a few minutes of waiting I was assisted with pulling cards from the cases that I wanted. One of the cards I wanted was the Dusklops illustration rare from shrouded fable that the employee took out of the case for me. Immediately after taking it out he said “oh this is mine” it took me a minute to understand what he meant until he put the card in a teen bag full of other cards that he also possibly wanted. I asked if that was the only one and he acknowledged that and even said yes. After he rung me up for the other cards I wanted to purchase, he showed me the full set of 3 with the duskull and dusknoir cards in front of me and other customers saying that he needed that card to complete his set which made me feel like me being a collector too wasn’t acknowledged and cared about. I work at a card store myself and if a card is displayed and showcased in a case in the store it should be available for the customer to look it as well as for purchasing. If the card wasn’t in the case then the entire situation would be different. Very hesitant to come back due to the fact that I might not be able to get a card because an employee wants to...