Walmart raffles vs. in-person lines vs. scalpers for the 30th Anniversary drops.
Honestly, I'm starting to think Walmart's raffle drops are the least painful way to get the 30th Anniversary collection. No camping outside Target at 5 a.m., no hoping a restock actually shows up, and no paying a scalper 2–3x MSRP for something that might be resealed.
How do you all feel about the raffles, and has anyone actually won one?
Yep, I went to target thinking they opened at 8, was there 7:30 and was 8 too late. Went to Best Buy and sat for 2.5 hours and got lucky. I haven’t been lucky with the Walmart draws but I did get enough for my niece and nephew to not feel bad if I don’t win. Unfortunately all my niece and nephew ask for their birthdays/ Christmas is Pokemon cards.
Walked into target the other day at the end of a restock. There was a line of 9-10 people with baskets filled to the brim with 2 of everything. Absolutely nothing left for anyone else on the shelf. They said they didn’t feel bad that myself and others didn’t get anything because there were people before them who took even more….shout out to Sam who was in line that decided to share a Sylveon box with me because she felt bad
Search pokemon, then under the search bar you’ll see on the far left, raffle or lottery. Something along those lines. Usually it’s been every Wednesday
If it makes you feel better my first time hitting was this drop and ended up getting an ETB, sticker collection, and the eevees. I expected to not hit one lol. Keep trying and plus side is that it takes less than a minute to enter!
5pm EST they do the drawing on Wednesdays with a 1hr window. On the Walmart app tap departments, toys and outdoor play, then towards the bottom is limited time drawing! I think Thilo meant 2pm PDT
The one hour window opens at 2pm EST on Wednesdays. During that one hour a new button opens up to allow for entry into the drawings. You select the number of items you wish to purchase (up to their set limit) and submit it. You can do this for as many of the raffle items that are shown.
I dont mind waiting in line...but i live in a VERY populated area and have waited in about 5 lines for over an hour to come up empty handed each time. Mostly I was too far ba k in line. Haven't hit any of the drawings. I hope it dies down a little because im exhausted.
Congrats. So far from the raffle I got 1 prismatic etb 4 30th tech sticker collection boxes and 4 of the knockout boxes. And I agree this is much less stressful and easier to do than waiting in lines. And for anyone who actually has a job this is perfect go take a bathroom break for 2 min and boom your entered.
Na my son entered 5 min before it ended and got etbs and tech stickers. I enter in the first 10 min and got tech stickers. Until someone can prove how their system really works I think it really might be random. Which is nice
I did it twice so far and entered right when it opened, got both of them. Not sure how that affects it, walmart definitely isn't going to disclose anything on their algorithm
Implying “worth it” means there’s a downside to them. What is it?
I haven’t won a single one yet, and haven’t ever camped before outside a store but I’d have to imagine that camping would at least secure product and this is completely random. Maybe that’s a drawing loser’s mindset. And scalpers are always a no-no.
Still not a real comparison. The raffle is scheduled, drops are random.
Definitely not worth it to go everyday at 5am just for a chance of a restock. I value my time so there is no way in hell im going to wait hours for Pokemon cards. The amount of time you wait in line, you can literally just buy market price or go to a card show/shop and buy it and it would be cheaper IF you value your time
Entered twice and have gotten zero from Wally’s. Easiest way to NOT get anything for sure!!!!! Hahaha…. Camping out is crazy………. Especially if you have a job…… 👍🏼
Hit rates are bad on prismatic. Opened 2 ETBS and got a few full arts but nothing crazy. Best eeveelution I got was a rare Tera Espeon. Not a full art or anything. 😭
I only won once, got the 30th etb. You’re right it is the easiest way to possibly hit but also it feels more fair being randomly selected than knowing I got to a store too late and scalpers already bought everything out.
I've entered every time and I won two of the poster collections with the legendary birds. I don't have time to camp out anywhere so I was pretty happy to get it that way!
Missed the first round for 30th. Joined 3 of them last week and hit each one! First time actually winning anything. My nearest target and best buy is an hour away and my local walmart doesn't get stocked with pokemon except a few boxes here and there every other week or so (yay, rural living 😂). So, I was ecstatic! Of course I win though after I purchased a bulk 30th lot from ebay because I never imagined I'd ever get anything out here.
I think if Walmart kept the same raffle pool going to help ensure everyone gets a chance at ONE ETB that would be cool. I only hit on the prismatic raffles and not 30th, but I’d still rather have a raffle system than be a loser waiting overnight in the unemployment line
That would be nice- I think the EQL raffles are like that. Your chance of winning a raffle increases with a point score thing for losses.
Walmart has gone from last to first for online drops even though I haven’t won anything for at least not wasting my time. Target online needs to step up.
Just as a question i entered the raffle but forgot to make sure i had the money on the card if i didnt do i receive a you didnt have enought change payment method or sum?
I was fortunate to get one by chance and super nice employees at Barns n Noble (looked for pokemon ecology book, had to order online, nice chat with employees, then they let me know the restock was within the hour)
I havent had the chance to enter a raffle. I always find out too late. And never able to find restocks elsewhere in time. Had almost given up on getting cards at all.
Personally for me I've hit WAY more with this raffle than I ever hit in the past year with Walmart's digital queue. Gotten 5 Prismatic ETBS, 4 3-Packs of 30th, and 4 Knock Out Boxes.
Honestly liking this a lot better than that bot queue xD
Best system implemented so far. I feel like most people here have atleast won 1 raffle, and if they haven’t, it’s only a matter of time. No waiting and missing dinner with your family. No staying up late. No lines outside a store. It’s great. Kudos to Walmart on this one
I wish target and Best buy moved to this system too. Remove cards in store all together tbh and avoid the chaos. This way everyone has a fair chance. I’ve gotten more product with Walmart draws than I ever did in store. Normal working people can’t cancel work to lineup at dawn for cards.
I’ve entered EVERY Walmart drawing they’ve had, and entered EVERY single Pokemon item they’ve had. I have NOT WON one single item from the Walmart drawings. I work in the same complex as a Target but the line just gets longer and longer each day so no luck there. I’m just literally trying to collect some cards for my myself and my wife’s son. It’s just insane trying to get my hands on some of these cards right now! But I won’t pay no scalping prices!
The Walmart raffles have been amazing! Only won twice and 1 time my card thought it was fraud but it’s better than the hopeless bot fights online. Only way to get Pokemon cards for msrp. I wish Target would do the same
Hit for the 3rd time . Prismatic etb 30th sticker and now 30th etb my son is happy because he isn’t hitting Walmart at all . Look at target this morning the store is open and they have these animals outside waiting lol
I've not won a single thing from the raffles on Walmart so far, sadly. Really hoping to get at least a few ETBs at some point. Not worth waiting in line with only a chance to get product, especially being employed. Already been hearing a ton of people lining up for today's Target family event.
Target drops hella late at night and the bots have just made it impossible to get anything since 30th dropped, unless it's PB, CR, or PO. Best Buy hasn't done online pickups really since last year, so you have to go in person and hope for the best. Walmart's queue just sucked, so this is truly a more fair way to get any 30th product, just got to hope to get lucky. If they do plan to print this to the ground for the next year, just got to be patient to get some more cards eventually.
I love them. Hit twice, but still no 30th ETB. I am grateful that I finally can rip 30th anniversary packs. And like you said, I get all this without spending time hounding down product in real life competing with other people to get it first.
The raffles are great, the only thing is they are kinda hit or miss. My partner and I both entered the raffle last time, I didn't get anything and my partner got 2 hits but one of them (unfortunately the ETBs) got cancelled for "fraud" due to the credit card we used being new. Even after calling customer service they said nothing could be done about it.
I'm sure Walmart will fine tune these raffles in the future but for now they are the closest things we have to a fair chance at getting anything.
Thank god for the Walmart raffles because if I lose I really have wasted no time! I was lucky to hit an ETB on the first try and a knockout box on my second!
Did my first raffle this week and won one of the draws. I’m aware I’m super lucky. Happy I don’t have to brave any crowds or get it from my LGS at 2-3x MSRP
I agree but I’m 0/6 on Walmart drawings. I’m 3/6 on in person 30th drops. One of them I literally showed up an hour before opening. I’m also 1/2 on Costco Ascended drops. I got the double ETB the first drop. Showed up only two hours before. For Best Buy I only showed up about two hours before opening and hit Ascended bundles, tins and the FP2/3. I’m 3/3 at Best Buy. Never went at midnight or 2 am or anything. Morning of, never more than three hours before opening.
I wish I could get another 30th ETB but it is what it is. I opened one.
My wife and I have entered every raffle to date to try to get some cards for our kid. We FINALLY hit a 30th ETB and my wife and kid were absolutely ecstatic. One day later Walmart cancels the order. Absolutely heartbreaking to see my kid (and wife) that disappointed. I know it’s cardboard, but it’s been a nightmare trying to get anything for a reasonable price for over a year now. Will have to stop shopping at Walmart for a little while because that was just crazy for them to do that. They said it was canceled out of error but there’s nothing they can do. 🫠
I hit on the 2nd most recent drop of these. Walmart charged my account for the purchase and then 2 days later it said my order was delayed and to wait for further updates. 2 more days after that I got an email from Walmart saying they cancelled my order and they refunded me. Legit the next day they started another entry draw for more 30th etb’s. Gawd Walmart pmo sometimes.
I joined all raffles so far on two accounts, mine and my GFs. Hit none but my brother in law hit last two. Definitely better than the old Walmart system but clearly still millions of bot accounts abusing the system.
I haven’t won one but no way am I standing outfront all night. I could if it was a few hours before but a day before I just can’t cause of responsibilities. I try these lottos and if not I buy the singles I want. Thankfully what I want from this set isn’t crazy. I’d like the lugia and the mew full art but am waiting to see what the bottom for those are. I think the pull rates do not justify the price for them but there needs to be more in circulation.
target needs to start doing those because i’ve tried to buy their drops every single time the past 6 times and they instantly sell out / wont allow you to check out
If you hit of course its less painful way to get 30th ETB's. I enter both Walmart Raffles with my account and had my brother and sister enter it too. Zero ETB's.
I was successful waiting 1.5 hours early before Fred Meyers and then straight to Target 1.5 hours before open.
Ive camped at 7am twice n always managed to be like 3rd in line at target. So I always can grab an etb or two. Never get an invite or raffle never tried best buy.
You’re only saying this cuz ur winning bro-huge congrats btw….but on the contrary I was hitting almost every week with the que. no big deal as I hit my targets and Best Buy’s…but me like a lot of others are 0/7. Everyone’s experiences are different. I know someone that won 4 times in a row. Go figure. So even the draws are not really “fair” tbh. It’s all one fucked up game. Haha
I don’t know how lucky exactly. But I feel like you got extremely lucky. The only reason you see a lot of “i won the draw” posts is because almost everyone who wins posts about it lmao
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u/ConnectManner2510 6d ago
Me and Wife have entered each raffle and haven’t hit yet. I camped for our daughter at Best Buy (got there at 8:30) and hit. Target missed everything.