too many cooks in the kitchen
I understand it may get some dislikes for this opinion, but I'm just going to say my piece.
I think that youtubers, small online shops and even small local shops should stop getting product from distributors.
Given the current demand for pokemon product, I think it should only be for sale on pokemon's official website (and physical stores where they exist), and big retail stores like target, best buy, Walmart etc.
I watch some of the pokemon investor/business bros on youtube. And i like them, I don't really have any issue with them personally. But like... why do they have connections to distributors? There are so many of these guys, all with their own online shop.
I dont know them that well. I'm not going to buy something from their shop I've never heard of. And giving each of these little online sellers their own split of the supply means there's less for PC, and less for the big retailers that I do trust. But it's not just that.
From what I've gathered from listening to some of these youtubers, some of these people who have connections with distributors are just sitting on product. In my opinion, you shouldn't get to buy from distributors if you don't intend to sell it to the general public. I feel like they're exploiting a privilege that most people don't have to artificially distort the market.
In the U.S., and in any other countries facing similar issues, I think Pokemon Company should reign it in. No more distribution to anyone with a shopify and some money to blow. Maybe that means getting different distributors, or doing their own distribution.
That's just my opinion from what I've gathered. I dont know a whole lot about running a local shop or distribution other than what I've heard people on the internet saying, so maybe I'm missing somethings. What do you think?