05/09/2026
Yesterday, we experienced an unfortunate situation at our bookstore involving the purchase of two Pokémon cards.
A customer purchased the cards, left the store, and returned approximately two hours later claiming the cards were counterfeit. Because collectible items can potentially be altered or swapped after leaving the premises, our policy is that trading cards and collectibles are final sale once they leave the store.
During the interaction, we were pressured to issue a refund and were told, quote, “I’m plugged into this town,” along with threats of negative television (because he's a correspondent with the local news he said) and social media coverage if we did not comply with the demand for a refund. While we respect every customer’s right to voice concerns, we do not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying of any kind toward our staff or business.
We also want to address something very clearly: we do not knowingly sell fake Pokémon cards.
Before these cards were ever placed for sale, two members of our team independently examined them and worked together to determine pricing. Since carrying Pokémon products, we have had numerous collectors and enthusiasts inspect our inventory closely, including customers who photographed cards and purchased them with the intention of having them professionally graded. Until this incident, we have never had a customer return claiming that a purchased Pokémon card was counterfeit.
We did however experience a situation where an individual entered the store briefly and later posted a Google review alleging we sold fake Pokémon cards despite not asking to look at any cards or interacting with any staff.
We understand disagreements can happen in business, and we always strive to treat every customer fairly and respectfully. At the same time, we must apply store policies consistently in order to protect both our customers and our business. A customer's social media follower count will not determine who gets preferential treatment.
Since this interaction, we have experienced a sudden influx of negative online reviews from individuals who do not appear to have visited or conducted business with our store. We believe these reviews are connected to social media activity encouraging others to target our business online. Attached are screenshots and photos related to the incident, including images from inside the store and public social media posts connected to the situation.
Despite this, we will not give in to online harassment, intimidation, or mob-style pressure campaigns. Our focus remains on serving our actual customers, supporting our community, and operating our bookstore with fairness, professionalism, and integrity.
Happy Mother’s Day!
