Core is the best shop to go to in the Pasadena Area. They have the best selection you can find, and the prices may be up there at times but it's still better then anywhere else. The gentleman at the front Darwin is always very helpful, conversational, and easy going. Every time I see him he makes the experience a great one. read more

Visited CoreTCG for the first time and had a great experience. Darwin provided excellent customer service--he was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely kind throughout my visit. He took the time to answer my questions and made everything easy to navigate, which I really appreciated as a first-time customer. Prices were also very fair, with some items even discounted compared to what I've seen online and at other stores. Overall, a really solid shop with great service. I'll definitely be back. read more

I came in for the first time recently and left a very negative review because I had a bad experience with customer service and was genuinely concerned about the condition/authenticity of what I purchased. After that,one of the Director's, Vigen, reached out and asked me to give the shop another shot. He was extremely kind, professional, and well spoken, and he took my concerns seriously. I went back in and had a completely different experience; Daniel was incredibly patient and helpful, and the rest of the team was friendly and quick to offer assistance as soon as I walked in. Even the employee who initially rubbed me the wrong way was polite and helpful the second time around. Most importantly, they made things right with me and I felt taken care of. I also picked up another ETB and had a great experience with it (even pulled some really nice Ultra Rare cards). I still wanted to update this publicly because I appreciate when a business actually listens and improves. Based on my second visit and how Vigen and Daniel handled everything, I'm comfortable coming back, and I plan to return soon. read more

Called this place 5 minutes before arriving and spoke to Daniel, who confirmed they had the trading cards in stock and quoted me $130 per box. I show up, and suddenly Daniel "doesn't remember" the call and refuses to honor the price. That's either extremely unprofessional or straight-up dishonest. On top of that, the attitude was rude and dismissive, like my time didn't matter at all. Don't quote prices over the phone if you're not going to stand by them. Wasted my time for nothing. Terrible customer service and zero accountability. Would not recommend. Also reporting this to the BBB. read more

One of my go-to spots for years now. Always great prices and awesome service. Every time I go I end up buying hard to find items. 10/10 always recommend to people who are looking for a reliable spot. read more

Amazing staff & Fire hits @ Core TCG! Love the family friendly environment and they have loads of gems Pokemon, One Piece, Dragonball & more!!! Definitely recommend coming here for prerelease drops & tournaments! read more

CoreTCG - One Piece Hits from Core TCG! - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This store is great, there is a bunch of selections, the staff are attentive, sometimes you have to wave them down as they are also busy doing something else, there are only a couple of guys behind the counter so you gotta be patient. They sell at marketplace prices, so it's quite pricey too. My only problem with this place is there is literally a tiny parking lot, parking is a hassle so I'd never stay to do a tournament.. read more

After being told by the stores agent via TCGplayer that I was out of luck despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue, I left a one-star review here. A higher-level representative later reached out, refunded my purchase, and went above and beyond to make things right. The original order was under $15. It really should not have been this difficult. I'm glad it's resolved, but I hope the initial agent is coached to apply common-sense discretion and given the ability to provide reasonable exceptions moving forward. read more

I came here based on a recommendation from a friend, and I'm glad I did. I was gift shopping for my nephew who's really into Pokémon at the moment, and CoreTCG made finding something for him way easier than I expected. They have a massive selection of trading cards! I was helped out by Eddie, who was both patient and knowledgeable. I'm completely clueless about this stuff, and he walked me through everything. I told him how much I was looking to spend, and he showed me several Pokémon boxed sets within my price range while explaining what each one included. I know my nephew is going to be over the moon. Thank you, Core! read more

I came into the store a a few days ago for the pre Release of op15 got a lot of good information from one of the worker Wearing a dodger jersey very helpful and knowledgeable of the game one piece on building deck look forward to coming back to the store as a player now read more

I know LCS have a bad reputation for charging market, but these guys do their best to charge less than it, especially on release days. Staff is extremely helpful and patient. Might be controversial to say, but in this current market, it's really a matter of time vs money. I literally cannot afford to wait hours in line at Target just to have a chance at getting a specific product. Their single prices are extremely fair, and they often offer sales here and there. Staff are actually genuine Pokemon fans, so that's a plus. read more

| LOCATION + PARKING | Even with it being a busy and bustling Saturday morning, there was still (free) parking to be found both in the small lot located behind the building and on the surrounding streets. The location is easy to find -just look for howling rays and it's off to the left of that lol. | SELECTION | After having been to a few card shops, I can say CoreTCG is easily one of the best shops if not the best. The selection for Pokemon, MTG, One Piece, Yugioh (and a couple others I'm not sure of the names) is great! I was so shocked to see so many options lol. After getting into playing Pokemon TCG last month, I've had a lot of trouble finding cards, packs, ETBs & etc out in the wild. But walked in and immediately found everything I was looking for (which was both good and bad). | STAFF & SERVICE | There were a lot of people when my mini and I went in but we were asked by multiple different staff members if we needed anything. I really appreciated that because you could definitely tell the two of us were in need of help haha. Daniel was especially great! He was so helpful and patient while we asked a bajillion questions. He alone is honestly worth going back to CoreTCG lol. My mini was a little shy in the atmosphere (they were hosting tournaments/games so it was crowded. But Daniel made her feel just as important as everyone else there. We originally went in to pick up an online order I placed a few hours before they opened. Even though it's clearly stated on the website it's usually a 24 hour processing time, they were soooo nice and super expedited my wait time. They did it (46 cards) within 10-15mins! I was so grateful since I'm overly eager to build my decks lol. Talk about A+ service! | HIGHLIGHTS | Daniel & Jake -so friendly and welcoming that we went back twice in the same day LOLOL! The great selection & the prices! No crazy price gouging here! read more

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The owner was so sweet, making sure he was able to give the local card community a chance to get to open Journey Together. He was selling them at MSRP! The man is a gem, this is my go to shop now. Prices are very fair, especially in the pokemon market right now that is so rare. There are plenty of tables to open packs and play or just hang out. It's very community friendly the staff are so helpful and never make me feel intimidated to ask questions. The vibes give read more

CoreTCG - Core TCG bags with one booster box & one ETB of Journey Together each. - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

I pre-ordered OP13 boxes from them -- they billed my credit card then 3 weeks later, cancelled it because there was a difference in my billing and shipping address (without any email or phone notification) then it took me a total of 4 weeks to get my money back. Extremely shady business Update: After I submitted this review, they cancelled my refund and stole my money! I have to file a chargeback on my credit card! BBB report filed. AVOID this SCAM business. read more

CoreTCG - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Showed up Sunday at 11:15 left at 11:30 never going again. Waited in line took 5 minutes so far so good. Got to front asked an employee price of a product was told they were new couldn't help me and get back in line. Wierd he couldn't look it up but ok. Got in line again employees just talking to regulars about their plans. Waited 10 minutes and walked out. Never stopped their conversation first employee went to helping someoen they seemed to know and was able to ring them out. Seems if your not a regular u shouldn't expect service. They seemed to have good stock otherwise but never got to that point of purchasing. read more

Solid spot to go pickup pokemon but make sure to negotiate. The prices are Ok. But seems like they will work with you ! Solid options for pokemon product sealed. NOT MUCH singles read more

I wanted a labubu from the "Big into Energy" collection and my husband (who goes to Core TCG often) noticed they had them. He bought me one and we joked about me pulling the Secret Labubu before I opened my box and I fact did pull the secret Labubu!! Thanks Core! :) read more

CoreTCG - The Secret Labubu I pulled from a box my husband bought me at Core TCG ‍ - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

CoreTCG is hands down the best card shop I have ever been in. What makes Core different is their dedication to the player base. They not only carry product for all modern card games but put in the additional effort to cultivate an active player base through their tournaments and events. It doesn't matter if it's the hottest most profitable game, CoreTCG will support the community. Their dedication to the player extends into their excellent customer service as well. Shoutout to their front-of-house staff Darwin, Daniel, and Jake keeping things running smoothly and customers happy. These guys are knowledgeable, helpful and polite. It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned pro, a grandma buying for the first time or a literal baby, CoreTCG will treat you right and all at fair prices. All this and more is why I keep coming back. Plus they have Labubus now. read more

CoreTCG - This is my baby. They are very kid and baby friendly. - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This place seems to have forgotten about Yu-Gi-Oh. You can't even buy single packs anymore or browse singles in the glass cabinets. If you want any Yu-Gi-Oh cards, you're forced to buy booster boxes or tins. They used to carry singles packets, but decided to move away from it and focus on other products instead. On top of that, the process for asking for help is pretty disorganized. They had five employees working, but only two were actually helping customers while the other three just kept going to the back. It also feels like they mainly focus on their regulars--one guy was able to walk out, come back in, and skip the line entirely. Honestly, it was just frustrating and disappointing. read more

These guys are the best. They always take their time and answer every question I have. Specifically want to shout out Vigen, Darwin, and Daniel for always providing a personable touch to the service here. Their prices are very fair, always at or below market price for Pokemon product, which is what I come here for. I've been coming here for years, and will continue to come here! Thanks CoreTCG! read more

CoreTCG - Fusion Strike booster box - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

Friendly and welcoming staff. Generous with TCG information and helpful with questions. Store is well decorated and has a fun vibe. They have an active TCG community that ranges in age from kids to adults from what I can tell. They could use a larger parking lot so heads up if there is an event there to go early. Pricing is fair for LGS and love that they limit popular items to curb scalping and provide as much inventory to as many customers as possible. Great job keep up the good work guys. Looking forward to the next time I can stop by. Maybe I'll even pull something cool from my next pack! read more

Would give 0 stars if i could. Over priced products and rude staff, the vibes were not it at all. Also rude over the phone. There's better shops in SGV with better prices and kind staff, go there instead. read more

I often come here to collect pokemon cards. What I love about this place is actually their website. Their website is the perfect place to buy singles for cheap and completing master sets. I order the cards online and it is ready for pickup the next day! When I come here, place is always packed with card players around and the ambiance is lively. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Really love this shop - I've come in with kids and watched the owner give them really great deals on Labubus, allowing them to trade cards for toys (and giving them very good prices for their cards). They do a lot of community outreach as well, including sponsoring youth sports teams. I don't know a ton about the card collecting subculture, but I do know that every interaction I've had with this store has been great! They put back into their community, which alone makes them a place I'm happy to support! read more

Great staff, amazing selection and great events for all different TCGs. Definitely highly recommend them as a one stop shop!

This shop is my go-to when purchasing Pokemon cards! They offer a ton more options, but their selection is always good. From Yu-Gi-Oh to Magic the Gathering, to Lorcana, the list goes on! I love that they are constantly getting new things, so the experience is never the same when you come into the store. The employees are the friendliest, too! Every time I have gone in, they have been very attentive to my needs. I have never felt ignored or unattended here, which is a big plus! The owners are really great people too. I went in during a new release and they were selling all their goods for retail price! It's a tough time for Collectors in this day and age, but they do a great thing for the community by offering these prices in this market. They really do care about their customers and it shows in their work ethic and their dedication to providing the best customer service to the community and collectors. I recommend anyone who's a collector to drop by here, I promise you won't regret it! read more

Visited for the first time this past week & CoreTCG left such a big first impression on me! I'm fairly new-ish to the TCG hobby but was recommended to this card shop by a friend & I'm glad I checked it out! Even in the Pasadena area it wasn't hard to find parking & the entrance. The storefront is really clean & spacious with a bunch of tables for customers. I was fortunate enough to buy the latest set of Pokemon cards for retail price on the day I went & the person who helped me was super kind and welcoming. With the selection of cards they had on display, I'm definitely gonna spend more time here in the future read more

I always love stopping by here when I'm passing by! They have a huge selection of major card games, specifically Pokémon and YuGiOh. Huge variety of single packs and boxes for a good deal. The staff is incredibly helpful no matter how busy it gets! They care about what you're purchasing, go the extra length to make a connection with you, and overall makes you feel welcome. They also have buckets of discounted items that are fun to look through. If you're a big TCG lover, this is a must-go! read more

Our neighborhood LGS! Very knowledgeable and kind hearted staff, who are just as excited, if not even more, when I pull a great hit from a pack! They show loyalty to their customers and are also very welcoming when new customers come in. Prices are very reasonable, and the selection is outstanding!!! my son and I won't buy cards anywhere else read more

Drove an hour after work on 9/19 to come and purchase some packs, their hours say until 8pm but they were closed by 7:40. Not coming back, why post hours if you're not gonna stick to them. Love this place but treat it like a business y'all. read more

Prices and selection are fair, and service has been pretty consistent in my experience. It's hard to charge MSRP and still maintain adequate supply in this market -- see Pokemon vending machines and stores like Target, etc., for the reasons why. CoreTCG strikes the right balance for me; fair prices at or below market, and good enough selection where you can buy sealed and singles without going through the hassle of TCGplayer (personally don't like the wait, the shipping process, and supporting a corporate entity like EBay). Supporting a local card shop like this seems like the much better option, IMO. They run regular events and their service has been consistent. read more

I love going here! They have the friendlist staff and the best prices. I always try to stop by when I am in the Pasadena area

Owner reached out to me and made some excuse about the prices for Gundam, today I called because all the local got restocked on GCG. Guess what? They're still selling the boxes for $250!!! Don't give these guys your business. TCGplayer is selling boxes right now for less than $180. If you wanna support a store that cares, go to Crimson Guild, PsychoTurtle, DnX. Stay away from this place AND PROJECTCCG in Alhambra, they're price gouging too. read more

Terrible line management. Tried to get in the store with my clients who have intellectual disabilities and they turned us away to get into a line for preorders when we weren't even preordering anything. They claimed that they didn't want too many people in the store. read more

Always a wide variety of selections. If you are looking for any type of tcg you will probably find it here. Staff are always helpful and friendly. I have shopped here for years and keep coming back for more. read more

I walked in to buy my boyfriend a gift and I was meet with such terrible service. Honestly, the owner should be ashamed to employ such bad employees. Even though you're a niche business, you should assist people regardless of their knowledge. I'm also in a niche industry and have to educate people all the time on the intricacies of the subject. Sad that you only help people/care about those who are insiders... read more

Great vibes here, and they really keep players/collectors in mind. I was able to get Journey Together early and at retail price, without being pressured into buying anything extra (which I did anyway out of appreciation). Easily one of the best card shops I've been to in LA read more

Buyer Beware! I just bought a single pack of shining fates from their shop and got a white and green code card from the pack. Expecting a holo or better I opened the rest of the cards to find a regular rare. I'm unsure if this is a result of a packaging error or resealing. Very disappointed and concerned. See pictures. read more

CoreTCG - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California

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just went to Core TCG to pick up two alternate art cards I ordered through the system. Keep in mind, I live 45 minutes away. The guy brought out two cards, but they were the wrong ones. I told him they were incorrect, and he gave me a strange look before going back. He came back with just one of the right cards and said, 'We only have this one.' When I asked if I could get the other one, he told me, 'No, we can't sell you it,' and then just walked away like he didn't care. Very uncomfortable and unfriendly read more

The shop was clean and well organized. Employees were very helpful and their system for choosing individual pokemon cards on a computer database instead of in the cases is extremely convenient. I pulled a great iron hands card from the prismatic evolutions boosters they had in stock. I was impressed by their huge selection. Looking forward to going back. read more

CoreTCG - Toy Stores Near Me - Pasadena, California