Alolan Vulpix Sleeves Banned from Worlds and Higher-Level Play

By: Water Pokémon Master · Posted Posted onDec 22, 2022 at 9:16 AM · 30 Comments

What a funny headline.

Pokemon Japan and Pokemon Asia have announced a ban on the Alolan Vulpix sleeves released in Japan on September 2nd. This is due to color variations between different batches of the sleeves. Although not stated, this might allow some players to cheat by marking their cards.

An English announcement probably won’t be made since the sleeves were never sold here. But it’ll probably be a rule included in next year’s Worlds documents.

The Pokemon Company is not accepting returns or exchanges, as the color variation “does not impair the product’s use as a card sleeve.”

The sleeves are not banned from Asia’s local tournaments or Pokemon Gym events. However, Pokemon advises players to ask for permission from organizers before using them. They ask players to “consider fairness, respect your opponents, and use your own responsible judgment.”

The sleeves are officially banned from the following events:

  • Pokemon World Championships
  • Pokemon Japan Championships (Japan)
  • Champions League Tournaments (Japan)
  • City League Tournaments (Japan)
  • League Tournaments (Japan)
  • Lucario HR Contest (Japan)
  • Pokemon Regional League (Asia)
  • Pokemon Town League (Asia)
  • Select events rewarding exclusive collector Promo cards (Asia)
View thread (30 replies)
The Pokemon Company is not accepting returns or exchanges, as the color variation “does not impair the product’s use as a card sleeve.”
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Well then, there's no need for the ban, is there? Asinine.
 
DMYSYS said:
Well then, there's no need for the ban, is there? Asinine.
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Marked card situation. Rather, the issue is a noticeable difference between printing lots (some sleeves darker, or clearer); and the shops gets the product from multiple batches, especially in Japan and some countries like Singapore.
Sleeves never got released here outside the scope, but most people get those by friends or finding them in Amazon Japan, Online Shops which sells overseas; stuff like that.

I would enforce this quite funny rule here, because there's people importing (for themselves) Japanese merchandise.
 
Nixa said:
They literally explained that the color variations could allow someone to intentionally use some sleeves from different batches to mark cards and know where something in their deck is unfairly.
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Ranger64 said:
No it’s banned because of color variations being used to figure out which cards are which based on the back
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Yoan Sanchhez said:
Marked card situation. Rather, the issue is a noticeable difference between printing lots (some sleeves darker, or clearer); and the shops gets the product from multiple batches, especially in Japan and some countries like Singapore.
Sleeves never got released here outside the scope, but most people get those by friends or finding them in Amazon Japan, Online Shops which sells overseas; stuff like that.

I would enforce this quite funny rule here, because there's people importing (for themselves) Japanese merchandise.
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So then they can't be used as card sleeves, and refunds/exchanges should be offered.
 
Nixa said:
They literally explained that the color variations could allow someone to intentionally use some sleeves from different batches to mark cards and know where something in their deck is unfairly.
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Ranger64 said:
No it’s banned because of color variations being used to figure out which cards are which based on the back
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Yoan Sanchhez said:
Marked card situation. Rather, the issue is a noticeable difference between printing lots (some sleeves darker, or clearer); and the shops gets the product from multiple batches, especially in Japan and some countries like Singapore.
Sleeves never got released here outside the scope, but most people get those by friends or finding them in Amazon Japan, Online Shops which sells overseas; stuff like that.

I would enforce this quite funny rule here, because there's people importing (for themselves) Japanese merchandise.
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I think y’all are misunderstanding the original commenter’s message. TPC can’t simultaneously state that the sleeves need to be banned **and** use the bogus reasoning that “their use isn’t impaired” to not accept returns. Either the ban isn’t warranted or TPC should give refunds.

Your comments are just proving that the color variation does indeed “impair the product’s use as a card sleeve” within tournaments and therefore a refund is warranted, which is what the OC is stating.
 
dicemaze said:
I think y’all are misunderstanding the original commenter’s message. TPC can’t simultaneously state that the sleeves need to be banned **and** use the bogus reasoning that “their use isn’t impaired” to not accept returns. Either the ban isn’t warranted or TPC should give refunds.

Your comments are just proving that the color variation does indeed “impair the product’s use as a card sleeve” within tournaments and therefore a refund is warranted, which is what the OC is stating.
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It mildly impairs it. Overall use as a card sleeve, especially per pack of sleeves (the colour mixups are in batches according to the posted), is not impaired and no refund is warranted as the product works as intended. However, presumably the colour differences are slight. Then, if you were able to get your hands on two different packs, you could mix and match, and, since you know what you're loooking for better than your opponent, 'mark' the sleeve. Use with other packs is generally not considered as part of the main use of the product.
 
Nyora said:
It mildly impairs it. Overall use as a card sleeve, especially per pack of sleeves (the colour mixups are in batches according to the posted), is not impaired and no refund is warranted as the product works as intended. However, presumably the colour differences are slight. Then, if you were able to get your hands on two different packs, you could mix and match, and, since you know what you're loooking for better than your opponent, 'mark' the sleeve. Use with other packs is generally not considered as part of the main use of the product.
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But they're not going through to see if it's been mixed with other packs, they've just issued a blanket ban against this particular UPC. They've then simultaneously said "these can't be used as card sleeves" at the exact same time they're saying "no refunds, they can be used as card sleeves".
 
DMYSYS said:
But they're not going through to see if it's been mixed with other packs, they've just issued a blanket ban against this particular UPC. They've then simultaneously said "these can't be used as card sleeves" at the exact same time they're saying "no refunds, they can be used as card sleeves".
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Because the original purpose of a sleeve is to protect the card. It still functions this way, but this particular card sleeve cannot be used at the tournaments due to colour variations which could be used to cheat; therefore, banned. The argument is does PTCG design the sleeves specifically for tournament use, in which a refund would apply, or to provide themed card protectors.
 
Nirvanna21 said:
Because the original purpose of a sleeve is to protect the card.
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Yes, that's right. They protect the card in circumstances such as their use in official organized play events, where they are normally both recognized and formally 'allowed' in such situations. The sleeves were not sold with a qualification that they could not be used in certain levels of organized play due to defects with the manufacture and print of the sleeves, so I really don't see what argument is being made here to support the contradiction.

Exchanges/refunds would just be courtesy for players who have purchased their products. It's not the customer's fault there were problems with their printing.

Nyora said:
It mildly impairs it. Overall use as a card sleeve, especially per pack of sleeves (the colour mixups are in batches according to the posted), is not impaired and no refund is warranted as the product works as intended. However, presumably the colour differences are slight. Then, if you were able to get your hands on two different packs, you could mix and match, and, since you know what you're loooking for better than your opponent, 'mark' the sleeve. Use with other packs is generally not considered as part of the main use of the product.
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So are you arguing to lift the ban?
 
DMYSYS said:
Yes, that's right. They protect the card in circumstances such as their use in official organized play events, where they are normally both recognized and formally 'allowed' in such situations. The sleeves were not sold with a qualification that they could not be used in certain levels of organized play due to defects with the manufacture and print of the sleeves, so I really don't see what argument is being made here to support the contradiction.

Exchanges/refunds would just be courtesy for players who have purchased their products. It's not the customer's fault there were problems with their printing.
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I agree it's not the customers fault, but I am saying that technically they don't make the sleeves FOR organized events, it's just how they are used. I think it's fair that they are banned from official events, I also think they should refund or replace the poorly printed sleeves; however, they are also not required to.
 
I feel like people are trying to create a problem out of nothing. The sleeves were deemed cheating material due to the discoloration. You can still protect your cards. When at an organized event just swap to other sleeves, and you'll be good to go. The purpose of the sleeves is to protect, and their outright cheap to begin with.
 
dicemaze said:
I think y’all are misunderstanding the original commenter’s message. TPC can’t simultaneously state that the sleeves need to be banned **and** use the bogus reasoning that “their use isn’t impaired” to not accept returns. Either the ban isn’t warranted or TPC should give refunds.

Your comments are just proving that the color variation does indeed “impair the product’s use as a card sleeve” within tournaments and therefore a refund is warranted, which is what the OC is stating.
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There is another use for card sleeves, which is to protect cards not in use. Still surprised
 
DMYSYS said:
Exactly. Why refuse to replace them?
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"Cheap" would be referring to generic, off the shelves one colored sleeves. These themed/artwork sleeves arent. Sort of. Theyre not THAT expensive but, but printing them needs specific batches because they're, well, artworks. Offering sleeve replacements would likely cause production schedule issues.

Maybe I sound like I'm defending TPC, but I'm just trying to make sense of the situation from a production standpoint. I do think they should offer something as a reimbursement, but replacing all of the sleeves would not be feasible at all.
 
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