Pre-Order Policy

Last Updated: April 28, 2026

The GraveYard offers pre-orders on selected upcoming releases — sealed product launches, special edition collectibles, and limited print runs that we know are going to move fast. Pre-orders let you lock in your copy before it sells out and lock in the pre-order price before any post-release markup hits the market. This page explains exactly how pre-orders work at The GraveYard.

What Is A Pre-Order

A pre-order is a reservation for an item that hasn't been released yet. You pay for it now, we hold your spot in our allocation, and we ship it to you as soon as the item is released and arrives at our South Gate facility. Pre-order items are clearly labeled on our website with:

• "PRE-ORDER" tag prominently displayed on the product page
• Estimated release/ship date (this comes from the manufacturer)
• Pre-order specific terms when applicable

If a product page doesn't say "PRE-ORDER," it's regular in-stock inventory and ships under our standard shipping policy. Don't assume; check the listing.

Why Pre-Order From The GraveYard

A few reasons. First, our pre-order pricing is fair — we don't gouge during the announcement window when speculation runs hot. We set a price based on expected MSRP and stick to it. If the secondary market price spikes after release, you're locked in at the lower pre-order price. Second, our allocations come from authorized distributors, which means everything we pre-order is guaranteed authentic and arrives factory-sealed. Third, our shipping policy applies to pre-orders just like everything else: free shipping, professional packaging, full tracking.

The downside of pre-orders is the wait. Some pre-orders ship a few weeks after you place them. Others ship months later. The estimated date is an estimate — manufacturer delays happen. We're transparent about this upfront so you can make an informed decision before you commit.

Payment for Pre-Orders

Pre-orders are charged in full at the time of purchase, not at the time of shipment.

This is different from some shops that charge a deposit and bill the rest later. We charge the full amount upfront for several reasons:

• Securing your allocation: When we pay our distributor for inventory, that money has to come from somewhere. Charging full price at pre-order means we can confidently allocate units to confirmed paying customers.
• Locking in the price: You pay today's price. If the market shifts before release (in either direction), your locked-in price doesn't change.
• Simpler accounting: One transaction, one charge, one refund if needed. No partial payments, no surprise charges months later.

We accept the same payment methods on pre-orders as we do on regular orders: Shopify Payments (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), PayPal, and Stripe.

Pre-Order Pricing — Locked In At Time Of Purchase

The price you pay at the moment you submit your pre-order is the price you pay. Period. If the manufacturer's MSRP changes between your order and the release date, you're not affected. If we adjust our retail price after the release based on secondary market dynamics, you still get the original pre-order price.

This works in your favor most of the time. If a pre-ordered item sells for significantly more than retail post-release (which happens with hot Pokémon and Magic releases), you got it at the lower price. On rare occasions, post-release pricing drops below pre-order pricing — in those cases, you paid more than you would have if you'd waited. That's the gamble of pre-ordering. We don't price match downward; the locked-in price works both directions.

Estimated Ship Dates — They're Estimates

Every pre-order listing includes an estimated ship date. This date comes from the manufacturer's announced release schedule. We update it whenever the manufacturer updates their schedule. We never invent a ship date — if the manufacturer hasn't announced one, neither have we.

Estimated dates are estimates. Manufacturer delays are common in the trading card industry. Pokémon, Wizards of the Coast, Konami, and other publishers occasionally push releases back due to printing delays, supply chain issues, or other factors outside their control (and definitely outside ours). When this happens:

• We update the listed ship date as soon as we get new information
• We email all customers with active pre-orders to notify them of the change
• You can choose to keep your pre-order or cancel it for a full refund
• Your locked-in price remains valid for the new ship date

Our Handling Commitment On Pre-Orders

Once a pre-ordered item physically arrives at our South Gate facility, our standard handling time applies: 3 business days from receipt to ship. We don't sit on pre-order inventory waiting to batch it. As soon as it's in our hands, authenticated, and verified, it ships out to the customers who pre-ordered it, in the order pre-orders were placed.

That last part matters. Pre-orders ship in the order they were placed. If you pre-ordered a hot release months in advance, you ship before the customer who pre-ordered last week. We process pre-orders FIFO (first in, first out) so early pre-orderers are rewarded for their commitment.

Pre-Order Shipping

Pre-Order Shipping Cost: $0.00 (Free)

Same shipping policy as everything else. Free shipping in the US. 3-business-day handling once the item arrives at our facility. 3-8 business day transit. Tracking included. Insurance on orders over $100. Same packaging standards. Pre-orders aren't a different shipping experience — they're just regular shipments that happen later.

Pre-Order Cancellations

You can cancel a pre-order anytime before it ships for a full refund.

This is one of the biggest advantages of pre-ordering with The GraveYard. Life happens. Your financial situation changes. You decide you don't actually want the item anymore. Whatever the reason, as long as the pre-order hasn't shipped, you can cancel.

How to cancel a pre-order:

1. Email support@thegraveyardtcg.shop with your order number, OR
2. Call +1 (323) 835-5989 during business hours
3. Include "Pre-Order Cancellation" in the subject line if emailing
4. We confirm the cancellation within 24 hours
5. Full refund issued to original payment method within 3-5 business days

You can cancel a pre-order one day after placing it or six months later, as long as the item hasn't shipped. The cancellation window stays open until the item is physically out the door.

Once a pre-order ships, it converts to a regular order. At that point, our standard 30-day return policy applies — you can return it after delivery, but you can't "cancel" it in the pre-order sense.

Manufacturer Delays — What Happens

If the manufacturer pushes back a release, here's the process:

1. We learn of the delay from the manufacturer or distributor
2. We update our website with the new estimated date
3. We email you at the address on your order with the updated date and your options
4. Your options: keep the pre-order at the new date, or cancel for a full refund
5. If you keep it, your locked-in price still applies and your spot in the queue is still secured

You're never obligated to wait through a delay. If the new date doesn't work for you, cancel and get your money back. No hard feelings, no fees.

Manufacturer Cancellations — What Happens

Sometimes manufacturers cancel a release entirely. This is rare but it happens — usually due to licensing issues, distribution problems, or product quality concerns identified pre-release. When this happens:

1. We notify you immediately by email
2. We issue a full automatic refund to your original payment method
3. No action required on your part
4. The refund processes within 3-5 business days

If a release is cancelled, you don't have to do anything. We handle it.

Pre-Order Allocation Limits

For high-demand pre-orders, we may set per-customer limits to ensure fair distribution across our customer base. If a limit applies, it'll be clearly stated on the product page. Common limits look like "Max 2 per customer" or "Limit 1 per household."

If you try to order more than the limit, the system will block the additional units. If you want to bulk-order pre-release inventory beyond posted limits — for personal collection purposes, group buys, or business resale — contact support@thegraveyardtcg.shop in advance. We may be able to accommodate larger orders depending on our allocation, but it requires upfront approval.

Combining Pre-Orders With In-Stock Items

If your cart contains both pre-order and in-stock items, you have two shipment options:

Option 1 — Split Shipment (default for most orders):

• In-stock items ship within 3 business days using our standard shipping
• Pre-order items ship when the pre-order release date arrives
• Both ship free
• You get tracking for each shipment separately

Option 2 — Hold For Combined Shipment:

• Add a note in the order comments at checkout requesting "hold for combined shipment"
• Everything ships together when the pre-order is ready
• Saves packaging materials and slightly reduces our shipping costs
• Better for the environment if that matters to you

Authenticity On Pre-Orders

Pre-order items are sourced from authorized distributors. They arrive factory-sealed at our facility. We weigh sealed product against factory specifications before shipping it out, just like our regular sealed inventory. The 100% authenticity guarantee fully applies to pre-orders. If you ever have authenticity concerns about something you pre-ordered, contact us under our standard authenticity protocol.

Damaged Pre-Order Items

If your pre-ordered item arrives damaged, our standard damage policy applies. Contact us within 24-48 hours with photos, and we'll arrange replacement or refund. Pre-order status doesn't change your protection on damaged items.

Contact Information

The GraveYard TCG
9320 California Ave
South Gate, CA 90280, USA
Phone: +1 (323) 835-5989
Email: support@thegraveyardtcg.shop
Web: thegraveyardtcg.shop

Questions about a specific pre-order? Want to know if a release date has been confirmed? Reach out — we'll tell you what we know.