This will be our final blog update for what's going on at Armageddon for us this year. I've also re-condensed all the info from the previous blogs after the new announcements, so if you missed anything in previous updates, it's all in this blog.
There will be some info on some of the deals we'll have there, so make sure you keep reading!
Firstly, I want to say we haven't forgot those who aren't in Auckland! So you guys don't miss out completely on this exciting weekend, I've decided not to take down any of the daily deals that go up this weekend until Tuesday. This means that you can access all of this weekends daily deals from the day they go up until Tuesday morning!
We should have some updates going up on our Facebook page and instagram if you want to check out photos and updates about the progress of the stall and what it looks like.
Deals
Now for the deals! We can't give away ALL the deals we'll have at the show, you'll have to pop around to see most of them, but one thing I can say is we'll be having a special on Lucky Dips! For Pokemon they will be 5 for $30 and for yugioh they'll be 6 for $30. This means that if you buy one of these lots, worst case scenario, you'll be getting $1 off each booster pack BUT you could win one of the bigger prizes or one of the major prizes and walk away with around $100 worth of products from a lucky dip! Definitely one of the deals we're expecting to be more popular. There are a limited number of lucky dips available, so if you want to be in with a chance to win one of the major prizes, best to get in early.
We'll also have awesome $30 deluxe intro deals for each of the games. These are a great way to get your mates into the game or to try a different one yourself. Each games deal is slightly different but they all come with stuff to get you started and a bunch more cards and accessories, they're really great value and only available at Armageddon.
There are HEAPS more Armageddon-only specials available this weekend, so make sure you pop by. We have posters up at the stand with our top 5 picks for the best deals of the weekend, so make sure you have a read over them, it's a great opportunity to snag some awesome bargains.
Games Day
We'll be having a games day on Saturday 29th for Yugioh and Sunday 30th for Pokemon at our store in Pakuranga Plaza. This is intended for anyone who's looking to learn a new game after Armageddon. You can pick up a starter deck at the event, play a few games with your mates to get the hang of it and then head over to the Games Day for a bunch of mini-tournaments with cool prizes and you'll get to play against a bunch of new people who are the same skill level as you!
You can find more info on the games day here for Pokemon and here for yugioh.
Important info from previous blogs
Armageddon details:
Date: Friday 21st October - Monday 24 October
Venue: ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane
Tickets: We don't sell tickets (we're just a retailer there) but you can buy tickets here.
Website: http://armageddonexpo.com/nz/
Where are we?
See the map below to help you find the stand!
Advice for anyone looking to attend the expo
Both Chloe and Matt have been going to expos for years, so here's some tips of the trade to get the most out of it:
- Bring water. It gets really hot and drinks can be very expensive. Without water, you may start to feel sick very quickly.
- Pick the day based on what you want to get out of it. If you want to beat the crowds but don't need long to look, go on Friday. If you love the atmosphere and want the most intense experience, go on Saturday. If you don't want to miss out on all the good deals but don't want crazy crowds, go Sunday. If you're going to go for a second day, Monday is always a good option as there's the awesome fireworks and you can snap up the last of the great deals.
- Pre-book your tickets. The wait can take literally hours and if you plan on going on Saturday, they often sell out of tickets. Avoid the huge wait and disappointment by booking early. It also works out a little cheaper.
- Carpool or catch public transport. Parking at these events can be quite pricey, car-pool there and jam some tunes to get yourself and your friends hyped!
- Ask us to bring items. There's no guarantee that we'll be bringing everything we stock (in fact, it's highly unlikely) because we have very limited space. Especially for those travelling from out of town, let us know what you'd like to pick up there and we'll get your order ready in a bag for you and make sure it's there. That way you won't miss out! Email us on info@cardmerchantnz.com to let us know what you're after
- Bring snacks. I would bring lunch too because the crowds are usually crazy around lunchtime, but at least bring some snacks. You won't have as much fun if you're starving.
- Cosplay. It's one of the best things about these expos! When else will you be able to dress up like a Charmander or a Dark Magician?! Cosplay is one of the best things about Armageddon, so go crazy. Just make sure your outfit is practical as it will be really hot and you won't have a lot of space.
- If you want the good deals, go on Saturday. A lot of the best deals sell out on Saturday because it's the busiest day. There will of course still be awesome bargains and cool things to look at every other day, but if you're really keen on getting the awesome bargains, go on Saturday.
- Get there early. There's always quite a long wait to get in. Turn up around an hour before doors open with a few friends and spend the time working out your game plan. Ask a staff member there for a map if there's not one online and work out what you want to see.
- Stay until the end of the day. It's much easier to get around during the last couple of hours of the day and the ques are way shorter because a lot of people go home. This is the best part of the day to look around because there's still the atmosphere, but you get a chance to do more.
- Bring cash. EFTPOS services go down every year because the servers get overloaded and it costs to withdraw cash at the venue. But remember to be safe with your cash! If you'll be bringing a bit, remember to keep it in a safe place. It may be best to split it up and put some in your bag, some in your pocket and some in a bag on a chain on your neck (and tuck it down your t-shirt)
- Get plenty of sleep the night before. They can be quite long days, so make sure you get plenty of rest.
- Have fun. It can be a little overwhelming at times because there are so many people,but just remember that everyone's there to have fun so try not to let anything bother you, this only happens once a year, so enjoy it!
What are we up to with all our extra space?
We're running a Yu-Gi-Oh learn-to-play, so head down if you'd like to give the game ago or haven't played in years and can't quite remember it!
