Prior to writing this review, I attempted to reach out to the cadet’s ownership to discuss the challenges within their store - after an hour long call with an owner that was hopeful, what followed was several weeks of increasingly worse behavior. I decided to post a modified review for others to understand the environment they are walking into when playing at cadets.
I wanted to share my experience at this store to help others make an informed decision, particularly within the Lorcana community. While I always prefer to support local businesses, there are several concerns worth noting regarding both product integrity and organized play standards at this location.
Product Concerns:
• I have personally observed fake Enchanted Lorcana cards being sold at the store. I cannot confirm intent, but it appears there is a lack of proper verification or quality control for high-value singles. Buyers should exercise caution and thoroughly inspect cards before purchasing. ** NOTE ** After speaking with Joey, store ownership, he said he has educated himself on what to look for in the future, hopefully minimizing this experience in the future.
Organized Play Concerns:
• There have been instances of inconsistent and biased judging during paid competitive Lorcana events. The primary judge used by the store, Kevin, has intervened mid-match to assist his girlfriend — specifically addressing missed triggers in her favor, without a judge call being made. According to Lorcana’s official tournament rules, missed triggers are generally handled by the opposing player, and unsolicited intervention from a judge is not standard procedure.
• When these concerns were raised, I attempted to have a respectful, rules-based discussion with Kevin, referencing the Lorcana rulebook directly. My concerns were dismissed, and I was advised by store management not to question his judging decisions in the future.
• At a subsequent event, my deck was subjected to a deck check for the entire duration of the competitive event, while other players were not. This suggests targeted oversight rather than standard random checks.
Other Concerns:
Following my attempts to raise these concerns respectfully, I was removed from the store’s Discord and banned from the premises by Kevin and his girlfriends. Store ownership told me I would be permitted to rejoin, and after doing so, Kevin and his girlfriends removed me again and banned me from rejoining.
TLDR:
The challenges at this store are primarily with the leaders of their TCG division, Kevin and Corri. They lack the emotional intelligence to be running a business. Unfortunately, the position of store ownership is that the actions of these employees don’t speak for them, even though they are directly made while running aspects of the business, directly impacting their business practices.
For Lorcana players seeking a competitive, fair, and policy-aligned play environment, I recommend exploring alternative stores nearby, such as Game Knight or Outer Limits, both of which offer well-run events with transparent judging and leadership.
As always, I encourage players and customers to make decisions based on their own experiences, but these issues are worth being aware of before participating in events or purchasing products at Cadet’s.
