Local Player Access and Fair Purchase Policy
Helping our local players enjoy the games they love with fairer access to high-demand products and clear purchasing rules.
We want the products people are excited about to reach the people who play the games. Our Local Player system gives active members of our Aberdeen and Edinburgh communities fairer access to selected releases while helping us discourage scalping and unfair bulk buying.
Our approach
Why we protect certain products
Trading card game releases can be in high demand and stock is sometimes limited. Without fair-access measures, a small number of buyers can take most of the available products or resell them at inflated prices. We would rather give regular players a meaningful chance to enjoy the game, build decks and take part in our events.
Not every product is restricted. When a product has a Local Player, game-specific Player or Member requirement, we show that on the product page before you buy.
Eligibility
How to become a Local Player
- Play in qualifying events. Book and attend our eligible events with the Shopify product type In-Store Events at Aberdeen Games Hub or Edinburgh Games Hub.
- Use your customer account. Online event bookings and Shopify POS/till purchases both count when recorded against the same customer account.
- Reach three event tickets in 56 days. Your total qualifying ticket quantity counts, not the number of separate orders. For example, two tickets purchased together count as two tickets. Cancelled or refunded tickets do not continue to count.
- Keep playing. We check eligibility against the latest rolling 56-day period. Your Local Player status can expire if the required activity is no longer within that window.
Tickets across different games combine towards general Local Player status. Ordinary product purchases do not count as event tickets.
Explore our in-store eventsProduct restrictions
Local Player, game-specific Player and Member access
Local Player
Requires the Local Player tag on your customer account. Qualify with three eligible event tickets across any games in the last 56 days.
Game-specific Player
Some products also require a matching game tag, such as Riftbound Player or Flesh and Blood Player. You need three qualifying tickets for that same game or vendor within 56 days.
Member and in-store products
Certain in-store-only products can be ordered online by an eligible Member or Local Player. A game-specific restriction still applies if the product has a matching Player tag.
All listed requirements apply. If a product needs both Local Player and Riftbound Player access, your customer account must have both tags. A Member tag does not automatically bypass a Local Player or game-specific requirement.
Fair purchasing
Purchase limits and product options
Some products have a quantity limit to help more customers access limited stock. Limits can differ by option or variant: a booster pack, box and case may each have different limits. The product page shows the limit for the selected option where one applies.
Limits are per customer, not a way to make repeated orders. Where a limit applies, splitting purchases across orders or accounts to get around it is not permitted. We may review orders against our fair-purchase policy. A product option set to a limit of zero is not available for online purchase.
If you see a message that you have reached a quantity limit, reduce the affected item quantity or choose a different available option. If you see a Player access message, check that you are signed into the correct eligible account.
Protecting the community
Fair-play conditions
- Our restrictions are intended to give active local players a fair opportunity to buy selected products, not to guarantee availability.
- We may open or break a factory seal on selected restricted products before dispatch or collection to discourage resale. Product contents remain as supplied.
- Attempts to avoid access checks or quantity limits, including multiple accounts, borrowed accounts or split orders, may result in order cancellation or loss of restricted-product privileges.
- All purchases remain subject to our Terms and Conditions and other applicable store policies.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about restricted products
Why can't I add this product to my basket?
The product may require Local Player, Member or a specific game Player tag that your current account does not have. You may also have selected an option with a quantity limit or a limit of zero. Check the notice on the product page for the exact reason and sign in with the account used for events.
Do two tickets in the same order count as two?
Yes. Qualifying event ticket quantities count, so two eligible tickets in one order count as two towards the three-ticket threshold. Cancelled or refunded tickets reduce that count.
Can I qualify by playing different games?
Yes for general Local Player status. A game-specific Player tag needs three qualifying tickets from that game or vendor during the same rolling 56 days.
I'm a Member. Can I buy every restricted product?
No. Member status may allow online ordering of certain in-store-only products, but any separate Local Player or game-specific Player requirements on a product must still be met.
Why did I lose my Player access?
Eligibility is recalculated using the latest 56 days of qualifying event tickets, so older tickets eventually fall outside the window. Booking more qualifying events can restore access when the threshold is reached again.
What if I think my access is wrong?
Make sure your event bookings use the same customer account. If the issue continues, contact our team and we can investigate the linked bookings and tags.
Fair access starts with a strong local community
Thanks for supporting Thistle Tavern, our events and the people who play alongside you.