Hey everyone, it's Tweeds again! After the store opening on the 25th of March, I received a lot of feedback from people who missed their chance at securing an Astarion plushie or other items because of timezone differences, waiting on payday, missing the date etc.
I've decided that I don't want to open another round of preorders for the Astarion plushies because of logistics (omg), and I also want to keep them as limited items. That said, I hope to give everyone a fair chance at getting their hands on the plushies when they're stocked in early November.
My solution at the moment is to have a FREE lottery system. This does not guarantee you a plushie, but it gives you a chance to be on a priority list to buy the plushie slightly earlier than everyone else. You and everyone will still have their chance to buy whatever plushies are left when the store opens.
If implemented this is how the lottery will go:
- MID AUGUST: Announce whether lottery is happening or not. If it is, the date the lottery form drops in September and the major T&C's surrounding the lottery will be shared.
- END-SEPTEMBER: Total amount of available plushies (Each quantity of A-GRADES and B-GRADES) and November shop opening date is announced. Lottery form is opened with full T&C in the form. The form stays open for 3 weeks.
- Eligible and interested buyers can read up the Full T&C, and fill up the form for a chance to be on the priority list. They are required to provide their emails and preferred social media handle for DM's.
- MID-OCTOBER: Lottery form closes.
- I randomly pick a small amount of "lottery winners"* and contact them personally within 3 days of the form closing. These winners will be given priority to buy the plushies for 1.5 weeks upon notification.
- Regardless of whether these winners buy the plushies within the given priority timeframe, the shop will open to everyone in early November.
- EARLY-NOVEMBER: Shop opens! Buy the plushies!!
*I have to scale the number of winners to the number of available stock. Hence, the small amount of
winners will range between 3-10 people depending how many plushie stock is available.
To prevent any possible case of scalpers/ repeat buyers:
- Past preorder buyers of the Astarion doll + clothing set is not eligible to join the lottery.
- Each winner is eligible to buy only 1 doll + 1 clothing set OR 1 doll or 1 clothing set. If they want to buy more plushies they'll have to wait for the November store opening.
- Instead of Etsy, the sale transaction will be made via email and I will issue the winner a Stripe payment link with a fixed price after they decide on their items of purchase.
- The reason why there will only be 3-10 winners is because I want there to be plenty of plushies left for everyone who did not win the lottery.
With this much prep time, I hope that interested buyers can plan their finances and mark their calendars ahead of time!
This is just an idea and the fine details are not confirmed yet, whish is why I would greatly value your feedback over this matter.
I will announce whether the lottery system will be implemented or not on my socials in mid August. I will also inform you of my decision via the email you have provided in this form :D
