Who we are

Route27 is an independent TCG store based in Braddon, Canberra. We're not a franchise, not a chain, and not backed by a large corporation. We're a small business built around a genuine love for trading card games and the community that comes with them. That means every decision we make — what we stock, how we price things, how we treat our customers — comes down to us. We think that's a good thing, and we want you to understand how we think about it. Fair warning: the person behind all of this is a self-confessed introvert. If you come in and I seem a bit quiet, I promise I'm not being rude — I'm just more comfortable letting the singles wall do the talking. I do genuinely love this community and this hobby, it just takes me a moment to warm up. Bear with me.

How we make money

We're a retail store. We buy product and sell it at a price that keeps the lights on, pays our team, and lets us reinvest in making Route27 better. Our main revenue comes from: Singles and slabs. Buying and selling individual cards is the heart of what we do. We source cards from distributors, collectors, and the secondary market, assess their condition, price them based on current market rates, and make them available in store and online. Sealed product. Booster boxes, ETBs, tins, and other sealed product sourced through official distributors and import channels. We try to stock what the community actually wants, not just what's easy to get. Accessories, plushies, and figures. Sleeves, binders, playmats, and collectibles. Practical stuff you need to play, and fun stuff you just want to own. Events. Draft nights, pre-releases, and competitive play. Entry fees help cover the cost of running the event and keeping tables available for the community. We don't run advertising on our website. We don't take commissions from suppliers to push particular products. If we recommend something, it's because we actually think it's worth your time.

Where our product comes from

We source product from a few different places depending on what it is. Sealed product comes through official Australian distributors where possible. Product sourced this way is priced close to the suggested retail price — we don't see it as fair to mark up product we can get through normal channels. Some products go out of print, sell out locally, or see demand that outstrips what distributors can supply. When that happens and we want to keep it available, we source from reputable resellers overseas. Imported product is priced to reflect the actual cost of getting it here — freight, import costs, and market rates — which means it will sometimes sit above local SRP. We'll always make it clear on the listing when a product is an import. One thing we don't do: we never purchase sealed product from the community or local secondary market. If someone brings in a sealed box to sell, we'll pass. Our secondary sealed stock comes exclusively through overseas reseller channels we've vetted ourselves. Our overseas reseller network The resellers we work with aren't random finds — they're suppliers we've built genuine ongoing relationships with over time. We work with them continuously and visit them in person regularly throughout the year. Those visits aren't just courtesy calls — they're how we stay across what's available, verify product authenticity firsthand, and maintain the kind of trust that means we're confident in what we're putting on our shelves. If a product on our site is listed as sourced from our overseas reseller network, that's what it means — not a one-off eBay purchase, but product that came through a supplier relationship we've invested in. Pricing on these products reflects the real cost of getting them here: freight, import, and market rates. Singles and slabs come from a mix of sources — collections we purchase from customers and collectors, and the secondary market. Every card is assessed in-store before it's priced and listed. We use industry-standard grading terminology (Near Mint, Lightly Played, and so on) and take condition seriously, because we know it matters to you. Some of our slabs come from us — we open packs ourselves and send off the cards we like for professional grading. No scientific process, just cards that caught our eye — including the off-centre ones sitting in a slab somewhere, nodding along. If you've ever wondered whether the person selling you a graded card actually cares about the hobby, the answer here is yes. We're cracking packs the same as you are, just with a submission envelope nearby. We don't source counterfeit product. If we ever have any doubt about the authenticity of a card or product, we don't sell it. Full stop.

Our pricing

We price singles based on current market rates, condition, and what we know the local community is looking for. We price sealed product to be competitive while keeping the business sustainable. We don't publish our margins and we won't pretend every price is the cheapest you'll find anywhere. What we will say is that we price fairly and consistently — the same card costs the same whether you're a first-time visitor or a long-term member.

Purchase limits

We set purchase limits on high-demand products to make sure as many people as possible get a fair shot. This is particularly important on new releases where scalping is a real problem in the TCG community. Limits apply to everyone equally. Membership tier does not increase how much you can buy — it only affects when you can buy it.

Our community commitment

Route27 exists because of the TCG community in Canberra. We want to be the store that this city deserves — somewhere you can play, discover, and connect with other players and collectors, not just a place to transact. That means we're building this as a long-term presence, not a quick win. If something isn't working for the community, we want to hear about it. If we get something wrong, we'll say so and fix it.

Questions?

If there's something about how we operate that you'd like to understand better, reach out. We're happy to talk. [hello@route27.com.au] [route27.com.au]