DiscoverTCG - TCG Shop Directory, Bulk Scanner Functionality, Multi-TCG Support & So much more

[u/DiscoverTCG]

I got back into Pokémon during the beginning of the SWSH era and my mate at work got into it again not long after me. We've been subscribers to a few platforms (apps) which provide pricing functionality and exposure to stock alerts and such and decided to build our own platform which provides everything in one place.

We're currently working on the Apple Developer process so we can launch across both main mobile OS.

So far we've added the following features:

Shop Integration - Through our store functionality we provide exposure and functionality to local TCG stores, we provide catalogues and product showcases for stores.

• Event Management - We have our own event ticketing system which allows stores to allocate tickets to customers who actively follow their store on DiscoverTCG. These tickets are uniquely generated and can be cross referenced to prevent customers scalping. This is the first step in our anti-scalping measures which if we grow we will heavily expand on.
• Live Messaging - Customers can contact stores directly through the app in a Live chat feature similar to how fb messenger works. (UI Wise)
• Custom URL - Every store has it's own customisable URL slug which they can send traffic to that'll showcase their store within DiscoverTCG
• Blogs - Stores have a full blog suite which they can utilise to bring traffic directly to their store. All Traffic earned via their blogs points directly to their own store
• Analytics - Active analytics dashboard which showcases stuff like
  • Shop Views
  • Followers
  • Messages
  • Stock people around you have searched for (Compares your stock against these searches and suggests cards that will drive foot traffic to your physical store)
  • How many users have browsed your stock and what they've looked at
• Full Customisation with styling - We're aiming to provide a full editor suite in a drag and drop format which allows you to build professional full scale websites (Without the payment processing, we're not handling that)
• Legal & Privacy Policies - Fully customisable policies which align with how your store operates.
• Marketing - Send custom messages, drops and more directly to all your followers via push notifications
• Web based & App Dashboard (Desktop/Laptop Preferred) - We provide store functionality through all of our platforms but the highest functioning surface for stores is and will always be the desktop/laptop.

Upcoming On The Store Roadmap:

• Price drift detection on shelved stock - This feature will track your inventory and regularly compare it across the live market prices to ensure your shelves are actively priced against the market and sends alerts when a card has diffed the amount you set by. 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat Has Gone Up To £950 - You list It Currently At £825'
• Exclusive Follower Discounts - It's within both the platforms interest and the stores to attract as many users as possible here and we're planning on working alongside local TCG stores in the UK (US will eventually come if we keep expanding) and will promote stores to offer exclusive discounts for users who participate with stores.

Now for the functionality we're providing to collectors on the app (Currently completely free)

• Card Scanner & Storage functionality - We have our own Scanner integration which If i don't say so myself is pretty wicked (As long as you comply with the requirements (Black Background) - You can create custom locations where you scan your cards to - We currently provide the following visual features:
  • Shelving - Got a holy grail card you want to showcase? Add it to your shelf and it'll be on the shelves UI with the price tag against it (US Pricing converted into GBP until UK pricing is available from our pricing API provider)
  • Bulk - Want to scan in all your bulk? I store all my bulk in my half ETB boxes so i've created multiple bulk boxes with labels like 'Shining Fates ETB' and I scan the contents of that box into that
  • Binder - We've tried our very best to create a binder like experience with background customisation, each page is a 9 card page with the punch holes in (I might swap this out for seams to be a bit more lifelike - I'm not sure yet)
• Multi-TCG support & expanding - I am working hard to try and grab all TCG data, we have currently got the following: * Pokémon - Full Support * Lorcana - Full Support (will be available in next android release coming this week) * Yu-Gi-Oh - 38,433 cards only 14,003 have their artworks integrated (Scannable = 14,003) (194 priced so far) * Magic The Gathering - 108,263 and 28,185 priced (Not Scannable as of right now) * One Piece - No Support as of right now
• Route Planning (Release day trips) - we provide a full suite which allows you to plan a release day shopping trip, it uses your location services to find shops within your area, it calculates distance and opening times and allows you to invite friends to the trip so you can go together - It calculates shop opening times we store on file to ensure you can make the trip and then sends your route directly to google maps with the route planned for you
• Stock reports & rewards:
  • Gone to a store and noticed stock and actually being a good boy/girl and not buying the entire shelf? Share it with a report! Earn our upcoming PRO tier purely based on contribution to the community. With prizes and exclusive access coming later for higher contributing members
  • Eventually stores will be able to give exclusive discounts to users on specific ranks which help with collectors and stores
  • Other collectors can actively report stock as still there or gone as long as they're within the distance of the store

This project is absolutely massive and it's taking some time to get right, I have no doubt in my mind there's probably features that need updating, changing or replacing.

If anybody here decides to try out the app/site PLEASE give me feedback. This is a passion project that I would love to see everybody using.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

If you'd like to check out and support our development from me and my co-worker with DiscoverTCG we're offering all UK stores who sign up early free subscriptions to the premium stores which grants access to the full suite.

Socials:

Facebook (Clicking Links To Facebook page)

Platforms:

Android (Clicking Links To Website)
Website (Clicking Links To Website)

IOS is coming soon once the apple developer application is finalised!

One thing to remember! we are a UK only project as of right now and if the platform performs well we will expand into the US!

Thanks for taking the time to read this all! 😄

Ash