When joining a group order, you will need to follow specific rules set by your group order manager. You’ll want to take your time to really read over what they write since rules differ between different go managers. Rules are in place for a reason, make sure you follow them. It can be very frustrating to have rules set in place and for people to completely ignore them.
Commitment: Make sure to be 100% committed to that group order. Do not ask to join if you plan on baking out of the spot you asked for. Go managers will likely ban you from joining their future group orders if you try to back out. Why? You’re forcing your go manager to possibly have to cover the money that you’re backing out of or spend time trying to find a replacement for you. Backing out can affect others that participated as well, since everyone splits the shipping cost.
Forms: When it comes to filling out forms for a group order - read the go managers form thoroughly and do not skim. This is so you don’t miss any important information and can better help you enter information correctly in the form. If you make a mistake when filling out the form, you cannot go back to the same form to edit. Sending multiple forms can confuse the go manager as to which form they should be following.
If you do not understand something on your go managers form, do not be afraid to ask them! They will be happy to answer your questions and it’s better to get a clear answer versus making assumptions on anything.
Payments: Do not be late on payments. You are asking someone (who isn’t running a business by the way, they are an average fan just like you) to cover money for you when they specified when they needed payments made. Not paying on time can result in you not being able to join a group order with them again. Some group order managers may allow you to have an extension, but you have to communicate with that specific go manager on that.
Time: Group orders are not usually a quick process. Do not join group orders if you are not patient with waiting for your items to arrive to your group order manager. Items can take months sometimes to arrive - so keep that in mind.
Group order process:
A go manager will post about the item(s) they are hosting a group order for - they will ask that you direct message them or comment on the post to claim an item.
Once you have received confirmation that you have that spot for the item, you can wait for them to create a group chat pertaining to the group order. Some may not make a group chat, they may direct message you individually, it depends on the go manager.
You will be given instructions to send payment for the items. This can be for just the item, item + ems, or item + ems + dom. It just depends on how your group order manager manages payments. If they give a deadline, make sure you pay by that time. If they give specific payment notes, make sure you follow those notes exactly - do not modify them.
The go manager will go ahead and order the items for the group order - now you will wait for the items to arrive to them.
Once the times arrive, your go manager will sort and pack the items. They may have a sorting form to figure out how they should sort the photocards based on everyone’s preference. Your go manager will let you know (typically in the initial post) if they member you chose is guaranteed or if they will be doing a sorting form.
Once they have everything sorted, they will collect your address (and collect the dom payment if they haven’t already) and get your items sent out to you!
Please keep in mind, every go manager runs their group orders for what works for them best. These things can be changed slightly, but this is the standard i have seen for the 100+ group orders I have joined.
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