What is the TCGplayer controversy?

The most discussed TCGplayer controversy involves labor relations. In 2023, workers at TCGplayer's authentication center in Syracuse voted to form a union, one of the first at an eBay-owned operation, and there were public disputes over bargaining and later over the facility's restructuring. Beyond that, some sellers have criticized rising fees and the effects of the eBay acquisition, and some buyers point to inconsistent condition or shipping across independent sellers. None of this makes TCGplayer illegitimate, since it remains a large, widely used marketplace, but the union story is what most people mean by the controversy. EvoMarket takes a different approach, working with vetted local game stores and trusted sellers and charging lower fees, if you prefer a smaller, curated alternative.