Random Selection Process and FAQ [Updated 4/1/22]

Is there any way to get at least a day's notice as to when you're expecting a restock? I love the idea of a raffle (I'm on Newegg shuffle daily) and that you only allow 1 per customer but it's tough to physically check-in at the store randomly throughout the week since I work and live an hour away from the Richardson TX location.

If I can just get one card you'll never hear from me again, promise! 😋

@LandShark

Completely tone deaf. I appreciate this isn't your call, but your corporate overlords are completely clueless. This kinda crap is why box stores are dying.

You use a virtual line, yet you force people to be at the store to scan the QR in order to enter said virtual line. Why not post the QR code online? Then, people could scan it from home, and if they are then selected, you give them a 2-4 hour window to get to the store, then their ticket is forfeit. What's so hard about that?

You either adapt with the times, or you die out. I'm pretty much erasing Microcenter from my options to buy a GPU because of this completely backwards process that is going on here.

I followed your SMS link to the Wells Fargo Application center for your MicroCenter Insider Credit Card.

Let me know when you pick a Financial institution that is BETTER than Wells Fargo.

I might consider applying for your credit card then.

Wells Fargo is a HORRIBLE choice...

still waiting on your managers response after providing all the required information.....

Greetings. Which Micro Center store are you inquiring about? Some stores have changed their raffle times due to the stores being open earlier for holiday hours, any stores that have made a change have had their information updated in the first post. This system is not intended for you to leave the store and return at another time, you would want to remain at the store while they draw the raffle.

Good stuff.

Can confirm that I was told at the Tustin store, returning a card causes the 30 day limit to not count. I had a defective MSI RTX 3080 from less than a month ago that I returned a week before Tustin's grand reopening, at which I got into the late morning raffle (11:00am cutoff) and bought a 3060 Ti.

I disagree with this being fair. There are so many problems that have been pointed out by this virtual line.

A good percentage of people who actually work and can afford to spend the money on these graphics cards can't miss work dozens of times to simply have a chance at getting a random graphics card. This system gives an advantage to individuals that don't have first shift working hours or are privileged enough not to need to work. It requires significant effort for travel and a mobile device with Internet access.

This system promotes scalping and takes cards from people who want them by not notifying what cards are available; Someone waiting in line that gets chosen is likely to purchase a card even if they don't want it in order to scalp it and buy the one they do want. This takes it off the shelf for others that do want that specific card.

This is indistinguishable from an illegal lottery to me in at least Illinois. It contains a prize(the voucher to make a purchase), consideration(significant effort and monetary costs to sign up), and chance(random selection).

I understand there is a shortage, we all know this at this point in time. I appreciate that something is trying to be done and I know there is no way to make this fair to everyone, but I am disappointed in you MicroCenter. This virtual line is being implemented poorly.😕

How I get added part of the raffle

You would need to visit the store at the raffle time detailed in the first post.

Just want to echo the sentiments of others here, but also maybe provide some feedback.

Ultimately, I think the core issue here is the "Virtual Line" aspect of the raffle system. It's understandable that there is a random system like this in place, as you want to cut down on as much of the possibility of these bots getting these cards as possible. However, it's implementation is intrinsically not fair to those, as others have mentioned, that live far away or have work/school a majority of the week and cannot randomly take days off as necessary whenever stock comes in.

A simple solution would be to allow users to join the "Virtual Line" online rather than have to do so in-person. Then, once they are selected, they have a set period of time to get to their nearest location and purchase a card. Ideally, there should also be some method for the person selected to view what items are available on said day, and should they not want anything on that day then they can forfeit their ticket to the next random person. This will make it so no one is making any unnecessary trips the day of.

You could argue that this will open up the gates for bots to take a majority of the positions in line, but it isn't exactly a strong argument.

The biggest detractor is the simple fact that there is a 30-day wait period and a 1 per-household limit. Most bots operate on the idea of getting as many cards as possible as quickly as possible in order to turn a profit, so they are already less likely to turn to this raffle as an efficient means of doing that. Especially when you consider that they have to come to the location in-person.

Not to mention, there are also several other methods that can be implemented to prevent this from being abused in the first place. Such as, forcing the need to have an account with micro center, forcing the need to have the account verified (either by phone or email), implementing a captcha system prior to having the QR Code revealed, then after selection having a two-factor authentication process implemented for use by those selected, and lastly, further verification once arriving in-person through standard IDs. I'm sure there are other methods as well, but you get the idea.

There would be more hurdles for the average user to jump through, sure, but I'm also positive they would gladly take that over the current system. These are just my thoughts though, so take them with a grain of salt.

Like others have mentioned, this system is built for people who live around an MC. Closest MC to me is 40 miles away.

but let me offer a solution...

Possible reasons why raffle information is not posted anywhere in advance;

• because you don't want people camping outside your store and possibly get angry each other,
• because more people would join, which would reduce chances of getting one,
• because you just want people in your store, hoping they get something else even if they don't get a card.

If the goal here is the latter then there's no argument to be made here, but if not, then;

• do it like New Egg, randomly open an online raffle with a limited time to join. Then, if selected, we'd just come and pick it up, or ship; unless you really do want people in a store.

Not sure if micro center has the infrastructure to build an online raffle, so this system may never change and people that are far from a store are just, simply, out of luck!

Leaving at lunch to hopefully get lucky at the hour away microcenter. Hoping they would at least let me scan the QR code for future dates...but I doubt anyone will be helpful because every employee in the retail world has a sense of entitlement where they don't think they need to help the person that helps pay them.

One day I will get a GPU..