r/round1

Sorry, guys. I saw the Pocari Sweat prize and completely lost all self-control. It’s one of my favorite drinks, so I had to stock up.

I swear I didn’t touch any of the chips, cup noodles, or Gatorade machines. 😅

Note: Second attempt at a mega thread. If this gets deleted again, be sure to follow us on social media. We are posting regular updates on @JT2Hobbies on IG.

As many of you have noticed, several Round 1 locations are undergoing a major shift. Skill-based machines like UFO catchers are being removed or filled with "filler" prizes like ramen, tissues, and crappy Dollar Tree-tier items instead of the licensed plush and figures we’re used to.

We are trying to put together a definitive list of impacted locations so we know where it’s still worth playing.

⚠️Here’s the updated list of impacted Round1 locations (as of 5/7/26)
Albuquerque, NM
Chandler, AZ
Danbury, CT
Grapevine, TX
Gurnee, IL
Hicksville, NY
Middletown, NY
National City, CA
Puyallup, WA
Temecula, CA

✅ The following locations have STOPPED testing the ramen claw machines
City of Industry, CA
San Francisco, CA
Arlington, TX

Please comment below with:

1. Location name
2. What changed? (e.g., "Skill games replaced with food," "All skill games replaced” etc.)
3. Share pictures if you have any!

🚨 Your feedback is working! At least one location has reported testing to potentially conclude by the end of the month.

@MOD - if there’s an issue with this post, please comment in this thread or DM us directly and we can edit as needed. Thanks.

HOLY SMOKES!! First plaza bonita and now temecula. Wow this is really bad. From baby wipes to random chips, this stuff is actually insane. Saves me an hour trip at least lol

Is it actually possible to win this thing through skill? Or is it rigged to pay out after certain number of plays? My button presses were going at a very steady rhythm and beat and I could easily get to the “Major Prize” row; wasn’t changing the steady flow I had going and noticed it felt like it jumped my button press at the very end to not make the final stack. 🫠

Just an update. Went to my local round1 at the mall here and I was shocked and extremely saddened to see the new prizes. I read up on the other post and know to not support these machines.

Really hoping they go back to the anime figurines soon. Especially the ping pong ball dropper game, that was

my girlfriend’s absolute favorite. We had many cherished memories coming here after a long-awaited payday, to spend our few saved up dollars on an opportunity to win one of these amazing prizes.

It truly is heartbreaking to think about how the economy or what has happened in the world, could affect this.. I mean look at it. Sponges and Bandaids? …

I used some of you folks' photos to blast them on tw*tter. Yes, they irritated me enough to open that hellfest of a site back up. I have had good luck doing this in the past. Will let y'all know if they reply.

Not really encouraging people to use that site, but if you have access, put 'em on blast.

Has anyone else ever thought of it this way? Cause I certainly hadn't. It makes sense from a business stand point of greediness if you really think of it. How can we keep our costs low but our profits high and keeping people returning. Snacks, drinks, baby wipes, sponges are cheap (much cheaper then licensed plushies.) And if they aren't lowering the credit costs it's a typical corporate money grab strategy. If they can make just as much money but spend less they win and we lose. Then they think people will eat the snacks and come back for more. You only need so many plushies right? Like I've only been to round1 twice and have already piled stuffed animals on my bed and have no more room. I remember telling my mom who I live with that I Iove getting snacks from dollar tree and miniso cause its like a little treat, plus I dont have to worry about accumulating more crap thats taking up space. I just eat the snack and throw away the wrapper. BTW i am in no way supportive of these changes with the food and obscure prizes. I will also not be spending my money at round1 anymore if they bring this to the Glendale AZ location.

So I went today to see what was going on and all the prize figures are gone. Everything has been replaced with chips, drinks, and bandaids.

As many of you have noticed, several Round 1 locations are undergoing a major shift. Skill-based machines like UFO catchers are being removed or filled with "filler" prizes like ramen, tissues, and crappy Dollar Tree-tier items instead of the licensed plush and figures we’re used to.

I’m trying to put together a definitive list of impacted locations so we know where it’s still worth playing.

So far, users have confirmed nerfs at:
Danbury, CT
Hicksville, NY
Eugene, OR
Willowbrook, TX
Gurnee, IL
Middletown, NY
National City, CA (Plaza Bonita)
Chandler, AZ

Not Currently a testing location (previously had ramen)
City of Industry, CA

Please comment below with:

1. Location name
2. What changed? (e.g., "Skill games replaced with food or sponges)

🚨 ACTION: How to Make Our Voices Heard
If your local spot has been gutted, corporate needs to see the feedback where it hurts their metrics. If you want the old prizes back, please take a few minutes to do the following:

Contact Corporate: Use the Round 1 Feedback Form on their website. Be specific: Tell them you stopped spending money because the prizes are no longer worth the credit cost.
- Set location to an impacted testing location
- Does anyone have a reliable direct contact to Corporate? 🥸

Google Reviews: Leave a 1 or 2-star review. Mention that the "skill games have been replaced with household items and snacks." This is the first thing new customers see.

Yelp Reviews: Same as above. Management often tracks Yelp metrics closely for regional performance.

Social media comments: Leave comments on their social media (especially IG) expressing disappointment in the prizes

Let’s keep the list updated to help other customers and so we can see if this is a regional test or a nationwide rollout.

Lastly, don’t waste any money on these type of machines!! They do not deserve to receive any revenue on these crap prizes.

Any other suggestions? We personally haven’t see any of these bad prizes at the locations we frequent in SoCal, but will be fully prepared to loudly complain and put pressure on Round1 Corporate and social media 😈

Over 30 machines are now being replaced with complete trash. Supposedly because the location being in between Chicago and Milwaukee they have made this one of the "testing" locations.

Edit: When talking to a manager, he said they're potentially going to be 8 credits per swipe.

Another edit: just went back and counted the layout... the total number is actually about 48 skill machines.

So I had heard the rumors about toys being replaced with drinks wipes tissues ramen etc. Last night I went to local Round One and saw maybe a fourth of the machines had replaced toys with disposables and snacks. I was disappointed but this was a great last chance to get the haul I got above. I got the Uzumaki keychain for loading up a card with 55 dollars. And since I had never had a chance to try the claw machines consistently until now it was a really pleasant surprise to learn that I was so good at the small item ones. Sadly this will probably be the last time unless they bring back the cool toys. Pity, these 4 plush toys I got are actually high quality and I love them, I was losing my shit at being able to get them in three moves or so. I want more of the little fruit snails, the one above has a peach for a shell.

So I usually play this one and easily get the prizes now they added tape or some sort of adhesive to make it stay in place.

A friend and I won all these prizes today! We may have spent a bit too much but it was so much fun. The Lancaster, PA location is also safe from the ramen and sponges in the claw machines

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYBKnBhIJd3/

I won her in the machine that was holding sailor moon but that prize wasn't up yet. I tried for all the sailor scouts and only won Mercury. As the employee was putting out another Mercury i asked of she could put out sailor moon cause I really want to win her. I told her I was a huge fan and showed her my tattoo. She said to let someone win Mercury first. She approached me as I was leaving and asked if anyone won Mercury and wanted her to switch out Sailor moon. I told her I was out of credits. I was a little bummed but at least I won a prize :)