“Not even my own mother knows when the Halo Polecat drops.”
That’s exactly what a contact of mine at the Innova Factory Store told me when I asked him about the best way to get the inside scoop on a hot drop. The Factory Store offers no hotline, hook-ups or email list. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Team Innova member or a casual golfer …
When social media knows, you’ll know, too.
There’s no preferential treatment.
By now, as you’re well aware, many of Innova’s more sought-after discs are offered at their best, bang-for-your-buck rate exclusively on the Factory Store website – the Halo Sonic and Halo Polecat, for example. More (useful) discs hit the virtual shelves occasionally, as well …
In my mind, the “Ring of Gators” is but a dream.
To make sure YOU don’t miss the next drop, do the following:
1. Create an Innova Factory Store account
It pains me greatly to say this …
But you NEED an Innova Factory Store account.
I get that every online store loathes the “guest checkout” option, as they want your inbox for marketing purposes. To spite them, I make accounts nowhere – it’s become part of my identity. But if you’re going to compete with other Innova fanboys, you’ve got to do some hoop-jumping:
- Step No. 1 – Create an account.
- Step No. 2 – Save your payment information.
- Step No. 3 – Familiarize yourself with the website.
I don’t mean to sound dramatic …
But seconds matter when jockeying for Tour Series discs.
After all, you’re battling the dregs of the disc golf community …
Disc-flippers.
2. Follow the Innova Factory Store on social
Click here for Twitter.
Click here for Facebook.
Yeah, the Factory Store is on Instagram, but without fail, the deals, drops and details of “F2 Fridays” are published on Twitter and Facebook. Instagram is (largely) just for the eye candy.
Also, death to TikTok.
3. Turn on account-specific push notifications
Yet again, ANOTHER thing I despise …
The second I welcome a new app onto my smartphone, I turn off all push notifications. I don’t want to see any of it. I’m a big boy. When I’m ready for my brain to turn to mush, I’ll head straight for the app. Heck, I don’t even have my work email connected to my mobile …
It’s a great move for your mental health.
Regardless, Factory Store-specific notifications will prove to be your disc collection’s saving grace. On both Twitter and Facebook, you can pick and choose which notifications you’d like to disable, while allowing certain accounts to slip through the cracks – it’s easy to set up, too:
- Click here for Twitter instructions.
- Click here for Facebook instructions.
Neither should take you longer than five minutes.
When a drop happens, you’ll be the FIRST to know …
Along with a few thousand of your closest friends – see the first point.
4. Keep your head on a swivel
Don’t be dumb …
Look elsewhere.
I mentioned the Halo Sonic earlier on in this post. Garrett Gurthie’s cult-classic disc has been on the sidelines at the Innova Factory Store for weeks. As of the writing of this article, it’s readily available for purchase on the Great Lakes Disc website – it’s been that way for a LONG time.
There are dozens of lesser-known online retailers that have partnerships with the Innova Factory Store, not to mention Disc Golf United – or “Innova East,” as it’s often known. Sometimes, the best way to beat out other disc-crazed buyers is to simply go where there are less of ‘em …
Use that noggin of yours.
Act quickly … (or else)
Even doing all this, you might miss a drop or two …
But there’s a good chance you don’t.
Chalk the above up to much ado about nothing, and you’ll soon find yourself paying two- or three-times the sticker price for a literal chunk of plastic on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
That’ll work, too.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
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Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.
