Data Scraper for Trading Card Game Pricing

We're building a comprehensive directory of Trading Card Game (TCG) stores across the United States and need a skilled data scraper to collect detailed information about these businesses. This data will power a user-friendly directory website that helps TCG players find local stores, events, and products.

## Project Scope

Collect detailed information on all TCG stores (Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.) in the United States from multiple online sources. We estimate there are 2,000-3,000 relevant stores nationwide.

## Required Data Fields

### Core Store Information

- Store name
- Complete address (street, city, state, ZIP)
- Phone number
- Website URL
- Email address (if publicly available)
- Latitude/longitude coordinates
- Operating hours
- Ratings and number of reviews
- Store description
- Store images (URLs only, not files)


### TCG-Specific Information

- Games supported/sold (Magic, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.)
- Regular events and tournaments
- Play space availability
- Singles availability
- Trade-in/buyback policies


### Additional Information (if available)

- Social media links
- Store amenities
- Accessibility information
- Year established


## Data Sources

Data should be collected from multiple sources including:

- Google Maps/Google Places
- Yelp
- Official TCG store locators (Wizards of the Coast, Pokémon, etc.)
- Store websites and social media
- Other relevant directories


## Deliverable Format

Data must be delivered in a well-structured JSON format following this structure:

```json
{
"stores": [
{
"id": "unique-identifier",
"name": "Store Name",
"contact": { ... },
"location": { ... },
"hours": { ... },
"ratings": { ... },
"description": "...",
"images": [ ... ],
"tcg_info": { ... },
"events": [ ... ],
"features": [ ... ],
"metadata": { ... }
}
]
}
```

A detailed specification document will be provided to the selected candidate.

## Requirements

- Experience with web scraping and data collection
- Familiarity with JSON data structures
- Knowledge of data cleaning and normalization techniques
- Ability to handle rate limiting and respect website terms of service
- Experience with geocoding APIs
- Attention to detail and data quality


## Nice to Have

- Familiarity with trading card games and the TCG retail landscape
- Experience with similar directory/database projects
- Knowledge of data deduplication techniques


Application Process

Please include in your proposal:

1. Examples of similar data collection projects you've completed
2. Your approach to this specific project
3. Tools and technologies you plan to use
4. Timeline estimate
5. Any questions about the project requirements


Qualified candidates will be asked to provide a small sample of data (5 stores) to demonstrate their understanding of the requirements before final selection.

## Additional Notes

- This is a one-time data collection project with potential for ongoing updates in the future
- All data collected must be from publicly available sources
- We prioritize data quality and completeness over speed


Thank you for your interest in our TCG store directory project!