Target is taking drastic action in an attempt to combat Pokemon TCG scalpers, by completely removing the plastic wrap on Elite Trainer Boxes. The surprising move may dissuade scalpers from buying the collections at Target, but some Pokemon TCG fans are worried it may be doing more harm than good.
Pokemon TCG scalping has become a problem just about everywhere the cards are sold. Repeated instances of bad behavior around the chance to buy cards have popped up over the years, ranging from store stampedes and brawls over new Pokemon TCG releases to scalpers camping out vending machines to scoop up all available stock. As a result, some retailers are trying to take action to keep scalping under control.
Target Store Removes Seal from Elite Trainer Boxes
Now, a video taken in a Target store is making waves for the way the Pokemon TCG Elite Trainer Boxes are being handled. At an unnamed Target location, two store employees can be seen prepping packages to be shelved. During the process, the two workers pull Pokemon TCG Elite Trainer Boxes and cut and remove the plastic wrap sealing them entirely before placing them back on the trolley, presumably to be put on sale. While no official statement has been made, the action is presumably being taken to dissuade scalpers, as sealed Pokemon TCG ETBs are preferred for their higher value.
The situation revolving around scalping Pokemon cards has gotten so bad worldwide that even a Japanese government group is looking for ways to combat Pokemon TCG scalping. As such, seeing stores taking action isn’t all that surprising. Some are encouraging the move, as it makes the products far less appealing to scalpers, so fans and gamers may be able to actually find and purchase them in Target stores as a result. Currently, there’s no confirmation if this is being done everywhere, or if this one Target store is an outlier.
However, reactions to the move have generally been mixed, with some pointing out downsides. Some have expressed that removing the plastic means that fans who want to keep their Pokemon TCG products sealed are out of luck if a store does this. Additionally, if Target were to do this at all their stores, it would lead to less available sealed stock of Elite Trainer Boxes, which could potentially drive prices on the resale market even higher. Some have also worried about the possibility that the boxes are being cut and damaged while the plastic wrap is being hastily removed. Further, it also makes it easier for the boxes to be tampered with while they’re still on store shelves.
As yet, there’s no one solution to combat Pokemon TCG scalping that can satisfy everyone and fully fix the problem. If removing the plastic is to become a new policy at Target stores, it’s somewhat understandable, as scalpers and desperate buyers fighting in aisles or rushing to get to the stock can put people in danger and interrupt business. The cards will likely sell regardless, so Target probably won’t feel much of a pinch by removing the plastic. It remains to be seen if this move rolls out to more store locations or if it’s limited to select stores.