To dissuade scalpers, a card store has begun cutting open Pokemon TCG packs after customers have made a purchase, while also restricting sales to customers of a specific age. Pokemon cards have been a staple of the franchise since 1996, but there has been a massive surge in interest over the last six years or so. A big part of that can be attributed to streamers opening packs on Twitch, as well as the success of the mobile game Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Unfortunately, scalpers have made it even more difficult to get Pokemon cards. Across social media, fans have shared stories and videos of frenzied scalpers fighting to get cards before anyone else can. The second new products become available, sites like eBay are filled with resellers looking to make a quick profit. This has resulted in The Pokemon Company and retailers looking for ways to ensure that cards end up in the hands of actual fans.
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How One Card Store Is Stopping Pokemon Scalpers
A card retailer located in Japan announced strict rules ahead of a pack release for Pokemon MEGA Dream ex cards. In a post on Twitter, Hareruya 2 announced that its Omiya location will be cutting the corners off packs immediately after purchase. This isn’t the first time that a Japanese store has made this a sale condition, but the store is taking things a step further by limiting the sale to fans aged 15 and under. It’s a drastic measure, and older fans would likely prefer Bic Camera’s method of making card buyers answer Pokemon trivia. However, it seems the store does have sale days that specifically cater to older fans, with younger fans also being prevented from making purchases.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
It’s hard to imagine U.S. retailers implementing similar policies, but it’s clear that companies are trying to figure out the best ways to deal with Pokemon scalpers, and keep things fair. Last year, GameStop threatened to ban Pokemon scalpers that bring scales to stores, which is a way of potentially telling if a pack has higher value cards inside. Other retailers like Walmart and Target have placed strict limits on how many Pokemon TCG products can be purchased by one person. Some of these measures are more effective than others, but retailers are clearly frustrated by the problems scalpers are causing, including the occasional violence.
It’s not just TCG products that are drawing the attention of scalpers. Pokemon LEGO sets quickly saw high demand on eBay, including some of the rarer options like the Kanto Region Badge Collection, and the Mini Pokemon Center. Target’s Pokemon 30th Anniversary Collection also sold out fast in stores and online, due to a combination of scalpers and low product quantities. Fans that want any high-interest items have to jump through a lot of hoops if they want to secure them.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
While fans are constantly left feeling frustrated, this all stands as a testament to the continued popularity of Pokemon as a franchise, and it’s unlikely to come to an end anytime soon. The fact of the matter is, Pokemon has built a huge fan base over the last 30 years, ranging from newcomers, to those that have been with the series since the Game Boy era. As long as the franchise maintains that level of interest, there are going to be people looking to take advantage. Hopefully, more retailers will continue to look for ways to put up barriers to prevent them from doing so.
Source: Dexerto
