Pokemon fans should be prepared next time they take a trip to Walmart for more cards, because the massive retailer is now putting limits on how many packs can be purchased at a time. For nearly 30 years, Pokemon has continued to be a pop culture phenomenon, and that popularity sometimes draws the attention of scalpers.
From hardcore collectors to casual fans, Pokemon has amassed millions of fans over the years, and between the trading card game, a variety of animated series, and a long list of video games, the franchise has grown to massive heights. Scalping has plagued the Pokemon TCG community for a long time, and a viral TikTok that made waves last week showed a group of scalpers buying thousands of cards at once, clearing the store’s shelves. It looks like this may be the last straw for Walmart, as the company is putting its foot down with new purchase limits.
Walmart Will Soon Start Limiting All Trading Card Purchases
- Walmart employees were recently informed of the limits in a company-wide memo.
- The limits will go into effect on November 5, 2025.
- Pokemon TCG fans will be limited to five boxes.
A screenshot of the memo was shared on the official Walmart Reddit page, offering insight into what the limits entail. This purchase limit includes tins, booster packs, and all other Pokemon TCG-affiliated items. Even more interesting is that this limit doesn’t seem to be exclusive to Pokemon TCG. Based on how the internal memo is worded, it looks like all trading cards will be subject to the limit, as well. Viral images and videos of Pokemon TCG scalpers have been an ongoing issue, and while this might not stop scalpers entirely, it may at least give actual fans the chance at purchasing cards.
Overall, the feedback to the Reddit post has been positive, with several commenters citing the viral TikTok video as the most likely reason for the limits. Scalper fatigue in the Pokemon TCG community continues to be a frustrating obstacle that fans face, as many of the cards are resold for wild prices.
Only time will tell how effective Walmart’s card limit rules are, but it hopefully brings a bit of peace to fans who have struggled with the issue over the years. So, for the Pokemon TCG fans who have been unable to purchase cards before scalpers at their local Walmart, those days are hopefully coming to an end.