Though we at Cooledtured may all be fans of Pokémon - or, hopefully we all are - there’s been a significant amount of discourse online about the seemingly recent uptick in the presence of “scalping” amongst hobby enthusiasts. No matter where you are in the hobby, there’s never been an opportunity not taken by an enthusiast to share their opinion on the scalping matter. But what actually is scalping? How did it get to this point? What can be done against scalpers? In this article, we’ll answer all your questions and more. Stick around and see if you learn anything new from us!

What Scalping Really Is

As Pokémon gears up to release highly in-demand card series (known as “TCG Expansions”) into physical retailers such as Walmart and Target, profit-minded individuals known as scalpers have made it clear that they’re in it to win it. What they do is simple - they attempt to buy large quantities of hotly desired Pokémon-related items such as card expansion blister packs and boxes, therefore both decreasing the available supply to others and increasing the demand amongst everyone. They then either sell them immediately for a massive profit - this is what’s known as the “scalping” in question.

For example, a scalper might buy a large number of the newest expansion items (such as Destined Rivals or Scarlet & Violet) when they are first released and then resell them individually at a higher price on platforms like eBay or online marketplaces. The pressure is on the individual to purchase from the scalper at these high markups as it’s unlikely that there are any marketplaces left where scalpers haven’t already purchased all of their supply from.

Why Scalping Is Bigger Than Ever

It’s easy to see why Pokémon is such a well-beloved franchise - from the core memories that are made from a young age playing the games and watching the infamously well-produced television and movie installments, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever meet someone who didn’t have a Pokémon  card collecting phase when they were young. Unfortunately, those same reasons can also be linked as to why the practice of scalping is more popular than ever as of now. It’s easy to see that demand for Pokémon cards is at an all-time high - therefore, scalpers are free to target Pokémon card fanatics as they please.

Additionally, the effects of COVID-19 have had a long-lasting effect on every industry of production and Pokémon cards hold no sanctity against that trend. Increased demand, coupled with manufacturing and shipping disruptions caused by the pandemic, have led to supply shortages and price increases for Pokémon cards.

Due to the pandemic, massive stores that used to sell Pokémon merchandise such as Pokémon Centers Mega Tokyo, Osaka and Osaka DX, and Kansai Airport have also closed indefinitely. With physical stores under attack and with no other clear options, enthusiasts have severely limited their options as to where they can go to get their fix.

What Can Be Done Against Scalping

Fortunately, many physical retailers have taken up defense against scalpers by implementing policies that include the limitation of sales to one expansion set per person. Online stores are beginning to implement lottery systems that ensure that the selection of who gets to purchase items is random. Many enthusiasts are vowing not to purchase from the secondhand market as to deny scalpers a market to sell to. 

Conclusion

In the end, it’s important to remember that scalping is a particularly human issue. From concert tickets to other in-demand items like clothing and shoes, Pokémon is not privy to immunity from the same issues that these forms of consumption suffer from. As both companies and communities respond with new policies and practices, the conversation around scalping continues to evolve. Understanding the factors that drive it, from global supply chain disruptions to the enduring popularity of nostalgic franchises, is key to being an informed consumer.

What do you think about scalping? Have you ever personally been affected by scalping when trying to purchase Pokémon cards in-store or online? As collectors and enthusiasts ourselves, it’s safe to say that we’ve had our fair share. Let us know how we did writing this article, or if you have any other comments!