Alarm bells ring over Pokémon Trading Card speculation: Exorbitant prices, fights and theft

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is suffering from the effects of speculation, drawing the ire of fans. New reports suggest that the problem is even more serious on a global scale, with the parallel market for Pokémon cards causing prices to skyrocket for both sealed products and certain individual cards. This escalation has had a knock-on effect, further fuelling speculation, with some even going as far as to commit crimes, whether through theft, fighting or any other illegal method that allows them to hoard these coveted items for resale.

The greatest enemy of the Pokémon Trading Card Game has a name: speculation

Speculation has turned the purchase of Pokémon cards into an odyssey for collectors around the world, according to Canadian media CBC. With each new expansion, the products disappear from the shelves within minutes, not because there are more fans than ever, but because speculators have made reselling a very lucrative business. Taking advantage of the growing demand, these scalpers purchase large quantities of envelopes and boxes from physical and online stores, leaving official stores out of stock, and then resell them at inflated prices on second-hand platforms. This has created a parallel market where the most sought-after products fetch exorbitant prices, driving away those who simply want to play rather than invest or resell.

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This phenomenon has created a vicious circle: the more prices rise on the secondary market, the more people see reselling as a business opportunity, further exacerbating the shortage of products in official channels. Both specialist shops and department stores that stock such products have tried to introduce measures to curb speculation, such as limiting the number of units each customer can buy, but these restrictions can easily be circumvented, for example by shopping with friends or family. Meanwhile, players and collectors are forced to pay extortionate prices or forgo completing their collections and having decks useful for metagaming, damaging not only the brand image of Pokémon cards, but also the enjoyment of a hobby that should be accessible to everyone.

The problem has reached such proportions that some resellers have taken their practices to the extreme. Not only do they go on “hunting parties”, visiting several stores in order to run out of stock as quickly as possible, but in some cases the situation has degenerated into violence. There have been incidents of shop fights over boxes of the latest expansion packs available, and in even more alarming cases, shoplifting where thieves go straight for Pokémon cards. The problem has gotten so bad that there are even documented cases of crime syndicates using these Pokémon cards to launder money.

Speculation has put a strain on the Pokémon Trading Card Game, turning it into a luxury for the wealthy rather than an entertainment for all. If the situation continues to deteriorate, the experience for both players and collectors could deteriorate further, driving away casual players and affecting the viability of the game. The Pokémon Company, distributors and retailers face a monumental challenge to restore balance to the market and ensure that the cards reach those who truly value them for what they are: part of a game, not just an investment. A viable solution would be to significantly increase the production and distribution of the products; to flood the market and guarantee sufficient stock through official channels. With a stable supply over time, accessible to all, speculation would lose its appeal, and players would once again be able to buy Pokémon cards without having to pay the “ransom” demanded by speculators.

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