Trading cards are an ever-popular hobby for many avid collectors, so it makes sense that the trading cards made by Pokémon, one of the most successful franchises on the planet, would also be some of the most sought after. 

Publishing cards since 1996, Pokémon has a long line of fans that are willing to buy the latest set to whatever they have in store. However, just recently, some customers have caused ridiculous scenes in stores that have caught the eyes of the internet. 

There have been several sightings and reports of people buying bulk after bulk of the newest Pokémon cards before anyone else. Things have only gotten worse after the addition of large physical machines solely made to sell these specific trading cards. These early buyers even try blocking others from purchasing these cards until they finish cleaning stocks dry. If that was not bad enough, there have been some physical attacks caused by these people, even leading to full blown fighting. All these instances can be found on YouTube, where one can see how a select few are taking every card in stores for themselves.

Scalpers are not a new issue in this niche community. Wherever you can buy cards from a third party, you will find multiple sets being sold for ludicrous prices. It would be lucky if you discovered one that sold for just double the official price. This is a problem that has plagued the community for a good while, and it is one that many fans strongly oppose.

The shortage has led to Pokémon itself giving an official response. The company states that they are “committed to providing a smooth purchasing experience and employ technology that helps get products into the hands of fans first and foremost.” They are also promising to both sell more of the impacted sets, while also securing better production of future products. 

Whether these statements are effective is yet to be seen, but the honest collectors of the trading cards understandably want a change from the scalping.