A new report shows that Pokémon card sellers in the UK are growing increasingly fearful that their cards will be stolen in transit, as reports of thefts are on the rise, just like card prices.
Those committing the thefts are opening packages they believe to contain Pokémon cards due to the style of packaging or a clue on the postage label, removing anything of value, and resealing the product before ensuring it still reaches its destination.
Shop owners and private sellers are struggling to trust the UK's primary method of delivery, Royal Mail, who have provided a very generic statement on the matter, while those looking to keep their businesses running are left to either find alternative delivery providers or continue risking their stock with Royal Mail.
In this report from The Guardian, they spoke to multiple business owners who ship Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering cards to customers. One is Bath TCG, which has a bricks-and-mortar store and online presence, and the other is Mana Rock Games, a solely online trader. Typically, online sales are made using Card Market. This means that the buyer selects the shipping method, not the seller, and it's impossible to avoid Royal Mail as an option for both domestic and international postage, as the choice isn't theirs.
In some cases, as discussed by the shop owners, thieves are opening packages, stealing anything of value, then resealing the package to ensure it gets to its destination. This is effectively to try to take any responsibility away from the courier and place it at the feet of the seller.
Many card sellers, myself included, use hard-backed envelopes for delivery, a safe choice for small quantities of trading cards, but this is now a signal to thieves that there may be good value within. Even if you're not using these envelopes, thieves may use whatever postage label is on the package to figure out what may be within.
Without photographic proof of how a package was sealed prior to it being sent, it would be impossible to know whether the seller is telling the truth. Even then, it's just as tricky to figure out where in the delivery process the thieves are taking action.
Drastic measures had to be taken to protect reputations, and the two sellers who talked to The Guardian both halted online sales, but found that it was just too detrimental to the cash flow of the business. Regardless, this isn't a choice any business should have to make in the first place.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-card-packages-targeted-by-thieves-in-uk/
