Pokémon's coveted 30th anniversary trading card set has gone on sale, though its launch has seen some stores jacking up prices, while long lines of customers have camped outside overnight.
High demand and a limited supply have impacted every recent Pokémon card release, but huge attention is being paid to this launch in particular due to its nostalgic re-release of beloved cards, as well as some ultra rare new designs.
Of course, much of this demand is driven by the lucrative resale market, with a quick profit to be made online when flogging unopened boxes or rare individual cards. Some retailers have started to limit individual purchase amounts, or even cut open packaging to destroy cards' resale value. In Japan, facial recognition has even been introduced at some stores. But none of this seems to have stemmed demand, as shoppers have descended on retailers in the hopes of snagging whatever stock they have.
Retailers taking advantage of this include GameStop, which is selling the $49.99 Elite Trainer Box of cards for $169.99, a stunt it has pulled previously. Dick's Sporting Goods, meanwhile, has the same package for a slightly cheaper $119.99 (thanks, Polygon) — still more than double the upfront cost).
Long queues have been spotted this morning in both the U.K. and France, where the cards are now on sale. Numerous fans pitched up tents or slept on camping chairs to keep their spot in the queue:
A huge queue outside The Entertainer in Altrincham this morning as Pokémon fans wait to get their hands on a special release of trading cards marking the game’s 30th birthday.The gentleman in the grey hoodie at the front of the queue had been waiting since 10pm last night -… pic.twitter.com/7R76wsJflF
Depuis 18h40 devant le mag pour les Pokemon 30 ans pic.twitter.com/lZWjGOiXCp
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 des gens ont dormis dehors toute une nuit pour être les premiers à avoir des cartes pour les 30 ans de Pokemon 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 mais reste chez eux quand y’a des manifs pour le prix de l’essence etc etc pic.twitter.com/ATvBV6Ybwq
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.ign.com/articles/30th-anniversary-pokemon-cards-spark-enormous-queues-and-ghost-chairs-criticism-as-retailers-hike-prices
