Retailer Accused of ‘Scalping’ Pokemon Cards

UK retailer GAME is under fire after being accused of “scalping” Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) products by forcing customers to pay an inflated delivery fee. The controversy centers around the latest Pokemon TCG expansion, Prismatic Evolutions, which has been in high demand but short supply.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game is a collectible and strategy-based game inspired by Nintendo’s Pokemon franchise. In this turn-based game, two players compete, sending out one Pokemon at a time in an effort to knock out their opponent’s Pokemon and claim one of six prize cards. Beyond gameplay, Pokemon cards have also become highly collectible, with certain rare editions selling for thousands of dollars on the secondary market.

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As eager fans rush to secure pre-orders, a report from Eurogamer has revealed that GAME is limiting delivery options for these products, forcing buyers to pay a steep £19.99 delivery fee, regardless of the item’s size. One of the most sought-after items, the Prismatic Evolutions Mini Tins, retail for £10.99 each and contain two booster packs and an Eevee coin. However, customers cannot choose which of the eight available designs they receive, and more frustratingly, the only available shipping method is a £19.99 “oversized delivery” fee, which is nearly double the cost of the product itself.

UK Retailer GAME Faces Backlash Over Expensive Pokemon Card Delivery Fees

This pricing structure is notably inconsistent with GAME’s usual delivery fees. Typically, the retailer offers £4.99 Standard Delivery, £4.99 Collect in Store, and £11.99 Next Day Delivery, yet none of these options are available for Prismatic Evolutions Mini Tins or other Pokemon TCG products from the expansion, such as sticker collections and binders. These items are exclusively restricted to the £19.99 oversized delivery fee, raising concerns among customers. A major point of contention is the classification of the Mini Tins as “oversized.” Many fans argue that these lightweight items do not warrant the high shipping cost, leading to speculation that GAME is artificially inflating prices to take advantage of demand.

While this could potentially be dismissed as a pricing error, the report from Eurogamer suggests otherwise. The publication cites anonymous GAME employees who claim that management intentionally set the £19.99 delivery fee for Pokemon TCG Prismatic Evolutions products. According to these employees, the decision was deliberate, raising concerns that GAME may be using inflated shipping costs to make extra profit.

The Prismatic Evolutions expansion has become highly sought after, with demand driven by multiple factors. The set’s focus on the fan-favorite Pokemon Eevee has sparked interest among collectors, while the recent launch of Pokemon TCG Pocket, a mobile game adaptation of the trading card game, has further fueled excitement. Recognizing the shortage, The Pokemon Company issued a statement last month, confirming that it plans to increase production of the Prismatic Evolutions set. The move comes in response to widespread complaints from fans who struggled to find the expansion’s products at major retailers. However, with scalpers and inflated shipping fees still impacting availability, many fear that restocks won’t be enough to resolve the issue.

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Satoshi Tajiri