Pokémon Center’s 30th Anniversary TCG Pre-Orders Go Live Amid Chaos
Pre-orders for the highly anticipated 30th anniversary Trading Card Game collection are now open, but good luck trying to snag anything. As with any major release, the website is struggling to handle the traffic, and this time, the demand is off the charts.
Set to launch on September 16, this collection is the most awaited Pokémon TCG release of the year. Following its announcement, retailers quickly began marking up prices by as much as 500%. In fact, the Ultra Premium Collection, which usually retails for $129.99, is currently being listed at around $783. There are two versions of the UPC, along with other products like the Knock Out Collection and Tech Sticker Collection.
The Pokémon Center is one of the few places where fans can grab TCG products at the suggested retail price. With resellers looking to cash in and fans unwilling to pay exorbitant prices, the site is facing a massive influx of traffic.
The first challenge is even getting the website to load. Many fans encounter connection errors instead of a countdown timer. If the site does load, users must navigate a Captcha that can freeze after they confirm it. Once past that hurdle, they may find themselves waiting in a queue that can stretch up to seven hours.
Reports indicate that wait times often stagnate or even increase. Occasionally, pages turn blank, leaving users with no options. Those who manage to reach the end of the queue may face yet another error while trying to navigate the site. Products don’t always appear, and the checkout process can be a nightmare. While some have successfully made purchases, many fans find themselves trapped in a frustrating cycle of crashes. Reloading the page too often can even lead to being flagged as a bot and banned.
Despite these challenges, there’s reason for fans to remain hopeful. During the last drop for the Pitch Black set, those who joined the queue hours after it opened still managed to secure products. Leaks suggest that the company has been printing this anniversary set well ahead of its release to meet the expected demand. With a variety of products available, it may take longer for items to sell out. Some users are opting to add just a few items to their cart and check out quickly, as larger purchases tend to lead to more issues. The ongoing crashes might also mean that those waiting could find themselves moving up the queue faster than anticipated.
The Elite Trainer Box will likely be the hardest item to get, as it includes extra packs and a special promo card, unlike ETBs from other retailers. If you have a stable internet connection and aren’t using a VPN or bot, your chances of securing the 30th anniversary set at MSRP might be better than you think.
Recent leaks of an ETB booklet reveal cards featuring fan favorites like Pikachu, Meowth, and Gengar.
