Scalpers Targeting Pokémon Displays at Retail Stores

When gamers talk about collecting Pokémon cards these days, what they really mean is they’re hitting up retail stores repeatedly, often leaving empty-handed. Embracing the disappointment of walking out without any cards is essential in a scene where fans camp out with inflatable mattresses just to snag a spot in line at 4 a.m. However, scalpers who thrive on Pokémon products aren’t as willing to take losses. The reselling issue has escalated to the point where retailers might need to secure items more tightly.

On May 2, Target celebrated Pokémon Day by launching a fresh line of Pokémon-themed merchandise, including apparel and toys. Many stores got into the spirit by decorating their entrances with giant Poké Balls and setting up displays featuring fan-favorite Pokémon. As expected, some locations sold out of the new items almost instantly, leaving behind only the standees that marked the Pokémon merchandise sections.

“Should” is the key word here, as resellers are now even taking the displays. Listings on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay show cardboard cutouts of characters like Pikachu, Charizard, and Eevee being sold for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Some individuals have even managed to walk out with massive backdrop displays from the shelves. How they pulled off these heists without getting caught remains a mystery.

While this situation has become a source of amusement for onlookers, it’s a headache for Target employees. Some staff members report that they’ve had customers ask for permission to take the displays, while others have seen them stolen or have dealt with irate customers upset about the marketing materials.

“I had someone argue with me that we were just going to throw them away, so they could take it,” one alleged Target employee shared on the store’s subreddit. “I ended up having to call my TL to check lanes to tell the guest because they wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Someone took the large display for the Pokémon x Target,” another supposed worker noted in a different thread, “it was only 2 hours from opening.”

Many Target employees understandably feel indifferent about the displays — they’re just there to do their job and aren’t paid enough to stop theft. However, some staff members are getting creative in their efforts to thwart resellers.

“That’s why I used the Christmas tree pins to put it up,” one associate mentioned in the same thread. “You can’t pull them out without ripping the backer paper.”

Overall, most Target personnel aren’t too stressed about the situation. While it’s a glaring display of desperation, it also means less to clean up.

“Less cleanup time, I’d say let them take everything,” one commenter quipped, adding a laughing emoji. “Guests are animals anyway.”

With scalpers, conflicts, glitches, and rising tensions, TCG kiosks are starting to disappear.