YouTube Streamer Confronts Scalpers in Compton with Job Applications During Pokémon Card Battle

Across the United States, adults are currently camping out by Pokémon trading card vending machines, eager to snatch up all the stock, often leaving kids empty-handed. YouTuber YoungFika encountered this phenomenon during a Sunday morning livestream in late May, and while the resellers acted predictably, the situation wrapped up in a surprisingly satisfying manner.

The livestream spanned about three and a half hours, primarily focused on hunting for Pokémon cards in local Los Angeles shops. At each vending machine, he found individuals loitering nearby. At one point, he spotted someone hanging out in a parking lot, suspected to be a scalper, who stayed in their car, only emerging to surround it with shopping carts. It was unclear if the carts were intended for the card products, but they ultimately blocked YoungFika from parking.

“I can’t believe how shameless people are,” he remarked.

Things escalated when YoungFika ventured to Compton for more Pokémon cards. At his third stop, he approached a vending machine to check its inventory, prompting a group of men nearby to start complaining. “You’re fucking it up,” one of them said, likely referring to a vending machine glitch that dispenses products more quickly than normal. By buying a pack of cards, YoungFika was interrupting their scheme. This exchange kicks off around 2:32:00 in the video.

“It’s a kids game, c’mon, chill,” he replied as they hurled insults at him. He challenged them, asking why they didn’t just buy the cards if they were so invested. A heavily tattooed man shot back, “We were waiting here, brother. We were actually sitting here, doing something.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” the man continued. “I’ll kick the shit out of you.”

YoungFika then sought out a store manager to report the situation and returned to his car to chat with his viewers. Moments later, the same men approached his vehicle, trying to provoke him. Despite expressing his concerns about safety, they mocked him for “acting tough” on stream.

Instead of escalating the situation, YoungFika handed one of the men a job application and drove off, saying, “Have a good one.”

The clip has since gone viral among Pokémon fans, who are thrilled to witness a bit of poetic justice. “CJ went from gang banging in San Andreas to being a Pokémon machine scalper, down bad fr,” one commenter noted. “Hero,” another chimed in. “Fuck the scalpers.”

There will be 30 Pikachu to collect, each illustrated by a different artist.