GameStop Will No Longer Allow Pokémon TCG Pre-Orders Both Online & In-Store
Sources claim that GameStop will no longer allow pre-orders for Pokémon Trading Card Game products, as they are hoping to bring in more foot traffic to physical locations. It's no secret that over the past few years especially, getting your hands on Pokémon TCG products has become harder and harder, with scalpers running rampant. GameStop seems to be attempting to combat these issues, but fans are concerned about the hobby as a whole, with several new companies changing their policies on Pokémon TCG products.
According to a post on Pokebeach, user Water Pokémon Master states that an internal e-mail was allegedly sent out to GameStop store employees announcing that stores will no longer allow pre-orders for Pokémon TCG products. This change involves both the physical locations and the online store no longer accepting pre-orders, but Pokémon fans are theorizing there is a bigger reason behind this change of policy.
GameStop Makes Changes To Pokémon TCG Pre-Orders
Fans Are Worried About The Future Of The Hobby
According to the Pokebeach thread, the original email sent out states,
"Moving forward, all Pokemon TCG products will be shipped directly to stores to encourage more foot traffic. We encourage you to use this opportunity to engage your community through in-store events and introduce them to our services."
The OG poster mentions they spoke to a longtime store manager who claims that no other TCG has these restrictions at GameStop, which has led the manager to believe that GameStop cannot get enough allocation of Pokémon TCG products to keep up with demand. The manager claims the decision to limit pre-orders was made to capitalize on walk-ins while maintaining what little stock they have of the product.
The manager also states that GameStop previously set limitations on the number of Pokémon TCG products allowed to be purchased by a single customer. The limitation was set at two Pokémon TCG products per customer, except for booster packs, which have a limit of five per customer. The company also allegedly hiked the MSRP of Pokémon TCG products up, leading the manager to believe that GameStop is purchasing stock of the product from "other sources beyond Pokémon itself."
Pokémon TCG Products Seem To Be Getting Limited Everywhere
Target Has Also Allegedly Changed Their Policies On Pokémon TCG Products
Another Reddit post by Snowboarding612 surfaced showcasing an image from Poeknotify on Instagram that states not only are Pokémon TCG product policies changing at GameStop, but Target as well. This is not the first time Target has put its foot down when it came to Pokémon TCG products, as back in May 2021, they stopped selling them entirely due to a fight breaking out over the cards in their parking lot in Wisconsin.
"Truly Eye Opening": Pokémon TCG English And Japanese Card Comparison Reveals Shocking Difference In Quality
Some Pokémon Trading Card Game fans have put side by side comparisons of English and Japanese cards and the difference in quality is astounding.
Fans seem to be impartial to Target's possible decision, as they claim the shelves are usually bare anyway, but the GameStop choice has fans worried about the hobby. Pokebeach user Efwolverine states, "It feels like this hobby is under assault on multiple fronts right now." Others believe that Pokémon needs to allocate the most products to hobby shops and restructure their distribution processes. While the future of Pokémon TCGproduct policy changes is currently unknown, this is an interesting move by GameStop, and only time will tell if more big-box stores follow suit.
Source: Pokebeach Forums, Snowboarding612/Reddit
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