Scalping Has Gotten So Bad That The Pokemon Company Is Limiting Certain TCG Packs to Japanese Citizens Only
The Pokemon Company has implemented unprecedented identity verification requirements on its official online store to combat persistent scalping issues. Starting with specific high-demand items from their 30th Anniversary collection, Japanese citizens must now provide valid identification to purchase certain Pokemon Trading Card Game products. The affected items include the Pokémon Card Game Mega Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Box (priced at 7,200 Yen, approximately $46) and the higher-end Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Futuristic Box (27,500 Yen, roughly $174), which includes premium accessories like Pikachu EX promo cards, deck cases, display cases, and play mats.
This marks the first time the company has employed such restrictive measures for TCG purchases on their store. The decision reflects growing frustration within the Pokemon card-collecting community over scalpers purchasing inventory in bulk and reselling products at inflated prices, particularly following the surge in TCG popularity in recent years. While the restriction currently limits purchases to Japanese citizens only, the measure signals The Pokemon Company’s acknowledgment of supply chain challenges and market manipulation affecting legitimate collectors. The implementation suggests potential expansion of similar verification systems for other high-demand products if scalping continues to be problematic.