Avery the Poké Kid’s Family Speaks Out After Scalpers Use Child’s Death to Inflate Card Prices
The family of 12-year-old Pokémon influencer Avery the Poké Kid is speaking out after scalpers exploited his recent death to artificially inflate card prices. Avery passed away in late September following a seven-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Before his death, his parents recorded him opening Pokémon trading card packs and shared the video on Instagram, capturing him excitedly pulling a rare 30th Anniversary Jirachi SIR (Special Illustration Rare) card. The footage went viral within the Pokémon community and even caught the attention of the card’s artist, who tearfully reacted on social media.
However, the emotional moment has since been weaponized by scalpers seeking profit. The average asking price for the Jirachi card nearly doubled within days—a stark contrast to typical pricing trends in the secondary trading card market, where chase card prices usually decrease after release. Scalpers have reportedly used Avery’s death as justification for the price inflation, capitalizing on the community’s emotional connection to the moment.
The situation highlights a troubling intersection between grief, fandom, and exploitation. While Avery’s positive attitude and passion for Pokémon made him beloved in the community, his legacy is now being manipulated by bad actors for financial gain. His family’s decision to speak out brings attention to how tragedy is being weaponized within the trading card market.