Pokemon card scalpers are so bad stores are now cutting open packs at checkout

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A Pokemon card shop in Japan is getting a lot of attention online for its new policy to stop people from buying cards just to resell them for a profit. Now, when someone buys booster packs, the shop opens them right at the counter.

A Pokemon card store, Hareruya 2 in Saitama, near Omiya Station, has started a new practice: staff are cutting the corners off Pokemon Mega Dream ex packs before selling them to customers.

Pictures of a new shop policy quickly circulated on social media after customers spotted a sign explaining that card packs are opened at the top when sold. Hareruya 2’s Omiya location also announced the policy on X (formerly Twitter), informing customers that packs would be sold with the top portion cut off and requesting their understanding.

Special deal today! We’re offering “MEGA Dream ex” packs to customers 15 and under. Please note that the top of each pack will be cut off before sale. This offer is available while supplies last, so come visit us at Haretoo Omiya! ✨

— 晴れる屋2 大宮店（ハレツー大宮店/ポケカ専門店)@9/10オープン (@hareruya2omiy) May 6, 2026

Pokemon store cuts booster packs to stop resellers

The policy is based on a straightforward concept: once a collectible pack is opened, its value significantly decreases.

People who resell trading card packs and boxes for profit often depend on keeping the packaging sealed, allowing them to sell it for more money online. Once the packaging is opened, the cards’ value to collectors and resellers drops significantly, as the appeal lies in the item being unopened and in perfect condition.

For those planning to open the packs themselves, this change doesn’t really matter. The issue is with the packaging, not the cards inside, and most collectors would have opened the packs regardless to see what they contained.

The problem of Pokémon scalpers in Japan has gotten so bad that stores are now damaging booster packs – literally cutting off the corners – to make them worthless for resale. This drastic measure shows how desperate retailers are to ensure the cards end up with genuine fans, not profiteers, and raises concerns about the future of the hobby.

— ItsMeCooper (@ItsaMeCooper) May 14, 2026

The decision has sparked debate among Pokémon card collectors. Those who support it say stores are having to take stronger steps to ensure cards are available for genuine players, particularly younger fans who simply want to purchase packs at normal prices.

Some people argue that this policy unfairly affects collectors who genuinely enjoy keeping art supplies or unopened packs for their own enjoyment, rather than to sell them for profit.

This new rule is just one of many things Japanese stores are doing to stop people from buying products in bulk and reselling them for profit. Other methods include removing protective plastic from collectible boxes before customers leave the store, opening packages beforehand, or using lotteries to control sales during popular releases.

Although The Pokemon Company hasn’t officially announced this, it highlights how much some stores are doing to address the high demand for Pokemon cards and the resulting resale market in Japan.

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2026-05-15 17:49