GameStop’s Pokemon TCG Ban Sparks Collector Outrage!

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Effective immediately, GameStop has halted pre-orders for all Pokémon Trading Card Game items and is implementing purchase restrictions on specific products. This move has left many card collectors feeling frustrated.

On February 22, the retailer announced on its Twitter page that it would no longer accept pre-orders for Pokémon Trading Card Game products. Additionally, they plan to establish purchase limits on certain items.

To clarify the move, GameStop stated that their intention behind the new policy is to provide “an opportunity for fans to enjoy these thrilling launches, rather than restricting access solely to early purchasers and resellers.

An announcement regarding Pokémon TCG

— GameStop (@gamestop) February 22, 2025

In 2025, there was a significant increase in the issue of scalping for Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) products, with stock shortages becoming common due to high demand, leading to widespread scalping.

In January, the launch of Prismatic Evolutions led certain independent companies to either limit or completely stop selling the item due to safety-related apprehensions.

Collectors hit back at GameStop decision

In response to the announcement, a user expressed their frustration by saying, “So I understand correctly that I have to wait for hours just to reach the counter, only to be informed they’ve run out of stock? There are only 10 people in line ahead of me, and each person was allowed to buy two items… Simply marvelous.

Instead of sensibly reserving items in advance at the store, it seems like you prefer dealing with long lines of more than twenty people every Friday morning instead.

How about those individuals who work and cannot physically attend GameStop stores for each release? It seems an unfair approach. Preordering online has been my primary choice, and it’s a sentiment that resonates with many others.

It appears that a large majority of the feedback received expresses worry about how regular collectors and gamers can obtain items if they don’t have the option for pre-ordering.

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2025-02-23 18:20