An electronics store in Japan has come up with a clever idea to thwart scalpers from buying up all of its Pokemon TCG products by quizzing potential buyers. The unique idea is being implemented in addition to limiting purchases to one box of a particular Pokemon TCG release per person, further helping to ensure that actual Pokemon fans are able to get what they’re looking for.
Scalping is a major problem in many fandoms, and Pokemon is far from the exception. Major releases, especially with the Pokemon card game, have seen buyers flood stores, and in some cases, the crush has caused retailers to stop selling Pokemon cards entirely due to excessive demand and the dangers it posed to employees and customers. Scalpers buy up as much as they can, and then either open the packs to see if there are any high-value cards that they can sell, or resell the packs for inflated prices. This often leaves actual players and collectors with the choice of either having to pay way too much or be left out completely, and as a result, stores have been trying to find solutions to prevent scalpers from grabbing all of their stock.
Pokemon TCG Shop Owner Robs Competitor Trading Card Store
A Pokemon TCG shop in Japan suffers significant stock loss totalling an eye-watering amount after a competitor store’s theft.
Electronics Store Uses Clever Tactic to Stop Pokemon Scalpers
In Japan, an electronics store called Bic Camera is utilizing a new tactic to try and keep scalpers at bay, and it seems to be working. The store is requiring that anyone who wants to purchase a Pokemon TCG Ninja Spinner pack or booster box has to answer 15 quiz questions about Pokemon correctly, or they will be turned away from the purchase. According to Ryo_Saeba_3, who shared the information, the list of questions is fairly basic, asking simple things like what Pokemon is pictured on the front of the pack. However, the questions are randomized from a pool, so no one knows exactly what they’ll be quizzed on until they attempt to make a purchase.
Further, Bic Camera has implemented some additional limitations and requirements to prevent scalping. Only those who have an account with the store via an app or point card are able to buy the cards at all, and the shrink wrap on the boxes will be removed prior to handing over the purchase. Additionally, Bic Camera notes that if anyone is caught taking pictures of the quiz questions, the product will simply stop being sold. Apparently, several resellers have already failed to pass the quiz, and had to walk away empty-handed.
Most fans responding to the news seem to be taking it well, with some even wishing that their own countries’ retailers would handle the Pokemon TCG scalping problem this way. Of course, it’s possible that some legitimate buyers will fail the quiz, which would undoubtedly be quite upsetting. However, it seems like most of the questions are basic things that most Pokemon fans would know, and are just there to prevent resellers who know nothing about the franchise, aside from its potential resale value, from ruining it for everyone. Even so, Pokemon fans who haven’t had any luck securing the cards that they want might want to brush up on their trivia before giving it a try at this store.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
Unfortunately, it may be up to retailers to come up with creative ideas like these to help prevent scalping. Even The Pokemon Center has taken steps to combat scalping in the past, but as long as there’s a potential for high-value, rare cards to be found, chances are resellers will keep scooping up available stock wherever they can.
