Pokemon fans are relishing a sweet victory as the Pokemon Center takes steps to combat scalpers. This situation provides a much-needed sense of justice for fans who have faced issues with scalpers in the past. Scalping has become prevalent in various fandoms, including Pokemon, where scalpers aggressively purchase sought-after products only to resell them at significant mark-ups, frustrating genuine fans who wish to buy items at retail prices.
Recently, NintendoSoup reported that the Pokemon Center in Japan implemented measures to deter scalpers from hoarding popular products. On July 5, the stores released the Pikachu Diner series, featuring adorable Pikachu designs on various merchandise such as plates, cups, and pillows. These items sold out rapidly, leading to countless scalper listings online at exorbitant prices.
In an effort to curb this behavior, the Pokemon Center had initially held a lottery system for fans to secure their purchases, but it became apparent that scalping remained a significant issue. In response to fan complaints, the Pokemon Company announced a new change to the Pikachu Diner collection. They will now accept make-to-order requests for sold-out items like plushes and mascots, allowing fans to order directly from the company instead of paying inflated prices through scalpers.
Additional products from the collection will also be restocked in the future. This shift is likely causing frustration among scalpers, who now find themselves stuck with merchandise that they anticipated selling quickly for profit. While not every Pokemon product can be made-to-order, this initiative enhances the company’s rapport with fans while boosting sales.
Overall, these actions signify a victory for Pokemon enthusiasts tired of facing the dilemma of inflated prices or missing out entirely, and it may deter scalpers from hoarding in the future.