Creator caught selling stolen cards

Pokémon card content creator Natalie Roush posted a video showing premium boxes not yet officially released and trying to sell them at exorbitant prices. Other creators claimed the cards were stolen from the manufacturer.

30th Celebration set finally arrives

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's long-awaited 30th Celebration set released last week with unusually strong pull rates for rare chase cards. Collectors lined up outside stores and some camped overnight to buy the anniversary set.

Resellers use bots to buy in bulk

Resellers using automated bots bought dozens of boxes of the 30th Celebration set as soon as they became available for preorder online, without intending to collect them. They resold the cards at marked-up prices to fans who could not buy them themselves.

Resellers show off hoarded stock

Videos online show resellers displaying piles of product obtained through bots or inventory checking programs that alert them when brick-and-mortar stores receive stock. Resellers have also been filmed getting into altercations over cards.

Man arrested over card delivery tracking

A seventy-two-year-old man was arrested and charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for tracking a Pokémon delivery worker's location with a device secretly planted in her car.

Reseller started with sneaker flipping

Reseller BotterBoyNova began by flipping sneakers before realizing Pokémon products could be sold far beyond the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP. He switched to cards because they were highly profitable and difficult to purchase at MSRP.

Cook groups sell reseller tools

Nova works with Polar Chefs, a cook group community selling monthly subscriptions to reseller tools and services. Subscriptions range from sixty dollars per year to seventy-five dollars per month and include access to a private Discord server, restock alerts, and bots.

Bots violate terms of service

Bots allow resellers to create multiple accounts with virtual credit cards and spoofed IP addresses. While technically not illegal, this process violates most retailers' terms of service, though Congress outlawed concert ticket-focused bots in two thousand sixteen.

“Retail bots aren't illegal, but they do violate most retailers' terms of service.”

Nova spends minimal time reselling

Using Polar Chefs' tools, Nova described his bot process as almost completely hands free. He spends less than three to five hours a week on reselling, often asleep while pre-programmed bots make purchases for him.

“During most weeks, I spend less than 3-5 hours a week on the reselling side of things.”

Hustle culture drives reseller growth

The rise of cook groups like Polar Chefs reflects how the creator economy evolved during the COVID-nineteen pandemic. Resellers like Nova are influencers whose videos sell the idea that others could also make money flipping cards at scale.

Whatnot platform accused of gambling

Scarcity created by resellers has driven popularity of Whatnot, an online marketplace where people pay for sealed Pokémon products opened on livestreams before shipping. The platform has been accused of operating like an illegal gambling operation.

Resellers melt down over flooded market

The thirtieth Celebration set's strong pull rates flooded the market with rare cards. X and Reddit filled with screenshots from Discord servers where resellers complained they could not sell overpriced inventory and claimed artificial market saturation.

“there's literally no value in these sets because everyone can pull the rare bullshit.”

Reseller claims lawsuit against Pokémon

One reseller posted they were filing a class action lawsuit against The Pokémon Company for independent vendors who suffered severe financial asset devaluation due to artificial market saturation.

“filing a class action lawsuit against The Pokémon Company "for independent vendors who suffered severe financial asset devaluation due to artificial market saturation."”

Hobby becomes inaccessible to ordinary fans

Even though The Pokémon Company is printing more cards than ever, the modern aftermarket economy has made it harder for ordinary people and children to participate. The real fun of Pokémon cards is in the hunt, but it is being ruined by hustlers.