Retail giant GameStop has taken a strong stance against secondary market sellers. The company issued a warning on social media, promising a lifetime ban for any Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) scalpers caught using a scale in its stores. This measure targets “pack-weighing,” a tactic where buyers try to find heavier card packs containing valuable holographic or rare cards. By threatening permanent bans from all locations, GameStop shows it will not tolerate this practice and wants to ensure that legitimate collectors can find products.
This crackdown comes as interest in the Pokémon TCG has surged in recent years, leading to a shortage of cards. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, scalpers have frequently targeted this game, causing store shelves to be empty and prices to soar on online resale sites. Using a precision scale is especially troubling because it disrupts the randomness of the collectible product. GameStop shared a video of someone using this method with One Piece card packs to highlight the specific behavior that led to the new policy.
Reactions to the announcement have varied within the gaming and collecting communities. Many fans support the retailer for finally taking action to combat product manipulation. However, some have raised concerns about how enforceable the ban will be across all GameStop locations. Additionally, some users pointed out that the retailer itself has sometimes sold Pokémon TCG products, like booster boxes, above the original manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), which complicates its role as a proponent of fair pricing.
GameStop’s initiative is part of a broader effort by major retailers to combat this problem. Companies like Walmart have previously set strict purchase limits on TCG products to prevent bulk buying. While the ban on scales shows GameStop’s commitment to fighting scalping, the company is also focused on serving its customers in other ways. It recently announced plans for a Pokémon TCG trade-in event in early December, giving collectors a legitimate way to evaluate their holdings. Only time will tell how effective these new enforcement measures will be in preserving product integrity.
