Pokemon fans are getting the last laugh after the Pokemon Center took action to beat scalpers. It's sweet revenge for Pokemon fans who have had to deal with scalpers in the past.
Scalping has become an unfortunately common part of numerous fandoms, with Pokemon being a popular scalping target. Scalpers scoop up as many popular products as they can to resell to fans at significant mark-ups. This limits the supply of products to those who want to buy them directly at retail price, creating frustration within communities.
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Posts 1Now, according to NintendoSoup, the Pokemon Center in Japan has taken direct action to stymie scalpers from hoarding products. On July 5, Pokemon Center stores in Japan released the new Pikachu Diner series, which features a number of cute Pikachu designs on things like plates, napkins, cups, pillows, a Pokemon apron, and more. The designs proved to be immediately popular, selling out right away, and as expected, scalper listings started appearing online for ridiculous prices. The Pokemon Center had already taken action to try and limit this behavior, with fans having to win via a lottery for a chance to even buy them in the first place. However, that didn't stop the problem, so The Pokemon Company has done something even better.
ClosePokemon Solves Scalping Problem for Some Pikachu Diner Products
Pokemon fans were quick to voice their displeasure about the situation online, and the Pokemon Company took action by announcing that it was making a change to the Pikachu Diner line. It explained that it would begin taking make-to-order requests for the Pokemon plushes and macots that sold out. Those who initially missed out on their chance will be able to place orders for new units to be made from scratch, ensuring they can buy them directly from the company and not have to deal with a huge markup. The other products in the collection will be restocked at a later date. There are likely a number of scalpers who hoarded these products that are now feeling the sting, as buyers will be far less likely to pay the inflated prices knowing that they can be patient and get them at a normal cost.
The Pokemon Company has been no doubt aware of the scalping problem surrounding many of its products, including trading cards and collectibles like these. By working with its fans, The Pokemon Company can see more profit by selling more of its items directly, and simultaneously improves its reputation among fans. Unfortunately, making every product Pokemon sells made-to-order isn't possible. However, The Pokemon Company's actions have likely left scalpers stuck with items they don't want that they thought would be a quick turnaround on reseller websites. It's a win for Pokemon fans who are sick of having to choose between paying too much for scalped items, or missing out entirely, and it might make some scalpers think twice before hoarding.
