All articles tagged with #scalpers
Pokémon Go's 10th-anniversary Times Square raid awarded a rare 'Times Square Mewtwo' to around 2,000 invite-only attendees; since then, listings for the exclusive Pokémon have surfaced on eBay, with prices commonly around $5,000 and some as high as $10,000, sparking debate over VIP rewards versus the game's global community.
MTG Star Trek spoilers kicked off today on WeeklyMTG with early reveals, and fans are urged to jump on Collector boosters at MSRP right after the stream to outpace scalpers. The set includes autographs in Collector boosters, new mechanics (spacecraft, dilemmas, federation), and a slate of products with key dates: spoilers start Oct 26, full reveals Nov 6, prerelease Nov 13–15, Arena Nov 17, global release Nov 20; Welcome decks and other bundles are also on the way.
EB Games Australia says its Pokemon TCG 30th Anniversary pricing was deliberate to deter scalpers and benefit fans. The retailer will review all preorders, cancel those not meeting purchasing policies, and run a final preorder release composed of cancellations. The final Pokemon 30th Celebration prices will match the Pitch Black pricing, and genuine preorders already placed will automatically move to this price when the final preorder goes live in a few weeks.
During a shareholder AGM, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged the Pokémon card reselling surge and signaled that the company will pursue actions such as tighter cooperation with marketplaces, more made-to-order sales, and stronger buyer verification (potentially government ID requirements, as seen in Japan) to curb scalping and better satisfy demand.
GameStop is selling the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Elite Trainer Box for $130—nearly triple the typical $50 retail—before official prices are announced, drawing criticism from fans and Reddit users who say the move profits scalpers and harms regular buyers, with some stores experimenting with anti-scalping measures.
Kotaku reports that Target is quietly inflating prices on Pokémon TCG products, following GameStop’s earlier spikes. June 26 price increases were observed on popular booster bundles (Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle MSRP $26.94, now $31.99), with no warning to customers, suggesting retailers are cashing in on demand and shortages. Kotaku has reached out to Target for comment.
Even with Valve’s randomized pre-order lottery and account requirements, Steam Machines are already being scalped on eBay: the 512GB version is commonly listed around $1,500 and some listings reach $3,200, while the 2TB unit can fetch $2,500 and up. Shipments have begun, but demand and inflated prices persist as component costs rise and buyers worry about matching the pre-order with a Steam account.
Scalpers are already listing Steam Machine reservations on eBay for $2,700–$2,899, roughly 2–2.5x Valve's official price, before the June 29, 2026 ship date. The 2 TB versions are being sold around $1,349–$1,400, and some buyers have paid these inflated sums. With limited supply, the resale market is thriving, though building a high-end PC (~$2,000) offers markedly better performance.
Kotaku explores how scalper culture has seeped into Pokémon cards, highlighting an 11-year-old at a card show who admitted he doesn’t know much about Pokémon and told PokéBeach, “I just flip cards,” after learning from influencers that cards are a good investment. The piece notes upcoming Pokémon Company rules banning partnered vendors from selling graded slabs at official events and restricting items over $1,000, to be enforced at the Indianapolis Regionals and the World Championship. The article laments that the hobby risks becoming about resale value rather than the game, anime, and camaraderie that once defined it.
The Pokémon Company says it has printed over 85 billion Pokémon cards since 1996, with more than 10% of that total produced in the last year alone, but demand still outpaces supply. Booster packs remain scarce at retailers, and scalpers keep price gouging despite expansions like Scarlet & Violet–Prismatic Evolutions. The company plans to print more at max capacity, raising questions about whether even multi‑billion card runs (15B, 20B) or measures like buyer verification could finally curb the chaos.
Valve plans a reservation-based purchase system for the Steam Machine (likely four configurations including 512GB/2TB SSD options and Steam Frame VR variants), requiring an active Steam account with prior purchases and potentially bundling with a Steam Controller to curb botting. Launch date and price aren’t announced, and storage can be expanded via microSD.
Valve has introduced a reservation system to reduce the “incredibly frustrating” stockouts of its Steam Controller. The reservation queue starts May 8 at 10am PT, saving your place in line for when stock returns. There’s no guaranteed restock date and replenishment varies by region. Limits include one controller per user, ineligibility for those who already bought a Steam Controller, and a three‑day (72-hour) window to purchase after receiving the order email. An account must be in good standing and have bought something on Steam before April 27, 2026. Reservations will be fulfilled first in the US and Canada, with the UK, Europe, and Australia following in subsequent weeks. Valve notes the controller is a solid upgrade with rechargeable power, more input options, and a refined touchpad.
Valve is launching a reservations queue on Friday at 1 PM ET for customers who want to buy the Steam Controller after it sold out, with reservations saving your place in line and emails sent in sale order. Once you receive an order email you’ll have 72 hours to complete the purchase, and you can buy only one controller; a Steam account must be in good standing and have made a Steam purchase before April 27, and, for now, you can’t reserve another if you’ve already bought the Steam Controller. Valve says reservations will start fulfilling next week in the US and Canada, with the UK, EU, and Australia to follow in coming weeks, in an effort to improve checkout and limit reseller activity.
Scalpers bought limited-edition Pokemon-themed Pop-Tarts from Target and are listing them on eBay for up to $50, turning a $3 box into a hot resale item during the franchise's 30th anniversary.
Valve's new $100 Steam Controller sold out in under an hour amid high demand and occasional purchase errors, while scalpers on eBay are listing new units for roughly $300–$400. Valve hasn't announced restocks and may be holding inventory for a Steam Machine launch, leaving buyers to wait or pay inflated reseller prices. The controller is praised for its trackpad haptics and locator feature, but it notably lacks RAM, a quirk enthusiasts point to as part of its quirky appeal.