Pokemon Card Price Shock: Target’s Secret Reseller Markup Madness!

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The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) is once again seeing a surge in prices as resellers quickly buy up the latest expansion releases at their suggested retail price, then list them on eBay and other digital marketplaces for significantly higher than the original cost. This isn’t surprising for platforms like Facebook Marketplace, but recently, fans have discovered overpriced items even on Target’s online shop, without any obvious sign that a third-party vendor is involved.

More recent Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) collections such as Surging Sparks and Prismatic Evolutions have faced significant scarcity issues similar to those seen during the Sword and Shield era of the TCG. The lack of available products, intense anticipation surrounding specific cards, and widespread fear of not obtaining them have caused individual card values to skyrocket. Meanwhile, unopened items from these sets have been marked up significantly, even reaching prices nearly triple the original cost.

As a devoted Pokémon TCG enthusiast, I’ve found that the best strategy to dodge resellers is by buying sets directly from big-name retailers such as Walmart, Target, and GameStop. These stores are crucial for us fans of the game. However, recently, some players have noticed oddities in Target’s listings for various TCG sets, which has sparked a wave of discontent among loyal customers.

Target Online Store Gives Home to Pokemon TCG Resellers

According to a post by DisTrackers, gamers have noticed Pokemon TCG items being offered at extremely high prices. For example, the Prismatic Evolutions Poster Collection is listed for $40, while it usually sells for $14.99. This overpriced listing can be found on Best Buy’s page, even though it’s currently sold out.

Target has lost it. $40 for this. Retail is around $15.

— DisTrackers (@DisTrackers) April 25, 2025

On the listing for the Poster Collection on Target, some angry shoppers have accused the retailer of being unclear about where the product is coming from. Unlike usual, these posters cannot be picked up or delivered from a Target store. However, it’s not immediately apparent that this product is being sold by a third-party vendor, even though the prices seem inflated. Normally, Target sources its products directly from Pokemon suppliers. It’s only recently that reseller costs have started appearing on the Target website.

In the comments section, a customer responded, “I checked the regular price and it’s $15. Charging $40? That’s insane!” Another customer chimed in, “Retail prices are absurdly high when they increase from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

For many people, what’s most vexing about the prices of cards is their uncertainty about where Target obtains these items. Unaware consumers might end up buying a third-party product unknowingly, or realize that the price they’re paying is significantly higher than usual due to markups on the sets.

A user highlighted an issue, saying, “Much like others, I almost fell victim to a scam by purchasing three of these items. It’s not surprising that the website allows me to checkout, as Target online typically doesn’t permit this due to bots snatching items from my cart during checkout. Upon payment, I discovered the total was over $120! Immediately, I canceled the order. Such a high price for an item that usually retails at $15 is unacceptable, especially when Target seems to be engaging in scalping tactics.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say it’s a bummer to find out that not just the Prismatic Evolutions Poster Collection, but also other items like the Prismatic Evolutions Art Bundle and the Prismatic Evolutions Mini Tin display are priced way above their market value. The Art Bundle, which I find oddly underwhelming since it only offers pictures of generic booster packs, is tagged at a whopping $80. And then t But here’s the kicker: it’s being sold for an eye-watering $265. Now, you might think these tins are made of some rare, expensive material, but nope, they typically retail at just $10 each. That means the whole set is only worth $80, not nearly as much as what they’re asking for it.

The crack in trust among Pokemon TCG players could potentially result in lasting effects on Target, given that there are already numerous individuals choosing to avoid the store due to different reasons. Here’s hoping that the inflated reseller prices will be eliminated, allowing players to purchase the items at reasonable costs moving forward.

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2025-05-01 04:16