Walmart is stepping up efforts to limit bulk purchases of The Pokémon Trading Card Game by instituting a store-level cap on how many products a customer may buy at once. According to a post shared on ResetEra that reproduced an internal OneWalmart announcement, the rule—effective November 5—restricts purchases to a maximum of five “packs and/or boxes” per visit. Read the ResetEra thread.
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Although Walmart has not issued a public statement, many observers believe the restriction follows a viral TikTok that showed a customer checking out with an enormous haul of Pokémon products—dozens of tins and bags—while the store manager appeared to allow the transaction. The clip prompted widespread criticism of the store’s handling of high-volume purchases.
That said, the policy’s language—“five packs and/or boxes”—leaves room for interpretation. What exactly qualifies as a “box”? Would an Elite Trainer Box count the same as a single mini pack? And because the limit applies “per visit,” determined resellers could conceivably exit and re-enter the store to buy additional allotments, potentially undermining the measure’s intent.
Resellers have long contributed to product shortages, buying large quantities to flip unopened merchandise or to hunt for rare pulls that fetch steep prices on the secondary market. For example, the Mega Lucario ex from the recent Mega Evolution set is currently listed for more than $800 on TCGplayer. See the listing on TCGplayer.
Walmart’s timing comes ahead of the Phantasmal Flames expansion, which is scheduled to arrive on November 14. That set will almost certainly draw increased attention from scalpers; early sellers have already listed rare pulls such as Mega Charizard X Ex at prices approaching $1,500. View a recent eBay listing.
Source: Polygon
