"Scalpers", or online resellers have been getting a lot of hate for taking all of the product off of the shelves at retailers and driving up the price of Pokémon TCG Products. It is starting to feel like another pandemic with the scarcity of product on the shelves these days.
While resellers take a large part of the blame, they do not gravitate to the product unless people are buying at these ridiculous rates. The bottom line is, the scalpers show up when the product becomes hot enough that people are willing to pay double the recommended retail price to acquire the product. This situation is very fascinating to watch unfold as the ones complaining about the scalpers are the ones enabling them to make money doing what they are doing.
The State of the Pokemon Hobby
We are in a state of the Pokémon hobby now, where almost everyone is trying to start a business, resell cards, or make money off of the hobby in some way. There are very few left that are just wanting to have fun with the cards and collect them or play the card game.
This is what we need to focus on. We need to focus on getting new players into the game, helping people remember why this hobby is so fun in the first place. Of course we want to open packs and make profit, but this is not what it is all about.
Are Scalpers the Problem?
Of course, they are taking advantage of the situation, but that does not let them off the hook. While I as a business person myself do not blame them for doing what they have to do to make money, they still need to understand that it is extremely frustrating to the casual collectors that just want to buy a few packs here and there.