Because Finding Cards Wasn’t Hard Enough Already
Well, here we go again. Just when you thought things couldn’t get more frustrating for Pokémon collectors, GameStop has announced that they’re no longer taking preorders for Pokémon TCG products—both in-store and online. Yep, that means if you were hoping to lock in your next booster box or Elite Trainer Box without camping outside a store at 5 AM, tough luck.
So, what’s the reason behind this move? According to an internal email, GameStop says,
“Moving forward, all Pokémon TCG products will be shipped directly to stores to encourage more foot traffic.”
Which sounds like a fancy way of saying:
“We don’t have enough product, and instead of taking preorders we can’t fulfill, we’re just going to let you fight it out in person.”
Why Is This Happening?
If you’ve been in the hobby for the last few years, you already know that Pokémon cards have become nearly impossible to find at retail price. Walmart and Target have stopped selling them in some locations because people just lose their minds when trying to get them. Costco has had full pallets of Pokémon TCG product disappear within minutes of opening, with grown adults acting like a Black Friday mob over pieces of cardboard.
Meanwhile, local game stores are barely getting any product allocations, meaning even they can’t keep up. And now, GameStop—one of the few places that had some level of structure for Pokémon releases—is bowing out of the preorder game. If even they can’t handle it, that says a lot about the state of the market.
Oh, and Prices Are Going Up, Too!
Because things aren’t already bad enough, GameStop has also been quietly raising their prices on Pokémon TCG products. According to reports:
- Obsidian Flames ETBs – $81.99 (ouch)
- Crown Zenith ETBs – $104.99 (WHY?)
- Pokémon 151 Bundles – $39.99 (I’d rather not)
I’m sorry, but $104.99 for an Elite Trainer Box? At that point, I might as well take my chances with the scalpers on eBay—at least they don’t ask me to sign up for a GameStop Pro Membership on my way out.
Scalpers Are Ruining Everything (Again)
Let’s be real: scalpers and short-term investors are the worst part of the Pokémon community right now. These people don’t even care about the game—they just want to buy up everything, hold it for ransom, and make collectors pay ridiculous prices.
It’s gotten so bad that normal fans—the people who actually play and collect—are completely fed up. And it’s not just GameStop struggling with this. It’s everywhere. The Pokémon Company has said they’re printing more products to meet demand, but it’s clearly not enough if pallets of cards at Costco are getting wiped out faster than a free sample station on a Saturday afternoon.
So What’s the Solution?
Honestly? I don’t know. If GameStop, a national retailer with huge distribution networks, can’t keep up with demand, this might be a bigger issue than we realize. Maybe The Pokémon Company needs to increase production even more, or maybe retailers need to crack down on scalping even harder.
But for now, it looks like we’re stuck in this endless cycle of:
- New set releases
- Scalpers buy it all
- Retailers fumble the bag
- Everyone complains
- Repeat
At this point, finding Pokémon cards shouldn’t feel like a side quest in Elden Ring, but here we are.
Final Thoughts
GameStop’s decision to end preorders might be their way of dealing with the chaos, but it’s just making things worse for normal collectors. Between stores running out of stock instantly, prices going up, and scalpers eating everything, it’s clear that Pokémon TCG collecting is in a really bad spot right now.
So what do you think? Does GameStop’s move make sense, or is this just another L for the Pokémon community? Drop your thoughts below!