Mcdonalds Pokmon Happy Meals Are Coming To The Uk Following Us Scalper Chaos
Earlier this year, McDonaldâs restaurants in the US had to place restrictions on Happy Meal sales after they were targeted by scalpers reselling their limited edition Pokémon 25th anniversary cards on auction sites for hundreds of dollars.
According to social media reports, some collectors were even buying the Happy Meals in mass numbers, in the hopes of obtaining new cards, and throwing out the food.
McDonalds UK will be selling the cards in Happy Meals from next week, but sales will be restricted in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the situation in America.
When Should You Visit Target To Ensure Availability
The best time to visit a Target store in hopes of finding Pokémon cards is definitely in the morning!
This is because when Target restocks, they typically do so overnight. So, most products will be fully available in the mornings, and then will be sold throughout the day.
While some other retailers restock periodically throughout the day, this isnt typical of Target.
Because Pokémon cards are in such high demand, theres a good chance that theyll be out of stock if you wait too long to get to the store even if you happen to visit on a day where theyve restocked.
So, you give yourself the best chances by arriving right when the store opens, and going directly to the section of the store where Pokémon cards are sold.
You can find out both the address and the hours of your local Target store, using their store locator here. Simply plug in your zip code or city, and Targets store locator will update to show you all of the nearby Target locations in your area.
How Often Is Pokemon Restocked
Generally, Target restocks its Pokemon cards every week. However, again, this may vary depending on the store
However, in an attempt to increase the amount of profit they made, the retailer changed this monthly policy to a quarterly policy in August 2015.
Now on average, Target will restock Pokemon once every 3 months.
With some exceptions though.
For example this year Target released Charizard and Pikachu cards in March instead of May due to high demand from fans who were out buying Easter merchandise that may have missed out on the original release date.
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Target Pulls Pokemon Cards From Stores Citing Threat To Workers And Customers
May 13, 2021 / 4:46 PM / MoneyWatch
Target is pulling in-store sales of popular trading cards, citing employee safety, after a parking lot brawl in one of its stores last week. The retailer told CBS MoneyWatch it would no longer sell Pokemon and sports trading cars in its physical locations starting Friday.
“The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokemon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14. Guests can continue to shop these cards online at Target.com,” a Target spokesperson said in a statement.
Trading cards have surged in popularity during the pandemic. Pokemon cards, especially, are flying off the shelves so fast the printing press can barely keep up. Some early editions of the card game, which turns 25 this year, have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars in online auctions even recently printed Pokemon cards are quickly climbing in price.
Soaring card prices are driving some would-be collectors to extremes. In recent months, scalpers have targeted Pokemon cards destined for McDonald’s Happy Meals and ravaged cereal boxes on supermarket shelves to extract the special-edition cards within. In Japan, one man allegedly climbed down a rope to break into a store and carry away $9,000 worth of Pokemon cards, according to TheGamer.com.
Why Did Target Stop Selling Pokemon Cards
Pokemon cards have become extremely popular amongst collectors both new and old, which is why the news that Target will no longer be selling the franchise’s cards has come as a surprise to the Pokemon community.
The retail company recently announced that it will be temporarily ending all sales of MLB, NBA, NFL, and Pokemon trading cards in their physical locations. Thankfully, Pokemon cards will still be available for collectors and fans to purchase via Target’s online store.
Target had a very valid reason to discontinue their sales of Pokemon cards. Here’s the full story.
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Do Gas Stations Sell Pokemon Cards
Yes, many gas stations across the country sell a variety of Pokemon cards.
If youre looking for a specific card or set, your best bet is to check online or visit a few different gas stations in your area to see if they carry it.
Keep in mind that stock may vary depending on the location.
Collectible Trading Cards
What Days Of The Week Does Target Receive Shipments
Target receives shipments six days a week, but stores only receive stock six times a day and four times a day on Sundays.
Stores usually restock at 12:00 am EST/9:00 pm PST Monday through Saturday with about four hours notice and 2 am EST/11 pm PST Sunday mornings without any notice!
Stores may also receive shipments between 10-11 pm PST , which could mean better deals on older games and movies than usual, as well.
Pokemon Trading Card Game in stock trackerPokemon Trading Card Game
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Pokemon Tcg Scalping Escalates Target Reacts
On May 14, Target decided to stop selling Pokemon cards altogether as a way to keep employees and customers safe.
Starting in 2020, Pokemon cards blew up thanks to big name YouTubers, causing skyrocketing prices in the once-niche marketplace. This led to scalping, which saw crowds of Pokemon sellers bombarding Target and other retailers in an attempt to grab as much product as possible to sell at extreme prices online.
In response, Target and other stores put a purchase limit on all cards, usually allowing just two products per customer. This already had many in the Pokemon community infuriated, causing even more tension as scalpers continue dto buy out product at an alarming rate.
Pokemon community members would often post photos of their kids standing next to empty shelves, unable to purchase packs for their family due to extreme scalping. But some card collectors decided to take matters into their own hands, attacking a scalper in a parking lot.
In response, Target stated that it was reevaluation protocols. The Pokemon TCG community instantly started discussing the possibility of Target pulling cards from the shelves altogether. That eventually came true shortly after the violent incident. This caused an uproar in the Pokemon TCG community, with some collectors applauding the stores and others condemming them.
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Does Walmart Sell Magic: The Gathering Cards
Despite the suspension of sales, Walmart is still selling Magic: The Gathering and other TCGs on their website, so if youre looking to purchase Magic products, you can order from there, but if you have local game stores near you, I highly encourage you to support them. You can also order MTG products on Amazon.
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Some Target Stores Are Selling Pokemon Cards Again
The companys official Ask Target Twitter account confirmed that Pokemon cards are being sold at stores once again.
Pokemon cards have been one of the hottest collectibles out there since the start of the pandemic with prices rallying so wildly it became a safety issue for retailers that carry them. Luckily, Target has walked back on this measure with confirmation that Pokemon TCG products will start selling again this week.
The Pokemon card craze really escalated in mid-May when Target and Walmart became the most prominent stores to stop selling Pokemon card, as well NBA, MLB, NFL trading cards, due to a spike in altercations involving not only would-be shoppers and employees but also some instances in which customers retaliated against presumed scalpers. This also led to a wave of crimes related to the theft of Pokemon cards in Japan and the United States, with some stores even being hit by criminals several times.
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Nevertheless, over the course of June 1 several collectors started spotting and documenting successful Pokemon purchases at different Target locations, with the companys official Ask Target Twitter account confirming that Pokemon cards are being sold at stores once again. There is a caveat to this announcement, as Target has made it clear that in order to discourage scalping activity Pokemon TCG items will be sold on a daily basis with a limit of two products per customer.
How To Check Target Inventory
You can check the Target website to see what items are currently in stock at local stores, but remember that Targets inventory is not always 100% accurate. Brickseeks online inventory tool can also help you check whether a nearby store has what you want in stock and what the price is before planning your trip.
As always, its recommended to call nearby stores to check the inventory before heading out, especially if youre shopping for a specific item.
Im telling you target sign up for notifications when they restock. They restocked the light one overnight last night.
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Target Will Temporarily Stop Selling Pokmon And Sports Trading Cards In Stores Due To Safety Concerns
Target has announced that it will temporarily stop selling trading cards of both the sports and Pokemon variety in stores following a recent violent dispute at one of its locations.
Last week, a Target in Wisconsin was locked down after a man was physically assaulted by four others over sports trading cards.
The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority, Target said in a statement to CNN. Out of an abundance of caution, weve decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14.
The cards will still be available online, the company said.
The value of trading cards has skyrocketed in recent months during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In December 2020, a rare Charizard Pokémon card with minimum bid set at $50,000 sold for $360,000 through Goldin Auctions. Another sold for almost $400,000 earlier this year, and the auction house told CNN theyve seen an increase in value over the course of the pandemic.
Sports cards have seen a similar rise.
In early February, a Michael Jordan rookie basketball card in pristine condition sold for a record $738,000 at an auction run by Goldin Auctions. The exact same item went for nearly $215,000 just weeks before.
Theres never been a time like this in the history of the business, Ken Goldin, founder and executive chairman of Goldin Auctions, told CNN in February.
Target did not say when it would begin selling the cards in stores again.
Target Stops Selling Pokmon Sports Trading Cards In Stores Due To Safety Concerns
Target has announced that it will temporarily stop selling trading cards — of both the sports and Pokemon variety — in stores following a recent violent dispute at one of its locations.
PHILADELPHIA — Target has announced that it will temporarily stop selling trading cards — of both the sports and Pokemon variety — in stores following a recent violent dispute at one of its locations.
Last week, a Target in Wisconsin was locked down after a man was physically assaulted by four others over sports trading cards.
“The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority,” Target said in a statement to CNN. “Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14.”
The cards will still be available online, the company said.
The value of trading cards has skyrocketed in recent months during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In December 2020, a rare Charizard Pokémon card — with minimum bid set at $50,000 — sold for $360,000 through Goldin Auctions. Another sold for almost $400,000 earlier this year, and the auction house told CNN they’ve seen an increase in value over the course of the pandemic.
Sports cards have seen a similar rise.
In early February, a Michael Jordan rookie basketball card in pristine condition sold for a record $738,000 at an auction run by Goldin Auctions. The exact same item went for nearly $215,000 just weeks before.
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Target To Start Selling Pokemon Cards Again
In a surprising announcement on Twitter, Targets official support account announced that the major retail chain would start carrying Pokemon cards again as soon as June 1, 2021.
Stores will resume selling select Pokémon Trading Cards the week of June 1, 2021. Pokémon Trading Cards can be sold seven days per week and will have a limit of 2 items per guest per day, the account responded to a consumer.
The move comes as a surprise as it appears that the company is also reversing its April policy of only selling TCG collectibles on Fridays. Based on the wording, its also unclear if select items means stores will stock fewer products than previously.
Stores will resume selling select Pokémon Trading Cards the week of June 1, 2021. Pokémon Trading Cards can be sold seven days per week and will have a limit of 2 items per guest per day.
AskTarget
At the time of writing, Target has yet to release a full statement on the situation so we only have the support account to go off of. It wasnt made clear if this is going to be a nationwide policy impacting all stores or only select locations.
The retailer has faced major problems with scalpers over the last three months. In March, Target had to move to only selling Pokemon cards on Fridays due to sellers causing chaos as stores. In May, they even instituted a policy to on the TCG collectors camping out in front of retail locations.
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Target To Suspend Sales Of Sports Pokemon Cards
May 13, 2021 / 02:19 PM MDT
May 13, 2021 / 02:19 PM MDT
Owing to a resurgence of popularity, an extremely limited supply, and, following a recent near-tragedy at a location in Wisconsin, Pokemon and sports trading cards are being pulled off the shelves at Targets nationwide.
Replying to an inquiry from ABC4, Target gave the following comment:
The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, weve decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14. Guests can continue to shop these cards online at Target.com.
A similar inquiry was made to Walmart, which has not yet responded directly to ABC4.
Last Friday, outside of a Target in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a 35-year-old man was assaulted by a group of four men as he left the store with several boxes of sports trading cards. During the assault, the victim, a valid concealed carry permit holder, raised his weapon and scared off his attackers. As a result, the store and a couple of other surrounding businesses went into lockdown. The attackers were later found and taken into custody, according to ABC4 affiliate WISN.
With Targets decision, other smaller card shops are hoping this will help them have more products in stock for their clientele.
Why Are Pokmon Cards So Expensive
Pokémon cards are so expensive because they are very scarce, which is due to both scalpers and stock shortages.
Whenever Pokémon cards are restocked in most retail stores, scalpers are often quick to buy all the cards, only to sell them to others for much more than their retail price. Prices have generally skyrocketed due to this scarcity.
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Where To Buy Pokmon Trading Cards
According to a post on the PokemonTCG subreddit by user drewuptown, major stores that are selling Pokémon trading cards include Walmart, Meijer, Fred Meyer, Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s and Scheels.
They have also been found in Best Buy, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, Five Below, Party City, Burlington, and Big Lots, as well as in smaller stores like Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Hot Topic, and Gamestop.
Additionally, the Reddit thread says that stores such as Barnes and Noble, Dollar General and Dollar Tree sell the cards.
While this isn’t an official list and inventory will vary, these stores may be a good place to start your search. Many online stores and reselling sites also claim to be selling the cards.
