Pokémon Company Considers Using Government ID To Tackle TCG Scalping
Nintendo Life • • technology
Key Points:
- In the US, some individuals rely on scalping Pokémon cards as a source of income, exploiting supply shortages despite limited profit per stop, with many lacking genuine interest in the franchise itself.
- Japan's use of the My Number Card system aims to curb tourist scalping by requiring identification, though concerns remain about potential data tracking from purchases.
- Long wait times and high demand for Pokémon products are common, with scalping exacerbated by bots and poor online retail management rather than individual resellers buying small quantities in person.
- The core issue lies with The Pokémon Company (TPC) failing to meet demand, creating artificial scarcity that fuels scalping; increasing production is complicated by the need to maintain card rarity and market value.
- Unlike past high-demand products limited by physical store access, online sales and automated purchasing enable scalpers to buy large quantities rapidly, making traditional supply increase strategies less effective.