Pokémon card reseller offers another collector 20% below asking price for a box of cards, collector refuses to give in to their scalper ways: ‘Buy them on eBay then’

When you find a hobby you love, you refuse to engage with people who try to turn it into a capital venture.

Think back to your childhood. You probably had some rendition of playing cards that you protected with your life. They could have been baseball cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, or maybe Pokémon cards. Whatever your poison might have been, you surely remember the feeling of opening up a fresh pack of cards, the anticipatory nervousness of whether or not you'd be gaining a rare collectible, all because of a $5 pack from the toy store. How times have changed, friends.

Unfortunately, like every other monetizable thing or event in this world, resellers have gotten to the playing card realm. They may have always been present in some capacity, but never at the current rate. Now, if you want an Elite Trainer Box, expect to pay $2500+ for certain kinds. Ludicrous, I know… The avid collector featured in the story below refuses to bow down to a reseller/scalper, though. Scroll below to read the full tale.

Author image for Lana DeGaetano Lana DeGaetano
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  • playing cards with an overlay of a man sitting down
    via Guillaume Issaly For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Pokemon scalper/reseller upset I won’t lower prices to allow him profit"

    I (27m) have been collecting pokemon for a little while and have gradually built quite the collection of sealed product.
    via fbh98
  • I never buy from scalpers, instead I preorder direct from Pokemon Center where possible and just collect for my own enjoyment.
    via fbh98
  • However, I was looking to free up some space for some upcoming releases and advertised a few ETB's.
    via fbh98

  • The difference between the fella selling some of his personal collection and general resellers and scalpers is that they didn't buy those cards with the intention of selling them for a great profit. Any smart person trying to get rid of some of their collection would look at going market rates, but that doesn't categorize them as a reseller. To say so would be offensive…

  • Enter prospective buyer who proceeds to offer 20% below asking price. As someone who would honestly rather keep my items than sell below value, I politely informed him that I'd rather keep them as it's a reluctant sale due to space saving.
    via fbh98
  • I then got told that I 'have lost my head' with the prices I'm offering and that he could buy it so much cheaper on eBay.
    via fbh98

  • Don't you just love it when you call someone's bluff? The very action of the reseller asking 20% below the asking price, even though we all know they'll be reselling the cards for astronomical percentages above market rate, is preposterous. If they can find the cards for cheap on eBay, then they should go do that. As a matter of fact, why are they in contact with the collector who posted this story if they have other options? Seems fishy.

  • My response? Buy them on eBay then. So instead of acting like a grown up, he proceeds to tell me he is a vendor and he never pays market value.
    via fbh98
  • pokemon playing cards
    via Thimo Pedersen for Unsplash
  • Like that's my problem? As a side note, he's not someone I've ever heard of, seems to be quite new/small in the community but to top it. off screenshots our conversation (a private marketplace conversion) and plasters it across his social media painting me out to be unreasonable.
    via fbh98
  • Scared_Hand902 This is exactly why people are tired of scalpers. They expect private sellers to take the hit so they can flip for profit, then get salty when told no
    via Scared_Hand902

  • This is the issue with resellers in general. They scoop up rare items for as cheaply as they can get them. You see this with vintage clothing resellers, ransacking Goodwills and Salvation Armys with the intention to boost the cost of the clothes tenfold. You see it with concert tickets for major pop icons. Resellers and scalpers are a constant presence in the world.

  • OP fbh98 I stay out of the selling side of Pokemon. I buy from main retailers and trusted sellers or from a few close friends who are also into it. This was the first real experience I've had with the toxic part of the community. My friends and i always keep a few packs back to just give out to friends/family who are looking to get into the hobby. Damn, some people suck
    via fbh98
  • Hminney And how will that encourage his customers, when he tells them what a b* he is? I might be naive but people seem to use social media exactly the wrong way.
    via Hminney
  • OP fbh98 I thought the same thing. It's not a good look to prospective customers and the wider community. Mind you, it shows how tone deaf some of these people actually are.
    via fbh98
  • sekirbyj Fuck scalpers.
    via sekirbyj
  • OP fbh98 100% kids and new enthusiasts are struggling to get into collectibles just due to some greedy adults. Then to have the audacity to bitch at me was just bizarre
    via fbh98
  • Rose_E_Rotten That's funny! He's pissed that he can't buy your card cheap (since he's a vendor and never buys full price), so he can resell it at the same price or higher than what you are selling it for. Scalpers like him are the reason Pokémon cards are so expensive. Unless you are lucky enough to find them in the store, but that's rare since the scalpers buy them all as soon as the shelves are stocked.
    via Rose_E_Rotten
  • OP fbh98 I refuse to give them my money. I get that not everyone may have the patience to wait or may have pressure to pay scalping prices for gifts etc but damn. Honestly is disgusting
    via fbh98
  • nightcana They dont give a shit about you, the product or their customers. Only their profits.
    via nightcana
  • OP fbh98 I get that, but he is portraying himself as a 'vendor' within the community and treating members of said community with disdain and actually sharing private conversations in an attempt to shame someone just alienates and is in poor taste
    via fbh98
  • Courtaid I had a single Pokémon card for sale on FBMP. I was asking $170, comps were $150-$155. I would taken any offer around there. Get a message that said, "Comps are $155, would you take $130"?
    via Courtaid
  • OP fbh98 It's like they get so insulted that you understand the value of your item and won't be bullied into selling off way under value
    via fbh98
  • that-martian fuck scalpers, I just want to enjoy my hobby goddamnit. what's your favorite pokemon btw?
    via that-martian
  • OP fbh98 Always had a soft spot for Snorlax but Mewtwo is up there. Hard to say. Yourself?
    via fbh98

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