Pokemon TCG fans upset as vending machine scalpers take everything

Pokemon TCG fans are frustrated and upset over vending machines that are often sold out due to scalpers taking everything.

Collecting cards has always been a popular hobby within the Pokemon community. While that’s the case, actually getting your hands on many of these Pokemon cards isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.

For years now, the community has dealt with all kinds of horrible hindrances– whether that’s straight-up robbery or scalpers making it hard for players to catch ’em all.

On the latter, scalpers aren’t just emptying whole store shelves; they’re also now clearing out vending machines, leaving a lot of players frustrated.

Pokemon TCG vending machine scalpers are becoming the biggest issue

A limited number of Pokemon vending machines first appeared in the US in 2017. Operating similarly to regular vending machines, they allow players to purchase all sorts of TCG products, such as Elite Trainer Boxes and Booster Packs, among others.

While vending machines have become more common over the years, so has the scalping situation. 

Things have gotten so out of hand lately that the problem isn’t just about fans not being able to enjoy buying cards. It has reached the point that people are starting to throw hands over a restock from a machine, potentially harming others around them.

Not only that, but an employee even had a scalper following them to multiple stores just to buy restocked cards in vending machines, which made the overall situation even wilder.

Players have since taken their complaints regarding vending machines to social media, with one user writing: “Mine hasn’t been filled in four weeks. Apparently, some guys picked a fight with the girl who stocks them, and the store manager had to get involved. This is so sad.”

Another user said: “Something similar happened near me in SoCal, two guys were stalking this girl vendor weekly. She finally called them out, and there hasn’t been any stuff in a minute.”

Because of things like this, one frustrated user has proposed several ideas to fix the issue. They suggested that these machines should “force” players to use their Pokemon Center account to track purchase limits.

“When the limit is reached, just say “Sorry, you have reached your purchase limit’ and let it reset each day or week…the key is to force an account login to be able to make any purchase.”

Another user suggested, “They should make it so the machine unseals the product when you buy it.” In the end, though, many people have stressed that players should refrain from purchasing from scalpers no matter how tempting it is.