Things are getting increasingly chaotic in the world of Pokémon collecting—and now even Target’s store displays aren’t safe.
After Target launched a huge Pokémon-themed promotion on Saturday, May 2, collectors rushed to stores for exclusive merchandise for the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration. The drop included everything from apparel and toys to accessories and Pop-Tarts (more on that later), with many locations selling out almost immediately.
But according to online listings and social media, some resellers didn’t stop at the actual products. Promotional cardboard displays featuring characters like Pikachu, Charizard, and Eevee have reportedly started popping up on resale sites like eBay for hundreds of dollars—with some listed in the thousands.
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The bizarre trend has sparked frustration among both fans and Target employees.
“Every scrap and bit of it is now going for double or TRIPLE online. 😑 I hate it,” one wrote on the Target Subreddit.
“The level of ‘down bad’ you have to be to steal the actual display is honestly impressive and pathetic,” said another.
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One employee shared, “Our [aisle] looks the same but we still have the back paper but almost the whole [aisle] is wiped out. Guests [have] been asking if we [have] anymore elsewhere and the answer is were all out.”
And the displays aren’t the only unusual items being flipped. Limited-edition Pokémon-themed Pop-Tarts—vanilla cupcake-flavored which were originally priced at $2.89—have reportedly been listed online for as much as $34.99. It’s unclear if the scalpers were successful is actually selling them at that price, however.
Fans online were baffled by the resale craze, especially since the boxes don’t appear to include exclusive collectibles or inserts.
“This is pathetic….. they aren’t even themed like the originals…..literally just have Pikachu on the box,” said an Instagram user.
Another commented, “Y’all some weirdos. Just because it has pokemon on it doesn’t mean it’s worth buying.”
Despite the frustration, the frenzy may not be slowing down anytime soon. A second Pokémon drop at Target is already scheduled for June 6 and will feature additional merchandise tied to the anniversary collab.
