As retail stores continue their ongoing battle against Pokémon trading card scalpers, Target employees have been spotted removing the plastic wrap and cutting open sealed boxes before placing them on store displays. The latest measure targets popular products like Elite Trainer Boxes in an effort to curb resale profits.
How the Target Pokémon TCG Policy Works
While ripping open or removing the protective plastic wrap from Pokémon TCG sets does not change the retail price charged by the store, it severely hurts the product's value on the secondary market. Sealed items command higher prices among collectors, so altering the packaging prior to sale makes it much harder for scalpers to turn a quick profit.
This follows previous reports of Target staff cutting into sealed booster boxes at checkout or on shelves. Collectors have expressed mixed reactions to the changes. While many view the practice as a positive step to keep products available for genuine fans, others point out that genuine collectors who prefer to buy mint-condition, factory-sealed items are also impacted by the altered packaging.
Other Anti-Scalper Measures at Target
Opening sealed boxes is just the latest in a string of aggressive tactics used by the retailer. Previous measures have included adding anti-theft tags to store decorations after displays were stolen and resold online for thousands of dollars.
Because the policy appears to vary by location, collectors checking local aisles may still encounter fully sealed boxes depending on the specific store.