Scalpers have flooded secondary markets, such as eBay, with copies of a promotional Pokémon Trading Card Game card called Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat. The card was given to attendees of a special Pokémon exhibit at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. Auctions are already demanding hundreds of pounds and US dollars per copy, with related merchandise also being sold at inflated prices.
On the opening day of the exhibit, crowds of adults and opportunistic resellers quickly bought up the museum’s initial stock of cards, prompting an apology from The Pokémon Company. The exhibit, which is primarily marketed to children and families, will receive more promotional cards to last through its January residence at the museum. However, scalpers have already made their profit, as evidenced by the numerous auctions and online listings.
Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat can be found on eBay for as much as £1,500, although the average auction tends to settle around £150. Exhibit attendees who completed a scavenger hunt or made a purchase at the gift shop received a copy of the promo card for the price of admission – €20.
In addition to the card, auction sites are also filled with other merchandise sold by the museum and The Pokémon Center, including card sleeves, art prints, pens, playmats, and deck boxes. The merchandise features iconic Pokémon characters added to some of Van Gogh’s famous paintings.
Disappointed fans and players have expressed their frustration online, suggesting that The Pokémon Center could have done more to deter scalpers and resellers. The Pokémon trading card game has seen explosive popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when rare and valuable cards are involved. Some question whether The Pokémon Company could have better prepared or prevented scalpers from taking advantage of the event.
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