The Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum has announced that it will no longer distribute copies of the promotional Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat card as part of its Pikachu x Van Gogh Museum exhibit. This decision comes after a recent incident where scalpers and opportunists caused chaos in the museum’s gift shop, resulting in a shortage of promotional cards and merchandise. The museum has cited safety concerns for both patrons and employees as the reason for discontinuing the distribution of the cards.
The Pikachu x Van Gogh Museum exhibit features reimagined Van Gogh portraits with Pokémon and other activities aimed at children. However, adult fans and likely scalpers were seen flooding the gift shop and clearing the shelves of merchandise. This led to inflated prices on online resellers such as eBay. The museum had initially stated that it was working to procure more Pikachu promo cards, but has now decided to no longer offer them at the physical location starting October 14th.
Patrons who had purchased tickets to the exhibit were initially promised a card as part of the admission price. However, they will now only be able to obtain the card through The Pokémon Company’s online stores. The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company International have emphasized their commitment to visitor and employee safety and have made this decision to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
Fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the US, UK, and Canada will need to check the publisher’s website for information on where and when the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat card will be available. In the Netherlands, copies will be available at participating retailers early next year, but the Van Gogh Museum will not be among them.
The incident at the Van Gogh Museum highlights the ongoing issue of scalpers and resellers in the Pokémon TCG hobby. The Pokémon Company has faced similar problems in the past, such as during its 2018 museum cross-promotion for the Edvard Munch exhibit at the Tokyo Art Museum. Families who booked tickets outside the limited window when the card was available will now miss out on the promotional item. The museum’s FAQ now includes instructions on canceling or refunding tickets due to the unavailability of the card and related merchandise.
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