Pokémon cards continue to be a scarce commodity

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Fans of the Pokémon card game have always dreamed of "catching them all", but high demand for new sets and scalpers who seek to resell the card packs for more have made it hard to find any at all.

"There's kids that aren't getting the product because there just isn't (any available)," Pokémon fan Colt Skouby said. "There's people that are staying six, seven hours outside of the store so they can get this product. It's making a future generation not able to play this game because right now is the economic boom of Pokémon," said Skouby. "These people aren't collectors, they just see a paycheck in all of this."

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) has been a constant issue, which dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has forced major retailers like Target, Walmart and Game Stop to have limited stock available for purchase.

Even local card shops like Titanium Cards LLC have had less cards available for purchase, with new and popular sets being harder to come by due to a higher MSRP.

"It's like (running) a bakery," Titanium Cards LLC owner Kyle Richards said. "There's only so much that the production can make at a time. When more people want the chocolate pie, the better tasting pie, you have to divvy out smaller pieces. The local card shops have less compared big stores like Walmart and Target."

As retailers continue to limit the supply customers can purchase, the high demand won't be decreasing any time soon.