What was supposed to be an adorable collaboration card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game with Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum became a chaotic frenzy for collectors and scalpers who wanted to get a copy of the special Van Gogh Pikachu card. On September 28, 2023, when The Pokémon Company debuted its collaboration collection with the museum, scalpers swarmed in to claim the cards, so they could be resold at exorbitant rates online rather than allowing true fans to be able to get access to them as intended. The Van Gogh collection merchandise was entirely sold out within the first 24 hours of the exhibit’s opening, and promo cards were out of stock in minutes online.
Pokémon cards have always been plagued by issues with scalpers causing prices of certain promos and rare cards to skyrocket. While many have ideas on how to prevent scalpers, the issue seems to be one that has not been addressed directly by Pokémon and makes it difficult for lovers of the franchise who may not have thousands of dollars lying around. The volatile market around promotional events for Pokémon may be slightly improved with some patience on the part of buyers in cases such as this one where restocks can occur and help to even out the values.
Restocks For The Van Gogh Pikachu Have Been Confirmed
Just a few weeks after the disastrous launch, the Pokémon Company has confirmed there will be another chance to get restocked cards of the artistic Pikachu card. At an unspecified start point, shoppers at the online Pokémon Center store who spend more than $30 will be able to receive a Pikachu With Grey Felt Hat Promo Card with their order. More information will be coming soon on when this will happen, but likely this new promotion will still sell out quickly, with the caveat of “while supplies last“. There is no word currently on whether the other special items, including the Pikachu plushies, will also be restocked.
Outrageous Pokémon Card Prices Online Prove That Sometimes It’s Better To Be Patient
Currently, the Pikachu With Grey Felt Hat Promo (aka the Van Gogh Pikachu) card is being valued at a market price on TCGPlayer of $84.54 USD, with auctions on eBay having sold for as high as $1,734.46 on the day the promotion began. With another round of cards now expected to come, this price could continue to drop, depending on how many cards end up eventually being released. Though much of the blame falls on scalpers who were eager to make money on the promotion, collectors, and fans of Pokémon could have possibly saved some money by waiting a little longer. Those who paid exorbitant amounts for the Pikachu may well regret it now more availability is confirmed, proving that it’s not always necessary to rush out to get the latest promo card.
Following the chaos that occurred at the debut of the Van Gogh Pikachu, a restriction was put on the card to keep the remaining supply held for people who physically attend the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, yet this did little to stop the immediate deficit of products. This promotion is said to go until January 2024, although it has not been established if the museum’s stock of cards will be replenished. Pokémon Trading Card Game players, collectors, and fans, as well as Van Gogh fans, could still see another opportunity to get the hat-wearing Pikachu card, ideally at a more reasonable price.
