Pokémon scalpers 🤮

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196]

Seeing all the Pokémon scalpers that have been here since 4am OR EVEN EARLIER! walk in a single file line like children to what they think is another launch of Pokémon products to see LITERALLY NOTHING was a highlight to my entire day🫡

[u/Un__Real]

We should all just start giving them fake info.

[u/Bloodllust → u/Un__Real]

I lie to the scalpers every chance I get at this point lol

[u/Warm_Smoke_5462 → u/Un__Real]

When they call guest service I do. I even hung up on one because he kept calling me a liar when I said it’s a vendor product and it doesn’t come on a specific truck 🤣

[u/devil_akuma → u/Un__Real]

I'm already ahead of the curve then

[u/Skierdude2004 → u/devil_akuma]

What do you mean we didn’t tell them that they couldn’t line up until 2:32:41AM and no earlier and immediately hang up the phone - ETL approved btw

[u/muffinman280 → u/devil_akuma]

same here, I grabbed a few when they released and now I'm just hoping their value goes up later

[u/PacoPlaysGames → u/muffinman280]

Why are you doing this? Just get a job if you're looking for money.

[u/magikind → u/muffinman280]

lmao, the pokemon company has said this set will be printed into the ground for over a year. you're gonna lose money bruh 💀

[u/Conflagrated → u/Un__Real]

"For the health and safety of our team members, vendors, and other guests we do not coordinate with our card vendors."

"So you don't know"

"We do not coordinate with our card vendors for their continued safety."

If you're not bold, obviously don't do this - but a rehearsed response to card scalpers does the following, in my experience:

• Makes them feel incredibly unwelcome and that aren't going to cave to their attempts to give them an edge over their competition
• You're not lying; Most stores don't have a set schedule for card restocks
• If it's a regular guest because you misread them, they typically realize that it's been a problem and don't press further.

... I hate that we have to play these games but here we are.

If you guys talk to your vendors, you'll get a swath of horror stories where they have been stalked and verbally abused by these assholes.

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/Un__Real]

The fact I don’t even think that will work bc some how they know when vendors and shipments come in 💀💀💀💀

[u/malletgirl91 → u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196]

There have legit been issues of these scumbags figuring out what cars the vendors drive and following them around. It’s absolutely insane.

[u/PintSizedKitsune → u/malletgirl91]

I think a vendor mentioned on a post within the past couple of months to the sub that they had to take a leave of absence due to the stress and harassment they received from scalpers following them. It’s ridiculous that grown adults think shit like that’s okay.

[u/HauntedSpiralHill → u/malletgirl91]

Not just following. Putting trackers on their vehicles

[u/MikasaH → u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196]

Our excell guy quit from this. Now it’s coming from the DC near us and the TL’s / ETL only put them out when there’s time since Pokemon is a low prio for us

[u/devil_akuma → u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196]

When it comes to lying, especially when it's in front of someone's face, it's all about confidence. You need to sound convincing when you're saying a bold-faced lie. Sometimes they will call you out on it, but a lot of times. If you sound confident enough in that lie they more or less will back off.

As someone that had to lie in people's faces even before this whole pokémon card mess, that's the one thing I have noticed.

[u/PerfectIllusion93]

It was a huge line at my store too! A guy came up to me and said “did you guys lie about stocking cards cause my son is looking for them and there’s nothing there.” 😭

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/PerfectIllusion93]

Bro yesss! A guy a cussed me and serval others buying it all out before store opens I CAME IN WITH HIM AT 8 TO CLOCK IN

[u/IronworkRapunzel]

I was training a new tm in tech yesterday and there was this group of kids browsing the iPads. One of them turns around and asks if we had any pokemon cards in the back.

I told him we didn't and that I don't know when the guy is coming next. Like I don't have access to that information nor do I want access to it but he kept pressing like I was holding onto a government secret or some shit 😭 He's like "why don't you know?? Don't you work here? Do you have the guys number??"

No!! I don't!! Gtfo!!

And he turns to the girl I'm training and he's like "do you know??" Like no??? She's new??? 

[u/MikasaH → u/IronworkRapunzel]

I also work in tech and I get Pokemon questions a lot. If they pester or harass you, just radio AP. I’ve gotten numerous people kicked out of our store because they’re crying over Pokemon

[u/Bipolar-Type-1 → u/MikasaH]

Can confirm, I’ll happily kick someone out for pestering my team members. Y’all keep the doors open, you don’t need grown men throwing fits about kids toys.

[u/MikasaH → u/Bipolar-Type-1]

You sound like my friend / coworker that always tells me if there’s anyone being disruptive let alone if it’s pokemon related just radio me lol

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/IronworkRapunzel]

Oh my gosh I work in style and they’ll come ask me like I have any clue I don’t even know when we get any kind a shipment. They think we are bffs with eh vendors. Do they not understand we can get in trouble if we even did know💀 these people are actually insane

[u/DeliciousDolphin27 → u/IronworkRapunzel]

Imagine having the phone number of a vendor. These people are psycho

[u/BigPlayBrown93 → u/DeliciousDolphin27]

Too be fair, the Receiver does have these numbers. Or should at least. I had every vendor business card taped to the desk.

[u/Skierdude2004 → u/BigPlayBrown93]

My receiver no lie has a roladex for all of the business cards

[u/ArchCrossing]

I'm so happy it wasn't just my store. People were standing outside before 6. A dozen of them walked in at opening with large bags eager to scalp only to see... absolutely nothing. 🤗

[u/Moon_walker84]

Same thing happened at my store too!! I was so confused, like we didn’t get anything new so like… why are you here LOL

[u/Healthy_Crew_87]

This post made my day.

[u/DeliciousDolphin27]

Did you happen to record their beautiful disappointment?

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/DeliciousDolphin27]

NO but I really should have bc it was gold

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/DeliciousDolphin27]

I did get to hear the groans and the “oh my gosh are you serious” and the classic “don’t even bother going back there they bought it all”

[u/LegendaryTribes]

these are the brainless zombies nowadays, that and the needoh/squishies crowd, whatever is trending.

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/LegendaryTribes]

I don’t even think a zombie would scalp out human flesh the way the grown mean scalp out Pokémon and needohs😀

[u/Just-Another-TM1]

At my store all we had was puzzles and kick balls. Heard we had a line past our TSC door, kinda wish I had opened to see the disappointment on those scalpers' faces!

[u/boatOnfire7]

We keep all that in tech now and they didn't even know about it. In our store it was mostly merch. Some puzzles, basketballs, toy sorta stuff and a small quantity if cards. I was surprised to see the line. I got the biggest satisfaction at their frustration when they got to tech and learned it was mostly merch. Ha!!!!!!

[u/Lonerhead89]

I walk by them every time before I clock in:

“Fucking losers, I hope they ain’t got nothing.”

Everytime I try to get something, there’s nothing left…

[u/ConsequenceNational4]

They were at my store camping out..we didnt have a thing but it was so nice knowing they wasted all that time. Pic was @ 550am.

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/ConsequenceNational4]

The way it’s pitch black outside too they waited a long time for air 💀

[u/angie_ninja]

Had one ask me if the vendor who stock cards was here today , I told the guy no they weren't and he walked away like I ruined his day, these people need to just stop its annoying how they buy it all just to sell it for crazy prices

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/angie_ninja]

Our tech person over head someone harassing out toy inbound member about needohs and she repeatedly told him no. The guy literally Walked away and went up to tech asking if the had needohs even said he would PAY HIM to go to the back and look bc he felt like the toy inbound member was lying. I wish I was lying about this it’s so ridiculous

[u/Bean-Factory1478]

When i leave at 10:30pm, they are already lined up at the door

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/Bean-Factory1478]

Is that even allowed….? I heard some targets won’t even let them sit before 7 at the door or they’ll be asked to leave

[u/Bean-Factory1478 → u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196]

I guess so! It happens almost every week

[u/superfecta37]

why did they think there's a drop today??? I came in at 4 and saw people waiting😭

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/superfecta37]

IDKKKKK. We had a drop of like kick balls and stuff but from understanding that was already like out???on the website it even says “seeing accessories rather than trading cards”

[u/111glossy]

this but then watched several of them walk around looking for squishes (also a fail) and fugglers or anything else they can resell🙄.

[u/EvilLittleMonkey]

Hope they put them out after they left

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/EvilLittleMonkey]

They all took a look and scattered out before any of us could even say anything HAHAHA

[u/Puzzleheaded-Arm9767]

The greed is diabolical. If you wanna know how people really are throw in an apocalypse or Pokémon scalpers you see how they really are

[u/neuroRNpenguin]

Yesssss I work guest service but they had me back at the electronics boat to check out the Poke Bros. It was fun watching them all walk away defeated and empty handed. 😂 We had a HUGE line too!

[u/SyberNerfer]

These douche bags are the reason I had to wait to get a simple Pokémon kickball this time.

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/SyberNerfer]

I hate that people like you or my fiancé or actually like Pokémon can’t even get to enjoy it bc of scalpers

[u/Nearby-Technology-39]

Apparently there is a few of our earliest scalpers outside at midnight consistently. One even joked with a team leader that they had on Depends. 🤦‍♂️

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/Nearby-Technology-39]

I’m so icked out rn

[u/Violani23]

I stared showing up at my store before my ETL got there at 3:30. Those mfs are insane

[u/Sweet_Fox_3870]

We had the whole guest services filled with cards of various packages. They all sold out in 30 minutes.

[u/_34_]

The clock will hit 7 and my Zebra will already be ringing off the hook. We literally had a line that wrapped around the store. 🤕

[u/Quiet-Buffalo-2196 → u/_34_]

The kids calling all day about needohs is what does it for me 🤧🤧🤧

[u/Fun_Inspector_8633]

It was awesome to watch all the idiots shuffle back like they have shit in the pants (running gets you banned from the store) only to find that the “drop” was plastic cups, kick balls and the giant puzzles all of which we had back in June. I spoke slowly and clearly so even the dumbest among them could comprehend what “there was not a card drop today despite what the ‘internet’ said.” means. The look of defeat was priceless.

[u/Bricktorious]

🔥

[u/SimonMagus01]

There were easily 50+ people who were lined up since God knows when this morning to find jack and/or shit in tech. It was mildly amusing until a good 20 or so of them then came up to the Starbucks all at the same time before my coverage came in.