In Pokémon GO, not everyone aims to complete the Pokédex. Some want to make big money from it.
Niantic and Nintendo fulfilled the childhood dreams of many people around the world with the “Pokémon GO” app for Android and iOS: Finally, you can put on a cap, shoulder a backpack, and catch all the Pokémon that were once just black-and-white pixel creatures on the good old Gameboy, with a smartphone in hand.
The goal remains the same: to complete the Pokédex – and in the process, become the very best trainer. However, just a few days after launch, it became clear that not everyone has this noble goal in mind. Instead, they have dollar signs in their eyes and want to profit from the current Pokémon hype.
Account Sales – Is that allowed?
As of now, a trading function has not yet been integrated into Pokémon GO. Nonetheless, there are ways to get the monsters of other people: by buying them.
On eBay and other online trading platforms, countless offers can be found where users want to sell their “Pokémon GO” accounts. And not for a few measly dollars, but often for several hundred.
The price usually depends on the extent of the Pokémon collection and the CP values of the creatures. In the game, you can level up your trainer, gradually build an impressive collection of Pokémon, and improve these monsters. The rule is: the higher your level, the more powerful pocket monsters you can catch. Therefore, a lot of time must be invested in the game to get strong Pokémon.
If you have little time or no opportunities to go Pokémon hunting yourself – but have always dreamed of having your own Pokémon on your phone – you will quickly find what you are looking for on the appropriate sites. However, we strongly advise against it. Niantic explicitly states in the game’s guidelines that trading, selling, and sharing accounts is prohibited, as is cheating.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you catch your own Pokémon and do not engage in such transactions. In our “Pokémon GO” guide collection, everything is explained to ensure that nothing stands in the way of your trainer journey.
Taxi, taxi, follow that Pokémon!
However, some people have more sophisticated ideas than account sales to make good money from the current hype. In social media, there is often talk of Poké Taxis that take passionate Pokémon trainers to places where large monster populations are suspected. For instance, Poké Taxi driver Emilio Cacho from Mexico claims that he doesn’t quite understand the game or why people are so obsessed with it. But since his taxi has been operating as a Poké Taxi, he has been fully booked for days, so he can’t complain.
Some players also offer the service of catching Pokémon for others or leveling up an account to specific levels. There have also been reports of nimble trainers who hatch eggs by jogging around the block with them. Or one might do as this young lady does and take advantage of a nearby PokéStop:
According to a recent report, Pokémon merchandise sales skyrocketed at the launch of Pokémon GO. Since the launch of the app, a Pokémon-specific item is sold worldwide every 12 seconds, whether it’s t-shirts, caps, or other items.
By the way: McDonald’s is doing big business with Pokémon GO.
What do you think of this business – both big and small?
