Buying new Pokémon cards is harder than ever. MeinMMO author Paul Kutzner was able to save a lot of money with a simple tip.
Fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game are currently having a tough time. Although new sets are released regularly, it’s harder than ever to get cards. Provided you don’t want to buy the products at excessively inflated prices and thus support scalpers.
Recently, the new expansion Mega Evolution for the trading card game was released. Since I was interested in this expansion, I wanted to purchase a product related to it. Thanks to a tip, I was able to do so at a fair price.
Apply, complain, get
Where did I purchase the cards? If you want to buy current card products on Amazon, you can’t just purchase them outright. Instead, you need to apply for an item. Afterward, if you are selected, you will receive an email within 72 hours informing you that you are allowed to purchase the item.
I did this for both a 6-pack booster bundle of the new expansion and for a top trainer box. The booster bundle cost €29.94, and the top trainer box was listed at €52.99. Luckily, I was selected for both items and was allowed to buy them. However, there was a problem with the top trainer box.
What was the problem? While the booster bundle had the same price I applied for, the price of the top trainer box increased to €85.98. Fortunately, I had previously read in several posts on Reddit that this could happen. I was prepared accordingly.
What did I do? At the time of application, I took screenshots of the items including the prices. After I ordered the items and they arrived, I contacted Amazon support via chat.
I complained that I applied for the top trainer box at a much lower price and that it was significantly higher at the time I was allowed to order it.
The support responded immediately and assured me that I would receive a refund for the difference. And indeed: after the chat, I received corresponding emails confirming the payment of the difference.
Thus, I was able to purchase both items at a fair price that was not ruined by scalpers.
With these tips, you can also save money when buying cards
What should you pay attention to? If you are interested in such items, make sure they are offered and shipped by Amazon itself and not by third-party sellers. You can recognize this by seeing Amazon listed for both “Shipping” and “Seller” on the item. This information can be found directly under the “Request Invitation” button.
Also, take screenshots at the time you apply for the item or items. Should the items have also increased in price, as in my case, you can still order them and then contact support to claim the difference.
Keep in mind that Amazon is generally not obligated to do this and acts out of goodwill. Also remember that you have to pay the higher price first, and the full amount will be deducted from your account.
If the support dismisses your concern, then keep at it and contact support again.
Some cards, especially from older sets, are currently fetching unbelievable prices. Especially if they are original boxes that have never been opened and were only available in limited quantities. This experience was also recently made by a participant in a TV show: Pokémon trading cards reach a four-digit value on Bares für Rares, which astonishes Horst Lichter.
