Walmart is taking a stand against scalpers with a new purchasing policy that limits how many trading cards customers can buy at one time. Starting November 5, shoppers can only purchase up to five packs or boxes of trading cards per visit, according to an internal OneWalmart memo circulated to employees.
Over the past few years, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) has experienced a massive resurgence in popularity. With rare pulls like the Mega Lucario EX and Mega Charizard X EX selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Pokémon cards have once again become hot collectibles—and a prime target for resellers.
However, this popularity has also sparked a wave of scalping, where individuals buy out entire store inventories only to resell them online at inflated prices. The problem came to a head last week when a viral TikTok video—with over 12 million views—showed a customer at a Las Vegas Walmart buying thousands of Pokémon cards in a single transaction.
The backlash was immediate, with fans calling out Walmart for letting scalpers clear shelves while regular collectors went home empty-handed. Just days later, Walmart’s corporate team rolled out a new five-pack limit per visit across all trading cards—not just Pokémon.
What’s Behind Pokémon Card Purchase Limit
Walmart’s internal memo lists several reasons for the policy change:
- Unprecedented demand for trading cards, both from collectors and resellers.
- Reselling concerns, as inflated secondary-market prices make it difficult for casual players to find affordable packs.
- Product shortages due to ongoing supply chain issues.
- Safety concerns, following reports of disputes and crowding near trading card sections.
The retailer hopes this limit will make it easier for genuine fans to get their hands on popular sets like Phantasmal Flames, launching November 14, without competing against bulk buyers.
See also: Pokémon TCG Pocket Trading Guide: How to Trade, Use Shinedust, and Share Cards
The reaction from the Pokémon TCG community has been largely positive. Many players on Reddit and ResetEra praised Walmart for finally taking action after years of unchecked reselling. Some, however, questioned how effective the limit would be since it applies “per visit,” meaning determined scalpers could still make multiple trips.
Still, the move is seen as a step in the right direction—especially with the holiday season approaching and new card sets poised to fly off the shelves once again.
If you’re planning a card-hunting trip to Walmart this month, expect a bit more fairness in the aisles. The policy covers all trading cards, including Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and sports cards, and is being enforced automatically through point-of-sale systems.
While it might not end scalping entirely, this new measure could restore some balance to the community—giving fans a better shot at catching ‘em all the honest way.
