Pokémon 30th Anniversary Expansion Disappoints Scalpers With High Pull Rates

The Pokémon Trading Card Game 30th Anniversary expansion launched on September 16th to the expected chaos: lengthy queues outside stores, cancelled and delayed pre-orders, and resellers sitting on large quantities of stock. However, the set is not delivering the profits scalpers anticipated.

The rare cards in the expansion have unexpectedly high pull rates, according to reporting by IGN, which has significantly reduced their resale value. For collectors, this is positive news. Better odds of pulling new cards and cheaper secondary market prices make it easier to complete collections. For scalpers hoping to profit from scarcity, the outcome is the opposite.

On the r/PokeInvesting subreddit, frustrated resellers have expressed their disappointment. One user noted that two to three years ago, many investors anticipated the 30th anniversary as a major exit opportunity for their accumulated inventory. "The literal complete opposite happened," they wrote. Another was more direct: "I like making money and after a while this set will stop making me money so I don't like it."

Some resellers worry about further price drops as more people sell off cards due to lower-than-expected values. "It'll crush even more when more and more people start dumping. It's gonna be a bloody mess," one investor commented.

As of September 20th, only the blue, green, and red special illustration rare Mew cards held resale values in the thousands of dollars. Virtually all other cards fell below the $200 mark, a stark contrast to the premium prices seen in previous sets.

Not all investors share the pessimistic view. One user argued that high pull rates make the set enjoyable and attract new players to the hobby. "The more fun people have, the longer they stay in. The longer people stay engaged, the higher our investments will go," they wrote.

The expansion sold out quickly despite the lower secondary market values, suggesting demand remains strong among players and collectors rather than speculative investors. While scalpers holding bulk inventory may eventually profit as supplies tighten, the initial disappointment marks a notable shift from previous high-value set releases.