First Day of Van Gogh Pikachu Promotion Goes Smoothly, Limited Scalping, Even More Copies Coming
Today, Pokemon fans in the Netherlands could go to participating stores to receive the Pikachu Van Gogh promo card with purchases of 30 euros. According to dozens of reports we’ve received, it was not difficult to get the card.
“Many stores sold out by 12:00 or 13:00,” told us one prominent store owner. “All [chain] stores gave out a maximum of one promo per customer. The big stores played it 100% fair.” He monitored one of the largest WhatsApp groups where customers were on the hunt for the card. “Most people are happy. Pokemon did a good job.”
The “honest” scalper we previously interviewed stated, “To be honest this was a smooth roll out. [The stores] were very strict. Most people who wanted the card could get one with ease if they showed up on time.”
He went on to say, “Some stores were kinda done with [the promotion] 4/5/6 hours in. My store received 80 copies in the morning. I waited until the end and bought out the last three copies for 30 euros each. Other scalpers paid 10 to 15 euros. The stores were like, ‘Yeah everyone who wanted it got it. So now we are just done with it.’ The stores had plenty.”
As we previously reported, chain stores received a number of promos depending on the size of their store. Intertoys and Media Markt, the largest chain stores, received on average up to 150 copies each. Primera and Bruna stores received 25, 50, or 75 copies. We’ve also confirmed one of the largest stores in Amsterdam received 650 copies.
According to two reports we’ve received, some stores can still order additional copies. Other stores who have not yet participated can sign up to host the giveaway if they contact Asmodee, the official Pokemon TCG distributor.
Previously, TPCi told hobby stores they would only receive 10 copies of the card after incidents of pre-scalping. However, some hobby stores are now reporting the decision has been reversed, apparently on a case-by-case basis.
One hobby store, Royal Cards, e-mailed out to its customers, “Good news. We heard today we will get the [100] promised copies of the Pikachu Van Gogh promo. We’ll probably do the promotion in the store next Friday. We will announce further details in our newsletter once we know.”
“It looks like [TPCi] has some huge stockpiles,” said the scalper. “But for some reason people on eBay are still paying 100 euros for the card. I can’t understand that ****. Everyone has like 5000 things to say about scalpers. But they still buy it.”
The card currently sits at 65 euros on Cardmarket, or roughly double the price of what customers paid to receive it. On TCGplayer it’s around $120; it will likely take time for the card to dip further as copies make their way overseas.
If you’re a Pokemon fan in the Netherlands, let us know about your experience in the comments!