A Pokemon card shortage to start 2025 was certainly not something people had on their bingo cards. Yet, as we head into the second half of January, one thing that will be barely keeping up is the stock of Pokemon cards in all major distributors across the country. It seems to be just another one of those trends that just pops up out of thin air. Partly aided by Pokemon TCG Pocket, the new app launched in late October of last year, a huge surge of teenagers and young adults have been flocking to stores to try their luck at these iconic cards. 

This resurgence, though originating through niche social media and word of mouth, has reached a climax with major companies like McDonalds putting pokemon cards back in their happy meals. Social media platforms filming pack openings are blowing up, and ebay sales are rising exponentially. On top of this the company has ridden it’s new-found momentum with a new pack known as Prismatic Evolutions being released to stores all around the country. 

But with every new trend also comes a craze that some people take just a little too far. Student J.T. Mcguire talked about his experience with pokemon cards. “When they restock, there are adults fighting kids over the boxes,” he says. He’s been collecting since he was a kid, but took an extended leave until recently when the craze began. There are people who have stayed loyal to the cards for years, and for them, seeing cards get snatched up by trend following teenagers can cause belligerent acts and hostile environments.

While the majority of people are simply just fighting to get their hands on packs to buy, there is another, more interesting concern, over the security within stores. Shoplifting cards is almost a sure fire way to make money. There is a large market for cards, and it is growing faster every day. As J.T tells us, he visits UGA Games on Bethel frequently to get the cards he buys evaluated and sold, and says that prices have gone up for both buying and selling, so he can make more money than ever from rare cards he finds. While he buys his cards, people who don’t can make significantly more money without the costs of buying at stores. 

With all this craze, managers at Walmarts, Targets, and other major retailers have had to be more diligent with the protection of their goods. Teenage groups are watched and turned away if they are recognized, or thought to be recognized, and trespassing reports and bans are being handed out to ensure that the cards leaving the stores are paid for.