Updated at 07:19 am EST: Game issued this response to TheGamer when asked why postage for Prismatic Evolutions mini tins is so much more expensive than it is for most of its other products - “We can confirm that the delivery charge is accurate. Additionally, we have provided internal feedback concerning the description used.”
Summary
ThePokemon TCG’s latest set, Prismatic Evolutions, is in high demand. Some of you might have resorted to scalpers, paying over the odds for the set’s products while they’re out of stock at regular outlets. What you won’t be expecting is to pay scalper prices if you’re lucky enough to find Prismatic Evolutions cards in stock at a regular chain store, although that’s what a leading retailer in the UK has been accused of.
Game is the biggest brick-and-mortar game store chain in the UK with locations all over the country, effectively Britain’s answer to GameStop. If you head to its website right now,you’ll find Prismatic Evolutions mini tins in stock. Before you rush off to buy them, it seems like the reason they’re in stock is because once the cost of postage has been factored in, the price of a single tin almost triples.
The extortionate price of postage on Prismatic Evolutions mini tins at Game wasbrought to Eurogamer’s attentionby the chain’s own staff. Game employees, who understandably wanted to remain anonymous, reached out to the site to accuse its employers of effectively scalping the mini tins.Each tin costs £10.99 ($13.58)butthe price rockets up to £30.98 ($38.29)when Game adds its shipping costs.
Game Has Been Accused Of Scalping Pokemon Cards By Its Own Staff
Prismatic Evolutions Mini Tins Are More Than £30 Thanks To Postage Costs
On top of almost tripling the price of mini tins by charging £20 for postage, Game staff revealed that the amount of stock of the new Pokemon TCG set has been extremely limited in store. They claim that appears to have been done so that it can be sold online instead and the inflated shipping charges can be applied, those in charge of making those decisions well aware that Prismatic Evolutions products are in such high demand that those desperate to own something from it either won’t notice the postage cost, or will notice but won’t care.
By comparison,Game’s standard price for postage and packaging starts at £4.99 ($6.17). If you buy aPlayStation 5 Prothrough Game’s website, you will be charged an additional £4.99 for it to be shipped to you. If you were to ask Game to throw in a Prismatic Evolutions mini tin while they’re at it, or have a mini tin shipped all by itself, the cost of your postage will quadruple to £19.99.
Game employees claim when they asked if the lofty postage price was a mistake, they were told by higher-ups that the decision was deliberate.
