An increasing number of Youtubers/Social media posters is very negative about people who resell Pokémoncards. What´s interesting is that they often don´t make a distinction between the so called ´scalpers´ and people who genuinely love Pokémon but also buy things to sell later on.
I thought it´d be interesting to see what the opinion on this sentiment is. For me, it feels like these people say these things for a big part to gain popularity. While they also have a point (as far as the ´scalpers´ go), they use terms that are either exaggerated, or just not true for most ´resellers´.
If you ask me, scalping is buying as much as possible, to resell as quickly as possible without thinking about others, or Pokémon as something nice. Reselling on the other hand is a broad term that applies to both scalpers, and people who enjoy pokémon, but also buy things here and there to make a profit. The last thing is completely fine, because saying otherwise would mean that buying anything with the mindset of thinking it might appreciate would be wrong (stocks, jewelry, paintings ect.). There is a big difference between buying something from a company you trust in and buying ´everything´ with the purpose of denying others, to then sell to them. It seems like in this polarising society the difference is getting lost.
You summed it up pretty well in my opinion. I am not a big fan of those people that storm stores on Release Days, buy up as much as possible and post it online for twice/thrice/… the price a couple hours later. The clips we saw from these events and how people behave made me feel ashamed for them (in German we actually have a word for this called Fremdschämen). I think it’s safe to say that most of those people are no real Pokémon fans and cast a bad light on collecting Pokémon in general.
On the other hand, if you are buying product that is readily available and sell it later due to whatever reasons is completely fine in my opinion. I know that a lot of Pokémon fans do this (many to fund other goals of their collection) and even if a non-Pokémon fan does it I think it’s okay - he did not take anything away from Pokémon fans when the product was initially purchased.
Unfortunately some people are unable to distinguish between those two scenarios, as many people view the world just in black and white (this is not only related to Pokémon).
There is fundamentally no difference but it depends on how impactful your removal of access to short-term supply at retail is to demand. “Scalping” popularises when such supply is constraining rapidly
If 50 units are available to buy first come first serve and you clear it out to sell later while frustrating the line behind you, you’re likely to be called a scalper
If stock is no issue first come first serve and you buy 50 units to sell but so can everyone else, you’re (invisible) just a reseller
Tribalist sentiments online stem from this not just because of attention but it is the only place where they feel they have agency in the chaos. Unfortunately this is not going to go away because demand has not resolved, and more likely we’ll continue to see rises in aggression both online and at stores
While I understand what you mean, I still think there is. A scalper buys to create scarcity. A ´non-scalper reseller´ buys because he/she believes that the product may become scarce (not because of his/her buy) or in demand.
There is a difference in spirit, but in times of low supply where it is just hard to find product - both quick turn around resellers, and collector/investors have the same impact to the guy who is looking at empty shelves and just wants cards to open.
I have a couple friends that will (somewhat jokingly) call me a scalper any time I sell sealed product above it’s retail price, no matter how long it has been out of print or what the market dictates.
Some people just make zero distinction, so you’ll definitely be called a scalper from time to time
The impact is not the same (one buys a lot, the other just the one or two boxes). Also, just because it impacts someone, doesn´t mean there is something wrong with the behaviour. I feel like some are missing that. It is not immoral to buy something to see if it appreciates. It is, however, immoral to buy everything (or a lot) affecting in a big way if someone else can enjoy it.
Not every scalper is a villain stealing from kids… and not every reseller is a pure-hearted saint.
Both play a role in the Pokeconomy, and the hobby wouldn’t be where it is without them.
It’s easy to slap a label on someone based on a first impression -“scalper bad,” “reseller good”, but reality is a lot more nuanced. Would your opinion of a scalper change if you knew they were flipping product that week to feed their kids? Would your view of your favorite reseller shift if you found out they cared more about the money they made off of you than the TCG?
We’d all be better off if we stopped villainizing people and let folks enjoy and participate in the hobby the way that works for them. Live and let collect.
To me, there is no difference. If you are selling something that you bought, you are a reseller. There is nothing wrong with being a reseller.
In lulls, the word scalper is said much less because demand is lower and supply is higher. When demand is high and supply is low, the word scalper gets thrown around more. In other words, it is an indication of the market’s current balance (or imbalance) of supply and demand.
I agree with this. Still, I think it´s important that we explain it´s not a ´you´re a scalper/reseller, or you´re a true fan.´ The world is full of ignorance.
While I can see why people oppose ´true scalping´, most people aren´t in one camp or the other. They like the hobby, invest a little here and there, and contribute.
Yes, I agree. I don’t think someone’s selling behavior indicates how much/little they are a fan of Pokemon. Plenty of people want to make money from their hobbies, and that doesn’t mean that they are a bad person or a less genuine fan.
The tru collector meme stems from envy, insecurity, immaturity, or anger with current market trends.
Practically the same as others have mentioned but one is more generally categorized with caveman activity and sometimes rightfully so. Resellers can give bad vibes as well. Portraying a business model or wholesome can get a little sus with some in the poke world. Mystery packs can give the same vibe as someone storming stores but with a corporate smile. So whether you’re clunking heads for boxes in stores or asking for grey poupon with your mystery packs, I only see a difference in style there. #notallscalpers#notallresellers
No fundamental difference. In today’s reality, whether someone is considered a ‘scalper’ in the eyes of the online mob is down to how they perform the activity and how publicly visible they are. It’s a symptom of modern society’s obsession with judgement-washing other people’s affairs instead of focusing on their own lives.
Timmy being recorded in Walmart running at rope-drop to buy 4 ETBs might be considered a scalper, whereas an LGS owner quietly botting additional stock from PC online at MSRPenis to later sell in his store at a 3x mark-up is a ‘struggling small business owner’. There’s nothing inherently wrong with either, though social media sandworms love participating in the lynchmob mindset, and can’t resist plastering labels on everyone and everything as though their lives depended on it.
