The collaboration between Pokémon and the Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum has attracted devoted fans to witness the unique fusion of classical art and modern gaming. However, the limited edition merchandise has also drawn the attention of scalpers who are taking advantage of the situation.
In a recent update on the Van Gogh Museum website, it was announced that the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card has been removed from the Museum due to safety and security concerns for visitors and staff. Unfortunately, this means that the card will not be available for the rest of the series collaboration, which is set to last until January 2024.
The Museum has confirmed that they will no longer distribute the Pikachu Van Gogh Promo Cards.
However, there is still hope for fans to obtain the promo card. Pokémon Center in the US, UK, and Canada will soon make the card available as a bonus with qualifying orders of $30 or more. Fans are advised to stay updated for further announcements regarding the start of the promotion at Pokémon Center.
The initial distribution of the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card at the Van Gogh Museum led to chaos, with videos surfacing online showing scalpers grabbing large quantities of the limited-edition merchandise. These scalpers intended to acquire as many promo cards as possible before reselling them at inflated prices on various bidding websites.
The collaboration announcement and the perceived value of the Pikachu promo card also sparked international interest among scalpers. The Pokémon Center website, which allowed overseas fans to receive the card as a mail-in gift with any online purchase from the collection, sold out within an hour of being listed. This resulted in eBay listings appearing with scalped prices six times higher than the original asking price.
The Pokémon Company responded to the community outrage by making multiple statements addressing the issue. They committed to providing additional opportunities for fans to obtain the promo cards, both online and in-person. To deter scalpers, new rules have been implemented, including a minimum purchase requirement of $30 to qualify for the promo card and a limit of one card per order.
Although the Van Gogh Museum has removed the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card for safety reasons, residents of the Netherlands will have a second chance to obtain the card. Participating retailers in the Netherlands will stock the promo card in early 2024.
Unfortunately, international collectors outside of the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada will have to wait for further information to be announced on the official Pokémon website and social media accounts. The Pokémon Company is working to expand shipping options and address the issue of scalpers.
| Time | Score |
|---|---|
| October 13, 2023 | Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card removed from Van Gogh Museum |
| October 13, 2023 | Pokémon Center US, UK, and CA to offer promo card with qualifying orders |
| September 28, 2023 | Videos surface showing scalpers grabbing promo cards at Van Gogh Museum |
| September 28, 2023 | International scalpers take advantage of collaboration announcement |
| September 28, 2023 | Pokémon Center website sells out within an hour |
| September 28, 2023 | eBay listings appear with scalped prices |
| September 28, 2023 | The Pokémon Company addresses community outrage |
| October 13, 2023 | Residents of the Netherlands to have a second chance to obtain promo card |
Source: DOTESPORTS
