Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration launches on September 16, and if the early demand is any indication, finding products at a reasonable price could be a challenge.
Pre-orders for some 30th Celebration products have already gone live, and sold out within seconds of availability. Meanwhile, some third-party sellers have been listing product for well above their suggested retail prices.
Needless to say, finding Pokémon 30th Celebration at MSRP is going to prove quite difficult. But if you're like me, and refuse to pay exorbitant reseller prices, there are still some options on launch day.
Your best bet is still major retailers. Mass retailers like Best Buy, Target, GameStop, and Walmart should have at least some product available in-stores on launch day.
Best Buy has already confirmed that Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration products will begin arriving in stores on September 16, including the Elite Trainer Box, Poster Collection and Tech Sticker Collection. It currently lists the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $49.99, the lowest major-retailer price we've seen thus far. The ETB includes nine 30th Celebration boost packs plus a full-art Nidorina promo card.
Interestingly, Target also lists the ETB, but for $69.99. Target also list the Poster Collection at $19.99, Sylveon ex and Greninja ex Boxes at $29.99, and the Knock Out Collection at $11.99.
Product should be available at both retailers both online and in-stores, but we expect it to sell out quickly. If purchasing online, you'll be going up against bots. In-store, you'll be battling scalpers and collectors who will likely line up hours before the store actually opens.
Other mass retail options include GameStop, which lists multiple 30th Celebration products and also confirmed that the first wave includes the Elite Trainer Box, ex Box, Poster Collection, Tech Sticker Collection and Knock Out Collection.
Walmart is another option, but you'll want to be careful before buying online. The Walmart website also has third-party marketplace listings, which have heavily inflatedp rices. The Elite Trainer Box, for example, i slisted for more than $170. That said, Walmart should have at least some 30th Celebration product in stock with its own retail pricing which should be more in line with MSRP.
Beyond mass retail, there's Pokémon Center. This should be a priority, especially for collectors or those interested in exclusive products. The Pokémon Center version of the Elite Trainer Box contains 11 booster packs instead of nine and includes two Nidorina promo cards, including a Pokémon Center-stamped version that isn't included with the standard ETB.
The downside to Pokémon Center is demand. We've already experienced incredibly long queues with pre-order events, and the website even warns customers to expect heavy traffic and virtual queues during the 30th Celebration launch. Bots are you biggest hindrance with this option.
And finally, there are local card shops. Local game and hobby stores will almost certainly have some 30th Celebration product, but the catch here is pricing. Some stores may sell 30th Celebration products above suggested retail price based on demand. My local card store, for example, is selling at market price as a way to balance supply and demand. Rather than putting a quantity limit, they're just charging more than MSRP so scalpers can't easily flip the product. If you've got a trusted local card or hobby store, give them a call and see how they plan on handling the launch.
Remember, September 16th is just the beginning of the 30th Celebration release. Pokémon is releasing products in multiple waves throughout the end of the year, and September 16th marks the first wave. The Booster Bundle, Binder Collection and Mini Tins follow on October 2, with additional products arriving October 30, November 6, and December 4. So don't panic if you miss out on this first wave initially and don't get FOMO and pay scalper prices yet.