GameStop is no stranger to turbulence, and neither is Pokemon. High demand for the TCG’s new Blooming Waters set has left shelves at some stores bare. While some shoppers blamed scalpers for the lack of product, the company took the opportunity to do some playful trolling of its customers in a post on X. The company shared a picture of a pack of Pokemon cards, hidden away atop a wall packed with merchandise. The caption? “For everyone saying they can’t find any Pokemon TCG in stock at our stores you’re not looking hard enough.” Some Trainers are taking the joke better than others.
GameStop Trolls Blooming Waters Buyers
Pokemon Blooming Waters has caused a stir well beyond GameStop, with Costco customers even throwing blows over the new release. The premium collection features four foils (Venusaur ex, Blastoise ex, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle), an oversized foil Blastoise ex, 12 TCG booster packs, and a code card for Pokemon TCG Live. It is, admittedly, gorgeous. That doesn’t make either product scalping or artificial scarcity more pleasant, and some fans aren’t impressed.
A few seemed to have the GameStop short squeeze of 2021 (and the ensuing firestorm of drama) fresh in mind. “Jfc I still can’t tell if this is a joke business or if this is all serious,” said one commenter on the post. Of course, Redditors teaming up to short a stock was beyond GameStop’s control. Not shelving enough of an in-demand product? Maybe less so. As another commenter put it,
Not funny @gamestop the struggle is real out here.
Blooming Waters probably won’t be the last GameStop product to draw crowds as well as controversy. As long as fans continue to buy cards and feed the frenzy, however, the retailer likely won’t change its tune. Big Man Blastoise has no shortage of fans, even when the cost of cards hits like a Hydro Pump to the gut.
