A number of different US Retail chains are halting the sale of popular Pokémon Trading Card Game products due to concerns about the safety of their employees and customers. These problems are hardly confined to Pokémon though, with many other trading card product lines also being a cause for concern.
Earlier this month, Wal-Mart removed all trading card games from storefronts citing "inappropriate customer behavior and increased demand," referring to both theft and scalpers buying out the stock. US retailer Target has now followed suit after several incidents of theft and violence at their stores. Of particular note was one case where a man who was attacked by four others in the parking lot over trading cards drew a concealed firearm, causing the store to be temporarily shut down.
Warner Bros Games director Alan Johnson tweeted the evidence from his local Target store, which had the following message for its customers: “To ensure the safety of our guests and team members, effective May 14, MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards will no longer be sold in stores until further notice.”
In a statement made to Bleeding Cool, Target confirmed the cards would continue to be available to customers online.
"The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we've decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14. Guests can continue to shop these cards online at Target.com.”
Earlier this month, Wal-Mart removed all trading card games from storefronts citing "inappropriate customer behavior and increased demand," referring to both theft and scalpers buying out the stock. US retailer Target has now followed suit after several incidents of theft and violence at their stores. Of particular note was one case where a man who was attacked by four others in the parking lot over trading cards drew a concealed firearm, causing the store to be temporarily shut down.
Warner Bros Games director Alan Johnson tweeted the evidence from his local Target store, which had the following message for its customers: “To ensure the safety of our guests and team members, effective May 14, MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards will no longer be sold in stores until further notice.”
In a statement made to Bleeding Cool, Target confirmed the cards would continue to be available to customers online.
"The safety of our guests and our team is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we've decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon trading cards within our stores, effective May 14. Guests can continue to shop these cards online at Target.com.”