Walmart has allegedly introduced a new nationwide policy limiting customers to just five packs or boxes of trading cards per visit, after a viral TikTok showed two alleged scalpers clearing out an entire store’s Pokemon TCG stock.
According to an internal memo dated November 5, the retailer’s Point-of-Sale systems and online store will now automatically enforce the 5-item cap across departments 7 and 82, which include trading cards from the Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and sports card lines. The company says the change is intended “to make sure all fans and collectors have a fair opportunity” and to maintain a “safe and positive shopping environment for everyone.”
The update follows growing frustration among collectors as scalpers continue to buy out store shelves and resell products online for massive markups. The viral TikTok referenced by CentroLeaks, viewed millions of times, showed two individuals allegedly purchasing hundreds of tins of Pokemon cards. The clip quickly sparked debate about whether retailers should step in to prevent hoarding and resale abuse.
Mixed reactions from the community
While many collectors are applauding the move, calling it “long overdue” and thanking Walmart for “finally waking up,” others remain skeptical about how effective the rule will be. Some commenters on X have questioned whether store associates will actually enforce the cap or if online bots will still be able to bypass limits through multiple accounts.
Still, the majority of reactions have been positive, with players saying the new limit could help restore fairness to restocks that routinely sell out within minutes.
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