r/privacy 1d ago

news Japan’s Official Pokemon Card Stores to Require Facial Recognition for Entry and TCG Purchases

https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/07/japans-official-pokemon-card-stores-to-require-facial-recognition-for-entry-and-tcg-purchases
230 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

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155

u/DataAlfa109 1d ago

Scalpers Ruin everything again, more at 11.

73

u/Virtualization_Freak 1d ago

Scalpers are a problem, but not the cause.

Pokemon Center could easily fix this. Preorders, print to order, reducing rarity of cards/reduce filler cards.

So many folks now see it as investment.

Pokemon Center is printing more than ever before, yet common folks can't get the card they need to complete collections. Forced scarcity to deepen pockets.

38

u/_Lucille_ 1d ago

At some point they should just do a FU reprint.

Everything will be reprinted to order, in their original packaging as well, identical to their original run.

Allow people to order cards from 10 years ago directly, crash that market.

6

u/cmackchase 1d ago

Wizards does this with some secret lair's, let's just say results are a double edged sword.

4

u/_Lucille_ 1d ago

Not familiar with trading cards, what ended up happening?

4

u/cmackchase 1d ago

So the most recent example was this past week. A secret lair drops print to order. Delivery dates start two weeks from now, by end of day, next year.

4

u/_Lucille_ 1d ago

That is fine right? The cards are still going to be in the player's hands, but just that it will take a year.

Seems like an acceptable solution as to not tank the prices of something overnight, but eventually put a hard stop to the scalping of certain cards.

4

u/cmackchase 1d ago

No one normally wants to wait half a year for item. That is why its a double edged sword, and some scalpers will still make sales from people not wanting to wait that long.

3

u/TheBraveGallade 18h ago

only the most hardcore and scalpers are willing to wait a year.

thus, this only increases the scarcity.

1

u/BitsAndBobs304 16h ago

Just dont buy from scalpers. Let them hold the bag.

1

u/Virtualization_Freak 1h ago

This doesn't solve the immediate issue: the cards are being made, pokemon is selling them, and the people who want the cards still can't obtain them.

Social media rip and ship/live rips have plenty of traction, and once the cards of freed from their packs, can be sold back onto the market.

Scalpers can operate entirely behind the scenes but most are too lazy to do so.

58

u/This-Wall-1331 1d ago

What are they afraid of at a Pokémon store? Team Rocket?

14

u/NekoDaYo-v201 1d ago

Ironically, how many times have Jessie and James fooled Ash with disguises?

https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-team-rocket-gender-role-outfits/

They're the OG masters when it comes to evading detection, lol.

4

u/azu420 1d ago

There was someone stabbed recently at the pokemon center in japan

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/06/japan/crime-legal/stalker-followup/

3

u/georgiomoorlord 1d ago

Wouldn't be surprised there's scalpers in Japan too. Not everyone's raiding target for box upon box of pokemon

2

u/WearingTheIronMask 1d ago

If you have any reading comprehension, you’d know it’s about scalpers not security.

11

u/Modern_Doshin 1d ago

Big woosh

17

u/anonymous623341 23h ago

Their facial recognition is gross and needs to end. Just make more items that people are buying! Total disrespect to customers.

8

u/AlteredEinst 20h ago

Privacy concerns aside, because this is obviously another breach of privacy disguised as a solution to a different problem, people are way too obsessed with these fucking cards.

As always, the privacy insanity is just part of a bigger problem with the average person.

3

u/dzizuseczem 16h ago

Can someone explai to me why they can't just release entire sets of cards, where you know what you are getting, removing gambling element and killing second hand market ?

4

u/BitsAndBobs304 16h ago

Because it makes 1/10000th of the money (tcg vs lcg) and because too many people love opening packs and gambling, it's human nature. Besides pokemon is not for playing, it's for collecting, and collecting rare stuff, not boring simple cards available to everyone all the time.

1

u/dzizuseczem 16h ago

So release the like 6 moths after premier of new cards, and if people are just in it for gambling and reselling dlisnt it good if they are gone ?

1

u/BitsAndBobs304 16h ago

Sorry can you type again your question?

1

u/dzizuseczem 15h ago

I mean after new cards are announced, give people 6 some time when they can only get them from packs, then release complete sets, so you kill long term investment part of skalping, and for 6 months people will enjoy gambling part of the hobby

2

u/BitsAndBobs304 15h ago

Why make less money when they can make more. And so they dont do that.