Amid the ongoing online shopping surge, Pokémon Center's web store has been experiencing massive visitor traffic in Japan. Consequently, items are being purchased at an unprecedented rate, only to reappear on resale platforms at significantly hiked prices. No official response to the matter has been made by the Pokémon Company as of now.

The Pokémon Center is Japan's go-to store for official Pokémon merchandise, including games, clothing, collectables, and more. It has a significant cultural presence that extends beyond gaming circles. With online shopping being the only viable option for many during these times, some opportunists are exploiting the demand-supply imbalance, leading to social discussions on fair trade and consumer rights.

In the US and the EU, online scalping has been an issue as well, with items like limited-edition sneakers and concert tickets appearing on resale platforms at exorbitant prices. Some jurisdictions have placed restrictive measures on online scalping, like bots grabbing tickets, but merchandise scalping is still largely unaddressed.