Target stops selling Pokémon cards in store, citing safety concerns

Target has temporarily suspended the sale of Pokémon cards and other trading cards in store in response to reports of violent confrontations related to the collectibles, whose value has soared in the past year. Aggressive Pokémon card collectors hunting for rare cards to resell have caused problems for the retailer, which already set a limit on the number of card packs a customer could buy. Frenzied shoppers still have been camping overnight at some stores, and last week, a fight broke out at a Wisconsin Target over trading cards. The spokesperson said that people will still be able to purchase Pokémon cards and others at the retailer's online store. Rare, older cards - like a special holographic Charizard - can sell for upward of $300,000 for a single card. Stores like Target are finding they can't keep cards on their shelves. 2021 is the 25th anniversary year for Pokémon, and promotions celebrating that date have put Pokémon cards into cereal boxes and McDonald's' Happy Meals.