The family of Avery Garcia, a 12-year-old Pokémon card enthusiast who passed away from pancreatic cancer, has publicly denounced resellers who are reportedly using his death to drive up the prices of collectible cards. Avery, known online as Avery the Poke Kid, found solace and upliftment in opening Pokémon packs during his illness, sharing his journey with the trading card game community.
In the week following his passing on September 18th, listings on platforms like eBay began to surface that referenced Avery's death, with some seeking substantial premiums for certain cards. One specific listing for a rare illustrated Jirachi card from the 30th-anniversary set, which Avery had opened in his final video, was reportedly listed for as much as $20,000. This practice has left Avery's parents, Christian Garcia and Rebecca Rosa-Valentin, aghast.
"We are not involved in or benefiting from any cards being sold in Avery’s name or likeness," the parents stated in an official announcement. "We have not approved these sales. We have asked sellers to take their listings down. Please do so immediately. This does not honor Avery’s generous heart. We are mourning our son and caring for our children. Please let us do that in peace."
Avery's final video featured him pulling the sought-after Jirachi card, a moment that resonated with the community and even reached the card's illustrator, Akira Egawa. Egawa had expressed a desire for his art to bring happiness, a sentiment that stands in stark contrast to the actions of some resellers.
One seller, "Ash's Secret Vault," listed the Jirachi card for $20,000, initially pledging 90% of the proceeds to the Kids Cancer Foundation, though the listing reportedly only allocated 10% at first. Collectors noted that even with the charitable donation, the inflated price offered significant profit. Following scrutiny, the vendor claimed they had coincidentally pulled the card after hearing of Avery's passing and intended to use their "highly rated storefront" to raise money, asserting their actions did not prevent the family from receiving funds directly. However, the family maintains that Avery should not be used as a basis for profit-seeking.
As of this report, Ash's Secret Vault has removed its charity listings, though prices for similar Jirachi cards appear to be trending upward. The Pokémon Company had aimed to address scalping and short supplies with its 30th-anniversary set by designing more generous pull rates, making valuable cards more accessible. Despite these efforts, some resellers have resorted to exploiting tragic circumstances and capitalizing on misprints or perceived rarities to inflate prices, a practice the family and community find deeply disrespectful.