The Pokémon Company is introducing a mandatory facial recognition system at select Japanese card stores in an effort to curb rampant scalping. This new policy applies to all adult customers and children of elementary school age and older, aiming to provide a secure shopping environment and prevent crime.
Official Pokémon stores will limit entry to one visit per person per day to control customer spending. The company stated that staff may address individuals attempting multiple entries. While pre-schoolers will not undergo facial recognition checks, they are not permitted to enter stores unaccompanied and must be with a guardian.
This initiative follows recent comments from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, who indicated that The Pokémon Company would implement measures against shortages and scalping. The soaring popularity of Pokémon cards has made them a significant target for scalpers and thieves, leading to frequent sell-outs of new releases and an inability for the company to meet demand, despite printing over 10 billion cards last year.
The issue has extended beyond Japan, with incidents of armed robberies and theft of Pokémon cards reported in the United States. These events include a daylight armed robbery in New York, the arrest of a Florida man for allegedly stealing $12,000 worth of cards, and an individual found hiding in a closed Best Buy store in California to access a card drop.
It remains to be seen whether the facial recognition system will effectively impact the lucrative Pokémon card resale market, but it represents a significant step in managing the situation.