A dedicated Pokémon TCG fan recently uncovered what appeared to be a “scalper stash” of Journey Together card packs at a Target store. The Journey Together set has quickly become one of the most coveted Pokémon TCG collections in 2025, largely due to its inclusion of beloved cards from the Scarlet & Violet series.
Despite the massive success of the Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile game, many enthusiasts continue to engage with the physical Pokémon TCG, building competitive decks, collecting rare cards, and battling friends. The Pokémon TCG hobby remains strong in 2025, with numerous new expansions on the horizon. Although GameStop stopped offering pre-orders for Pokémon TCG products this year, it and other retailers still stock expansions and card packs on release day, making them hot spots for collectors. However, fans remain cautious due to the persistent issue of scalpers, whose actions can make securing cards on launch day challenging.
Reddit user TheRisingPhoenix2112 posted a photo of the alleged scalper stash of Scarlet & Violet – Journey Together packs and shared what happened after notifying a Target manager. According to their account, as an employee returned the hidden packs to the sales floor, a crowd of fans quickly gathered, and several parents managed to purchase packs for their children. The Pokémon TCG community on Reddit largely celebrated that the cards ended up in the hands of genuine fans and kids rather than being hoarded by scalpers, though some remained skeptical about the true intent behind the stash.
A Pokémon TCG Fan Uncovers a “Scalper Stash” of Journey Together Card Packs at Target
Some Reddit users, including bellowingdragoncrest, mentioned they were able to find Journey Together packs at MSRP without much trouble, while others suggested the stash might have simply been set aside by a Target employee for restocking purposes. However, many in the thread speculated that an employee could have been hiding the packs for a scalper, sparking debates over whether concerns about retail scalping are justified or just paranoia.
On the bright side, The Pokémon Company is aware of the ongoing issues fans face when trying to buy Pokémon TCG products both online and in stores due to high demand and scalping. In response, the company has announced plans to ramp up production of new Pokémon TCG sets and expansions, as well as reprint existing packs and boxes to help meet growing demand.