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You and your friend are down to the last cards in a fierce battle of Pokemons, but there is an ace up your sleeve.
In your hand is a Mega Charizard Y EX, one of the strongest cards in the game. Confident of a victory, you use Charizard’s Crimson Dive with 300 base damage. However, your friend unleashes Mega Charizard X EX with Wild Blaze, turning the tables completely.
The shock on your face is enough to send your friend jumping around the room. But little does he know that it’s less to do with the game and more to do with the card lying on the table.
Having seen a video of fake Pokemon cards circulating on Amazon, you realize it’s fake merchandise. Now you are left wondering – is it safe to buy Pokemon cards from Amazon?
This guide answers that question and discusses how to avoid fraud when buying Pokemon cards from Amazon.
Should You Buy Pokemon Cards From Amazon?
Yes, you can buy Pokémon packs from Amazon, and it is often safe. But there might be instances when you end up with a fake product from the seller because there are several listings of Pokémon packs on Amazon.
The main issue is that Pokemon-related trading cards are quite diverse, with many listings providing 50 random cards while other packs have over 100. Some booster packs include multiple-sleeved packs, tins, and booster bundles.
Many of these boxes or booster bundles don’t cost much money, which makes purchasing Pokémon cards from Amazon an attractive proposition. However, some scammers have found a way to get past the security measures Amazon has put in place to prevent the circulation of fake cards.
That’s why it’s essential to research and purchase cards only from reputable sellers with positive customer reviews. Also, reading the product description or watching videos will prove helpful, and if a deal seems to be good to be true, it probably is!
In the next section, we have discussed certain points to ensure your purchased items are kept from being tampered with.
How To Choose Authentic Pokémon Cards From Amazon?
Amazon has a buyer protection policy to protect a customer if the delivery doesn’t arrive or the products differ from the seller’s description. But it’s still important to be safe, so consider the following factors.
1. Research
You must research the Pokemon game cards and choose only a reputable seller before purchasing. Look at the detailed product description written on the Amazon page and compare the prices of different sellers to choose the best deal. Whenever a game card has low-quality images or the seller hardly provides any information, you should be wary.
2. Fake Emails
Just like tampered cards, you might receive a fake email from Amazon. If the email contains a link, avoid clicking on it and check the sender’s email address. When you notice something odd, please try to file a complaint with the authorities, bringing the incident to their attention.
3. Customer Review And Rating
One of the best ways to determine if the Pokémon cards you bought are authentic is to check the customer reviews and videos. You can also read the answers to questions from other customers and compare the rating between different sellers.
Ensure that you are only referring to reviews from verified customers. One easy way to spot a fabricated review is if there are very few reviews and ratings related to the product or when a customer says something overly positive.
4. Price
Although Pokémon cards don’t cost much, and you can opt for a refund from reputable sellers, don’t go for offers that seem too good to be true. We have seen many a video showcasing the supposed quality of products with a seller offering them at substantially low prices. This is usually a sign of trouble.
5. Amazon Guarantee
Contact Amazon’s customer support team whenever you receive booster cards or boxes different from the seller’s description. It has an A-Z guarantee to protect a customer for their ordered products.
6. Return Policy
Only order Pokémon cards from a seller, offering a refund, as a scammer will refuse to accept sold items. Moreover, please try to buy the cards using a credit card since the fraud protection policy of credit card companies is better than debit cards.
7. Third-Party Sellers
In most cases, people face a problem after they buy a product from a third-party seller. Even though they are eligible to sell Pokémon booster boxes or cards on Amazon, they aren’t affiliated with the online platform.
Thus, delivery from such a seller may not conform to the same high standards, and there is a greater chance of the Pokemon cards being tampered with.
How To Spot Fake Pokémon Cards From Amazon?
Here are some tell-tale signs to spot Pokémon cards on Amazon.
1. Wrong Product Details
Most people are just interested in buying and playing with the cards and don’t take the time to read the product description. But if they did, it’s easy to spot spelling mistakes in the name, set, etc., of a product, which means the cards are fake.
2. Poor Packaging
Videos of official Pokémon cards show that they are delivered in a specific package consisting of a holographic stamp. Whenever the packaging is different, it may contain fake cards.
3. Low-Quality Prints
Official Pokémon cards have a specific color scheme, which fake cards can’t replicate. So, the images on such products are usually smudged or blurry – a sure-shot giveaway.
4. Card Back Is Different
An effective way to determine whether you have received counterfeit cards from a seller is to check the back of the cards. Official Pokémon cards have specific back designs, and a change in the design indicates that it might be a false product.
5. Holographic Pattern
Apart from the stamp on the packaging, authentic items have a holographic stamp, which the fake products lack. They usually feature a different pattern, so you can find a forged card quickly.
Other Sites For Buying Pokémon Cards
If you are unsure about buying Pokemon cards on Amazon, there are other sites where a customer can find official Pokemon merchandise.
1. Pokecenter
There’s no better place for a customer to spend money on Pokemon goodies than Pokecenter. It’s the official store for Pokemon merchandise and has a wide range of cards from different sets.
2. eBay
Another popular online merchant for purchasing Pokémon cards is eBay. Just like on Amazon, you can see the ratings and reviews of a seller or product to determine if it would be worth spending your money on them. Again, stay away from deals or products that are priced significantly less.
3. Card Kingdom
This online store specializes in different products, but they are also known for its collection of Pokemon cards. It has a reliable customer support team but especially pleasing is that Pokemon aficionados can find rare cards or items that are no longer in print.
4. TCGPlayer
Pokemon cards are part of a trading card game, and TCGPlayer is one site that is an expert in this field. You will find various cards and sets, and you can even use its marketplace to sell or buy cards with other collectors.
5. Troll And Toad
Much like TCGPlayer, Troll, and Toad is another specialist in trading card games, which makes it one of the best places for finding collectibles, like Pokemon cards. This site is further known for its fast shipping and efficient customer service, which can help you with purchases or delivery.
You can choose from many Pokemon cards, with some proving quite rare or old.
What Is The Main Problem With Amazon?
Many customers passionate about collecting Pokemon cards believe it’s best to steer clear of Amazon or other online sites. This is because of the easy returns allowed and processed by such sites.
For instance, many of the Pokemon cards returned on Amazon are resealed and then sent back on the pretext of being tampered with. In reality, many people or even a seller may order a pack, take out the good cards, and reseal the package before returning it or selling it for a higher or lower price.
Several customers have complained that multiple Amazon packages look great when they arrive, but inside, the cards are bent, missing, torn, etc. The only way to be safe is to follow the methods we have discussed above and contact Amazon’s customer support team ASAP if there’s anything wrong with your new cards.
Summing It Up
We hope you found this helpful and learned how to purchase real Pokemon products on Amazon. Buying from Amazon has its advantages, as you can choose from various cards and add them to your set of Pokemon collectibles.
Moreover, you can check the product review, ratings, prices, offers, etc., before deciding. On the flip side, there’s always a chance of ending up with counterfeit merchandise, which isn’t the case if you buy from the official Pokemon online stores.
But by following the points mentioned in our guide, you can steer clear of fraud and trade authentic Pokemon cards!
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