Japanese retailer Bic Camera is taking extraordinary measures to crack down on Pokémon card scalpers - customers who want to buy the latest card packs must first pass a knowledge test. According to user Ryo Saeba, the Bic Camera branch in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, posted a notice: Customers who want to purchase the "Mega Evolution: Ninja Boomerang" card box (containing 30 packs) must meet three conditions before purchasing, and each person is limited to one box.
First, customers must take a quiz (15 questions in total) based on the knowledge of the Pokémon universe. The notice clearly states: "Only those who answer the questions correctly can purchase." If anyone takes pictures of test questions, they will be directly denied service. Secondly, customers need to hold a Bic Camera points card or install its app. Finally, when checking out, you must agree with the clerk to remove the outer plastic seal of the card box on the spot and cut the packaging along the reserved dotted line. This move makes the cartridges no longer available for resale in "new and unopened" condition.
Scalpers have long been a problem for The Pokémon Company, and in recent years the problem has become increasingly serious as news of cards being resold at high prices has emerged. Many stores in Japan (including the official Pokémon Center) have generally adopted the practice of removing the outer plastic packaging at checkout, making it impossible for secondary market buyers to confirm whether the packaging has been tampered with. For normal consumers, this has no impact - the inner card package remains intact, and there is no risk of tampering with products purchased from regular retailers.