Pokemon Cards Spark 12-Hour Queues at Australian Kmart Stores

Thousands of "nostalgic" shoppers formed massive queues, some lasting up to 12 hours, outside Kmart stores across Australia for the release of the new 30th Celebration Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box. The highly anticipated cards went on sale at midnight on Wednesday, but many fans began lining up as early as Tuesday afternoon.

Images from Burwood East, Melbourne, showed over 100 people gathered outside a 24-hour Kmart, with some setting up camping chairs and tables to pass the time during the extended wait. One shopper recounted waiting from 3 p.m. on Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday to finally make a purchase. Another fan organized a dozen pizzas from Domino's for those waiting in line.

The special edition cards are a significant draw for collectors, particularly those with nostalgic ties to the franchise, as they commemorate Pokémon's 30th anniversary. Each booster pack is guaranteed to contain at least one Pikachu rare card, with 30 unique variations available to collect.

Many attendees reported missing out on pre-order sales and were determined not to miss the in-store release. Some expressed surprise at the early turnout, with one individual noting that a store had already 60 people waiting by noon on Tuesday. Despite the long waits, some shoppers were successful, with one sharing that their six-hour wait concluded successfully with other customers behaving respectfully.

Speculation arose about potential scalpers contributing to the long lines, but most stores implemented a limit of one box per customer, which some suggested would hinder significant resale profits. However, the intense demand also led to disappointment for some, with cards selling out within minutes at certain locations. Others have begun to question the fervor, with some expressing disillusionment with the current state of the hobby due to such extreme measures.