{"id":16230,"date":"2025-12-02T21:34:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=16230"},"modified":"2025-12-02T21:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:34:37","slug":"gamestop-blasts-trolls-who-claim-its-trade-in-values-are-bad-while-celebrating-record-30000-payout-for-a-pokemon-card-that-it-admits-was-worth-3000-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=16230","title":{"rendered":"GameStop Blasts ‘Trolls’ Who Claim Its ‘Trade-In Values Are Bad’ While Celebrating Record $30,000 Payout For a Pok\u00e9mon Card (That It Admits Was Worth $3,000 More)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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GameStop has highlighted its recent payout of more than $30,000 for a rare Pok\u00e9mon card as evidence that the chain’s trade-in program offers fair value \u2014 while simultaneously admitting the card had actually been worth at least $3,000 more.<\/p>\n

In its latest publicity stunt aimed at getting gamers’ attention, GameStop issued a typically jocular statement on social media declaring its record $30,494.70 payout for a PSA 10 Holo Gengar was a “historic” moment for the company.<\/p>\n

“Any trolls who publicly claim that GameStop trade-in values are bad are hereby factually and demonstrably incorrect,” the chain wrote. “Any prior and ongoing objections to our trade values are now deemed without merit and factually invalid,” it continued, while admitting the card had actually been worth $33,883 \u2014 several thousand dollars more.<\/p>\n

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A Statement from GameStop pic.twitter.com\/Qho0M7xzko<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 GameStop (@gamestop) December 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To be fair to GameStop, the chain does not hide the fact it paid $3,388.30 less than what it describes as the “fair-market valuation” for the card. Indeed, the company simply states it handed over its payout “upon completion of all required inspection, verification, and compliance procedures” \u2014 processes, the statement appears to suggest, which come at some cost.<\/p>\n

But many responses to GameStop’s social media post have pointed to the chain still having “shorted” the card’s owner, and suggesting the card would have reached a higher value at auction. Others have noted GameStop’s own trade-in FAQ page states that the chain has a $1,500 upper limit for trade-in value, something that suggests this particular sale is something of an anomaly. IGN has contacted GameStop for more.<\/p>\n

In its post, GameStop states its payout was executed “in accordance with the established terms and conditions governing the Power Packs Buyback Program,” an offer that some customers have criticized for allowing the retailer to repeatedly make money from the same high-value cards.<\/p>\n