The marketplace for high-end collectibles like uncommon Pokémon playing cards has exploded lately, and GameStop appears to desire a piece of it. The gaming retailer informed some retailer managers this week that it might start testing shopping for Skilled Sports activities Authenticator (PSA) graded buying and selling playing cards later this month because it flails round for a brand new enterprise technique whereas its meme inventory shenanigans proceed.
“Thrilling information,” learn an inner message shared over on the GameStop subreddit yesterday. “We’re blissful to announce that we’re formally stepping into Graded Collectibles. Beginning tomorrow, all associates can have entry to the Primary Menu Studying Course round accepting PSA Graded Collectibles (Simply Buying and selling Playing cards for now).” The corporate stated this system’s rollout would start subsequent week in simply 258 shops to start out, together with some situated in Texas the place GameStop is headquartered.
It’s not clear but how this system will work, if GameStop plans to resell the playing cards in-store, or what the restrict can be on the costs it could pay. Some self-identified staff on the subreddit have speculated that the shops will solely be allowed to purchase collectibles graded PSA 8 and above. Nonetheless, the costs for these can run from, say, $50 for a Raging Bolt Ex from the latest Temporal Forces Pokémon set to over $29,000 for a rarer Charizard from the unique base set.
The spine of GameStop’s enterprise as soon as upon a time was used video video games. After gamers accomplished a brand new launch, they may promote it again to the corporate for a fraction of the MSRP, which GameStop would then flip round and promote to a brand new participant for nearly the total price of the brand new model of the sport. This “circle of life” propelled GameStop to large income within the early 2010s, however has fallen aside as the vast majority of recreation purchases have gone digital.
Extra lately, the corporate has doubled down on branded merchandise and collectibles like Funko-Pops and statues of online game characters to make up the shortfall. Regardless of raking in $1 billion because of a meme-fueled inventory bonanza, GameStop’s pivots to cryptocurrency, PC gaming gear, and even TVs hasn’t yielded a brand new path ahead for its ailing enterprise. All alongside the way in which, GameStop staff have born the brunt the corporate’s excesses, failings, and ensuing cuts.
It’s unclear if GameStop’s longstanding status for poor trade-in offers will prolong to its new collectibles program. “10% market worth take it or go away it,” joked one particular person on Reddit. “5% market worth money, 10% market worth in retailer credit score, they usually promote them at 500% market worth.”