TPCi Has Banned Sales of Graded Slabs and Japanese Pokemon Center Products at Events
TPCi is no longer allowing partnered vendors to sell graded slabs at its events, including NAIC and Worlds, with the policy taking effect this weekend at Indianapolis Regionals. Vendors are also barred from selling items priced over $1,000 or most products from the Japanese Pokemon Center, including plush and TCG items. A public announcement is not expected.
The decision aligns with TPCi's growing effort to distance its events from the speculative side of the hobby, where graded chase cards regularly trade for hundreds to thousands of dollars. The Pokemon Center restriction also follows Pokemon Japan's recent move to require government ID verification for select TCG purchases on Pokemon Center Online, with TPCi likely wanting to avoid partnered vendors reselling marked-up Japanese products at international events while fans in Japan struggle to obtain them.
