● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Thieves target mail order Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering card sales via Royal Mail
Key points
- Trading card businesses report thefts of mailed items via Royal Mail.
- Envelopes were tampered with, suggesting targeted theft.
- One business lost £4,000-£6,000 in potential revenue.
- The issue affects both Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards.
Rising Thefts Impact Trading Card Sales
Small businesses specializing in trading card sales are reporting a surge in thefts targeting their mail-order shipments. These incidents involve packages sent through Royal Mail, with sellers noting tampered envelopes and missing contents. The issue has led to substantial financial losses for affected businesses.
Specific Incidents Reported
Ben Thyer, owner of Bath TCG, experienced multiple thefts in late July, with seven envelopes from a single batch arriving cut open and resealed. The consistency in tampering across different packages suggests deliberate theft. Similarly, Daniel Stack, director of Mana Rock Games, also reported missing items from Royal Mail shipments around the same period.
Financial and Operational Consequences
The thefts have forced businesses like Bath TCG to cease online card sales due to the high risk and potential damage to their reputation. This decision resulted in an estimated loss of £4,000-£6,000 in potential revenue for Bath TCG, a significant amount for a small business. The problem is not limited to Pokémon cards but also affects other popular trading card games like Magic: The Gathering.
Context of the Trading Card Market
The trading card market has seen substantial growth, with over 85 billion Pokémon cards printed. The high value of some cards, with one recently selling for £12 million, has attracted increased interest from collectors and resellers. This booming market has also led to a rise in thefts, initially targeting card shops and now extending to mail-order sales.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
Small businesses selling collectible trading cards are experiencing thefts of mailed items through Royal Mail, leading to significant revenue losses. The thefts involve tampered envelopes, indicating targeted operations rather than accidental losses, forcing some businesses to halt online sales.