Pokémon’s 30th Celebration preorder draws multi-hour queues as retailer prices diverge sharply

Pokémon Center opened preorders for its 30th Celebration TCG products on July 15. Polygon’s feed characterized the launch as a disaster, while community reports described initially volatile waits ranging into multiple hours before some customers successfully purchased the Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box. The demand arrives amid exceptional price dispersion: the standard ETB carries a reported $49.99 MSRP, while GameStop had listed it as high as $129.99 before later lowering some preorders to $99.99. The direct preorder is therefore an important test of whether Pokémon-controlled inventory can moderate retailer premiums and secondary-market pressure.