New Walmart promo is the safest way to buy 'Pokémon' 30th anniversary TCG on release day
Overview & Key Takeaways
Pokémon fans have a new, hassle-free way of buying 30th anniversary ETB as well as the Tech and Poster Collection, all for close to MSRP
We are merely days away from the grand release of the Pokémon 30th anniversary trading card game set, which means that fans everywhere are formulating an attack plan to secure the new products. While some were lucky enough to pre-order at retailers like The Pokémon Center or Target, just as many — if not more — are heading into September 16 with nothing but uncertainty. Thanks to a new Walmart initiative, however, fans have a great option for buying the 30th anniversary set that doesn't involve lining up outside a store or badgering poor retail employees on the phone.
Walmart has been experimenting with a new raffle system since late August. The retailer posts a schedule of products that will be raffled in advance, and once the day comes, users have a window of a few hours to express interest. Once the time frame passes, Walmart randomly selects winners, who are then automatically charged for however many items they signed up for.
It's not a perfect system, especially since users may need to wait up to 72 hours before they know if they were selected. However, it's a vast improvement over Walmart's chaotic and cutthroat weekly online drop where customers have to queue up for hours. Most of the time, TCG sells out before you get to the front of the line.
Image: The Pokémon Companuy
What 30th anniversary Pokémon products are in the Walmart raffle?
Walmart is raffling out the following TCG items:
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Sylveon ex and Greninja ex — $69.49 (Quantity: two)
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $139.94 (Quantity: two)
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Poster Collection — $119.82 (Quantity: six)
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection — 239.64 (Quantity: 12)
In previous drawings, Walmart had a limit of five and three — but the new set may see smaller limits due to demand.
When is the Walmart 30th anniversary Pokémon raffle?
Customers can enter the drawing starting on Sep 16, 2:00pm PDT; the process typically lasts around two hours.
How will I know if I got selected for the Walmart raffle?
Charges will be applied to the payment method on file, often appearing beginning at 8 a.m. PDT the following morning. More winners are selected within 72 hours of the raffle closing. You are not informed if you don't get selected; you only get a confirmation email if you won.
How do I increase my chances of winning the 30th Celebration raffle?
Aside from having access to multiple accounts, the best you can do is to double-check your Walmart profile. You don't want to win the raffle only to find out that the payment couldn't go through, or discover that you have it set to an old address.
Why should I enter Walmart's Pokémon raffle?
It's a low-stakes way to purchase a new set, and you're in control of what you buy and how much money you want to spend. If you don't win, you lose nothing. If you get selected, you get to purchase the items for close to the manufacturer's suggested retail price without having to leave your house.
Will Walmart stores have the 30th anniversary TCG set on release day?
Unlike most big retailers, Walmart is a bit of a wild card. Stores will sell the new Pokémon set on the week of September 14, but it may not be on release day — and it may not be right at open. Some stores put out new TCG products a day or two in advance. Other stores honor the release date, but wait until the vendor comes around to stock the product. The safest thing to do is to call your local store on release day, or to follow restock groups on Facebook and Discord to get updates. At the risk of striking out, you can also check in person. The good news is that you can enter the raffle and visit the store at the same time!
