Target appears to be taking an unusual approach to the ongoing Pokémon TCG scalping problem by removing the plastic wrapping from Elite Trainer Boxes before putting them on store shelves.

A video circulating online shows two Target employees removing the plastic wrap from Pokémon TCG Elite Trainer Boxes before placing the products onto a trolley. The location of the store has not been confirmed, and Target has not officially explained the practice, but the move is widely believed to be an attempt to make the products less attractive to scalpers.

Sealed Pokémon TCG products can command higher prices on the resale market, making unopened Elite Trainer Boxes particularly appealing to people looking to buy large quantities and resell them. By removing the factory seal, Target could potentially reduce the resale value and discourage scalpers from clearing out its shelves.

Scalping has become a major problem for Pokémon TCG collectors in recent years. Fans have encountered everything from people camping outside stores and vending machines to chaotic scenes involving crowds rushing to grab new products. Some releases have even resulted in arguments and physical altercations as demand continues to outpace supply.

The issue has become serious enough that retailers and government organizations have started exploring different ways to combat the problem. Japan has also been looking into measures aimed at reducing Pokémon and other trading card game scalping.

Not everyone is convinced that Target's apparent strategy is a good idea, however. Collectors who specifically want to keep their Elite Trainer Boxes sealed could be left with no way to purchase an untouched product if the practice becomes widespread.

There are also concerns that removing the plastic could cause accidental damage to the packaging. If employees are cutting the wrapping away quickly, the boxes themselves could potentially be scratched or damaged. Removing the protective seal could also make the products more vulnerable to tampering while they're sitting on store shelves.

Another potential problem is the impact on the secondary market. If Target were to remove the wrapping from Elite Trainer Boxes across all of its locations, the supply of genuinely sealed products could decrease. That could ironically make unopened boxes even more valuable to collectors and potentially push resale prices higher.

For now, there's no indication that this is an official nationwide Target policy. It could simply be an individual store experimenting with a way to discourage bulk purchases, rather than a strategy being implemented across the retailer.

Still, with Pokémon TCG scalping continuing to frustrate collectors, it's understandable why retailers are looking for unusual solutions. Whether removing the plastic actually helps players get their hands on cards—or simply creates a new set of problems—will depend on whether Target decides to take the approach any further.