A store in Japan has introduced a unique approach to combatting scalpers, enforcing a mandatory quiz on customers before they can purchase Pokémon cards.
A photo shared by X user Ryo Saeba (via Dexerto) showed an announcement board in a Bic Camera store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It demands that customers must correctly answer 15 basic questions on the Pokémon universe to be able to buy cards.
Pour lutter contre les scalpers, le Bic Camera Ikebukuro a mis en place un quiz Pokémon obligatoire.
15 questions basiques sur l’univers Pokémon à réussir pour pouvoir acheter des cartes.
D’après les témoignages, les revendeurs n'ont pas réussi à passer le test #Japon #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/XoF2By6Q8h— ⛩ Ryo Saeba | Japon XYZ ⛩ (@Ryo_Saeba_3) April 27, 2026
Saeba explained that the 15 questions were randomly drawn from a larger pool of questions, to help prevent scalpers memorizing and predicting the correct answers. They are simple enough for true Pokémon fans to answer – for example, they may be asked to identify the name of a Pokémon on a box.
“According to reports, scalpers have been unable to pass the test,” Saeba said (via machine translation).
The store also restricts purchases to one box per person. Saeba suggested that the quiz is an effective additional countermeasure for scalpers who arrive in groups.
Another X user shared their experience after successfully passing the quiz.
ポケモン好きな人が答えられるように店員さんが考えてくれた優しいクイズだった。せめてこれくらいはわかって！みたいな。並んでる時もドキドキして楽しかったし正解だった時に店員さんが「おめでとう」って言ってくれたのも嬉しかった。こういうお店が増えてくれたらいいな！ https://t.co/wu3JxQmhrR pic.twitter.com/LUghbnVJEE
— くま (@kuma_kuma00000) April 27, 2026
“It was a thoughtful quiz the staff had come up with so that Pokémon fans could answer it. It was like they were saying, ‘You should at least know this much!’” the quiz taker said (via machine translation).
“I was excited and had a blast even while waiting in line, and I was so happy when the staff member said ‘Congratulations’ after I got the answer right. I really hope more stores like this pop up!”
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Written by Reece Heather
A veteran Zelda Universe editor and First-class journalism graduate, Reece emerged with a Nintendo 64 and a lifelong obsession after a narrow escape from Santa’s Naughty List in 1998. Outside of games, he’s reading Punisher comics, being bossed around by his cocker spaniel, and cornering innocent bystanders to rant about the importance of game preservation.
