The Rise of Scalpers in the Pokémon and Hershey’s Kisses Collaboration
A new wave of scalpers has emerged in the wake of a highly anticipated collaboration between Pokémon and Hershey’s. This partnership, announced in June 2025, introduced 151 unique Pokémon foil designs on Hershey’s Kisses, creating a frenzy among fans. The goal of the collaboration was to encourage collectors to gather all 151 designs and add them to their virtual Hershey Pokedex. To kick things off, there was also a sweepstakes offering a limited-edition case designed to store all 151 foil designs featuring Kanto region Pokémon.
However, what started as a fun and engaging initiative for fans has now taken a turn for the worse. Some scalpers are now selling empty Pokémon Hershey’s Kisses Collector Cases for as much as $350. That price is nearly equivalent to the cost of a Nintendo Switch 2. These cases are meant to be filled with the unique foil designs found inside the chocolate bags, which are sold separately for around $6 each. This means that to complete the collection, buyers would need to purchase multiple bags of Hershey’s Kisses, further increasing the overall cost.
What makes this situation even more bizarre is that these collectibles were originally given away for free through a first-come, first-served sweepstakes. Fans who participated in the promotion had the chance to receive the cases at no cost, but now they are being resold at exorbitant prices. This highlights the growing issue of scalping in the collectible market, where individuals take advantage of high demand to inflate prices.
A Growing Trend in Pokémon Collectibles
The Pokémon and Hershey’s Kisses collaboration is not the only instance of scalpers driving up the price of collectibles. On platforms like eBay, sealed Pokémon and McDonald’s boxes have been resold for anywhere between $350 and $550. This trend is not new—Pokémon has long been a target for scalpers due to the immense popularity of its merchandise.
Fans may recall a case where one collector paid over $80,000 for a Charizard-shaped Cheeto known as Cheetozard. More recently, people have been buying McDonald’s promotional Pokémon cards for up to $100 on eBay. These examples illustrate just how valuable some Pokémon-related items have become, and it’s clear that the demand for limited-edition releases continues to grow.
The Impact on Fans and the Future of Collaborations
While the actions of scalpers can be frustrating for fans, they also highlight the enduring appeal of the Pokémon franchise. The high demand for collectibles shows that Pokémon remains a cultural phenomenon, and it’s likely that more collaborations will follow. In fact, McDonald’s Japan has recently teased a potential new collaboration with Pokémon, which could bring even more collectibles for fans to chase—though this might be limited to those in Japan.
For now, the Pokémon and Hershey’s Kisses collaboration serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of scalping on the collectible market. While the original intent of the partnership was to create a fun and engaging experience for fans, the emergence of scalpers has turned it into a financial gamble for many. As long as there is demand for limited-edition releases, it seems that the practice of scalping will continue to thrive.