New Walmart promo is the safest way to buy 'Pokémon' 30th anniversary TCG on release day
Pokémon fans have a new, hassle-free way of buying 30th anniversary Elite Trainer Boxes
It's been a few weeks since the initial release of the Pokémon 30th anniversary Trading Card Game set, and fans are hungry to score a restock. While some were lucky enough to have Booster Box pre-orders at retailers like The Pokémon Center or Target, just as many — if not more — haven't managed to secure any products at all. Thanks to a new Walmart initiative that goes live on Wednesday evening, fans now have a great option for buying the 30th anniversary set without lining up outside a store or badgering poor retail employees.
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. After 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 products sell out before you get to the front of the line.
What 30th anniversary Pokémon products are in the Walmart raffle on Oct. 7?
Walmart is raffling out the following TCG items:
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration ETB $69
- Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $69.99
- Mystery Power Box Vault Edition — $99.99
In previous drawings, Walmart had a limit of five and three — but the new drawing could have a different maximum. The retailer will also raffle a variety of Needohs this Wednesday.
When is the Walmart 30th anniversary Pokémon raffle?
Customers can enter the drawing starting on Oct 7, 2 p.m. 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, while others are notified right away after the drawing closes. You are not informed if you don't get selected; you only get a confirmation email if you win.
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 your account is 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.
I won Walmart's Pokémon drawing! Why is my shipping delayed?
Many users report that their purchases changed status to say Walmart no longer had an estimate for the product's arrival. If you encounter this, don't fret. Users, including this author, generally got their Walmart collectibles purchase on the promised date if not sooner than estimated.