Short answer: Buy only from suppliers you can identify and who invoice properly, check a sample of every delivery against known-genuine reference cards, apply the same checks to collections bought from customers, keep records of every source and have a clear script ready for customers who doubt.
Our guide to spotting fake Japanese Pokémon cards explains the physical signs. This article is different: it is the store protocol around them, from the purchasing decision to the customer conversation.
Where do fakes reach a store?
| Channel | Why it is risky |
|---|---|
| Unverifiable suppliers | No identity, no recourse |
| Marketplace-only sellers | Accountability is low |
| Collections bought from customers | Mixed content, unchecked |
| Prices far from the market | Too-good deals |
| Unlimited stock of scarce items | Does not match reality |
What is the protocol, step by step?
- Choose the source first. Require company identity, VAT number and proper invoices. Our distributor comparison lists criteria.
- Keep a reference kit. One known-genuine card per common rarity and one genuine sealed pack at the counter.
- Sample every delivery. Take a few packs per box type and one card per rarity from singles orders.
- Run the basic checks. Light, back colour, texture, print, cut.
- Photograph doubts before further handling.
- Log by supplier. One doubtful pack is noise; two from one source is a decision.
- Act in writing if something fails.
How do you handle collections you buy from customers?
Check cards before you pay. Compare against references, look at the whole lot and not only the top cards, and decline cards you cannot verify. Be polite: most customers do not know a card is fake. Keep a note of what you bought and from whom.
What about sealed product?
Look at the shrink-wrap, folds and seams against known-genuine product. Resealing is hard to detect at the counter, so supplier choice matters more than counter checks. Details in sealed stock management.
What do you say to a doubting customer?
Offer a side-by-side with a reference card, explain where your product comes from and what you check, and apply your return policy. Calm transparency builds more trust than defensiveness.
Are some editions riskier than others?
Any popular line attracts counterfeiters. For specific guidance on Asian editions, read Japanese booster boxes, Korean and Chinese.
Where can you buy with fewer worries?
Work with a wholesaler that invoices EU businesses correctly and can be identified and contacted. TCG Bestia works with independent stores through VIES-verified B2B accounts and intra-community invoices. See the wholesale page or get in touch.
