Why Australian adults are lining up outside a TOY shop – and it’s got nothing to do with kids

Pokémon fans were up at the crack of dawn, queuing outside retailers across Australia eager to get their hands on the new trading cards. 

The sought-after collectible sets hit stores on Friday morning, with shoppers scrambling to snap one up – if they were lucky or quick enough. 

One mega fan, from Sydney, was among thousands who successfully secured the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 – after waiting in a huge line outside Toymate in Auburn before doors had even opened.

The Pokémon sets were gone in less than an hour. 

‘I started lining up at 8.50am so I was at the back of the queue. There were people who had started lining up hours before me. The line was much longer behind me but luckily I got what I wanted,’ the 32-year-old shopper told Daily Mail.

‘I waited about 40 minutes. The workers kept them in cardboard boxes on the ground behind the counter and handed us what we wanted. It was worth the wait. The cards sold out not long after me. The crowd was quite tame and everyone was patient.’

The avid collector said he was thrilled with his $40 box – after finding three ‘rare’ cards currently worth more than $150. 

However, not everyone was lucky to secure the box, with many reporting the playing cards were sold out in just minutes at their local store.

‘All sold out and I was at the store 15 minutes beforehand,’ one said. 

Those waiting in a queue online expressed their disappointment, with one sharing: ‘I had one in my cart, hit pay and then got a sold out message – so over it.’

‘Toymate and JB sold out in less than two seconds. I had them both at checkout as soon as it dropped and got nothing,’ another shared. 

‘What an absolute joke,’ one revealed.

‘I refreshed and it popped up but wouldn’t add to cart and then said it couldn’t find the product I was looking for – so frustrating,’ another said. 

‘This is so disheartening,’ one customer explained after missing out on the cards within seconds.

‘I got in after 12 minutes, everything sold out. I just wanted one of anything on offer, got nothing,’ another added.

Many said they panicked and bought the first box they saw on the website.

‘I was too scared to linger so I grabbed a Prismatic Evolutions Poster Collection and ran,’ one said. 

‘The moment I saw the Prismatic tin and Charizard box, I got them and checked out immediately,’ another revealed. 

‘I can’t believe I actually got something,’ one added.