Cards For Fans. Not For Profit.
PokeBusterPals is a grassroots movement built by fans, for fans. We exist to make sure Pokémon cards end up in the hands of kids and collectors — not on eBay at more than 4x retail.
How It Started
Born out of Frustration...
It started with a the a few moms and a few kiddos who wanted trying to buy his daughter a Pokémon booster pack for her birthday. Three Targets. Two Walmarts. Every shelf empty. Not because the cards were unpopular — because scalpers had swept through at 7am and listed everything on eBay by 8.
That dad was one of our founders. He wasn't alone. Across the country, real fans — kids, parents, lifelong collectors — were being priced out of a hobby they loved by people who didn't care about Pokémon at all. They just cared about profit.
PokeBusterPals launched in 2023 as a simple idea: what if fans organized? What if we built a directory of stores that actually enforced purchase limits? What if we shared tactics, reported scalpers, and refused to fund the problem?
Three years later, we have 84,000 members, 247 fan-approved stores, and a community that has helped thousands of real fans get cards at fair prices. The fight isn't over — but we're winning.
Scalpers don't love Pokémon. They love money. We love Pokémon. That's why we win.
Marcus R.
Co-Founder, PokeBusterPals
The Numbers
Our Impact
What We Stand For
Our Values
Fans First, Always
Every decision we make is filtered through one question: does this help real fans get cards at fair prices? If not, we don't do it.
Protect the Hobby
Pokémon is a game for kids, families, and lifelong collectors. We fight to keep it that way — accessible, affordable, and joyful.
Radical Transparency
We are fans, not a corporation. We have no hidden agenda, no affiliate deals with stores, and no financial interest in the hobby beyond loving it.
Economic Resistance
The most powerful thing a fan can do is refuse to buy from scalpers. We educate, organize, and hold the line on fair pricing — together.
Community Over Everything
No single fan can beat scalpers alone. Organized communities can. We build the tools, spaces, and connections that make collective action possible.
Action Over Outrage
We don't just complain — we build solutions. Store directories, restock alerts, tactical guides, reporting tools. Anger is fuel. Action is the engine.
The People Behind It
Meet the Team
All volunteers. All fans. All furious about scalpers.
Marcus R.
Co-Founder
Dad of two Pokémon-obsessed kids. Started PokeBusterPals after striking out at five stores on Christmas Eve 2022. Has not bought from a scalper since.
Sofia L.
Store Directory Lead
Competitive TCG player and local game store advocate. Personally verified over 100 stores in the directory. Knows every LGS owner in the Southwest.
Devon K.
Community Manager
Runs the community wall and moderates our Discord. Former retail worker who watched scalpers clear shelves firsthand. Now fights back full-time.
Priya W.
Research & Alerts
Data analyst by day, scalper tracker by night. Built our restock alert system and tracks scalping trends across major retailers nationwide.
No Ads. No Sponsors. No BS.
How We Operate
PokeBusterPals is 100% volunteer-run. We have no advertising, no sponsored content, and no financial relationships with any store in our directory. Every store listing is community-submitted and community-verified.
We don't make money from this. We don't want to. The moment money enters the picture, incentives get complicated. We keep it simple: fans helping fans.
- No paid store listings — ever
- No affiliate links or referral fees
- No advertising or sponsored content
- All store verifications done by community volunteers
- Open to feedback, criticism, and improvement
Get Involved
PokeBusterPals runs on fan power. Here is how you can help the movement grow.