A curious incident befell a Pokemon enthusiast who attempted to mail a Pokemon starter kit, only to discover that the package was tampered with along its journey. The person turned to social media to share this unusual occurrence, explaining to fellow fans how the package’s contents were swapped yet retained equivalent value, stirring theories about what might have happened.
Pokemon cards have been beloved collectibles since the Pokemon Trading Card Game debuted in the 1990s. In this card game, players compete with decks of 60 cards, embodying the persona of a Pokemon trainer. This card game, drawing inspiration from the broader Pokemon franchise, includes various types of cards that fans eagerly collect. These cards are obtainable through official stores, online platforms, and individual sellers, often boasting high value and desirability. Recently, a peculiar event involving one such collector caught the community’s attention.
A Reddit user named JuicySpark recounted receiving their son’s Pokemon TCG cards in an altered form. They had originally packed a starter kit along with card sleeves and other small gifts for a vacation in Florida, deciding not to carry the cards during travel. Unfortunately, their son left the cards behind, prompting the grandmother to send them back. However, upon delivery, the package contained only 3 cards instead of the original 15.
Initially, it seemed the Pokemon cards had been stolen. But intriguingly, the package now held 3 distinct cards, different from the original set and featuring Japanese text, unlike the English set that had been sent. These cards also came encased in hard covers.
When JuicySpark delved deeper, they realized these replacement cards did not feature in English sets and were accessible only through third-party merchants. What left them flummoxed was that the swapped cards had a monetary value comparable to the originals. This led to speculation that a postal worker might have replaced the cards, fearing they had been damaged, or that they were swapped by a thief who wanted to cover their tracks.
One insightful commenter noted that besides one Japanese card, the other two were Korean, further supporting the notion that a postal worker might have made the switch after noticing the damage—possibly using cards from another mislaid package. Regardless of the true reason behind the swap, it’s somewhat reassuring to know the cards were of similar value to those initially sent.
