eBay to observe 'Pokemon Day' with special auction
eBay is hosting a one-day event dedicated to all things Pokemon.
The online marketplace is celebrating “Pokemon Day,” which marks the Feb. 27, 1996 debut of the original version of what would become the global trading card game Pokemon in Japan, beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb., 27 and running through 12:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
The "Catch 151" auction (a complete Pokemon set consists of 151 individual cards) includes rare and ultra-collectible Pokemon cards, all with a starting price of $1.51, and will be hosted on a dedicated page on the eBay site. It will feature cards and other collectibles from eBay sellers TCA Gaming, TheTCGenius, and ZandGEmporium.
The auction will also take place during a non-stop Pokémon Day marathon on the eBay Live livestream shopping platform accessible via the eBay app, streaming from 12:00 p.m. EST on February 27 until 12:00 a.m. EST on February 28. Nine sellers will feature a diverse range of Pokémon inventory.
Each trading card in the curation is backed by eBay Authenticity Guarantee.
eBay zeroes in on collectibles
Collectibles represent an increasingly important product category for eBay. The company offers a series of exclusive Funko products as part of a collaboration with the pop culture brand, and has a a strategic partnership with PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), a trading card authentication and grading company.
In addition, eBay operates the eBay vault, a 31,000-sq.-ft., 24/7 secured, temperature-controlled facility and digital marketplace for collectors.
“Pokémon Day has become an iconic moment for the community to come together and celebrate their fandom – for many Pokémon trainers, hunting down and 'catching' cards and collectibles on eBay is all part of the experience,” said Gene Cook, VP of global collectibles at eBay. “The 'Catch 151' event is celebrating that dedication by offering one of the most incredible collections of rare, high-end collectibles in a single event.”
“I’ve been a huge Pokémon fan since the Red and Blue days, and through eBay I’ve been able to reach others around the world who share my passion, turning my hobby into a full-time business,” said Nick Sergakis, founder of TheTCGenius store on eBay. “I've sold more than eight thousand Pokémon cards on eBay, and I’m excited to connect with the community through the ‘Catch 151’ auction in a really fun, unique way on the biggest Pokémon day of the year.”
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. generated nearly $74 billion of gross merchandise volume in 2022.