Did Costco Really Sell Blooming Waters a Month Before Its Release Date?

Did Costco Really Sell Blooming Waters a Month Before Its Release Date?

The Pokémon TCG community was recently thrown into chaos when reports surfaced that Costco had stocked Blooming Waters ahead of its official release.

With scalpers, limited stock, and even reports of in-store violence, this situation has left collectors and fans wondering: 

Did Costco really break the release date, or was this just another distribution mishap?

What Happened?

According to discussions on r/PokemonTCG, Costco stores across different regions stocked Blooming Waters weeks before the expected release. Some collectors managed to grab a few, while others were met with empty shelves, scalpers, and even outright store policy changes.

Conflicting Reports From Costco Locations

  • A Reddit user in Chicago claimed that their local Costco manager told them shipments had arrived but were pulled before they hit the shelves.
  • In Idaho, another manager allegedly stated that Costco decided not to sell the product due to violent incidents in stores.
  • Others, like a user from Portland, suggested that local warehouses might restock around February 10-11, though no official confirmation exists.

Scalpers and Chaos at Costco

Many buyers reported chaotic in-store experiences:

  • Some described hundreds of people running back and forth, trying to buy as many as possible.
  • One user mentioned Costco employees handing out boxes at the entrance, leading to mass buying.
  • Others said they were approached by strangers, urging them to buy multiple units because of potential resale value.

GameStop’s Response

In response to the Costco incidents, GameStop announced they would be stocking Blooming Waters but with a strict limit of two per customer, which is a stark contrast to Costco's initial 10 per customer policy.

So, Did Costco Break the Release Date?

The evidence suggests that some Costco locations did, in fact, sell Blooming Waters weeks before its official release.

However, this wasn’t a coordinated effort. It seems more like a distribution misstep combined with inconsistent store policies.

What Happens Next?

  • If you missed out, you might still have a shot at GameStop’s limited restock.
  • Costco could relist the product online, but it’s unclear if that will happen.
  • Scalpers are already reselling at double the price, so buying secondhand isn’t ideal.

What do you think?

Was this an accident, or did Costco intentionally release Blooming Waters early? 

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