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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Rob Davies

Toy touts, random spins and frantic bidding: the murky side of live auction site Whatnot

Whatnot eBay Mumsnet United States Costco
Hands holding Pokémon cards
Pokémon cards are among the most highly collectible items sold on the platform. Photograph: James Gourley/The Guardian

Christmas is fast approaching, the shopping days are ebbing away, and in one corner of the internet, the rush to grab highly prized Pokémon trading cards is boiling over into a competitive frenzy.

“Got any cheap Mew?” asks one buyer, deploying the frantic tone of an addict, albeit one craving a rectangle depicting a creature from the all-conquering Japanese media franchise.

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