My own experience during quarantine has prompted me to start this petition. I longed for a new Xbox, only to find that the prices had skyrocketed beyond my reach. Today, my simple desire to purchase Pokémon cards is stymied by perpetual unavailability or exorbitant online prices. Scalping is wreaking havoc on hobbies and communities. It is a practice that seemingly has no place in our world.

To combat this, we need to enforce changes on popular online platforms like Pokémon Center and Amazon, which sell high-demand products. These websites should be required to use captcha verification and IP logging. This would effectively discourage scalper bots, leveling the playing field for genuine enthusiasts. Moreover, there runs a clear need for imposing a limitation on the number of purchases that can be made. Restricting product purchases to two per person per store and online seems reasonable and fair.

Furthermore, making scalping an illegal activity with predictable and severe consequences could substantially curb its incidence. The overpricing of products, such as trading cards collectibles and electronics, for personal profits is unfair to causal retail customers. It takes away from the enjoyment of these goods and causes undue financial strain.

Leading authorities and lawmakers need to understand the extent of damage caused by scalping. According to a report by Thomas, Minder and Murphy in The New York Times (2020) the resale of collectibles and electronics on eBay surged by 35% during the first eight months of the pandemic. This clearly shows the extent and impact of scalping. We are calling upon you, those in positions of power, to listen to our experiences and take action to diminish, if not eliminate, scalping from our world. Sign this petition and take a stand against scalping.