Kmart employees reveal surprising item that always sells out – and it’s so popular it’s only available upon request: ‘There was a stampede’

Kmart employees have revealed the unexpected item that’s constantly selling out – and it’s so popular they’re only available upon request.

Pokémon Cards, which were hugely popular in Australia from the late 1990s to the early 2000s – especially in schools where students would trade them – have been flying off the shelves around the country in recent months.

The collectable trading cards, which range between $6 and $199, are typically kept behind the gaming and photo printing counter inside Kmart stores.

However, workers have been struggling with high demand, with one store selling out of the sought-after cards within half an hour of going on sale.

‘Wow I didn’t know they were so popular. Every register shift I get, half a dozen customers asking if we have Pokémon Cards… We never do,’ one anonymous Kmart employee said in a Reddit thread. 

‘But today we got a new shipment, behind the counter, available at request, and they were gone within 30 minutes – wow.’

Many workers chimed in, sharing their own experiences from their stores. 

‘Yes, it’s crazy, Before we had limits set up on ours, this one person came in and bought three, then came back and bought 10, and then came back and asked to buy all the ones we had. I never knew people were this crazy for them,’ one said. 

‘Our store has a limit on in-store purchases as previously people would literally buy the entire box at one time. The new release the other day was gone by 9am,’ another revealed.

‘There was a stampede at my store during opening time for Pokémon Cards,’ one added.

And it’s not just Kmart selling out of Pokémon Cards.

‘Someone came and spent $700 at Target on Pokémon Cards the other day. I had to double check with my manager if was ok,’ one revealed. 

‘I have have spoken to staff members from EB Games and they said nothing in stock. They said it’s the rare Pokémon cards that making none exist,’ another shared.

Some fans pointed out that the lack of Pokémon cards was caused by scalpers bulk-buying boxes and reselling them for more.

Earlier this year, hundreds of shoppers were spotted lining up at Kmart stores at midnight hoping to grab the $79 Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions edition.

Angeline Devera, from Sydney, was among those who successfully secured the Elite Trainer set in January. 

Upon arriving at the 24-hour Kmart store in Campbelltown at 11.30pm, she was greeted by dozens of shoppers, all vying for the same product. 

‘Thought I had the genius idea to go at 12am to get the new Pokémon release… Definitely wasn’t the only one with the same thought,’ Angeline said in a video.

She shared a video showing a long queue of shoppers patiently waiting to buy the new Pokémon box, which was limited to one per customer.

‘Definitely worth the line up,’ Angeline said, adding that she thought it was wholesome to see Pokémon fans in real life. 

However, not everyone was lucky, with many reporting the playing cards were sold out within 20 minutes at their local store.

‘My kid just wanted one set he saved up for. We left six stores empty handed. Should be sale on the day with purchase limits. Now it’s on Facebook Marketplace for $90 to $160 a set,’ one parent said. 

‘My local Kmart sold out all their stock in 15 minutes,’ another shared.