The Pokémon Company International recently announced a collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum of Amsterdam, featuring a range of exclusive merchandise inspired by the legendary painter’s artworks. The collaboration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the museum and the 170th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s birth, also includes an exhibit of six paintings that feature Pokemon characters in the style of Van Gogh.
The collaboration was met with enthusiasm by many Pokémon fans, who rushed to order the items from the Pokémon Center online store. The items included a Pikachu plush dressed as Van Gogh, trading card game sleeves, figures of Pikachu and Eevee, poster prints, and a jigsaw puzzle. However, some fans were left disappointed and angry when they received emails from the Pokémon Center informing them that their orders were either cancelled or modified due to high demand and limited availability.
According to the emails, some customers who ordered multiple items had their orders reduced to one item per customer, while others had their orders cancelled altogether. The emails also stated that the customers would receive refunds for the cancelled or modified items and apologized for any inconvenience caused.
Many fans took to social media to express their frustration and dissatisfaction with the Pokémon Center’s handling of the situation. Some accused the Pokémon Center of overselling the items and failing to manage their inventory properly. Others claimed that they had ordered the items as soon as they became available and felt cheated by the random selection process. Some even speculated that the Pokémon Center was reserving some of the items for scalpers or influencers, who would sell them at higher prices or use them for promotion.
Some fans also criticized the Pokémon Center for not offering any compensation or alternative options for the affected customers. They suggested that the Pokémon Center should have offered pre-orders, backorders, or vouchers for future purchases. They also argued that the Pokémon Center should have communicated more clearly and transparently about the availability and distribution of the items.
What do you wish should have been done differently by the Pokémon Company and were you able to get a hold of one of the most hyped collaboration products?