Scalpers clear shelves of exclusive goods at Japan’s World Expo
A number of limited-edition items that are exclusive to the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 appear to have been purchased by resellers, who are now selling them for up to three times their value on online auction sites.
Following the opening of the official store for the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo on April 13th, reports have surfaced indicating that limited edition goods initially sold at the venue are now being offered for resale at elevated prices on various flea market websites.
It has been observed that some of these items have already been purchased by consumers through these secondary platforms, with certain goods being resold for more than double their original suggested retail price.
Notably, within a little over an hour of the official store commencing its operations, several items were announced as “sold out for the day,” raising the possibility that some individuals acquired these products with the primary intention of reselling them for profit.
One particularly affected item is the “EXPO2025 Myakumyaku Original Tamagotchi.”
This item, which was initially priced at a suggested retail value of 5,500 yen at the official Expo store, is currently being listed for resale on flea market sites at prices ranging from approximately 10,000 to 14,000 yen.
Additionally, the similarly popular “EXPO2025 Myakumyaku x Tamagotchi Mascot Plush” each with a suggested retail price of 2,750 yen, are being resold for around 6,000 yen.
Beyond these specific examples, multiple other goods, believed to be exclusive to the Expo venue, are also appearing on these resale platforms with inflated price tags.
In response to the apparent high demand and rapid depletion of stock for certain items, the official store has issued a statement on its official social media channels, informing customers that “the next expected arrival date will be announced as soon as it is confirmed” regarding the Tamagotchi product featuring the Expo’s official character, “Myakumyaku.”
Whilst manufacturers and the Expo’s official store are clearly aware of the popularity of the exclusive items on sale at the event and are making efforts to make new product available as soon as possible, many are questioning why more strict purchase limits are not being enforced to prevent large-scale reselling going forward.
Sources: Sankei Shimbun
Images: © Bandai