A Pokémon card linked to 12-year-old creator has sparked outrage after a $20,000 listing appeared online.
The Pokémon TCG community is mourning Avery the Poke Kid, a 12-year-old creator who passed away on September 18 after battling stage 4 pancreatoblastoma for nearly eight years. Shortly before his death, his parents shared touching footage of his final Pokémon pack opening, where he pulled a Jirachi Special Illustration Rare from the 30th Celebration set.
The emotional moment quickly spread throughout the Pokémon community. Now, however, collectors are accusing resellers of exploiting the connection between Avery and the card to artificially inflate market prices.
A $20,000 Jirachi Listing Causes Outrage
After Avery's final pack opening went viral, fans began affectionately referring to the 30th Anniversary Jirachi as "Avery’s Jirachi." Some even called on The Pokémon Company to print an official special card in his honor.
The situation took a controversial turn when screenshots surfaced showing an eBay seller listing the Jirachi for an astonishing $20,000, claiming 90% of the proceeds would be donated. Notably, the listing was not the specific card Avery pulled, but an unrelated copy of the same Jirachi card.
Collectors immediately called out the seller, arguing that a child's passing was being weaponized to justify an astronomical markup. The listing was swiftly pulled from eBay, though screenshots continue to circulate across social media.
At the same time, market values for the Jirachi Special Illustration Rare surged. Dexerto reported that while one copy sold for $65 on September 20, subsequent listings spiked between $125 and $240, with more than 20 copies selling above the $100 threshold within a 24-hour window.
While organic market demand could play a role, the suspicious timing has fueled widespread accusations of opportunistic price gouging within the trading card scene.
Avery’s Parents Reject The Sales
Avery’s parents, Christian and Rebecca, directly addressed the backlash in a statement shared to Avery’s official Instagram account. They clarified that they never authorized any sales using their son's name or likeness, confirmed they are receiving no financial proceeds, and explicitly asked resellers to pull down the listings.
The family's plea comes as they continue to mourn their tragic loss. For many Pokémon fans, the Jirachi has become a poignant symbol honoring a brave young creator rather than just another card to flip.
Whether the card's inflated price will hold remains to be seen. For now, the backlash has ignited a passionate debate across the community about where collectors draw the line between hobby culture and predatory reseller greed.
What do you think about the reseller controversy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
