12/05/2026
Open letter to Kmart Australia: why don’t you have sufficient bot protections?
To the Management of Kmart Australia,
We are writing to you as a group of several Australian Pokémon Trading Card Game communities, representing thousands of dedicated players, collectors, and parents of disappointed children.
Our goal is simple: to ensure that Pokémon TCG products remain accessible to genuine fans and customers who support Kmart and its stores.
Currently, the Kmart online shopping experience for high-demand Pokémon releases is compromised and unusable. When Kmart lists new Pokémon TCG products, they frequently appear “in stock”, yet human users are consistently unable to complete a purchase.
These products are often completely sold out within seconds, purchased by automated bot software, leaving genuine customers frustrated and unable to participate in the hobby.
The latest examples include the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2, as well as previous Ascended Heroes Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes.
We urge Kmart Australia to implement stronger bot-mitigation strategies, including:
• Advanced CAPTCHA systems
• Queueing or waiting room systems
• Account-based purchase limits
• Fair in-store allocation, numbering, or lottery systems where needed
Facebook Marketplace Australia is full of products purchased from Kmart and resold by scalpers, taking advantage of collectors and families.
We call on Kmart to implement a solution as soon as possible and stop allowing scalpers to profit from systems that genuine customers cannot fairly access.
We are calling on the wider Australian TCG community to share this letter across social media platforms and community forums.
By raising awareness, we hope to demonstrate to Kmart Australia that there is significant demand for a secure, fair, and bot-free shopping environment.
We look forward to seeing Kmart take proactive steps to support the local Aussie TCG community.
Sincerely,
The Australian Pokémon TCG Collector Communityau
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