Grapevine, TX – A Texas collector just secured the largest trade-in payout in GameStop history after exchanging a rare Pokémon card valued at more than $33,000. The transaction, completed this week at a GameStop location in Grapevine, resulted in a verified $30,494.70 payout through the company’s Power Packs Buyback Program.
According to a formal statement released by GameStop, the customer traded in an authenticated PSA 10 Skyridge Holo Gengar, one of the most sought-after cards from the 2003 set. The company stated the card held a fair-market valuation of $33,883, making it one of the highest-value Pokémon collectibles currently circulating.
GameStop officials said the payout followed required inspection and verification procedures, adding that the transaction now stands as the most valuable single trade-in in the company’s history. Images circulating online show both the press release and photos of the collectible, as well as a Gengar plush posed with stacks of cash that appear to represent the payout.
The announcement quickly gained traction on social media, with hobbyists, collectors, and Pokémon fans reacting to what some are calling a milestone moment in mainstream card valuation. The company’s statement also pushed back against ongoing online criticism of its trade-in values, calling such claims “factually and demonstrably incorrect.”
While GameStop has expanded its focus on collectibles in recent years, industry analysts note that five-figure trade-in payouts remain extremely rare. The company did not identify the seller, but emphasized that the transaction adhered to all Power Packs program standards.
