Melbourne Pokemon collector Elliot Weston sues Collect Em All Pty Ltd for Evolving Skies cash
Dozens of Melbourne collectors and nerds are chasing an alleged Bendigo shonk who they claim vanished with cash paid up for exclusive Pokemon cards.
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Legions of Melbourne collectors are hunting a slippery pop culture seller who allegedly vanished into thin air with cash put down for a highly sought-after Pokemon card set.
Collect Em All, which sold pop culture products and collectables out of its former Bendigo shopfront and online, was one of several Australian vendors to advertise the hotly anticipated Pokemon card set ‘Evolving Skies’ in early-2023.
But the planned Australian release was cancelled, meaning businesses were required to refund money or offer store credits in return for cash received for pre-orders, which most did.
After the cancellation, Mill Park crusader collector and Pokemon fan Elliot Weston and dozens of other Victorian collectors tried to get their money back but are yet to receive a cent from Collect Em All.
The 32-year-old is now fighting a lone battle in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to recoup the $1790 he paid upfront for the exclusive card set after Collect Em All closed the physical and online shopfronts and went “dead”.
Australian buyers could still purchase the cards via US-based distributors but many, including Mr Weston who began collecting and onselling Pokemon during the Covid-19 pandemic, couldn’t afford the purchase as their money was tied up with Collect Em All.
“If I had received a refund in proper time I may have been able to order the set in time,” Mr Weston said.
“If I had received Evolving Skies, kept it sealed and sold it months later I could’ve tripled my money.”
Mr Weston estimated “dozens of other collectors” would have paid Collect Em All upfront to secure the sets he said had attained a “cult status” among diehard Pokemon fans.
“Their (Collect Em All) price was cheap … not too good to be true but slightly cheaper than anyone else so I imagine a fair few people would’ve bought through Collect Em All,” he said.
Mr Weston also said he found it puzzling how Collect Em All still advertised Evolving Skies pre-orders long after other sites had marked the allocation as exhausted.
Internet forums including Reddit are the natural habitats for your typical Pokemon fan to vent and many have teed-off at Collect Em All, publishing suspicions the store was a “scam”.
Private Facebook group ‘Affected by Collect Em All’ was set up to help disgruntled customers share strategies to recoup cash.
The group has since garnered 250 members.
“This group is for those who have unfulfilled orders with the Victorian business called Collect Em All,” the group’s mission statement reads.
“That business has ceased trading but has not refunded thousands of dollars of people’s orders. “This group exists so that people can speak with others who have had this experience, so that they can get advice, help, and possibly co-ordinate efforts, so that customers can get their money back.”
Mr Weston has now taken his solo battle to the VCAT which ordered Collect Em All director Matthew Leeder cover court costs and repay the $1790.
But Acting-Senior Member Anne Moon advised Mr Weston he could have trouble enforcing the order and getting his money.
Ms Moon also said ASIC was in the process of “striking off” Collect Em All.
“Sometimes if they (the business owner) owe a lot of people they just disappear …,” Ms Moon said.
“It’s possible that may be the case here …”
Ms Moon also advised Mr Weston to locate Mr Leeder before engaging the sheriff.
“Don’t face them face-to-face,” she said.
“We don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Mr Weston said he held little hope of seeing his money again.
“It’s just the principle,” he said.
“I don’t want (Mr Leeder) to think he can just take people’s money and nothing will happen.”
Mr Leeder, who did not appear at the tribunal hearing, could not be contacted for comment.
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