Walk into any Staples and you’ll find aisles packed with printer paper, pens, toner, even snacks. If you’re shopping for school supplies or setting up a home office, it’s pretty much a one-stop shop. But let’s say you’re trying to pick up Pokemon cards—maybe as a gift, maybe because it’s payday and you want to relive some childhood nostalgia—will Staples have them?
That’s a question people seem to be asking more often. Pokemon cards have gone way past the initial ‘90s craze, growing into a back-on-top trading card phenomenon. You see them everywhere: big-box stores, toy shops, comic book stores, and even gas station counters sometimes. But Staples? That’s a bit less obvious.
Let’s walk through what Staples actually sells, what collectors are looking for, and what you’ll find if you start poking around for Pokemon cards inside a store that’s best known for office chairs and ink cartridges.
Staples’ Spot in the Trading Card Universe
If you listen to collectors, one of the earliest things they’ll urge you to pick up isn’t actually the cards themselves—it’s a place to store them. And here’s where Staples comes into focus for Pokemon fans.
Staples sells a range of card storage solutions. For Pokemon enthusiasts, the main attraction is the “Staples Heavy Weight Trading Card Pages.” These are those clear, three-hole-punched plastic sheets you slot into a standard binder. Each sheet gives you space for nine cards—18 if you do front-and-back—and they’re sized for all standard trading cards, including Pokemon, baseball, basketball, and Magic: The Gathering.
A pack of 50 sheets usually costs around $11. That works out to hundreds of cards protected for less than the price of a single Pokemon booster box. For anyone who started with a shoebox and is now getting serious about protecting their cards’ condition, these pages are nice to have.
The design is basic but functional. Built for standard US-sized binders, each page is heavy-duty so you don’t have to worry about rips or bends every time you flip through your collection. That’s an upgrade over the cheap, floppy sleeves that tend to split the first time you use them. For Pokemon collectors—kids and adults—these storage pages might be the first or second thing you buy after the cards themselves.
Are There Actual Pokemon Cards at Staples?
Here’s where things get a little fuzzy. Search the Staples website, and you won’t find a dedicated “Pokemon cards” section. Search results pop up with a lot of accessories: storage pages, sometimes display cases, and the odd “kids trading card binder.” All useful if you’re already a collector—but not what you’re hoping for if you had actual booster packs or Elite Trainer Boxes in mind.
The official listings for Staples stores across the U.S. and Canada show a lot of variety store inventory, but hardly any mention of actual Pokemon cards for sale. You might get the occasional third-party listing through an online marketplace, but that’s not Staples controlling their own stock.
Some shoppers insist they’ve seen Pokemon cards show up at certain locations, usually as special promotional displays during the back-to-school rush or the holiday season. These are more the exception than the rule, sort of like finding socks at the grocery store. If you want a guaranteed source, Staples doesn’t seem to have the consistency that a Target, Walmart, or local card shop might have.
What Social Media Tells Us
There’s another layer to this: chatter on social media. On TikTok in late 2024, a video popped up showing someone stumbling across Pokemon cards at Staples. The reaction was basically equal parts surprise and skepticism—was this a weird one-off, or had Staples quietly started stocking the TCG?
The comments blew up with people asking about which stores had them, or whether it was worth checking out their local Staples just in case. There were a lot of jokes about parents popping into the “paper store” and coming out with Pikachu, which probably sums up how unexpected the whole idea is.
A few months later, a different TikTok post teased the idea of selling your Pokemon card collection at Staples. That sparked a short-lived rumor about Staples buying cards, which, so far, isn’t supported by any policy or documentation from the company. They’re still selling office supplies—not operating as card dealers.
These stories seem to pop up every so often, suggesting the idea that at least some stores have dabbled in carrying Pokemon cards, if just for a limited run or special event. The evidence isn’t overwhelming, and it’s not matched by anything on their official product lists.
Storage Solutions: Staples’ Real Value for Collectors
If you’re a collector—whether it’s Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, or basketball cards—keeping your collection safe is key. Staples won’t usually help you add new cards to your collection, but they can definitely help you keep your cards in good condition.
Their heavy weight trading card pages are comparable in quality to ultrapro pages you’d find at a dedicated card shop. And they’re usually sold alongside binders, boxes, and office-safe storage bins—stuff that isn’t glamorous but should be a no-brainer for anyone with an expanding binder full of cards.
Collectors often recommend buying these pages in bulk, especially if you’re sorting large sets. They’re also easy to pick up if you’re swinging by Staples for school supplies or work gear, which is convenient.
Store staff usually know the basics, but they won’t give you detailed Pokemon card advice. You get the storage and the organizational products, not the latest on trading trends or hot new sets.
Trying Your Luck: Does Staples Ever Sell Pokemon Cards?
If you ask around, you’ll hear scattered stories about Pokemon cards appearing at Staples—usually tied to holidays or unique back-to-school pop-up displays. There’s no sign this is a regular thing or part of the chain’s standard offerings.
Most of the time, the main “Pokemon TCG” options at Staples online or in stores are the pages, binders, and maybe a few display cases. Even if you strike gold and find actual card packs in-store one day, there’s no guarantee they’ll be back in stock next week. That makes Staples a “why not check if you’re already in the building?” sort of destination, not a go-to card source.
If you’re a parent hoping to grab actual cards with your back-to-school haul, it’s always worth a quick look on the way past the checkout. Just don’t bank on it.
So, Should You Check Staples If You’re After Pokemon Cards?
Let’s recap. If you need sleeves, pages, or basic storage solutions for your Pokemon cards, Staples is an easy option. If you’re searching for the cards themselves—whether it’s a specific booster pack, starter deck, or box set—Staples isn’t your most reliable bet.
Why the confusion? It’s mostly because stores sometimes experiment with special product lines during busy shopping seasons. Social media posts feed the idea that “maybe I’ll get lucky,” and that does happen sometimes. But the majority of the time, you’ll find accessories, not cards. For most shoppers, that’s good to know in advance.
Other Spots to Pick Up Pokemon Cards
If Staples doesn’t have what you’re after, big-box retailers like Walmart and Target pretty consistently stock a mix of Pokemon TCG products. Local game stores, comic shops, and even some major drugstores have them, though they sometimes limit purchases to avoid scalping. There’s also a growing online marketplace for both cards and sealed products, which, while convenient, often comes with markups or shipping delays.
Parents and collectors keep an eye on restock days, checking in early in the day or asking staff if they know when new shipments come in. That’s a big part of card buying culture now.
Staples’ focus on organization means they’re still on the radar for collectors—just for a different part of the hobby than most people expect. If you want to compare office supply outlets and see what businesses are leaning into pop culture merchandise, you can check sites like Top Business Feed for business trends and retail news.
Worth Checking Your Local Store—But Don’t Count On Cards
If you’re hoping to stumble across Pokemon cards at Staples, it’s not impossible—but it’s probably not going to happen every time. It mostly comes down to location, seasonality, and maybe a bit of luck. Their bread and butter is office supplies and school support.
You can always check the Staples website or give your local store a quick call to see what’s in stock. That way, you don’t waste a trip. Inventory can change often, and sometimes managers bring in specialty products on a whim. If you happen to spot cards while picking up paper or printer ink, that’s a bonus.
But if getting new cards is your main goal, Staples is generally better as a place to organize your collection than to grow it. There are plenty of skilled store associates if you need binder advice, not pack-picking strategies.
For dedicated collectors or parents shopping for kids, sticking with stores that treat Pokemon as a mainstay—like card shops or the big retail chains—is probably best. Staples has its role, but it’s not trying to be the next card destination.
So next time you’re in Staples, take a quick glance at the storage aisle. There might be a neat binder or a stack of card pages that’s exactly what you need. But don’t expect to walk out with that shiny Charizard card unless you’ve already got it tucked in your backpack from somewhere else.
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