Pokémon GO hysteria is turning into a lucrative source of income for entrepreneurs on online classifieds sites such as Gumtree.
The game‚ that uses the in-built camera and GPS on mobile phones to help players locate‚ capture and battle virtual creatures‚ has taken the world by storm.
South Africans have embraced the craze‚ despite the game not yet being officially available in the country.
Gumtree this week started sprouting adverts for Pokémon paraphernalia‚ card collections and even a player in Cape Town’s southern suburbs selling his level 15 Pokémon GO account for R1,000.
The seller has apparently travelled far and wide playing the game as the account comes with "lots of items including great balls and lures. 60 Pokémon caught and over 900CP Pokémon‚" reads the advert.
An entrepreneurial person posted on the site on Tuesday: "Will drive you around while you catch Pokémon and travel to any area required to catch Water/Fire Pokémon etc. Working in Rondebosch‚ Claremont‚ Wynberg and Constantia. Rate is R10 per km and no more than 4 passengers allowed at a time. Phone calls only please."
A slightly superior Pokémon hunting safari experience is available in Northcliff‚ Johannesburg. "Want to catch them all? We’ll drive you and your team around town past all the Pokestops and gyms while you have a drink and charge your phone." This service is charged at R100 an hour and R10 per km‚ but includes free wi-fi and water for up to six people.
A collector in Durban is offering to sell over 600 Pokémon cards – a bargain‚ according to the advert – for R13,000. The collection includes "commons‚ rares‚ ex cards as well as mega ex cards (worth R20,000)".
Yet another collector is selling their cards for R4,000 in Pretoria and a set of 21 Pokémon figurines is up for grabs for R500 in Cape Town.
And if playing the game itself has left your children exhausted‚ with sore feet and in need of a nap‚ there are always cuddly‚ custom-made crocheted Pokémon toys being sold in East London.
TMG Digital
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