The recent craze over the 'Chubby Pikachu' (hereinafter 'Chub-chu') plush has turned sour. Consumers are fuming after discovering that this much-hyped toy is now available at big-box retailers for less than the price of the official pre-order.

The 'Chub-chu' is a commemorative reissue launched last January by the Japanese toy giant Takara Tomy to mark Pokémon's 30th anniversary. It faithfully recreates the rotund physique of the original 1997 character, which saw over 450,000 units distributed back in the day. Academy Science handled the domestic distribution and opened pre-orders back in January. The demand was massive, selling out in just two days. Due to stock shortages, buyers were told to expect staggered deliveries between March and May-June.

However, as of the 7th, the same product began appearing at the wholesale retailer Costco. Bearing the logos of both Takara Tomy and Academy Science, it is undeniably the same authentic item as the one stuck in the pre-order queue.

The core of the consumer frustration lies in the price and the convenience. While the pre-order price was 58,000 won, Costco is selling it for 49,000 won—9,000 won cheaper—with the added bonus of immediate pickup. To make matters worse, the packaging at the store is reportedly even more refined than the shipping version.

Naturally, the pre-order crowd is expressing their anger. The sentiment is explosive: "They marketed 58,000 won as a special price, but selling it cheaper at Costco? That's a scam," one buyer fumed. Others demanded, "At least send us the same decent packaging as the store version," with many calling it the most unpleasant shopping experience they've had in years.

When asked for comment, Academy Science told Gamemeca, "The supply deal with the retailer was locked in last year, so our hands were tied." They confirmed the products are identical but insisted that only a small quantity was shipped to Costco with no further restocking planned. They also noted, "While we can't disclose contract specifics, Costco has a history of pricing items like heaters or bicycles lower than their original pre-order prices." The company is currently offering refunds for any pre-order customers who wish to cancel.