Pokémon card collecting is booming again, and whether you’re in it for the fun or the potential profits, it’s an exciting time to jump in. But if you’re leaning toward the investment side, you’ll want to avoid some common traps. In this blog, we’ll walk you through five things to watch out for so your wallet stays intact.
1. Loose booster packs
Loose booster packs might seem like an exciting way to relive childhood memories or potentially strike gold, but they come with significant risks. One major concern is damage as these packs are incredibly prone to wear and tear if not stored properly. Considering how many hands they may have passed through, the chances of internal damage to the cards are worryingly high.
Then, there’s the elephant in the room: resealing. Dishonest sellers often tamper with booster packs, removing valuable cards and replacing them with low-value ones before resealing the pack with glue. While experienced collectors can spot these alterations, less seasoned buyers might fall victim, wasting money on what amounts to glorified junk.
Does this mean you should never buy loose booster packs? Not necessarily. If you’ve done your research and are purchasing from a trusted seller, you might still find value. However, make sure to proceed with caution!
2. PSA 9 and below (Modern cards only)
For modern Pokémon cards, investing in anything graded below a PSA 10 can be a money pit. Modern cards are produced in far greater quantities these days than vintage ones (obviously), resulting in a larger population of PSA 10-graded cards. This abundance makes PSA 9s and lower grades far less desirable among collectors and investors.
The story is different for vintage cards, where scarcity plays a key role, but when it comes to modern singles, it’s all about perfection. A PSA 10 carries prestige and value, while anything less is often overlooked. Investing in lower grades is unlikely to yield returns and can quickly drain your wallet.
Of course, if you’re a casual collector simply looking to enjoy the hobby, feel free to chase after the cards that bring you joy. But if your goal is investment, focus solely on PSA 10s to ensure your money is well spent. Anything else is a risky gamble.
3. Special promo boxes
On the surface, special promo boxes look like a fantastic deal. Who wouldn’t want shiny new promos paired with exclusive boosters? But if you’ve cracked open a few of these, you may have noticed a frustrating pattern: the contents rarely live up to the hype. It often feels like these boosters have a completely separate, less desirable print run, leaving collectors disappointed.
The quality of the boxes themselves doesn’t help either. They’re notoriously flimsy, prone to damage at the slightest touch. Honestly, I’ve started handling mine like they’re made of glass and any form of handling feels as though they might just fall apart. While the promos can hold some value, these boxes are usually best avoided as serious investments. Save yourself the heartbreak and look elsewhere for better returns.
4. Premium figure collections
The word “premium” makes you think you’re getting something extraordinary, but the reality is often disappointing. While they come with a shiny promo card, a neat little figure, and multiple booster packs, they often fail to hold value in the long term.
The problem lies in the appeal of the extras. The figure might look cool on a shelf, but it adds no real investment value. Meanwhile, the boosters inside are the same you’d find elsewhere, offering little to justify the inflated price. If you’re collecting for fun, they can be enjoyable, but if your focus is long-term gains, these collections are more likely to drain your wallet than grow your portfolio.
5. Regular base Elite Trainer Boxes
Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) often serve as a go-to for collectors, but when it comes to regular base ETBs, they’re not always the smartest investment. Unlike their special set counterparts, such as Paldea Evolved, 151, or Crown Zenith, base ETBs tend to feel underwhelming. They’re bulky, take up a lot of storage space, and include several non-essential items that don’t add much value beyond the booster packs inside.
While there’s a widespread belief that ETBs have better pull rates, this remains unconfirmed. Any advantage in pulls is more anecdotal than factual, driven by community intuition rather than hard evidence. To be fair, the addition of special promo cards in Scarlet and Violet base ETBs is a nice improvement, but even then, these regular ETBs often feel like the ‘B’ version compared to the Pokémon Center exclusive ones.
Pokémon Center ETBs are essentially the modern equivalent of a first-edition marker, so, If you’re in for an ETB, make sure it’s a Pokemon Center version!
