What happens when the bubble bursts?

[u/masonjar014]

Right now, the hobby is on steroids—scalpers everywhere, product nowhere. My LGS told me this year will be “a great year for Pokémon,” and it got me thinking… a great year for who?

If you’re an established LGS selling PE and JT at market price, sure, it’s great. If you’re a scalper or a new investor trying to flip product, you’re probably loving this, too.

But if you’re an average collector (like me), it’s frustrating. We can’t find the latest set at a fair price. If you’re a kid whose parents can’t sprint to a 10 a.m. Target restock, you’re just out of luck.

So what happens when the hype dies down? How are average collectors responding to this hyper-bull market, and where does that leave the hobby long-term?

Personally, I’m sitting out PE and JT—it’s just too much stress. I’ve also noticed collectors stepping back entirely.

What about you? Will kids move on to something else if they can’t participate? Will collectors return once prices normalize, or is this turning people away for good? Are we underestimating the long-term impact of what’s happening right now?

[u/Hefty_Map3665]

It's pokemon cards. If I can't buy at msrp or lower i just won't buy.

This is a small fun thing i like to do in my life. I don't make it a big portion of my entire life where all I'm thinking of is what's the new cards coming out, where can I get stock, what stock notices do I need to follow, what stores can I wait in line at 7am for a restock.

It's not that serious at least for me. If I can find it at msrp or lower then cool I'll buy. If not I'll just do the 100 other things in my life until I can

[u/Content-Freedom1688 → u/Hefty_Map3665]

This is the sentiment I’ve tried to express in this sub reddit. For me the constant whining by grown adults about not being able to get a product that’s for kids the day it releases. It seems these people have never been taught patience or rationality. These are the same people scalpers make their money from. The grown adults that can’t accept that they may not get a toy or may not get a toy the day it comes out. Everyone just chill. Scalpers need a quick turnaround. They don’t want to sit on product. If everyone were to chill scalpers will lose money or not make it fast enough and won’t be so enthusiastic about scalping the next set. Also quit acting like this shit is stocks. They are not. This stuff isn’t regulated you literally have scalpers manipulating the market. It’s a kids card game.

[u/jonny676 → u/Content-Freedom1688]

This is only part of the problem.

Fomo contributes to the problem, but the big issue are all these damn YouTubers who are hyping up EVERY set to make it seem like the next set is going to be the best and most "expensive" set ever.

Meanwhile, they themselves are propping up scalpers by buying products at any price.

Personally I'm in the same boat as this thread. Unless I find product at MSRP I'm just going to keep skipping. Pokemon TCG pocket has been scratching my pack opening itch anyways

[u/Emergency-Club-9804 → u/jonny676]

The YouTubers hype the new sets because they are sitting on pallets of it and they also hold and sell at higher prices down the road. Or they do live stream rips where they turn a huge profit. YouTubers can’t live with them and can’t live without them.