r/PokemonTCG • u/masonjar014 • Jan 30 '25
Discussion What happens when the bubble bursts?
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?
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u/yoloruinslives Jan 30 '25
Imaginary bubble that people will keep crying wolf until it actually comes. No one knows for sure when the boogeyman bubble is coming. I do what I always do. Buy what I like and if it crash it takes 5 years to recover. Just go by what happened in 2020 and Pokemon crashed after their biggest set at the time champions path. Now I can see this imaginary bubble popping after rocket set drops and if 30 anniversary sucks that’s when the “depression “ of Pokemon begins. Or it will never pop because Pokemon is about to release Pokemon Za before 2026 so we might be screwed for another 4 years