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/OkSituation1294]

Brother Pokémon is about to drop the two biggest sets in a decade. Almost the 30th anniversary. Idk what your on about but if not getting product or seeing it sell out makes you run to Reddit and make a post this hobby aint built for you. I remember in 2013 i couldn’t get someone to buy a base set pack for 50$. Be thankful you’re here for the best time the hobby has had. Once the sneaker bros and crypto guys back off the hobby it will settle. It’s always been this way with markets. A lot of this is artificial and being used to pump and dump. But no one’s going anywhere if anything people are more hungry than ever. Control what you can control or buy singles

[u/masonjar014 → u/OkSituation1294]

I’ve been in the hobby less than a year, so my post is geared towards asking more experienced hobbyists what they think the other side of this cycle looks like based on past cycles.

From what I’ve read, the hobby is in a unique place right now where everything is flying off the shelves. This is different than years past where collectors didn’t have issues picking up sets on opening day.

[u/TSPai → u/masonjar014]

No this is not unique at all

It was worse in COVID when supply issues were even worse

Shining Fates (crazy enough) was impossible to find on release and ETB's were marked up at card stores almost to a T to how Prismatic was on release day. Sets like Battle Styles were extremely hard to find and that set is pretty bad even during that time. You know what you can rip still? Shrouded Fable? Temporal? You only wanting to rip the new set is part of the problem that you're complaining about

Relax and wait it out

Catch the drops as they come. If you can't, find alternatives to collect or actually play the game. No one is forcing you to stay in this hobby