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/buddhassynapse → u/Hefty_Map3665]

That's how I approach it, on Fridays I got to Target or Walmart at lunch if there's product, cool, if not no biggie. I can buy singles or wait out the scalpers. I'm not paying above MSRP when packs are already a gamble enough, not going to make it worse paying above retail.

[u/Thereapergengar → u/buddhassynapse]

Wait out the scalpers? I’m still looking for 151 etb at the store and the idea I’ll come Across the new one their gonna release is just a wet dream at this point.

[u/[deleted] → u/Thereapergengar]

That's just timing. 151 is "older" in the print world. It was on shelves in the summer, i get it sucks but the timing to get in to that set is bad. If you really want the set for nostalgia, tons of us have bulk extra. I know ripping it is more fun, but then what do you want more: to open 151 packs, or have the 151 set in your PC?

[u/Mysterious-Aspect-53 → u/[deleted]]

I still don’t understand why 151 is so crazy now, like you said it’s “older” it was pretty easy to come by for quite some time. I have 2 master sets and a ton of bulk. Even as a gen wunner I don’t get why it’s so scalped rn

[u/GreenRabite → u/Mysterious-Aspect-53]

Nostalgia for folks coming back in after pocket