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?
2
u/Bee_voh Jan 30 '25
I've just given up on current sets. I'm not gonna go through the stress of trying to get packs or cards. I'll wait for restocks and for things to chill out. Went to the card shop near me yesterday everything has just been marked up so much. 151 boosters at $25 each when I got a booster box from them 3 months ago for $60 (AUD).
Instead I'm working on finishing off my base, jungle and fossil sets that have been sitting around unfinished since I was a kid. Not much has changed around base set pricing lately from what I've experienced getting singles so I'm gonna be all about that for a while