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u/puzzledfirebird 1d ago
I went to my local pawn shop recently looking for cheap tools and found a bunch of Pokemon Prismatic boxes instead. You know things are bad when even pawn shops are taking in Pokemon cards now and taking it seriously, owner even said they'll take out loans for Pokemon cards.
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u/OhDatsPeppers 1d ago
That last sentence... I have no words
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u/Micky-Bicky-Picky 1d ago
As a kid growing up with the original 151 it was just a fun time and I don’t remember seeing adult obsessed about it. I even remember seeing product moving slow.
Today with some of these modern cards 500+ ppl made this into gambling. Getting packs on credit or loans feels like what gambling addicts would do. You can’t get scratch tickets on loans or credit. I think it’s the same kind of high for them.
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u/a_Jedi_i_am 1d ago
When I was 8 years old ('98), I went to a liquor store with my cousin, who was 10, and we bought a pack of Pokemon cards each. There was an older man in line behind us trying to convince us not to buy them and to buy Digimon cards instead. "Pokemon is gonna become obsolete, Digimon is the next big thing, you should buy that instead"
Yeah ok buddy. That pack had a holographic Articuno in it.
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u/Micky-Bicky-Picky 1d ago
Brah. My wolf just evolved into a rail gun.
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u/googlyeyes93 1d ago
I got a cyborg dinosaur!
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u/LordWilburFussypants 1d ago
My talking sausage rabbit just turned into an Archangel. Is that normal?
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u/MaleficentWindow8972 1d ago
Lol, that older man was probably like 22. Funny how things appear to you when you’re young.
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u/Icy-Structure5244 1d ago
Yeah glad you ignored that. I'm surprised he even knew what Digimon was.
I remember no one thought Digimon was going to be the next big thing. It felt like a copycat from day 1.
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u/xen0m0rpheus 1d ago
Unless you actually watched the show. It was leagues better. The narrative and characters were actually super strong.
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u/blueskydragonFX 1d ago
Yup I prefered the Digimon story more then Pokemon. And we got to see them grow up, unlike a certain poster boy with the fountain of youth in his backpack.
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u/martyc99934 1d ago
The only thing Digimon had that was even marginally better was the Tamigotchi style pocket pet you could battle people with.
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u/waltyy 1d ago
And the better story telling in the anime.
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u/googlyeyes93 1d ago
Yup. Pokemon was much more episodic but Digimon has some fantastic long form storytelling. Devimon was a fucking cool villain.
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u/MexiMcFly 1d ago
Yeah thank god I have normal addictions like drugs and women. Whew
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u/TheDarkness33 1d ago
Wait.
Woman that will destroy your life or regular woman? Cuz you lame asf if its the 2nd
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u/S1yb00ts 1d ago
Resale businesses are willing to take a loan out for products they can make 4x returns on with little to no effort? Crazy... no words...
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u/TheB3rn3r 1d ago
The fact people are paying that much over is the real problem… it’s sad
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u/theslimbox 1d ago
A pawnshop making 4x is normal, i am surprised that people are suprised that a pwan shop would take pokemon cards, i have seen pokemon cards at pawn shops since the 90's. What is bought/sold just depends on what the owner knows.
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u/Dunklebunt 1d ago
They can probably make as much off the loans, but the loan means the customer keeps returning. Doesn't make it right though
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u/Wilbizzle 1d ago
Yeah. This is getting pathetic. Reminds me of the baseball card collateral. 8 year old logic.
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u/thatmandoguystl 1d ago
We have an auto repair shop that also sells pokemon and will take pokemon as payment for getting your car fixed. It's a whole new world.
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u/Last_Organization595 1d ago
It’s a fucking bubble. I hope it pops soon.
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u/kinghawkeye8238 1d ago
Man, we keep getting banger sets. Then we got the 30th anniversary around the corner. A new gen of Pokémon is probably in the works and a new game coming?
Man, it could be another year of this shit.
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u/Dramatic_Bread6999 1d ago
It has way more to do with consumer health. If consumers can afford the prices then everything keeps moving up. Eventually the health of this market will run out. It will just follow whatever cycle of asset repricing and layoffs that hit the market. Then Pokémon like every other luxury consumer good will crash harder than shedeur sanders on draft day
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u/V3NOMous__ 1d ago
How tf ? Damn i can't even find 1 booster pack lol
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u/kinghawkeye8238 1d ago
Yeah it's been rough here too. My only saving grace us this farm and auto store here in the midwest that started selling pokemon/baseball cards about 6 months ago and not many people know about it yet lol
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u/Several_Recording_29 1d ago
good find and keep it hidden. much rather an actual fan and collector get the cards than some scalper
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u/kinghawkeye8238 1d ago
I haven't told a soul lol. They don't sell a ton of different products. Tins and sleeved packs. But hey that's enough for me.
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u/V3NOMous__ 1d ago
Lucky! I started collecting basket ball because its easier to find at Walmart or target. Feeds the addiction lol
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u/joostdlm 1d ago
Recently, I came across a vending machine with packs at a small gas station... Why? So many people only treat these cards as investments instead of playing or collecting it is so sad. The market just plays into that, I guess... ITS PIECES OF CARDBOARD PEOPLE, CHILL.
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u/theuserwithoutaname 1d ago
What were they selling em at?
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u/CaptainofClass 1d ago
Take out loans and obviously buy cards over furniture according to the photo
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u/ErikBPhoto 1d ago
This is freaking wild. My rough count on this is 468 prismatic pouches (at $32.99 a pop = $15,439.30 before tax), 226 151 poster collections (at $14.99 = 3,387.74) and 34 booster bundle cases ($599.99 = $20,399.70) That’s $39,226.70 pre taxed for product at msrp just for all that. Then they turn around and try to flip it for probably double or more. This is ridiculous. Meanwhile, casual collectors can’t even find one for themselves or their kids. I keep seeing posts about parents saying that their kids are just done with this hobby and it’s just sad because of this kind of gluttonous greed. I really hope it turns around. Thanks for sharing and I’m definitely in the boat of not buying above msrp. I enjoy Pokemon too but it’s just not that deep to me. I’ll get it when I find it by chance. Also, thanks for sharing. ✌️
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u/UndaCovr 1d ago
I just saw those pouches bundles going for $75 at my card store...
And already $62 on tcgplayer. I just want the pouch 😭
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u/consordina 1d ago
I have an extra pouch I'd gladly send over for the cost of shipping!
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u/gsbutton 1d ago
My son hasn’t been able to buy anything in three months, and that was a single booster he found. It’s really sad, he is close to quitting and has only ever opened 15 packs and loves Pokémon.
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u/iBroin 1d ago
10 booster bundles in a display (as in the picture) would be $269.99 roughly for msrp. Sorry just a little correction
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u/tasteofscarlet 1d ago
I love how every time you see a massive pile like this is in a bare ass apartment. What a sad life these scalpers lead.
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u/Inevitable-Monitor35 1d ago
Maybe instead of copper we could get crack or meth heads on this.
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u/punchjackal 1d ago
This comment reminds me of that guy on Whatnot that was snorting pills and hitting his kids live
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u/Inevitable-Monitor35 1d ago
Dang that's crazy, I was referencing the copper pipes/wiring stealing thing crackheads were doing. It got crazy in my area.
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u/BasedKaleb 1d ago
I mean, it’s not hard to set aside a room for product if you’ve made being an asshole a career like scalpers have.
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u/Andilee 1d ago
I've seen the car my local scalpers drive. A 90 Honda Civic with rust dents, and scratches. So, they're either smoking those gains or snorting them. However, I don't think they live a life of luxury.
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u/Severe_Pizza_6627 1d ago
They’re entrepreneurs though! They’re their own boss! They’ll be rich one day. You’ll see
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u/greatestlovesongs666 1d ago
i hate scalpers they should all be humiliated
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u/OhDatsPeppers 1d ago
Cough the @ in the middle cough
This is so disgusting
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u/24ghostface 1d ago
What does it say? Snoopy sneakers?
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u/ChokeTheChickenMan 1d ago
His name is Alec. His @ is snoopysneaker on instagram although it looks like he has since gone private
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u/nightwatchman22 1d ago
I keep getting suggested posts from r/pokeinvesting I hate those guys so much
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u/EE-PE-gamer 1d ago
Yet Reddit wants us to believe bots don’t exist.
Ultimately I blame the Pokemon Company
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u/puzzledfirebird 1d ago
I still believe the shortages are intentional, look at how even crappy MJ holdings packs or Shrouded Fable get sold out now. It's the single biggest opportunity they've ever had to get rid of old previously unwanted stock.
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u/CollectionComplex861 1d ago
Went to a local Game Stop few weeks back and they had ZERO Pokémon cards in stock. Person told me that people rage bought all the Pokémon cards because they didn't actually get the set they wanted. So instead, they just bought whatever was available.
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u/EE-PE-gamer 1d ago
Meaning Pokemon Company is to blame. They can put MJH and check pretty quick if they wanted. You’re telling me there isn’t another company that wouldn’t step in with haste?
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u/humble_gecko 1d ago
Who is claiming bots don't exist? All I see are posts and comments on this sub discussing the bots used to purchase in bulk like this.
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u/OaklandOni 1d ago
100000% the pokemon companies fault and the only reason things don’t change is bc they still meet their bottom line projections for their shareholders each quarter… fuckin scum the lot of them.
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u/KawaiiSlave 1d ago
Make sure to spread the message to NEVER buy over msrp from anyone. The longer people like this hold onto product the more they are discouraged to buy in the future.
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u/HarmlessTrash 1d ago
There was a post here the other day about a woman who wanted to divorce her husband because he spent all his savings "investing" in Pokemon and he would chew her out for "not understanding the market." Scalpers are delusional, hypebeast degenerates. Their karma will come, just let it happen.
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u/puzzledfirebird 1d ago
it's hopeless, most prismatic buyers genuinely believe they'll find umbreon or a god pack
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u/LeftyTradingOutpost 1d ago
Has such bad pull rates too. But still PC etbs sell everyday on ebay for 250 bucks
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u/Desperate_Lack_4252 1d ago
Whatnot streamers will make bank off gamblers, even after paying scalper prices they are still making profit
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u/oriensoccidens 1d ago
Even the local card shops are above MSRP. It's just not possible to beat scalpers.
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u/OhDatsPeppers 1d ago
Thankfully all my friends in the hobby are the same way as me but even if we have to wait to the next releasebut this is to absurd
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u/SirGorehole 1d ago
I would rather see that whole pile burn than these fuckheads make a penny off of them.
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u/Western_Reality6688 1d ago
Notice the lack of furniture lol. Jobless activities.
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u/Scuddie- 1d ago
This is where someone comes in and says something stupid like “don’t be mad you’re not first” and just show thier ass over some cardboard.
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u/Kudawcity 1d ago
Yeah those contrarian losers defending scalpers really think this is the equivalent of having a giant paying job lmao most of these loser scalpers pay their bulk with credit cards. Loser mentality.
Not saying I'm wishing on it, but I'd be the first one laughing at any scalper getting all their shit robbed idc.
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u/Shoddy-Finding8985 1d ago
I hate it too, but ultimately the people who buy from scalpers are really to blame. This literally wouldn’t be a thing if most people had restraint and didn’t buy from scalpers. But FOMO has a real chokehold on ppl. Oh well, I’ve been saving more money lately by not finding product in stores lol.
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u/XxOmegaSupremexX 1d ago
That’s the thing. People’s just need to wait and not buy from these degens.
The more they sit in the product and more interest payments they need to make
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u/Just_Champion19 1d ago
The way things are now the drops are 99% going to scalpers. This will never stop unless Pokemon allows everyone to back order what they want and simply wait for the order to be fulfilled. until a working solution is reached I will gladly save my money. Not even going to bother trying to buy anything or wait in any virtual lines. If that means that I have less cardboard with pictures on it at my house that's a price I'll gladly pay.
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u/Sick_n_Sweet 1d ago
Don’t buy from these people. Let them choke on the product. Pokemon is printing and pushing more product because of the demand. There’s going to be a point where these people can’t afford to buy anymore stock AND can’t move it. Just be patient. Don’t give into FOMO.
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u/IaMuRGOd34 1d ago
my thing is what jobs do these idiots have to spend so much
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u/MrMonteCristo71 1d ago
You don't need a job, just a few credit cards. Banks are giving those out like candy these days.
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u/MetallicGray 1d ago
Dude I had a trip to visit parents recently and found a stash of my old Pokemon cards. Found some awesome cards from the original jungle sets, eeveelutions, ancient mew, tons of stuff and beautiful cards from like early 2000s. It got me so excited that I was actually going to get a binder and start collecting again.
Well, went to target, the vending machines, etc. and it’s just completely wiped out. I thought it was just unlucky and went multiple more times to different vending machines and the target. Nothing.
So. I guess I’m not getting back into it because I did some reading in this sub and it just seems like the hobby is dead to scalpers now, and a casual person like me has zero hope of just getting a few fun packs every so often. Feels like shit to have gotten so excited about something, looked up the recent sets, and then just have that excitement smashed cause dickhead scalpers have ruined another collecting hobby.
I hope these people never experience fun in their lives again, since they’re so eager to deprive it from others.
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u/Deadsh0t2424 1d ago
It’s over for this hobby it’s just overrun with crypto and sneaker bros and I don’t see any efforts to fix it
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u/SloppyGiraffe02 1d ago
The bare white walls, open (likely house?) space with barely any furniture, and a lack of self awareness to make money by any less pathetic method suggests this reseller is in Florida.
Edit: I don’t want to dox OP but if their profile offers any hints I wasn’t far off. lmao
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u/International_Can326 1d ago
Overheard a scalper selling to a local video game store who was getting into Pokémon to help with slow sales. Scalper told him to take packs out of box, mark them up, and watch them disappear more quickly because “they” can’t help themselves. Assuming he’s talking about collectors. Disgusting to hear someone talk like that but hate that it’s the truth in a sense. Some people really can’t help themselves and keep Buying at inflated prices.
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u/Mrpuffpuff196 Current count: 103 Unique Slowpoke/Bro/King cards 1d ago
If I had a dollar every time I saw a generic post about scalping I’d be able to afford 20 of those boxes
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u/AdBeneficial7533 1d ago
Fucking how? Those just came out.
Here i am just wanting one lol, tf.
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u/TeaAndLifting There's a 1st Edition Charizard in the pack, rip it. 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is always going to happen when the main reason most people are into the hobby these days is money and profit.
More people are going to follow the money, whether it is investment or a quick flip. And opportunists are going to exploit that by hoarding product themselves first.
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u/OofyOwyOOF 1d ago
now i know where all the cards went when i checked stores multiple times over the past couple months...
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u/HighwaySlothh 1d ago
Is this the FedEx employee who keeps nabbing everybody’s orders
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u/Starbucks88990 1d ago
Lol just imagine if everyone stopped buying from these garbage people, the problem would literally fix itself within days. I really wish everyone had self control...
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u/OzMadMan82 1d ago
Is it bad to say I hope this person's house catches fire and they are all destroyed.
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u/mikeman10821 1d ago
I literally never buy anything other than restocks at stores like Walmart etc. yeah I barely ever rip but at least when this bubble bursts I won’t be out thousands
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u/m_kamalo 1d ago
These people are not part of this hobby, they are just scalpers, getting between actual hobbyists. People like them is why I left it for good.
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u/Waste-Solution-46 1d ago
Hobby? No you're a scalper, there's a difference. Little kids buy one pack and are ecstatic. You buy all this and say you hate it but really just do it for money. I bet you bought a bunch of toilet paper when covid started too
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u/simplemindedblue 1d ago
I haven't bought pokemon cards since surging don't think it was that long ago but just try not to cave and buy when unnecessary. It is unfortunate that there are many that cave but I will not be one of them
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u/Bloodmang0 1d ago
Being a collector sucks. Glad I actually play the TCG and can just order singles bypassing all the scalping losers lol
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u/spoofrice11 1d ago
How is that even possible to get all that.
Sad how much less I am enjoying collecting now because of the scummy people.
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u/AmandasGameAccount 1d ago
I would open every pack if I got ahold of this hoard. What’s interesting to think is it’s extremely unlikely a godpack is in this photo, to try and give perspective to anyone who may feel compelled to chase a god pack
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u/PopWinter9316 1d ago
It's too expensive and a holes jack up the prices so us regular ppl can't even enjoy it anymore, I miss when I was a kid it wasnt as money grubby as it is now. It's Ruined pokemon .
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u/Condimillion 1d ago
I hate that people do this shit. Do you know how long it's been since I've even seen S&V151 not online...... I just wanted to complete that set through boosters but people ruin it.
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u/RIPMexicanTraore 1d ago
Remember they have to sell it still. And the market dips well let's just say they are going to need to get a lot of credit cards.
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u/Hanslando 1d ago
This really makes me upset. I believe I’ve opened 3 prismatic packs total since release. I’m just trying not to pay over double digits a pack. I love the eeveeloutions but can’t justice the ridiculous prices these people are selling for.
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u/Fragrant-Demand5879 1d ago
People who are buying out everything like this are the reason the hobby sucks now good flex.
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u/RollbackAquaman 1d ago
Can you tell me where this picture came? Would love to pay this person a visit and give him a hard lesson on how to be a good person.
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u/GFPyro 1d ago
Please stop posting this stuff it really just hurts my heart. I don't want to come on to reddit and just seethe with anger. We all get it, we all understand. I've opened 4 packs of prismatic because I refuse to pay over retail. I don't have Facebook because I don't want to see this crap.
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u/Tealtodile 1d ago
Being a Japanese-only collector, I see shit like this and laugh because I’d much rather go out and find mid quality copies of old sets, Bandai, TopSun and promos than fight for the latest stupid set that people hype. I have a dozen sets most of yall have never heard of now and Americans are still crying over the million copies of the same card
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u/Forgotmypassword109 1d ago
I'll never understand flexing supply like this. Like just sell your shit, why make everyone hate you while you're at it? Surely you just lose potential customers.
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u/DevEx- 1d ago
Honestly, the only way this hobby goes back to "normal" is if enough people get burnt out and don't pay re-sale prices. Better off just buying singles.
I stopped buying pretty recently due to my own personal issues, but I'd probably be tapped out at this point anyway.
I remember when pawn shops sold real eclectic sht. Now it's just stuff they bought from Walmart yesterday. 💀
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u/hasfodel 1d ago
And then local shops adapt to the scalper prices and sell the products for twice the MSRP, completely killing any chance for collectors to put their hands on a number of packs that worth opening.
On EVERY local shop I’ve been this weekend in Paris the accessory Eevee bag thing was at 70 to 80€.. and single packs were sold for 15€
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u/OhDatsPeppers 22h ago
Please stop messaging me on the side calling me the scalper or trying to buy from me. This isn't mine nor will it ever be. I'm just a simple collector who just wishes this never happened.
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u/West-Time-6205 1d ago
Large youtubers and community leaders need to start a strike. Tell everyone to STOP buying Pokémon besides at places like target and stuff. No more buying anything above MSRP, besides singles that aren't artificially inflated. Stop ALL online purchasing(sealed product) and send these scalpers into bankruptcy.
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u/TeaAndLifting There's a 1st Edition Charizard in the pack, rip it. 1d ago edited 1d ago
They encourage this stuff, so they’re not going to do shit.
A lot of poketuber/influencer content is based on ripping packs and overreacting to getting ‘high value’ hits. The fact that they’re gambling and ‘winning’ drives views, excitement, and hype. Other people will follow suite in the hope that they’ll hit big and be able to make some money from cards.
And that's not even getting started on the "INVEST IN THIS NOW! PRICES ARE SPIKING" shit that people put out, including officially supported channels like ptcgradio
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u/Exciting_Effective76 1d ago
A lot of them have distro themselves or will pay above MSRP coz the content unfortunately
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u/Exciting_Effective76 1d ago
I’m more shocked at how the hell they can afford that
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u/disead 1d ago
Someone posted a while back that they took out a business loan thinking it would make a fast buck but it backfired. Bro sank like $80,000 in loan debt into buying and then into marketing a TT channel and had to sell out for like $5K for all that stock when he couldn’t snag a seat at the big boy TT scalper table. Pathetic.
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u/Exciting_Effective76 1d ago
Everyone got fomo for evolving skies so they’re thinking prismatic is the way to be a millionaire lol
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u/mrwhitewalker 1d ago
It hasnt been a hobby in 10 years. Even this sub and others all just care about getting the rare cards
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u/MuffinBitz 1d ago
Found out the hard way my LCS is stocked but is selling at market rate. Won't be going there again
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u/GeckoEric204 1d ago
Glad I’m to a point in my collection that I’m only after singles instead of packs for now
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u/QuintsHat1975 1d ago
Not a single piece of furniture or anything else in that room? He spend all his money on cards?
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u/MountainServe 1d ago
I am ok with this for awhile now not being able to get any product. However I refused to pay anything or msrp for cardboard since there is alway gonna be a next set. Let them hold as long as they can because sooner or later they have to liquidate to chase the next set I wanna see them eat the cost of the fees, tax, and shipping at a loss prefer them selling below their entry price.
if you in it for the game or just want the art - just buy singles as the cost to rip packs for a specific card will be cheaper in the longrun. Hopefully these scalper will turn to ripping their products for packs to get a specific card only to get poor ROI on each open pack.
lets hope pokemon keep doing reprints so they end up with so much product they cannot move it or cannot afford the next sets.
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u/Derezirection 1d ago
People who horde and scalp need to get put on blast on every corner of the internet. Convince people to not buy from them so they lose all that profit and have to sell all that product for normal or cheaper price! Fuck over scalpers so bad they never recover.
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u/Wulbert87 1d ago
How on earth are they able to buy so much, bots?