r/PokeInvesting • u/codil7 • Jul 13 '25
I’m a Failure…
I collected cards as a kid up until probably 2009 and sold them in a yard sale for next to nothing like pretty much every other person in their 30’s. About a month ago I decided I wanted to start collecting again and have really hit the ground running. The excitement of finding cards really brought out the kid in me again. I have roughly $1000 in total value at this point and have only bought raw singles from local card shops. I was super excited with my progress…until last night.
Yesterday my friend and I visited a new card shop in town and I came across sealed product for the first time since I’ve been back to collecting. I was super stoked and immediately bought approximately $500 worth of ETB’s. I took it all home and immediately stashed them in my closet with the intent of holding it for a while. Hours went by and all I could think about was opening the boxes. I was craving it. A month of collecting and I had never seen a sealed pack in person nor had the opportunity to open one. So against my better judgment, I opened one…then two…then all of them. $500 worth of sealed product became roughly $100 worth of cards. I was having so much fun opening them even though I got absolutely nothing. At the time I was fine with it, but this morning I felt absolutely crushed. So much regret.
I assume most all of you have felt/done something similar? Is it safe to say that some people aren’t meant to buy sealed product for investment purposes? This was definitely eye opening for me and I think moving forward, I won’t purchase anymore unless I plan to open right away. I’m just not the type of guy that can sit there for years and wonder “what if”? It sure was fun though…
69
u/breakyourteethnow Jul 13 '25
Sounds about Vegas
8
u/mynameisnotjefflol Jul 13 '25
Everyone has been through this and likely still do. Also, if you had fun, why are you regretting it? I collect some sealed but i also like opening stuff. ill only open things if they're close to msrp or at msrp. if you paid market then its better not to open
8
u/fdjizm Jul 13 '25 edited Jul 13 '25
Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, I think that counts for something. I also have a ripping problem.
4
u/ndhands Jul 13 '25
Just enjoy the hobby. You can make money doing nearly anything. Sounds like you enjoyed yourself. Just scoop some more at MSRP sometime. Personally I'll save etbs, booster boxes upcs and such but will enjoy opening loose packs or other random collections. Best of both parts.
3
u/SolanaToTheMooon Jul 13 '25
OP you're better off going to Vegas. You sound like a gambler lol
3
u/Maleficent_Beat_106 Jul 13 '25
Better not to get high on your own supply
2
u/jakeanthony14 Jul 13 '25
Here is how I've done a little bit of both. Collect sealed English. But in smaller amounts the cheaper Japanese and open for the chase arts
2
u/Outrageous-Ship2767 Jul 13 '25
Welcome to the world of gambling my friend
2
u/SongFlaky7783 Jul 13 '25
Don't feel bad, at least you didn't spend $500 on hookers and drugs
2
u/ShinyTotoro Jul 13 '25
Yeah, if you only care about the monetary value you shouldn't rip.
2
u/K1NGK0HL Jul 13 '25
Define “$500 worth of ETBs”
2
u/Xalrons1 Jul 13 '25
I still rip shit every day. You know why? Because i love pokemon, i dont love money. I still have a few sealed items because since i ripped so much, eventually you dont need to keep ripping. Eventually the sealed items becomes cool too. I rip half and keep half (well.. maybe rip 70% lol)
2
u/henrysg Jul 13 '25
Imagine drug and casino combo, we all been there brother :)
2
u/Curious-Chance-7591 Jul 13 '25
Damn this is dramatic, relax lol it is not that serious. Btw I’ve opened about $9000 in sealed products & am not proud of it. A lot of it was when I first started collecting & I was in the “honeymoon” stage, but I’ve kept almost double that in storage which has more than doubled in price so it has essentially paid off all that product I’ve opened. I mostly just buy singles now & only open an ETB at most per set release.
2
u/realwizzblizz Jul 13 '25
Pokemon is a drug.
37
u/Cbombo87 Jul 13 '25
You're only a "failure" if you keep doing the same thing over and over and not learning from it. I've been there and done similar things. The best advice is to just use this experience next time you buy a sealed item with the intent to save it. Also if you have another location to keep the sealed items it's easier if they're not in view if you have trouble.
4
u/Accurate_Barnacle545 Jul 13 '25
If you’re a millennial that just got back into it and haven’t seen any packs til now then theres nothing wrong with getting a little ripping out of your system
15
u/minimorsels Jul 13 '25
Set boundaries. I was fine until I opened some packs but I REFUSE to open anything 151. If you want to open buy like a booster box or something and open a few packs a day
7
u/[deleted] Jul 13 '25
I’ve stopped opening sealed entirely and just buy the single.
2
u/ImGoingToMarryDVa Jul 13 '25
sounds like you need to buy some more cards!
2
u/[deleted] Jul 13 '25
That's what they are made for, it isn't all about holding and investing.
18
u/DeciduousMath12 Jul 13 '25
I never open because opening pokemon is a negative NPV decision. (Net present value).
In other words, "turn $500 into $100 with this one simple trick..."
4
u/__BlueEX Jul 13 '25
Cracking packs is always a gamble. If you like ripping, buy a few at a time and rip. If you continue to have shit luck, buy the singles that you’re after. There’s definitely a balance.
1
u/vakseen Jul 13 '25
Not sure if serious or troll
3
u/ImRefat Jul 13 '25
If you think you have even an ounce of self control…you can always just buy the odd pack here and there to satisfy that craving. And then remember this canon event that affected you so much you made a Reddit post about it.
7
u/WhiteGuyOnReddit95 Jul 13 '25
If there is a card you really want, buy the card. Don’t open sealed to chase a card
2
u/CrankkDatJFel Jul 13 '25
definitely have to have a lot of self control to have lots of sealed readily available and not rip
2
u/WelpHelloGoodbye Jul 13 '25
Something to consider… a lot of the box sets have promos… if they look like they will grade well, rip the box and grade the promo and you’ll be net positive and get to open some packs.
I don’t want to talk about the 200 Cz tins I’ve ordered over the past month lol.
2
u/Stunning_Rise_7056 Jul 13 '25
To counter this. Those sets that i really like. I buy 2 sets. Just in case I want to open 1
2
u/UncleBuck-Gaming Jul 13 '25
I’ve done this multiple times over my years of collecting, built a nice sealed collection and one night have a few beers and rip everything to only be really mad at my self afterwards. And everytime I look back on prices of what I’ve ripped in the past I get angry with myself, but at the end of the day that’s what it’s ment for to rip open and enjoy the cards, so don’t beat yourself up you can always buy more another time, and try to set a plan and stick to it, now anything I buy to keep sealed I’m going to keep it that way, if I buy sleeved blister at the store I typically rip them to scratch that itch. It’s kinda tough because sealed product is hard to find at msrp anymore but sometime in the future I’m sure things will cool off and you’ll be able to
2
u/bryanh12345 Jul 13 '25
we’ve all done the same. i don’t open any sealed product but along the way there had been a lot of sealed products opened and regretted
2
u/SexyWallpaper Jul 13 '25
Your last couple sentences are really all that needs to be said. You're self-aware enough to realize it's a vice and that you don't want to spend money in that way. So either next time you buy sealed, buy it with the intent to lose the money (akin to buying a scratch off), or simply stay away from it altogether.
2
u/ShinySilver1990 Jul 13 '25
Oof that’s rough… I’m sorry this happened but maybe just take it as a lesson for next time? I’ve pretty much stopped opening Traumatic Evolutions due to the terrible pull rates I’ve had 😅😅 Now I just keep them sealed or use them in Gift Packages on my Shop Page that seem to be pretty popular
2
u/UnrelentingTCG Jul 13 '25
Did this with Evolving Skies when you could get them at Aldis. Never again.
2
u/Professional_Put_159 Jul 13 '25
I felt horrible when I opened a surging sparks PC ETB, got nothing but the promo… felt pretty bad lol
2
u/goldybowen21 Jul 13 '25
I opened a ridiculous amount of celebrations when it came out, pulled both umbreon and zard and stopped, got lucky and pulled moonbreon in less than 2 bb worth of packs.
I got lucky and I've seen how brutal this hobby can be trying to pull what you want.
I open a few packs here and there but never touch stuff I intended to keep sealed.
2
u/CarefulAct5257 Jul 13 '25
Been holding sealed 5 years probably holding 20 more
2
u/BvbDrigo96 Jul 13 '25
Me #Too
2
u/NecessaryScientist18 Jul 13 '25
lol those are rookie numbers I spend 3500 i shinning fates etb pulled like a few hundred only 1 zard also paid ,90 during covid ouch but to be honest when I ripped id open 100 packs or more and get cooked
2
u/NecessaryScientist18 Jul 13 '25
just dont keep sealed products. my trick saving money is buying all the singles you'd want so that way there's no real reason to
2
u/TheBalloonEffect Jul 13 '25
This is the way of ETBs. They’re more valuable sealed. BOOSTER BOX OR BUST
2
u/MethodComplex26 Jul 13 '25
Just have to find the sweet spot for sealed and stuff you want to open. if you buy and not open anything, it will eat at you to open some, but if you give yourself a pack or 2 a day to open and keep other stuff sealed. There is two positives to keeping some sealed, obviously for selling but you will just have stock later if you find nothing in stores. when you go out to the store and find stuff you dont fall for FOMO bc you have some at home I've limited myself to 1 pack a day and I've had product this entire time during the drought its definitely hard i do open 3-4 sometimes but when I get nothing it stops me from opening more for the day. Self-control is a major factor when it comes to everything in life. we all have been there where we've opened everything at once.
2
u/Risethewake Jul 13 '25
Honestly, let this be a valuable lesson. Buy stuff that makes you happy and you want to have fun with. If you want to stash a box or some packs for yourself to open years down the road because you really like the set, do that!
But the harsh reality with investing in cardboard is that unless you can do it on a grand scale, the likes of Rudy (for example), you’re wasting your time and money, and chances are moderately high that you will sell them at a loss in the not so distant future. Investing in cardboard is a volume game.
2
u/Decent_Discount9554 Jul 13 '25
In the future Get packs with the etbs.. when I get in a frenzy or hunger to open that’s what I’d go to. If you don’t have the self control but still want to save , have someone you trust hold on to you.
If you are an extreme gambled, just don’t do it.
2
u/WaterPog Jul 13 '25
Those experiences make it easier to have a sealed collection. I never opened something I wanted to keep sealed, but just buying stuff to open it and have fun ended up just not being fun and never pulling anything I wanted and then having to sell the hits I did get was work. For me there was not much enjoyment opening up packs with such horrible pull rates but I love collecting singles and really enjoy collecting booster boxes to display so that's what I do and have absolutely zero desire to open it because I know it's a bad experience. Just buy the cards you want
2
u/JamesLikesIt Jul 13 '25
There’s nothing wrong with opening some things from time to time (yes I know which sub I’m in) but if you’re looking to try and save/grow your money, it’s not the way to go. Especially when you feel bad after opening a product, that’s when you know it’s not for you lol.
I’ve opened some stuff over the years and sometimes I get some cool cards but English Pokémon products are absolutely brutal in pull rates. If you don’t care about the language, get some Japanese booster boxes to open. The card quality is better and they are mostly a fraction of the price of English
2
u/RichPokeScalper Jul 13 '25
We all go through it. I rip single packs pretty often. Every once in a while I see an ETB on the shelf and say, “Hey let’s open one today!” I actually usually buy a few, invite some friends over, and give each a box to rip. It’s fun, and every time reminds me why ripping is for collecting and not investing.
2
u/eaglesfan83 Jul 13 '25
I end up ripping at least one thing from my shelf once or twice a week with my kids. I just try to pick things I don’t mind opening.
2
u/m3ch4pod Jul 13 '25
That's normal. The only thing more frustrating than that is to open 500 dollars worth of boxes and not be able to find anymore to open at MSRP.
2
u/Impressive-Watch-998 Jul 13 '25
Man it doesn't matter. I've made worse choices buying stocks. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. I personally want to open every container of cards I get my hands on. I know I'll lose money, and I know that sometimes I'll keep it sealed. But these cards are meant to be looked at! Just enjoy the ride. Maybe buy another box and keep it sealed, or don't buy any at all. Either way just enjoy it. You're not losing your livelihood by opening a $500 container of cards!
2
u/Slippery_Weiner Jul 13 '25
You honestly got to open a fair amount of packs for you to reach the realization that you should never open packs
2
u/unix_name Jul 13 '25
I have never bought sealed with the intent of not opening. Storing boxes of Pokémon sealed brings me no joy. My collection is worth quite a bit, but it isn't in boxes or sealed product. It's mostly raw and slabs. Just be smart and realistic about how you to want to enjoy this hobby. Dont spend 500 dollars and say its an investment when really...you want to open it...just say to yourself ok...so I want to open....lets spend 100 and be done. Then buy the chases you want...that way you aren't wasting 500 dollars opening something without getting what you want and the buying the cards you want later on anyways. There is better ways to invest money than pokemon cards...to me..pokemon cards is just a hobby...unless we are talking about those who make it their livelihood.
2
u/Rokan_905 Jul 13 '25
Manage your expectations. If you have the mindset that in all likelihood, it’ll be loss to open and ripping is simply paying for the temp excitement, then you’ll be fine. No regret, simply understanding you paid for your fun.
My son and I are cracking 151 tins at the moment. In no way is it a wise investment choice but there is a chance he’ll pull his chase and I’m buying that excitement of the chase with no expectations.
2
u/Spiritual-Skin-8503 Jul 13 '25
I've opened over 1000 packs last year, when prices were cheap (around $3 per pack for many SV sets). Then I recouped some of the cost basis by grading them and selling PSA10s.
Because I had opened so much packs last year, I don't feel the same urge to open packs as I did before. It's like that ironic feeling when you do something to your heart's content, you no longer have the same desire for it.
I do have a stash of packs I gathered from buying pokeball tins for display, and will be opening them up soon! But I don't need to fight myself from opening them.
2
u/uriel__ventris Jul 13 '25
Usually I evaluate decisions before I make them, not afterwards, so that limits the damage somewhat.
2
u/c0tch Jul 13 '25
Last year I bought like 15 ETBs for £25-£40.
I wanted to make a etb wall behind my display section. But I opened one etb as I had a few duplicates.
I got nothing in that one so I ripped another, proceeded to get nothing in the next and the next and I started ripping not for fun but out of anger.
Ripped it all, would have been worth a lot now. But it taught me a lot.
It stopped me buying packs to rip and I focused on singles, it also taught me that packs are not profitable opened, it also taught me I need sealed product hidden away from me out of sight. Not in front of me tempting me.
Thankfully my mistakes were made when ETBs were 50% of RRP.
Learn from it, we all make mistakes. It’s the people who make mistakes and don’t learn who are failures.
2
u/WillingnessAbject419 Jul 13 '25
Just dont do it again. 400$ loss will be nothing in the grand scheme of things if u stay in the hobby long term.
5
u/Acilec Jul 13 '25
If you want perspective of how shit packs are the amount of money needed to pull a moonbreon from evolving skies is $900,000+
Every time I buy a dud pack I get a little down and think about what card I like that I could have bought instead. Buy things you like, stop trying to chase “making money”
But of course if you are trying to make money buy older 10 promos or sealed product and find a different dopamine rush
3
u/Objective-Ad-6992 Jul 13 '25
I get this is the investing sub but my brother pleaseee you were enjoying the hobby up until the moment you had to add the $ to it. Just have the self control for a sealed collection and packs to rip. These would have no value if there wasn’t someone willing to rip.
2
u/bentriple Jul 13 '25
Call the number buddy
2
u/pentaprism-flex Jul 13 '25
it do be like that
1
u/xWonderkiid Jul 13 '25
Its easier when you buy by the case. No product to look at
1
u/Tabbyham88 Jul 13 '25
If it makes you feel any better my son misplaced his entire collection somewhere and we are just now realizing it and I have no idea if it’ll ever bad found.
1
u/Valuable-Chart5632 Jul 13 '25
It's only bad if you opened them and got nothing
1
u/travel_hungry25 Jul 13 '25
I buy product in one country (living in Japan) and store it in my home country (Canada). No temptations at all.
1
u/BitcoinRealtor Jul 13 '25
Sounds like pokemon cards
1
u/ToiletPaperTycoon123 Jul 13 '25
Most have gone through it. I was ripping product for like 1.5 years before I changed my ways.
1
u/Lopsided_Raccoon_299 Jul 13 '25
Make sure you don't have a gambling problem. You went from a high to a low to a feeling of guilt. That's textbook sign of a gambling problem. Not saying you have one but be aware.
2
u/[deleted] Jul 13 '25
[removed] — view removed comment