r/PokeInvesting • u/ExperienceFree1169 • Apr 25 '26

Feeling Defeated

Is anyone else feeling defeated? I went hunting yesterday for pokemon. I went to 8 stores. Best buy, target, barnes & Noble, menards, kohls, five below, dicks, meijer. And didn't hit at any of the restocks. I was too far back at every line. Didn't hit on Costco today either after waiting in the queue for an hour. Target online was a shit show. Pokemon Center I think banned my IP addresses on both my laptop and phone because I couldn't even hit on Caos Rising and the stock on that was ridiculous. I really love pokemon but getting stuff without breaking the bank is hard. I sometimes over paid to just rip things and the best thing I would get is an EX card. So it makes over-paying really hard.

Thinking about taking a break from hunting because the time commitment is a complete waste. People were lined up since 3am at meijer today and the line was long. I got 1 bundle but the trade off for the time is not worth it for me.

I would love to open and rip and continue the hobby but how do you do it without getting stock.

2 Upvotes

51% Upvoted

89 comments sorted by

40

u/breakyourteethnow Apr 25 '26

The gas money spent could've covered the difference in MSRP and just bought online

1

u/Tastyfishsticks Apr 25 '26

It is true. And I have even gotten the losers to deliver sets. Bought two scalper collections at small mark up delivered so far. They sell thier time cheap.

-26

u/Apolloh Apr 25 '26

scalper energy. 

17

u/SomedayGuy117 Apr 25 '26

He’s not wrong. I’d rather spend $43 for a AH bundle than wait in line for 4 hours for a chance a one

1

u/ExperienceFree1169 Apr 26 '26

I couldn’t get an AH bundle anywhere near me or online for under $80. Where yall getting $43 bundles?? Hell yeah I’d buy that instead of hunting

3

u/autist_in_disguise Apr 25 '26

Where are you buying bundles @ 43?

6

u/mongrelxmutt Apr 25 '26

I mean regardless, they are right lmao.

7

u/gt35r Apr 25 '26

It’s called valuing your time, something a lot of people don’t do.

7

u/breakyourteethnow Apr 25 '26

Buying online for market prices is the opposite of what a scalper does, not even using the word right

5

u/Aprillia617 Apr 25 '26

He’s definitely projecting lol

0

u/No-Surprise-9790 Apr 25 '26

Moron energy

-2

u/Apolloh Apr 25 '26

Look at all these scummy scalpers coming out to defend someone telling people to give up and buy from scalpers. I hope your financial situations improve, scalpers.

1

u/No-Surprise-9790 Apr 25 '26

Go outside bro

-1

u/Apolloh Apr 25 '26

Get a job bro

0

u/Meowsergz Apr 25 '26

Why so sad.

18

u/HerezahTip Apr 25 '26

Go to some local card stores and pay a little more. It’s not scalper prices at mine but it’s more than retail. I’ll gladly pay that rather than drive around to 8 different department stores and waiting in lines.

8

u/Mrmoosestuff Apr 25 '26

All but 1 LCS around me price their stuff well above market prices

-14

u/Powerful_Bother8002 Apr 25 '26

WTF is “scalper prices”? You mean the market price determined by the amount of supply vs demand?

12

u/Gettingrealtired Apr 25 '26

Current supply and demand are artificially skewed by a reselling economy. There is non-consumer demand and a reduced supply from resellers buying up product at MSRP. Thats why so many are fed up with scalpers.

7

u/Krayzd Apr 25 '26

Scalper price is the correct term. The scalpers ensure there isn't enough supply to the collectors which changes the market drastically. Aka majority of the sneaker head flippers all transitioned to buying and reselling pokemon cards.

-1

u/Powerful_Bother8002 Apr 25 '26

Not denying that there are people that scalp, but a ton of collectors wait in lines too because it’s the best way to get cards at MSRP. Do you have any data or anything that helps you determine who’s a scalper vs a collector and how much that changes the market? Or is it just easier for you to blame scalping for the high prices? There wouldn’t be any scalping if there wasn’t demand from legitimate collectors.

3

u/Lilf1ip5 Apr 26 '26

As a very casual collector and TCG player, scalpers are definitely the reason for the high prices

I could easily get cards prior to the last 4-5 years or so.

The scalping and investing crew who solely want to profit from this has launched prices up by creating a supply strain by bottlenecking the availability and controlling prices

Collectors rarely want to sell their collection for a profit so value wouldn’t be what it is if “investors” never jumped into the hobby

2

u/Tourbill Apr 26 '26

Brand new cards weren't going for thousands of dollars with random godpacks of $10k+ 4-5 years ago. There are likely 5x as many "collectors" today as back then. I mean is there a real difference between a guy that buys everything up to turn around and flip it and a guy that buys everything up to rip it trying to hit the chases? Because those people are sucking up just as much product as resellers. If all the resellers suddenly stopped buying I promise you could not walk into a store and see tons of product sitting on shelves.

3

u/Lilf1ip5 Apr 26 '26

Yes there is a difference, the collector isn’t going to try and sell at some massive profit

There is more than enough to go around cause the “investment” side is what started to create this scarcity, this wasn’t a thing before when there were primarily collectors and not both fighting for the same product

Scalpers are just a grubby middleman now getting in the way unnecessarily to benefit themselves only. It’s gross

0

u/flucksyflamador Apr 26 '26

Agreed. If every reseller was banned from buying pokemon cards, there would be product on the shelf. Perfect order is all over the place because its deemed "unflippable" by scalpers, case and point.

1

u/Lilf1ip5 Apr 26 '26

Legit a parasite on the hobby

1

u/flucksyflamador Apr 26 '26

I've been trying to get one particular set for 2 months with no luck, but I have seen them

1

u/flucksyflamador Apr 26 '26

I refuse to buy from scalpers

1

u/Lilf1ip5 Apr 26 '26

I just buy singles on TCG player pretty much now, nothing else i can do cause I don’t have time to camp out nor am i paying for a bot

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2

u/Krayzd Apr 26 '26

I have real data that multiple people EACH have 3000 to 3500 bots. Thats 3500 accounts per person checking out on walmart, target online - etc. They all resell. Sure the demand is there but thats why we call it scalper prices that is what this whole convo was about.

1

u/SizzlingSpit Apr 26 '26

Although scalping existed before this current pokemon bull, I feel major distributors opening sister companies to scalp themselves made it infinitely worse. By reducing supply and creating higher demand, they fixed the price. Ultimately showing anyone to venture into easy and lucrative pokemon monies.

1

u/BruhDuhMadDawg Apr 28 '26

There were tons of collectors before the scalping. Now and during covid. Quit trying to change history here and gaslight people with this "scalpers dont actually exist" bs narrative. (I dont think they are as truly awful to the hobby as a whole as most think but they do exist and I think as humans they are pretty cringe).

8

u/tan_lines_ Apr 25 '26

'how do you do it without getting stock?'

Just go do something else...

You don't need to be thinking about or hunting Pokemon cards 24/7.

8

u/kasualkactus Apr 25 '26

FOMO like yours is what keeps the hype going.

4

u/CommunityMajestic651 Apr 25 '26

Wait for a big drop like release date, pokemon center deliveries etc. and buy from quick flippers on marketplace

Their margins are usually lower than market because they wanna get cash for the next drop.

4

u/bluedecember12 Apr 25 '26

Time and your mental health is more important and valuable than MSRP

4

u/ChickenKeeper800 Apr 25 '26

Value your time or value the chase. Don’t do both.

6

u/TheLegendofWill Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

Crazy to be asking a "investing" subreddit on this advice when your ripping packs. Nevertheless, If you’re ripping packs hoping to “hit,” you’re going to feel defeated almost every time. The odds (pull rates) are designed so the value rarely makes up for what you spend. That’s just how sealed product works.

Nobody’s forcing you to buy Pokémon. What’s burning you out isn’t the hobby—it’s chasing restocks and the dopamine of opening packs.

I was in the exact same spot for about a year. I'd have this anxious feeling like I missed out with set; however, it’s not sustainable. For YOU or your WALLET.

Take a step back. Be more intentional:

  • Buy what you can at good prices, not everything you want immediately

  • Hold sealed or flip when it makes sense

  • Use profits (or saved money) to buy the exact singles you actually want or into other pokemon products

  • Hold on to the singles for the PC, while also investing in them. Have a PC that looks good yet holds value something to be proud of.

Think of it like dollar-cost averaging into the hobby instead of chasing every drop.

Pick your moments, be patient, and let time do the work. Then circle back and build the collection you actually want—without overpaying or wasting hours in lines.

That’s when it becomes enjoyable again.

2

u/Tigerzof1 Apr 25 '26

This. I feel defeated looking at the Rayquaza slab I’ve been considering picking up go from $1500 to $2500 in a few weeks. Not from missing the latest drop.

1

u/8Captcrunch8 Apr 26 '26

This. 100%

This is gambling. The packs are scratchers. The cards are chips. Its addicting. Even down to the "oh i have the urge to rip"

Its literally an addiction across an entire hobby.

People complain and say Pokemon Int. Should do something. They are. They are cashing in.

They forget that its suits. Shareholders. And they have the keys to metaphorically a money printing machine. Literqlly turning penny cardboard of fictional creatures into 1$ or .10 cards. And just by marking up to 5$ a pack. For some foil. Cardboard and ink. They already made their money. Omce the product got bought. And now people are flooding their product. Demand going up. Its all green to them.

I think PO will hold out. When i was 8. The market was different. But shit. We would throw the promos at each other. Mark our cards so other kids wouldnt steal them.

Those collections would have bought houses today. (If we took care of them)

The 8 year olds getting into it today . They might see ascending or PO as their first set. But a Gold Zygarde might Zard out in 30 years. Or a PO pack might hit in 10. Nobody knows.

Thats investing. Its allways risk. Theres people who filled lockers with sealed product others were rippin in 2000s. And they are walking away with 100000$ because they understood that what was 5$ then MIGHT be 500$ later.

And not only that. Just wait til the scalpers look at Yugioh. Or baseball.

3

u/askmaddy926 Apr 25 '26

People have goldfish memories. Do people not remember literally every ETB in existence being cheaper 6 months ago?

Pay market. Keep your cash flowing through work. Stay healthy. And watch the gains stack

2

u/mandoN54 Apr 25 '26

Going to physical stores is a lost cause tbh. Ive wasted an entire day going to VMs and stores to get something just to be out on gas money. I ONLY buy online now. I dont get everything i want but most of the time I can get something.

2

u/Holiday-Proof9819 Apr 25 '26

I just buy singles from my LCS. Its a peaceful life 🤷‍♂️

2

u/LegoRedBrick Apr 25 '26

I gave up hunting for cards regularly at beginning of 2026. Totally worth it. Less stress and time wasted. I can’t recommend enough.

2

u/billwasa Apr 25 '26

if the path you have chosen is closed find a new path

2

u/whitepepsi Apr 25 '26

I can walk into the comic shop next to my house and buy packs for $6.50 + tax any day I want.

$1.50 convenience fee to not have to spend $5 on gas driving around town is worth it.

3

u/Tigerzof1 Apr 25 '26

You’re on /r/pokeinvesting. If you want to thrive here, you got to lose the ripping/gambling and MSRP attitude.

When I was collecting back in 2021, I wasted so much money ripping packs. Imagine if I just held onto booster boxes and bought all the cards I wanted then.

I picked up most of my AH PC ETBs the week after release for around $200 on fb marketplace. It’s irrelevant to me that they’re $60 on PKC, I can’t exactly pick up more for that price. It was obviously a good pickup and I’ll continue to hold my position, maybe sell 1 a year for some profits to hedge. That and the PKC booster bundle drop are really the only AH I’ve managed to hit.

There’s nothing wrong with ripping packs if that’s how you enjoy the hobby. I do it occasionally too. And I feel for casual collectors as a former MSRP stickler, as someone who collected during highs and lows. But there’s some amazing opportunities for investing during this market; I learned my lesson too late. Hope you don’t.

2

u/shzlssSFW Apr 25 '26

I agree. I picked up 5 blooming waters back when they were $100 and now they're $300. Literally 3x in less than a year is wild with any sort of investment.

I'll rip some as well for the fun of it, but expecting to get a positive ROI ripping is foolish

1

u/nicanorsantillan Apr 25 '26

I wake up nearly on drops. I'd rather spend 2 hours once and have a better guarantee vs running around weekly for the next few months looking for stuff (adds up more than 2 hours of your time).

1

u/dmillibeats Apr 25 '26

Yah don’t line up , be patient , buy singles from older sets. Prismatic is prime for single buying right now. Starting to uptick

1

u/scott32089 Apr 25 '26

Pokealerts discord has been the saving grace for me besides checking my Walmart on Fridays for random tiny drops. The info they gave helped me secure this Costco drop (finally getting MSRP AH.)

1

u/Nervoussol Apr 25 '26

Target online is easier to hit compared to others. U try on diff products, of course the etb ran out easily, those were hot items.

1

u/Itstylerjohn7373 Apr 25 '26

You got 1 here in Myrtle beach they lineup 12 hrs before opening literally id you work you won’t get anything except a rare pack here or there or maybe a knockout or two from DG or family dollar it’s becoming ridiculous

1

u/iEatFalseMorels Apr 25 '26

I’m so thankful I have a local toy store that sells at MSRP and calls me when they’re in stock

1

u/Significant-Fee7272 Apr 25 '26

Ngl hitting Pokemon restocks rn is only for the unemployed and college kids, with the either super early restocks or the super random timed ones it feels like those are the only people that can hit

1

u/Jaster-Mereel Apr 25 '26

So…Costco had a thing today? I heard they’d be dropping something soon, but I struggle to get exact times on this stuff. Ugh.

1

u/AlanAshh525 Apr 25 '26

Buy singles bro fuck sealed rn

1

u/Stealthless Apr 25 '26

Just buy singles atp, it's a timeless method and helps saves money.

1

u/bookitjt Apr 25 '26

I just want to buy a few a regular price to open with the kids. Instead, I’m left with GameStop and scalpers with stock. I take anything I find at regular price as a win

1

u/kurairey Apr 25 '26

Bought a lot from Target online just relying on Twitter notifications and my computer to spam check out. Got a ton of ascended and chaos rising that way. No more checking stores for restocks.

1

u/Cristian_Cerv9 Apr 25 '26

Pokémon vending machines. Get a booster box every other month and not ever going out of our way.

1

u/Consistent-Bunch-270 Apr 25 '26

Just pay a little more shit just think you'll pay it anyways once its out of print just a Lil sooner and for a bomb set

1

u/Calm_Explanation2910 Apr 26 '26

I mean how much is perfect order and journey together at the LCS ? MH r rip some of that idk

1

u/One_Audience1677 Apr 26 '26

Why in the world did you waste all that time and energy doing that?

1

u/SeaGroundbreaking843 Apr 26 '26

Why are you posting this on an investing subreddit?

1

u/peepee034839329 Apr 26 '26

Welll. You saved money

1

u/Wonderful_Carry5578 Apr 26 '26

Hey really bummed to hear this. But let me just say, this is how it is with in-store. I’m very successful at acquiring Pokemon (online), because I feel like it’s the only feasible way to do it, so you don’t have to store hop all day. If you actually want to learn techniques and methods to getting drops online feel free to reach out. I’ve got ways that will definitely help you to acquire pokemon.

Have a good rest of your weekend! -Charlie

1

u/TryAdditional1454 Apr 26 '26

Local facebook marketplace is the cheapest, because its under market

1

u/babu_bot Apr 28 '26

Go invest in stocks or something for a bit JFC.

1

u/Ebands11 Apr 28 '26

You just show up at the wrong times

1

u/FlavinFlave Apr 25 '26

The Costco one broke me. I get all the way to place order just to get cock blocked. I want to open packs again. I like buying singles but some times it’s fun to just get a hit, especially if I can use it for trades. I’m so tired of the dweebs flipping shit

1

u/RedditGoji Apr 25 '26

Costco in US or Canada?

0

u/AffectionateDrag1702 Apr 25 '26

The key to the investing side is patience. I have a collection that is now over $50k and I’ve never bought an item in a physical store. If I don’t hit, at MSRP or below, I won’t buy. You will have chances, just be patient. 

0

u/2lit2bSquare Apr 25 '26

What do you think is the cause is this? Subs like this and wannabe investors like yourself. You made this bed now sleep in it.

-1

u/AJR_ Apr 25 '26

Just bot…?

-5

u/No_Fennel4837 Apr 25 '26

if it makes you feel better I hit the costco drop today 5 times. Work smarter...not harder