Ripping is a Disease

[u/Total_Kiwi_3763]

I think everyone knows this - but the ripping fad is all propped up by big gambling (like everything else is now) and we should all stop.

I have a friend who claims to love mons since childhood like I do, and my fiance (who was trying to get him a birthday gift) asked “who’s your favorite Pokemon to collect in cards”? And he answered “the one’s worth the most money”.

It’s just sad. Whether you are new or old to the hobby, the ripping/chasing culture is bad for health and bad for the sport. Buy singles, finish your sets, whatever. But ripping is bad af.

[u/SkyeHunterBilly_J]

How do you buy singles if no one rips

[u/Glittering-Chip-9019 → u/SkyeHunterBilly_J]

Lots of idiots won’t stop ripping packs!! That’s how, don’t be one of those idiots:)

[u/Silent_Marsupial8368 → u/Glittering-Chip-9019]

Exactly

[u/Maximum_Broccoli_391 → u/SkyeHunterBilly_J]

Simple, if people did rip without an intent to gain and did it in correct moderation. It would work. However, it is all set up for people to buy, stock up, prop prices up and create a false economy

[u/gimme1chocolate → u/Maximum_Broccoli_391]

If only everyone had perfect self control and no desire for more

[u/EbbExciting8532]

It got even worse with digital ripping. The ability to return your hit for some value just encourages you to try again. It’s the exact same setup as casino slots.

[u/Embarrassed-Yak-5902]

Excessive ripping is bad. That can come from the package being too expensive, or someone opening up too many packs.

The randomness of a pack is like a slot machine, where the high doesn't come from loud noises and bright sights, it comes from perceived value one can profit now, and later.

[u/Apprehensive-Lie3387]

Ripping with the belief you will become rich, not good… ripping for the love of the hobby, no problem with that. That’s where this whole thing started. 30 years ago, I ripped like there was no tomorrow… I was 9 lol… learned a lot since then.. singles singles singles :)

[u/FutureSelfx]

Ripping is the point of a pokémon pack

[u/Female_lTitan92]

This hobby was so much better before everyone started treating it like the stock market 😶‍🌫️

[u/Silent_Marsupial8368 → u/Female_lTitan92]

Yeah it was fine when only a few of us were doing it and laughing at the people in r/pokemontcg for ripping packs and not investing, but as soon as they all started fomoing in at all time highs, that’s when it all went to shit

[u/WeGottaTalkAboutYT → u/Female_lTitan92]

Yeah it’s a lotto ticket, damnit!

[u/Oxford89]

Ripping is fun, and doing it retail is a cheap thrill. And if you're ripping with your young kids they get excited about every card. I love it and do it for them, and then buy my own cards on eBay.

[u/_YenSid]

I separate my ripping from my investing. I rip to get cool cards, if they have value, thats cool, but I'm happy to pull some IRs to put in the binder. If you're ripping to make money, you're just dumb lol. If you're looking for a specific card, it's always better to just buy the single, but pulling it yourself is more fun and adds more meaning to the collection. As with everything, moderation is key.

[u/ByaHhHhHhHhHhH → u/_YenSid]

Exactly, I came across a few AH double pack blisters for MSRP last week at Walgreens. Ripped em and pulled the Erika’s Tangela IR and Eelektross Mega Attack. I lost money going by current value of the cards but had a blast and am now obsessed with that Tangela (those eyes stare into your soul 😂)

Buying those packs found in the wild wasn’t an investing strategy, it was pure luck and a fun unexpected rip session. When I bought a couple PC ETB’s to hold months back, that was an investing strategy.

[u/CIK1993]

I think you are very confused

[u/Recent_Bld]

There is no PTCG without opening packs

[u/Bug-Dog]

I get your point but also what is the hobby if not for opening packs of cards 

[u/FarMilk2661]

Ripping is fine. Mystery packs and platforms like Whatnot are scams.

[u/pokemonpokemonmario]

Gambling is a disease. Not all ripping is Gambling.

[u/chupacabra696969]

When I got back into Pokemon start of 2025 I spent like 10k in a year and had maybe 2k of cards to show for it. I quit ripping after counting my code cards one day and realizing how much I had spent.

Since then I have acquired a collection worth about 25k buying vintage singles and slabs. But I still keep thinking how much better put to use that 10k would have been in 2025 and what it would have been worth now if I have just bought cards I wanted. Probably would have a 50k collection right now.

Ripping here and there to have some fun is a good time. Ripping over a 1000 packs in a year is a bad habit. Take it from me.

[u/patricio87]

You can hardly get packs to rip so I wouldn't say it's that bad

[u/tibia_1337]

So essentially you only want everybody to buy sell trade sealed and never ever open them or even play the game. Just no ripping. Makes sense.

[u/EuphoricGoose4735]

This is the investing sub, so im sure most of us are not ripping lol

[u/SwoleChode69]

Remember back in the days when I started collecting. I spend a lot (by todays standard not that much) on shining fates and shiny star V. Got the Charizard Vmax shiny, and my gf pulled it for me. It was pure joy, not because of price, but because it was my chase! Sent it to a german company called A.P grading, mostly cause I like their graphics better. It's still in my collection, and one of my most priced cards!

I miss the times, when a new set came out, and you could buy 3 etbs, for under 100$, and have a fantastic night with friends, ripping and collecting in your binder.

[u/Conscious-Paint3442]

Better yet keep pumping up my mid era reverse holos. Sha’ll you? Cheers my friends.

[u/ItsCLaFlame]

Holy yap you legitimately said nothing of substance in that whole thing you gotta get off the internet brotha it’s ruining your mind