So obviously, there is no one perfect or correct strategy when collecting Pokemon cards and investing in them, but my question is, what plan (if you have one) do you employ when doing so?
Do you work on entire sets? Do you just seek out Pokemon you like? Do you just look for good deals and jump on them when you see them regardless of species/set? Do you do something else?
I personally do a little bit of all three and probably lean more toward taking advantage of opportunity by getting right on good deals.
I only collect cards that are consider holy grails. The way I see it, spending 200 on a normal card is a waste of money because thatās 200 that couldāve gone towards something special and before making a purchase I always ask myself if this card will still be as collectible 10, 20, 30 years down the road.
for me itās also a bit of a mix really. Iāll work on my magikarp collection, I do try to get certain sets but then there are also random cards I just like specifically thatāll get. And when I see a good deal I know Iāll be able to profit from I just canāt resist XD
Personally, I tend to go after āMarqueeā English set cards graded 9 or 10. Currently this means finishing my gold star set, then going after Shinings. Although I also collect PSA 10 old ex cards.
I buy any and every Pikachu, Seviper and Mimikyu card I donāt have yet, even if itās 4x overpriced (to some extend). But I sometimes buy very cheap auctions from YJ to re-sell, or just singles I really like for my main collection (if the price is right).
I collect what I truly desire and donāt buy anything over $500. Iām more in it for the love and fun of collecting, never planned on hitting the jackpot with this.
Iāve forfeited the idea that Iāll ever make serious money off of this hobby. I think the true investment potential in Pokemon came and went years ago, so itās better to see it for what what it really is to me, a hobby. I just buy what I find desirable for the best price I can, so down the road I wonāt be disappointed when no one wants to buy my Japanese cardboard. Thereās always the off-chance that I make some money off the cards in the future but thatās just a cherry on top of everything.
I donāt collect with the intention to make money at all personallyā¦ Sometimes I buy cards to flip but only occasionally if itās a great deal, I probably sell maybe one item every month or two. Any money I do make goes into my collection anyway and if itās not worth anything at the end at least I can say the hobby made my life a lot more enjoyable than before I started up again.
Very simple, I buy why I want and why makes me happy within my price range. I usually try to be as frugal as possible, and if that means getting a lower grade of a card I want and having more money left over for another card then so be it! As I have said before, I buy the cards, not the grade. Honestly, but what makes you happy, and make your money somewhere else
I started with the idea of investing while I collect. So I would be buying some doubles here and there and sell them in the future. But Iāve changed my mind. Itās really difficult to make money in the hobby unless you are a store or something like that. Now I think Iāll only collect
Regarding what I collectā¦ I like sets the most, but I also buy some promo cards that I like and that are not within any set.
As my dad says āEvery hobby is worth what the crazy one pays for itā, so if I pay 5000 euro for a piece of card board, I think the card is worth that. But my tax agent, the bank, my pension fund and college loan probably donāt agree with it and value it as 0.
I only buy what I want for my collection, which is restricted to Bulba-Ivy-Venusaur. And only Japanese, English and Dutch (which is Base Set only). I know Iāll never be able to obtain e.g. the Snap promo and I have peace with it. [EDIT] Gotta point out; I collect everything as a play-set (so 4x) with the idea of having 3 of each card in binder and one graded by PSA in near or far future.
The only thing I buy as āinvestmentā are Charizards. No matter what set, condition etc. if I can grab a Zard for a price Iām ok with. Iāll buy it, sleeve it and store it. Because at some point I know Iāll come across that one guy needing that one Zard and I know I can liquidate and/or trade it for something I need.
Investing in sealed product is a ship long sailed for me (I shouldāve bought less retro games and vinyl records in collegeā¦)
Evolutions will be worth picking up one day I think people are really underestimating the interest in the set, people with no interest in the hobby buy it and for the next few years it will be the gateway drug for people getting into the hobby. Itās going to be really interesting to see what happens because even though it has a low EV itās distinct from any other set which has been released.
You should only āinvestā in Pokemon cards if you have money sitting in a bank account which you donāt plan to use for anything else. May as well buy cardboard that will appreciate faster than cash which appreciates at a bankās savings i/r or the returns on an ETF or REIT.
Investing in collectables with such a stable market like Pokemon has is a ālazyā form of investment because thereās almost no risk involved, they canāt be replicated and (this is the most important part) relative to financial instruments you have to do almost no research that needs to be done before you pull the trigger.
You trade lower returns for less risk and work. If youāre ok with that then buy $10k worth of PSA 10 1st WotC Charizards and hold them for 5 years.
Finally; someone who agrees with me! Haha Iām still a firm believer that Evolutions Boosters will be a solid investment - assuming you are willing and able to play the very long term waiting game!
I just collected whatever I like.
I started with yugioh (few very rare expensive cards)
then hero collection (highest rarity/1st ed)
few months ago, I started working on my Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam collection since they are my favorite pokemon
Gimme all your Alakazam right now!
I think people are really underestimating the interest in the set, people with no interest in the hobby buy it and for the next few years it will be the gateway drug for people getting into the hobby. Itās going to be really interesting to see what happens because even though it has a low EV itās distinct from any other set which has been released.