I’m seeing this all over X this evening and was curious what the e4 community would do if you stumbled upon this at a garage sale.
Would you say something to the seller? Or purchase and never come back?
Unfortunate situation. I for one would never be able to purchase it. My conscious would eat me alive.
While I’d LOVE to buy them at that price, I could not in good conscience do so. I’d have to tell the seller at the yard sale what the more accurate price would be. And then proceed accordingly. If they insisted on the price, I’d buy it, but I still could not give them a mere pip of the true cost.
Now, eBay?! I’d buy it in a second! haha
I’m also curious, HOW did he sell these things without knowing they shouldn’t be sold? Or did his dad say, “we need to sell these. Let’s include them in the yard sale.” …unfortunate if true. Strange if true.
It’s a curious situation. I wish I knew more context. Sounds like it was an accidental thing that was maybe brought out and was never meant to be sold.
Almost sounds too incredible to be true.
I saw this floating around a few social media platforms.
I wouldn’t be able to buy them at that price. My conscious couldn’t let me. I would also have told the seller what they had.
I feel bad because I dont think they will get it back. Heartbreaking for the original owners
I could completely understand this pre-2016 or even pre-2020, but in 2023? Almost unbelievable.
That being the ignorance of the seller? If so, I agree.
I think that newbs have always tended to overestimate the values their Pokémon cards, and I’d think at least the boxes would be listed for $100. Idk or look it up on eBay!!!
I’ve bought cards and lots on eBay where an item was priced at 5-10% of it’s actual value. A listing of cards for $50 had 4 error wartortle cards that graded three 9 and one 10. Gold Star Umbreon and Espeon in lots for $20. I’m not going to message the seller to list for more money and I’m not going to give them more money after I receive the item. I think most people would say there is nothing wrong with that, but when it comes to garage sale finds then all of a sudden there is a problem. I personally don’t think it’s a problem if someone buys these boxes at $30 at a garage sale. I definitely wouldn’t pass on them.
Is it my job to educate sellers on what they have?
I would have no moral qualms about purchasing the item for $30 at the garage sale if it was priced as such. If you are running a garage sale it is up to you to research any potential prices for valuable items, and just throwing items out there for a random low price is your choice.
Ultimately their issue lies with their Dad, and it is up to those two to sort out what they want to do with each other.
(I always doubt the validity of these stories because they never give enough supporting details).
Personally, I would inform the seller of the market value and the best options for selling it safely and efficiently. However, I would also attempt to negotiate a price that left me a reasonable profit margin to buy it and resell it myself . . . often inexperienced sellers appreciate not having to learn everything that goes into selling: online accounts, shipping, insurance, photography, buyer questions, risks/scams, etc. If we can work out a deal - great . . . if not, no worries.
In short, I’d look for a mutually beneficial deal, while being completely transparent with the seller.
Like I’ve always said, Pokémon is NOT for children.
I would feel so bad committing daylight robbery on someone who (it sounds like) is a child/teenager.
Realistically I don’t know what I’d do until faced with the situation where I can just make 20k in an afternoon, but I’d hope that I would let them know what they have and its market price
Sounds like a fake story.
But if it were real and I was there, I would not return it.
The reality is that this hobby is filled with people withholding information from each other.
From my experience, there are few people genuinely interested in Pokemon and the art and many interested in making money. And when you’re part of the latter group, you’re always looking at what benefits you most.
It’s easier to assume the worst and act accordingly and only help out those that you find are genuine along the way. I’ll add that this isn’t how I would approach the situation if it were not a luxury product that this hobby is, but it is and the majority of people swimming around right now are sharks.
unless the seller is a little kid or i personally know them, i would have no regret buying. it´s not my responsibility to do price research for them as that´s obviously their part. we all make mistakes, some more costly than others.
edit: a good analogy would be finding a deal like this online…i think almost anyone would buy in a second without thinking twice.
I wonder if the buyers who bought assumed they were fake boxes
I would purchase and never come back.
I think we’ve all imagined being in a similar situation at some stage. What I picture is saying something like “it’s worth way more than what you’re asking. I can’t offer you market price, but would be willing to pay X”. I think I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the money (I have no interest in keeping those boxes), but I’m also not desperate for cash (
?)
As others have mentioned, it’s easy to say that when you’re not actually in the situation. Maybe irl the dollar signs become too alluring.
They most likely are not going to give you a discount after you tell them the market price.
You’re still a rando stranger who came by a yard sale.
Maybe. But the starting point is that I don’t want it at the bargain price. If they didn’t know it was worth thousands then they maybe would also struggle to sell it effectively. As well, you’re about to give them thousands more than what they thought they’d get 30 seconds ago.
