Why do people buy Pokémon bulk?
The Insider‘s Guide to Cashing in on Pokemon Card Bulk
As a long-time Pokemon gaming fanatic and content creator with my finger on the pulse of Pokemon finance news, I get a lot of questions about buying and selling Pokemon cards in bulk. People want to know – why do savvy collectors and investors throw down good money to purchase job lots of random Pokemon cards?
After all, bulk lots invariably consist mostly of low-value common cards, right?
Not so fast. Bulk buying presents multiple creative profit opportunities, whether your goal is to build an epic collection or simply to resell at a higher margin.
Let‘s dive in to the top 5 reasons people buy Pokemon bulk!
#1: Reselling for Profit
The average bulk buyer‘s main goal is to resell cards individually or in sets to maximize profit. This requires some upfront time investment sorting & organizing, but pays off handsomely.
| Card Rarity | Bulk Price Per Card | Resale Price Per Card |
|---|---|---|
| Common | $0.01 | $0.25 |
| Uncommon | $0.03 | $0.75 |
| Rare | $0.08 | $2-$5 |
| Ultra Rare | n/a | $15+ |
As you can see from the table above, bulk prices typically run 1-5% of a card‘s actual secondary market value. Just one ultra rare hit offsets the cost of hundreds of commons!
While cheating out LGS owners through bulk arbitrage sounds appealing, I actually recommend building reciprocal relationships with local card shops instead. Offer to sort bulk for fair consignment splits. They‘ll give you first dibs on hot items in return!
#2: Completing Sets
Chasing down missing singles to complete sets gets expensive fast. Buying bulk virtually guarantees you‘ll pull some much-needed common and uncommon cards to inch closer to those sweet 4-figure master set bonuses.
| Set Name | 4-Figure Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Lost Origin | $1,000 |
| Silver Tempest | $5,000 |
| Crown Zenith (JP) | $10,000+ |
Quiet as it‘s kept, the main Pokemon TCG subreddit actually bans members for selling complete common/uncommon sets since they‘re so valuable! When sourcing bulk, target lots from current or recent sets featuring desirable chase cards to maximize odds.
#3: Investing & Sealed Appreciation
Savvy investors look beyond chase cards to sealed booster boxes and cases for immense ROI. For example, a 1st Edition Fossil booster box sells today for a staggering $400,000 – appreciating over 1,300% since 2020!
| Product | Jan. 2020 Price | Jan. 2023 Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil 1st Ed. Booster Box | $30,000 | $400,000 |
| Skyridge Booster Box | $8,500 | $85,000 |
| Celebrations Elite Trainer Box | $50 | $500 |
Sealed boxes/cases offer better price stability than graded cards vulnerable to reprints. The 30th anniversary in 2024, supply shortages, and new releases like Pokemon Go sets will continue driving appreciation.
While buying pristine 1st edition boxes are out of reach for average fans, you can still find deals on loose packs or build a sealed collection over time buying bulk.
#4: Crafting
Pinterest features thousands of crafty home projects incorporating Pokemon cards – including framed artwork, jewelry, bedazzled clothing, and more!
Many crafters buy cheap damaged cards in bulk specifically because they‘re unusable for gameplay or collecting. Below are just a few examples showing the possibilities:
Pokemon Card Dreamcatcher Keychain
Outside of selling completed crafts, creative fans also swap custom alter-art cards portraying crossover themes like Yu-Gi-Oh or anime characters. Check Facebook Groups or Reddit for inspiration!
#5: Childhood Nostalgia
Many 20- or 30-somethings buy bulk lots hoping to rediscover treasured cards that sparked their childhood fascination for collecting.
Sorting through job lots with friends or siblings provides hours of nostalgic fun – transporting you back to schoolyard trades and playground battles.
Beyond chasing old favorites like Base Set Charizards or 1st Edition Neo Genesis Lugias, collectors also desire "era-appropriate" commons/uncommons stores lack to replicate childhood experiences:
Base – Fossil to play the original TCG
Neo – E-Card for Gen 2 Johto fun
EX – D&P to relive the 2000s card boom
Reacquiring these long-lost cards almost magically transports fans back to simpler, cherished times.
And there you have it – the top reasons people continually feed the Pokemon bulk market despite conventional wisdom.
As we barrel towards the highly-anticipated 30th anniversary, limited supply chases and nostalgia will continue driving bulk prices higher. Just remember these insider tips next time you see a "worthless" bulk lot posted for sale!
Eric "GardevoirGuy93" Chang – Pokemon Master & Financial Advisor
