In recent years, the Pokémon card collecting landscape has changed almost overnight, drawing younger nostalgic newbies and older generational wealth-sitting scammers alike. Pokémon cards, previously a children’s pastime the world over, can’t be printed fast enough in the wake of their million dollar auction flourishing. High-value cards can be enticing to collectors. As experienced practitioners such as David Rong advise, there are plenty of ways to approach the hobby safely without going bankrupt.
David Rong is the Bay Area’s most passionate, creative and entertaining YouTube transportation chronicler/creator/collector. He discusses how Pokémon cards connect him to his childhood and help him with his mental health. His YouTube channel further showcases conventions where he sells, trades and teaches others the intricacies of this collecting world. “A lot of people are actually very disturbed by it,” he notes, referencing the darker aspects of the collecting community.
The prices for rare Pokémon cards have soared. This wave has caught the interest of virtually everyone, inspiring more people to seek more knowledge and engagement in the hobby. In 2022, one person spent an eye-popping $8 million on a mint-condition Pikachu Illustrator card. This special card is considered one of the rarest Pokémon cards in the world. In 2021, a Charizard card went for more than $463,000 at Heritage Auctions. This was an incredible leap from its previous amount of only $24,700 in 2019. These extreme valuations have created a hyper-competitive landscape for assets. Therefore, even the less experienced often find themselves tempted to go big.
Even within this booming market, Rong wants to warn collectors of the possible pitfalls. “When there’s not enough supply in the market but a very high demand for Pokémon cards, you don’t have that equilibrium anymore,” he explains. That kind of environment, he cautions, can cause price bubbles and draw in the charlatans just looking to make a quick buck. His main piece of advice to collectors is to buy cards that fit your budget. This empowers them to withstand the dangers of social media and prevent harmful influences. “If you like a particular card and it’s worth $5 and it’s very well within your budget, please just buy that,” he advises.
Other collectors are lured by the Pokémon card market’s money-making potential. People like Andrew Cassar just want to preserve those old-school, quaint, tactile aspects of the hobby. It has been both exciting and maddening since starting his collection back in 2022, Cassar says. He’s bought tampered packs of cards by accident, an ever-present danger in an ever-more-profitable hobby. “I remember collecting as a kid and watching the show on [Australian cartoon show] Cheez TV back in the days,” he reminisces.
One of his most-prized pieces, Cassar’s collection of four unopened Japanese-made Eevee sets – the locally beloved character of Eevee has eight different evolutions – valued at around $2,500 apiece. Equally important is his ability to see the more troubling trends in the community. In April 2023, a collector in Shellharbour had their ultra rare card stolen. In fact, they had planned to sell it in the very car lot where the crime took place. These episodes both exemplify the dangers that lurk for collectors in the field and illustrate the importance of being alert while pursuing our passion.
The truth is what drew me back into the world of Pokémon card collecting in 2020 wasn’t just nostalgia. He says one thing fueling the renewed interest in the hobby is that adults have money to spend on themselves. Image courtesy of the artist “When we were kids, it was like you’d get your mom to buy you a $3.00 pack or a $5.00 deck of cards. And now, I’m earning, you know, a grown-up salary,” he says. This change has opened the door for numerous ex-players to chase after collections that they were never able to afford as kids.
Sharma notes alarming tormenta price swings in the market. He remembers prices increasing 200 to 300 percent in a matter of months for specific goods he was buying. This volatility reinforces anxiety among would-be collectors who live in fear of being priced out of what they enjoy.
This dramatic influx has taken its toll. In February 2023, Victoria Police arrested four people—two seniors, a police officer and a youth. In 2022, they were charged with burglaries of collectible card shops and stealing cryptocurrency ATMs in Melbourne’s north-west. Such incidents highlight the complexities that communities must navigate as they deal with the reality of facing both true collectors and junk dealers.
Andrew Cassar speaks to his community’s dedication to standing up for each other in the face of such despicable acts. “And the community is completely against acts like this,” he states firmly. This solidarity drives their initiatives to inform the public about scams and encourage safe practices for legitimate collectors, both online and in person.
As Pokémon cards have surged in popularity, both nostalgic fans and investors have flocked to the cards. So how can today’s collectors pursue what they love while safeguarding themselves from these emerging hazards? David Rong remains optimistic about the future of collecting but insists on responsibility: “Don’t think about what everyone is showing on social media — don’t think about what Logan Paul is doing.”
