The Pokémon TCG market has reached what can only be described as a perfect storm. If you’ve tried to buy cards recently, you’ve likely noticed two things: shelves are empty and prices are skyrocketing! This unprecedented demand has forced us to make some changes to how we operate, and I wanted to share our plan moving forward.
The Current State of Collecting
The Pokémon market—and the collectible market in general—has reached a fever pitch! What started as increased interest during the pandemic, then collapse in 2022, has now transformed into a full-blown collecting frenzy. New products sell out within minutes online, and prices on the secondary market continue to climb to astronomical levels.
Every time a new set drops, we watch the same pattern unfold:
- Product announcement creates buzz
- Pre-orders sell out instantly
- Release day arrives with limited stock
- Secondary market prices double or triple
Our Solution: A Return to Community
Because of these market conditions, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause all online sales for the time being. Instead, we’re shifting our focus to what we believe is the heart of this hobby—in-person sales at events and direct sales to our loyal customers.
This change allows us to:
- Ensure cards get into the hands of actual players and collectors
- Control pricing to keep the hobby accessible
- Strengthen our local community connections
- Reward the customers who have supported us for a long time
The Reality of Distribution
I want to be transparent about what’s happening behind the scenes. Everyone’s allocations from distribution have been cut significantly. We truly appreciate the distributors we work with and are grateful we continue to receive product; however, it is simply not enough to meet our customers’ demands.
Where we once received 90%-100% of our orders, we now receive 10%-15%…sometimes event less. This isn’t anyone’s fault—it’s simply the reality of unprecedented and unexpected demand. We have faith the Pokémon Company will eventually catch up!
We’ve Been Here Before
If you’re feeling anxious about the state of the hobby, take a deep breath. We’ve been through several of these cycles since 2016 and know there will come a time when things get back to some semblance of normal.
Remember the 2016-2017 surge after Pokémon GO? The 2019 hidden fates craze? The pandemic collecting boom? Each time, the market eventually stabilized.
Bear with us and exercise patience. Good things come to those who keep things in perspective.
A Gentle Reminder
And finally, always remember that this is a hobby and should be enjoyed! While the investment aspect is exciting, don’t lose sight of why we all fell in love with Pokémon in the first place—the joy of opening packs, building decks, trading with friends, and connecting over a shared passion.
We’re committed to preserving that joy, even if it means making tough business decisions in the short term.
See you at our next event!