Hey, I recognize that seller “krap7142” @oldskoolpokemon
I thought this was such a ridiculous price at the time. Yes, I opened it. No, I didn’t pull a Charizard. I did grade a gem mint Blastoise though. I still have the cards and my regrets. 
If only I knew what I’d end up paying for more of these. I could’ve stopped myself right then and there. Some of you probably think this is still too high, haha!
Back in 2015 I bought (and opened) 45 base set booster packs for £874 and made a note of all my pulls. They included a total of 19 holos:
1 Alakazam
2 Blastoise
2 Chansey
2 Charizard
1 Clefairy
1 Gyarados
1 Hitmonchan
1 Mewtwo
1 Nidoking
1 Ninetales
2 Poliwrath
2 Raichu
1 Venusaur
1 Zapdos
The ironic thing is, a lot of the purchases we consider to be great deals were from fellow members here on the form. The majority of purchases that are “great deals” can only be established as such with the benefit of knowing the future value. Paying the market price of an item X years ago is just commerce. Not trying to be negative, just exclaiming how fortunate we are that the hobby continues to experience growth.
I think I’ve mentioned before, but I bought 1st edition neo destiny and Revelations boxes from about $420-500 USD a piece ages ago.
Broke them, thinking I could easily replace, never did. Now they are 3k ish haha.
Also first edition base sets complete all day everyday, were about $500-650 at one point.
I bought a complete 1st edition base set without the holos for $250 right after pogo came out. About 55 of the 86 cards scored the PSA 9. Now a NM set runs about what?$1k-$1.5k? A nice little snag before the market shot up.
That price was unreal for pretty much any time in the hobby.
A LP set is around 4-5k.
Without the holos >.<
Based on % return I think this would be my best purchase since the Rayquaza Gold Star graded a PSA 10. IIRC paid £205 with shipping which was around $300 exchange rate.
This deal was only 7 years ago. I was the seller lol. Keep in mind that at the time I had over 300 psa10 1st Ed Base holos,
Subject: RE: Pokemon-cards
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:11:43 +0100
Haha, sounds good 
Do we agree that for $958 I get:
1st edition PSA 9: Blastoise, , Alakazam, Charizard, Nidoking, Machamp - and PSA 10 Zapdos?
Shadowless PSA 9: Hitmonchan, Clefairy, Magneton, Zapdos, Ninetales, Nidoking, Raichu, Poliwrath, Gyarados?
fuck me sideways thats a dirty deal! share i tb’d?
The first set of graded cards I bought was from Gary. Some PSA 8 1st ed holos back around 2013. If he chose to hold his cards instead of selling them for (retrospectively) cheap prices, I may not be here today.
So in some weird way he was investing in future buyers which is a contributing factor to how we got to where we are today.
Back in september 2017 I bought a 1st edition Neo Destiny booster box for $2500
Let’s say this I was happy when I received the package!
I will beat his offer. I’ll give ya the $958 just for the psa 9 1st edition Charizard! You can keep the rest! We got a deal Gary??
You think we will look back and a PSA 9 zard for 5k will be a steal?
yep, it happens every year, you’ll notice it once you’ve been in the hobby long enough, people will always say ‘I wish I got into the hobby 1 year earlier when prices were cheap’, I’ve had that said to me 7,6,5 etc years ago when prices were already dirt cheap compared to today’s
Here are a few of my old trades from 2012 I’ve gone back to look at:
To me: “okay ill do the Mewtwo Ex, Axew Sleeves, And The Dragon Selection Deck Box for My Rayquaza* PM if your cool with that i just really want the mewtwo before regionals so please PM ASAP”
From me: "My:
Tropical Beach (staff)
Your:
Shining Charizard 1st edition (mint)
JPN blue Arceus sleeves (sealed)
If that checks out with you, reply with your address"
From me: "my: $33
your: latias star"
All those trades worked out! What a world. On the flipside of that, I pulled an Umbreon star from my first POP 5 pack, and at the time it debuted with a $15 value. I needed a Shiftry ex, which had the same value at the time. Oops.
I bought a Team Rocket 1st ed booster box for about 200$ about 8-10 years ago (uncertain of specific year). Not same caliber at all but looking at the prices now I can’t help but smile a bit. And no regrets opening it either since I pulled 2x Dark Charizard and a Dark Blastoise. I’ve kept them in absolute mint condition since then ofc 
In 2005 I bought more than a third [over 20 packs] a booster box of skyridge for…$25. pulled a crystal crobat. In 2015 I got a no stage error blastoise at about $14. and in 2013 I bought several booster packs of neo destiny, neo english sets,the 3 ereader sets at about $8 a piece.