I recently purchased four trainer deck B energy cards on ebay for about $3 a piece because it seemed like a good deal, but I do not know a whole lot about the trainer decks. I know they were used by professors to help promote the game at the beginning, but I do not know how common they are or how they compare to things like 1st Edition Base and Shadowless. Anyone have information on this?
They are quite a bit rarer. Here’s a video Scott did on trainer deck b.
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Well, trainer deck B Blastoise has a total of 16 graded copies in the PSA pop report, while the 1st ed base Blastoise has a total of 1117 graded copies in the pop report. Should give an idea how much rarer the trainer deck versions are compared to regular base set.
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Yes, there were waaaaay fewer produced and in turn fewer people collect them.
The decks were not commercially released. As @joakimstore mentioned, the pop report speaks for itself. They are significantly rarer than any commercially released set.
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I just picked up a sealed trainer deck B in mint condition with lots of other stuff for a great deal, super stoked!
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Scott’s funny in his video but I like the difference with the trainer decks having a red back. It’s good cuz its not just a slight difference then other cards such as a copyright or text/holo pattern.
I’ve been looking at getting a Trainer Deck PSA card for the last few months. This thread and smpratte’s video inspired me to pull the trigger!
Decided on the Trainer Deck B - Wartortle - Uncommon - PSA 10. Has a population of 28 and cost me $150.
I think these are being slept on, but maybe they are obscure enough that the market is just not there, or not there yet?
Comparatively, 1st edition base Wartortle has a POP of 98. Not sure if it will ever be on par dollar-wise, but owning a rare piece of WOTC history is rewarding enough.
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That’s an excellent reason to pull the trigger. Besides, the back on these makes them stand out in any collection; they’re very unique.
I still don’t know which one I would pick… perhaps a Squirtle or a water energy.
I was really considering buying one of the sealed boxes available on eBay right now, but then I saw this:
I don’t know if anyone’s ever been arrested for illegally exporting Pokémon products without declaring them, but it would be significantly cheaper for me to buy a flight to the US and pick it up in person! (I’m not actually going to do that.)
This actually isn’t uncommon for high end deals.
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What? The high import prices or picking it up in person?
I guess the answer would be ‘Both, just not at the same time.’ 
“Sir, do you have anything to declare?”
Nah, just colored cardboard, mate. 
@megazone I think he meant meeting up in person. I have met people in airports to simply hand them the card, and then they immediately fly back.
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That always amazes me. I believe Pat the NES punk did the same to pick up his gold NWC cartridge.
Either way, I think it would be a cool card to own!
Now I’ve got something I don’t even know I wanted on my list of targets…think I’ll aim low and try for a Seel.
I have opened a trainer deck B & only sent the blastoise, hmm are the rest worth sending in? Didn’t even consider,
There has been interest in a Wartortle, Seel and Squirtle/Water energy, and that’s only in this thread. So I’d say there’s definitely interest in any card from that set. Though the majority of the interest would be for Blastoise, I’m sure. But there’s certainly a group of buyers who can’t or don’t want to afford the ‘main card’ from that set.
No guarantees, of course. 
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Definitey a very valid point ! Will look into just sending the whole lot thats psa 10 worthy, thank ya much !
There’s a trainer deck B psa 10 squirtle on ebay for like 75 bucks and I’m pretty tempted after reading this thread, hah!