Graded cards vs sealed product

[null_user]

In addition to the valuable advice given I still give you two advice:

1. Follow your instinct!
2. Remember always four point: historical value, rarity, nostalgia, best condition.

If you consider this two advice you will do always the right thing

[pikazardcollector]

I tried to collect sealed but at the end of the day I open every single thing that comes my way. As Scott mentioned opening packs is the core enjoyment of what made collecting Pokemon TCG what it is today. I can honestly say I have very little enjoyment looking at a sealed pack or box. My nostalgia as a kid was opening packs, collecting the cards and enjoying the artwork. Collecting graded cards still checks those boxes and at the same time makes me feel like more of an adult. haha

[firebirder31]

I guess you could always buy sealed product and then just wait long enough for the price of the cards inside to rise past your cost of entry? Of course then the price of the sealed product will also be much higher but this way you wouldn’t “lose” money as the value is higher than the cost of entry. Also there is no way of knowing how long you’d have to wait or if the individual prices will ever reach that point.

[pokemonargentina]

@firebirder31

I guess you could always buy sealed product and then just wait long enough for the price of the cards inside to rise past your cost of entry? Of course then the price of the sealed product will also be much higher but this way you wouldn’t “lose” money as the value is higher than the cost of entry. Also there is no way of knowing how long you’d have to wait or if the individual prices will ever reach that point.

Pack fresh cards are far from a guaranteed 10. Old WOTC cards are, most of the time, printed with inherent issues like print lines over the holo and nicks that end up knocking the grades down.

[firebirder31]

@pokemonargentina

@firebirder31

I guess you could always buy sealed product and then just wait long enough for the price of the cards inside to rise past your cost of entry? Of course then the price of the sealed product will also be much higher but this way you wouldn’t “lose” money as the value is higher than the cost of entry. Also there is no way of knowing how long you’d have to wait or if the individual prices will ever reach that point.

Pack fresh cards are far from a guaranteed 10. Old WOTC cards are, most of the time, printed with inherent issues like print lines over the holo and nicks that end up knocking the grades down.

Yeah I know that. You would have to wait until the risk of the contents in the box being worth less than the Cost of Entry is very small by assuming holos will get no better than a 9. There will always be risk but eventually the cost of the cards inside will be higher than the COE.

If you bought a base set first ed box $1000 then there is virtually zero risk that the cards inside will be less today than your $1000 COE. That could happen eventually for sealed product purchased today, just no telling how long you’d have to wait.

[teamrocketop]

@smpratte

Opening packs is the core enjoyment of the hobby. However that isn’t what people are referring to when mentioning sealed product. Majority of the people subscribed to sealed product just hold the boxes, which can be extremely boring. The ballooned prices are not based on their inner contents. Therefore when people talk about the perks of buying sealed product, its just holding boxes, not opening them.

Where the individual cards are more about appreciating the artwork. Some increase more than others.

In your budget you can do a mixture of both. Ultimately just go for what you enjoy the most.

Which is why I have changed my collecting goals and sold almost all my sealed product.