I am also in the camp of buying 7/8/9s to just crack. When I’m spending $100+ I feel better knowing what I’m getting, or at least knowing I’m not getting a damaged card for the binder.
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That’s been my experience also. I have a list of LGS’s that I go to relatively frequently and whenever I’m traveling I make it a point to check out the shops in whatever city I’m visiting. I can only think of one good pickup I’ve made in the last couple years and am starting to feel like I’m wasting my time. Which is bummer bc I prefer to shop in person
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I have a LGS store list too for the areas I go to. I’ve gotten to know the owners pretty well from the ones with good stuff/deals (naturally happens when you’re a big nerd like me), but I have found heaps of stuff over the last 4 years. I think I have found every major wotc standard error card mispriced or unknowingly priced except the dark dragonite and Beedrill.
Do you live in an area near a major metropolitan center? Or are you outside the usa? I’m suprised to hear you can’t find anything locally
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Raw “near mint” is usually priced (and somehow sells) at PSA 8-9 price for anything over ~$10 in my experience.
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It is kinda crazy to see how we have come back to pre COVID times where non 10s essentially don’t get any premium outside of big chase cards
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I’m curious as to which cards everyone is referencing in their posts, especially English or Japanese? I don’t buy slabs as I just collect for binders.
I’m always talking about English.
For Japanese, I got some Neo Premium File 1 the other day and cards look like mostly PSA 10 candidates besides the few that got knocked out of their holder and bounced around for 24 years. Centering is the only spot with some issues, and it’s usually only on ~1/3 the cards
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I don’t know what’s considered major but I live in St. Louis.
Error cards aren’t my forte or what I’m interested in but I don’t doubt that it’s possible to find them mispriced given it takes expertise/experience to identify them.
I’ve had plenty of good local pickups of cards in the $20-$50 range (there’s a comic book store I internally refer to as the “honey pot” for pickups like these).
At the $250+ price point it’s seemingly impossible to pick them up at a reasonable price raw when you can take the bird in hand graded approach (imo).
I guess there’s just too many eyes on them at this point.
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As others have said throughout the thread, most vintage English holos on the market are in LP-DMG condition. Plenty of PSA 7s-9s are cheaper (and in better condition) than the NM copies listed.
If I need raw vintage holos, I crack slabs.
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Amen. I’d rather not crack it and create waste but it doesn’t make sense for me not to.
loving the memes. I’m starting to realize this was dumb question but at least I know I’m not alone in my quest 
My best advice? Be in a lot of pokemon card groups and watch for the deals… On rare occassion you find a good bulk deal for raw or a discounted graded copy for someone looking to sell fast. I’m not a big time buyer, but I can drop a few hundred in a pinch and make a nice flip with patience.