Bought my first trophy card in 2006
3 Likes
I started collecting in the winter of ’99, when I was in 6th grade, and then stopped in the latter half of my 7th grade year. (At that time, the sentiment that Pokémon was uncool was all-powerful.) I rekindled my interest in the winter of ’01 and ’02 and haven’t stopped since. (And yes, I’ve watched the prices of boxes gradually rise over the years…)
I bought my first PSA card in the summer of 2016.
1 Like
Just over 2 years for me. It was a great time to get back into the hobby. Just like it is any ole time.
2 Likes
Great to see that there are other collectors of collections on here! In addition to Pokémon cards, I’ve enjoyed collecting coins, sports cards, video games, toys, vinyl records, books, maps, and tea/teaware in different stages over the years.
2 Likes
This year makes it 21 years. Feels crazy that Pokemon has been part of my life that long. Also, I feel old
2 Likes
Pokémon collecting since the first English release in 1999.
Collecting overall…since before I was 10. I collected comics and Mad Magazines as well as football player bottle caps(see below)
3 Likes
Wow. You ARE old:joy:
2 Likes
Started back in 1999 like a lot of us, got back into the hobby around 2014 I think it was! I don’t know what happened I just brought a base set booster box and that was it. Six years later i am still here growing my collection and trying to reach those goals! (I am so bad at staying focused on one goal, I just want all the cards!)
1 Like
Got into the hobby as a kid around 2000 (was 5 years old at the time). Continued collecting until I left preliminary school. Still remember pulling a Tyranitar ex from an ex unseen forces pack, most memorable moment for me. Started collecting again since August 2019!
1 Like
This July will be three years back into it. As like most, Pokemon was my childhood.
2 Likes
Nice to read all these stories
2 Likes
It will be 3 years in June. I got back into collecting just for fun and with petty cash, never had ambition to build a huge collection or make an eBay business out of it. Now I’ve got almost 30 booster boxes (mostly newer sets and YuGiOh), 50 PSA cards and almost all the WOTC theme decks!! Much of it was obtained before the boom last summer, but I still find good deals every now and then on WOTC items 
2 Likes
Like most, I went as hard as I could as a kid, then parents tossed my collection during a move. Way too bitter so moved to Yu-Gi-Oh.
I started with a purchase of the original 151 binder in 2015 and have slowly rolled from there.
Kick-ass collection for the two-year mark though!
2 Likes
came in late 2016 at an age of 18. people thought i was nuts spending money on pokémon cards and still think that. i’ve come a long way since then, my biggest L is not buying a PSA 10 1st ed blaine arcanine for $120AUD. in that time both my brother have joined the hobby one in 2018/19 and the other this year, such a good time to be part of the hobby and couldn’t be happier.
1 Like
i’ve been collecting ever since the card game came out. even though i was still a kid i managed to keep most of the cards. drifted into yugioh early on then went back onto pokemon in 2003 and found some very good stuff from then on.
2 Likes
WOTC: yeseseries: kind ofex era: yes
DPP era: noHGSS era: noBW era: yesXY era: noSM era: yesSHSW era: yes
I have been on and off since 1999. Started collecting graded around 2012. Didn’t start seriously until 2016
2 Likes
This attitude is so funny.
Spending money on Pokemon? “LOL STUPID.”
Spending money on alcohol, Red Bull and Starbucks drinks? “Oh that’s perfectly fine.”
2 Likes
The beginning of my story is somewhat similar to everyone else.
I started collecting during the boom in 1999. My interest faded after the Rocket set and I stopped collecting. Somewhere along the way afterward, my dad threw out all of my binders.
My re-entry to the hobby, however, is probably different from most.
In late 2016, I started collecting all of the Beanie Babies I didn’t have as a kid. Once I did that, I thought, “Hm, I wonder what Pokemon cards are doing?” I got back into it in February 2017 and the rest is history.
1 Like
Louder for the people in the back.
I hardly drink. I don’t need Red Bull’s wings. I don’t need to inject Starbucks into my veins unless I’m traveling.
Every cup of coffee is a card or two from Shiny Vault that I could add to my collection. Every overpriced beer at the bar is a playset of a Trainer I might need for my next Regional. People just don’t want to think long-term and would prefer instant gratification.
3 Likes
And this, my friends, is when the PSA 9 market began to dry up 
1 Like