I want to start collecting Dragonite cards. The goal is to have all of them, preferably in PSA 10 (just OCD things). I’m totally new to this so I wanted to ask what to look out for when you start a single pokemon collection.
Also, how do you guys proceed to find the cards that are very hard to get (not listed on ebay or other websites). For example, I’m trying to get my hands on an expedition Dragonite psa10 (english version) but it seems to be impossible to find.
I want to learn from you guys so thank a lot for the advice inb4.
As for my advice, I think that PSA 9 is a lot better to collect than PSA 10, especially for those hard to find cards. A lot of times they’re better and less expensive than a PSA 10. I know you’ve mentioned OCD, so if it creates too much of a damper,I suggest going for PSA 10.
For super hard cards, your going to have to save the searches for them, and wait…and wait…and wait some more lol. Most of the people on the forum have been waiting for months, if not years to aquire some of their cards. Post your collections in the e4 forum and make your own personal thread too, so you can track your progress.
Welcome to the forums @Dragon8 . Really awesome to have you here. Also Dragonite is a great species and may provide a nice and healthy collection challenge, also considering you are going for all PSA10 cards
I would really advice you check out the species collector thread on the forum. A lot of species collectors really help and give out great advice when you ask and you can also find some Dragonite collectors.
There was an E4’s favourite Dragonite also hosted so it might inspire you.
There is a lot of info which you can peruse and unfortunately I am not a species collector so I cannot help much. I just like Dragonite. You can still always ask questions here or on relevant forums and a lot of more knowledgeable people will always help.
Are you collecting all languages or only few languages?
Wishing you lots of fun in the hunt and looking forward to your progress.
I think it’s mostly because I simply want to sleep comfortable knowing that these cards are in a perfect state which I can hold for decades. I would be a bit too paranoia about card conditions changing over the course of years.
Keep in mind that a PSA 10 does not mean flawless which is why they might have mentioned nice binder copies. Im sure it would look good overall ocd wise though.
I would think a lot of 9 can also fall under “almost perfect”. My best advice regarding this would be to try to keep condition goals as “open minded” as possible until you’ve experienced several ways of collecting and solidified a complete idea of what type of collection you’ll be satisfied and happy with. Of course not saying your goal of all 10s is wrong, but I would reserve “stricter” judgement of grades and what constitutes good or bad condition until you’ve gotten a feel for the actual cards.
Keep your collection goals and don’t stray to far off into others opinions, you do you, you like sealed? Get sealed, you like species collecting? Do that, you like things outside of the tcg, get that.
Just keep in mind that no matter how much you think you can you won’t be able to collect everything prioritize what you enjoy the most and ignore FOMO, for the most part just enjoy what you enjoy, try to stick to your morals.
Also good luck finding a PSA 10 cosmos fossil dragonite you might have to go below 10 for that one lol
I don’t know if I would call it shortsighted, just try to experience what you like and what you might like AND what you think you might not like and most importantly, have fun doing all of the above! If just the idea of getting a 9 doesn’t sit well don’t force yourself to it. That’s why I said as much as possible, if it starts feeling like a chore or burden then its not the way.
All other English Dragonite are not that difficult to find (especially so in grades <10), but it will require some level of patience and quite a lot of money.
