Like kpod pointed out, youre genuinely underestimating this card. It was the first true pokemon cards released, before japanese base set. Finding it in psa 8 or 9 quality is far rarer than the card itself. So the price for a psa 8 is not an anomaly like you think.
And also, finding the glossy version can be difficult and there are multiple versions of this card that might make raw nm prevalence of this card seem higher than it actually is.
You’re saying everything I already know. I know it’s a heavily condition-rare item with regards to its scarcity. I just know with a little patience you still find 8 quality copies from time to time, so pardon me for thinking EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS is just… a little crazy to see for the first time.
I know 9/10 premium would be warranted here. I just think that when even to this day, you can still find NM copies for under $100 every time they come up, even if it isn’t common, that 8x premium for a PSA 8 is wild to me. I still don’t see how this is so hard to see for you guys. But hey. Whatever!
Why be cheeky about offers? Obviously this is surprising to me, seeing these auctions. For anyone paying attention to these cards over the last 5+ years this should be at least a little surprising. Just a frickin’ little. The idea here is the premium it’s getting when it’s inside psa plastic. That’s always the topic when one is surprised at a graded price. It’s commonplace for people to list “low pop” cards like this for very high fishing prices. But clearly in this case the psychology of seeing the comparison is affecting those bidders. I airquote low pop because there has never been much interest in this card, mainstream wise. I always thought it was THE Most underrated card of all time tbh and tbf. But what I’ve seen in the past few years is what created my surprise.
@wooltchi omg guys. These are the first promos I became interested in since my re-entry into pokemon in 2012. Some of the only JP exclusives I bought prior to like 2019. Why are we on E4 talking about such basics when we are not conversing with someone who is new to the hobby? I’m not underestimating the card. It’s a pretty wild premium. I’m sure the seller is jumping for joy 'cause I’ll bet you it is blowing away any expectations they had. I figured my 9 was maybe, MAYBE worth a couple hundred dollars before today. This is surprising when I have kept a saved search of glossy (in the hopes of finding my grail kinebuchi) for many years now. I know exactly how many NM copes have come and gone over the last 4 years. Let me tell you, in my opinion, hence my OP, it was surprising to see people bid that much on the card.
Finding one in mint condition truly is rare, not one with 7/8 quality whitening. There is a big difference between a MINT copy (no whitening) and a card with whitening. At least to me, and the auctions over the years with NM copies have reinforced that perception.
Again, didn’t think I’d get this reaction!
I’m not bashing or saying your own personal reaction is unwarranted.
I guess all I’m saying is, this price is no surprise or shock to me, and this card will very likely end over $1000. I’ve been poaching raw copies out of Japan for the past 5-6 years, and yea I’d never sell them for as cheap as you’re saying you’d find 8ish quality raw copies for. If anything, the card is vastly undervalued rather than the PSA copy being overpriced for being enclosed in plastic.
Now we’re talking. See, I agree completely that the card is generally undervalued. I edited my post above while you replied, so reread that. I’ve always wondered why no one cared about this card.
But I do feel like the chasm between the undervalued-ness and what it is for the first time ever going for anywhere near this price, is a little extreme. Just my opinion. I’d say a solid price for an 8 with a justified “moderate difficulty” rating would be something like $150-250 depending on how desperate the buyer is. Honestly. When even just a few weeks or months ago I saw another similar one list for like $50 (that’s generally the priceish). But evidently that’s just me and this is all news to me. Maybe. Maybe it’s a great fortunate timing to list a psa 8 when people are looking. Or maybe people are coming around to the card, and it won’t be underrated anymore.
But goddamn dude. $800+ for a card I’ve only EVER seen sell as high as $50ish. Wild.
Plus I’m learning today, on this here day of August the 22nd of 2023 that a card I thought was barely worth anything is now the most expensive card in my collection hahaha. It’s insane. Potentially more than a shadowless charizard 9, than 014/p, than fan club porygon. WILD.
Side note, did you get your glossy Kinebuchi?
No, never have. I wish. I know many are wishing too. Might be a pipe dream and I’ve felt that way for years. Especially when stagecoach paid a fortune for his.
How did you know what I was doing?? XD
What is everyone’s thoughts on the gigantic rise of the Japanese market and now the recent crashing? Do you think we will have a new higher floor for the overall market than previously or do you see it returning to levels like a year ago or so?
Also lately Japanese modern cards have been stronger than English even now after these corrections. Do you think this will last or we will revert to English being top dog again?
The second part of your question is quite interesting.
I think as long as booster boxes are so hard to obtain at MSRP for the normal person prices will stay high.
I am curious what TPC will do about because this is not status quo that should continue. It’s virtually impossible for your average consumers to get a BB for MRSP.
maybe they are doing more print on demand releases?
But unless the solve that issue or release horrible sets no one cares a bout I don’t think card prices will fall that easily. (Leaving our the hyped waifu and buy back cards)
Agreed. You literally can not buy Pokémon cards on the Japanese pokemon website unless it’s a preconstructed deck. The demand is too high. Anything worth getting is through a lottery or made to order system.
This is a great point about the effect of high booster price costs pushing the overall market up. In Japan too there seems to be no shortage of interest in Pokemon and I hear a lot of average folk can’t even get their hands on a booster box.
Is there a crash happening now?
Yeah the Japanese modern market skyrocketed recently and then over the past week or two has been cooling WAY off. Some cards still super high, but everything I’m looking at seems to be down considerably from the high about a month ago or less.
Ok so there we are. Nearly $200 of bid retractions. Guess I wasn’t crazy at all, and that nearly $800 is high for this. Though admittedly even $600 is still high for it imo. But yeah the listing is compromised anyway considering shadiness of retractions/removals.
The Japanese market in general has sustained pretty well, I think more the fact that their printer’s don’t go burrr like English. I read (which was most likely a rumor but I am not sure) that with Japanese modern after 151, they were going to start printing to demand, but I am not sure if that is true. Just in perspective, I just sold remix bout which we all loved for the major big boys on the front but for a while, they plummeted, I think I paid $75.00 for mine. I just sold it on PWCC for $375. I mean it did take 4 years to get that price but… I feel like those sets just came out. Time is going way to fast 
It’s interesting most of the big hitter Alt Arts I like have actually higher number of PSA 10 Japanese cards than English. In theory that would make the english card more valuable longterm, BUT the market sentiment internationally has shifted towards Japanese and I’m wondering if it will stay this way going forward? It seems like everyone wants Japanese across the world. And of course in country the Japanese people can’t seem to get enough of their own product. So even though the pop number is higher, the demand is higher too. The big question is will this increased demand sustain or will it eventually reverse and English be back on top?
One problem is all the english modern cards look a little flat compared to the Japanese version so I think a lot of people like myself want the Japanese version too because they are incredible cards. The texture and holo pattern in person is mind blowing.
Take Umbreon V from Eevee Heroes vs the Evolving Skies version. There is almost twice the number of PSA 10’s for the Japanese version, but Eevee Heroes has been a super popular set internationally so I do wonder if that card will continue to command a premium over the Evolving Skies version or if eventually people will catch on and sentiment will switch in favor of the english one.
I will say when it comes to vintage WOTC, it’s a completely different story. I don’t see English ever not being on top for that era. But I’m beginning to think maybe Japanese cards will be the leaders for the next few years with English modern cards being the discounted version.
I would assume they would also have a higher number of 10s just because of quality. It’s funny, I sent in a ton of English and Japanese 25th anniversary stuff to get graded and no English came back pristine. The quality, feel, and overall satisfaction to me goes to Japanese cards and always has. Vintage WOTC makes sense when it comes to English, I think it will always be on top. Japanese technically is the true base set from 1996 and then came English but honestly, after reading/research, it would make sense that it became even more popular when it came to the West.
Seems par for the course.
Increased demand > increase in prices > people start grading their raw copies > increase in supply > prices come down as more copies hit the market > the new supply gets slowly absorbed over time > prices slowly climb back up as the cheapo options disappear > repeat cycle.
Agreed! I think my big question has been "have we created a new higher floor for the Japanese modern market? Or will this eventually collapse down and English pull back ahead. Hard to predict.
Yeah “print to demand”, with strings attached.