# What advice would you give to collectors starting out in 2026? **URL:** \ **Category:** Collecting\ **Tags:** opinion, advice\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020 "2026-03-04T01:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dyl](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/dyl/32/234623_2.png) [@Dyl](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/Dyl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/1 "2026-03-04T01:02:23Z")
We are living in unprecedented times in the Pokemon collecting space. What advice would you give to new collectors in 2026? ---
**Author:** ![alleybro](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/alleybro/32/244_2.png) [@alleybro](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/alleybro)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/2 "2026-03-04T01:08:33Z")
May want to stay away from vintage for a while. Don’t fall for the psa 10 prices either. Lastly most vendors not all but most are trying to get you to pay to dollar for low pops , psa 10 grades in modern ect. Keep away from them. Do not give them your mula. They are using this whole huge price increase to sell the cards they couldn’t before. ---
**Author:** ![mrpandachum](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/mrpandachum/32/239007_2.png) [@mrpandachum](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/mrpandachum)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/3 "2026-03-04T01:12:09Z")
don’t listen to all the noise & go for binders ---
**Author:** ![c0ll3ct0r](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/c0ll3ct0r/32/26306_2.png) [@c0ll3ct0r](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/c0ll3ct0r)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/4 "2026-03-04T01:14:40Z")
- Run the other way - Be a millionaire - Spend 18 hours online every day for a decade to learn how the hahbee functions so you won’t get scammed - Keep it extremely casual, like seashells and rocks on the beach-level - Become an obsessive species collector of some highly unpopular pokemon where the top grail is a $500 russian common or a chocolate insert ---
**Author:** ![anthony\_CCG](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/anthony_ccg/32/282431_2.png) [@anthony\_CCG](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/anthony_CCG)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/5 "2026-03-04T01:19:00Z")
buy it now it might 2x by 2027 ---
**Author:** ![Cix5](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/cix5/32/244424_2.png) [@Cix5](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/Cix5)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/6 "2026-03-04T01:24:41Z")
Pokemon reached crazy prices to the point that’s hardly just a hobby at this point, it’s a precise and responsible decision. So if you still don’t have knowledge to understand what to buy and why just don’t spend big money. Don’t fall for the fomo or the idea of an easy investment. Avoid overpriced psa 10 that are in full boom. If you really what to start collecting, and not investing, just buy what you really like and you’ll never be disappointed. Read, learn and find your niche, find the reasons that make you happy e satisfied about collecting and follow that path. Don’t rush, take your time to set your goals. Get binders full of cards you love, even if they are not expensive or minty. ---
**Author:** ![wisewailmer](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/wisewailmer/32/179572_2.png) [@wisewailmer](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/wisewailmer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/7 "2026-03-04T01:25:11Z")
get in early on something else ---
**Author:** ![eeveeteam](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/eeveeteam/32/2219_2.png) [@eeveeteam](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/eeveeteam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/8 "2026-03-04T01:26:43Z")
Don’t buy it now because it already 10x and don’t worry if its out of reach next year because it 2x again. There are thousands of other cards to collect ---
**Author:** ![c0ll3ct0r](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/c0ll3ct0r/32/26306_2.png) [@c0ll3ct0r](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/c0ll3ct0r)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/9 "2026-03-04T01:38:55Z")
There’s still a few months/years left to hoard merch before the launch. ![image](https://efour.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/1/f/1fabd414918211c85e7c32382bd8b5a54f4e73c3.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![lyleberr](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/lyleberr/32/156919_2.png) [@lyleberr](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/lyleberr)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:42am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/10 "2026-03-04T01:42:59Z")
Ive heard things about metazootoo 😉 ---
**Author:** ![thsigma](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/thsigma/32/2419_2.png) [@thsigma](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/thsigma)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/11 "2026-03-04T01:50:15Z")
Have fun ---
**Author:** ![decoypalmette](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/decoypalmette/32/254336_2.png) [@decoypalmette](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/decoypalmette)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/12 "2026-03-04T01:59:49Z")
Don’t get too attached to any hobby, as that will inevitably lead to disappointment, especially nowadays. If you really have to, then: -Quit every social and definitely avoid TCG content -Grab 2 binders, fill them with unlimited WOTC + black star promos (or japanese), and call it a day ---
**Author:** ![bk2021](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/bk2021/32/244_2.png) [@bk2021](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/bk2021)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/13 "2026-03-04T02:07:41Z")
If you’re buying new cards, they still drop as time goes on, so don’t buy them at launch. Cards are printed mostly up to 3 years until they rotate out. If you’re attending card shows or just dealing with any seller, do not trust “low pop” possibly the most obvious sign they want to pull one on you. A card should be able to stand on its own merits not a number on a stupid plastic slab by an inconsistent company. Also attend with an app on your phone to actually check market price and never rely on the seller or the stickered price as ‘market’. Collect what you like. ---
**Author:** ![anyon](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/anyon/32/2214_2.png) [@anyon](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/anyon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/14 "2026-03-04T02:16:34Z")
A pokemon card is not a pokemon, it is a picture of a pokemon printed on a piece of cardboard. ---
**Author:** ![zubat](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/zubat/32/154200_2.png) [@zubat](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/zubat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/15 "2026-03-04T02:19:27Z")
Buy what you like. Go for PSA 7 on vintage. Never ever buy a modern card in slab. Only binder. ---
**Author:** ![The\_pokemon\_samurai](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/the_pokemon_samurai/32/248773_2.png) [@The\_pokemon\_samurai](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/The_pokemon_samurai)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/16 "2026-03-04T02:20:02Z")
Some advice is to not be ignorant to others in the pokemon community. like on my page I just started tonight and you messaging some weird stuff on my page. Awkward. ---
**Author:** ![zorloth](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/zorloth/32/1561_2.png) [@zorloth](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/zorloth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/17 "2026-03-04T02:20:21Z")
I agree with the PSA 10 part, but not the vintage part. Separately: My advice to new collectors: 1. Look at the price history of whatever you’re thinking about buying. If something went up by 2000% over the past 5 years, that’s a **massive** red flag that it’s inflated. 2. Don’t pay a “low pop” premium on anything. Having a low pop is a temporary feature for 99.9% of cards being marketed as having such. ---
**Author:** ![DarthEevee](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/dartheevee/32/219955_2.png) [@DarthEevee](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/DarthEevee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/18 "2026-03-04T02:21:39Z")
If your favorite Pokémon is a popular Pokémon consider giving another Pokémon some love I am still waiting for the world’s best tentacruel collector to reveal themselves ---
**Author:** ![eeveeteam](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/eeveeteam/32/2219_2.png) [@eeveeteam](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/eeveeteam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/20 "2026-03-04T02:24:23Z")
How does a Pokémon collector be respectful to an A.I. bot? I am surprised AI isnt banned on e4 yet. I am guessing it is in the talks behind the scenes ---
**Author:** ![CaptainFish](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/captainfish/32/37869_2.png) [@CaptainFish](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/CaptainFish)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020/21 "2026-03-04T02:24:48Z")
1. Generally stay away from overpaying for modern. The cards are great but Its all but certain that more supply is going to hit the market and drive some prices down. 2. Be hesitant when buying anything that has 2-5 xd in the course of a few months. Historically those prices wont hold up in the short term (but who really knows any more). 3. Read instead of watch. Bulbaedia (although a pain to navigate at times) has tremendous information. Also, there are incredible threads on this forum that will give you more insight and history into certain cards than any poke tuber drama video creators ever could. 4. Buy what you like and just keep it. It has worked out emotionally and finically for me and most people here. [Next page](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/what-advice-would-you-give-to-collectors-starting-out-in-2026/61020.md?page=2)