I like opening sealed Pokemon products like anyone else. However, I also quickly realized that isn’t financially sustainable for very long. Thankfully, there are other alternatives to slowly expand one’s collection these days. Now is a good time to diversify into buying singles or specific set “packs”. This is especially useful if you plan to acquire more AR (Art Rare) cards.
Buying Singles as a Pokemon Collector
Most people are well aware there are ample ways to obtain single cards. Visiting a local card shop with bulk bins is a great way to grow a card collection on the cheap. In addition, you may find some older and/or forgotten cards that call to you. I highly recommend this option, but it’s not the main point I want to make here.
Buying singles can also apply to using secondary markets. Whether it is Cardmarket, TCGPlayer, or other platforms, there is an ample supply of Pokemon cards. However, one has to consider the condition cards might be in. Even when something is listed as “Near Mint” doesn’t mean it IS “Near Mint”. Sometimes, it’s just not worth the risk.
But it seems few people know you can buy sealed single cards as well. Granted, this usually pertains to promo cards and special event cards, not designs from a regular booster box. That said, it is worth looking into this option for such sets. Chances of getting a “Near Mint” copy increase exponentially compared to buying singles.
What if I told you there is an even more exciting option? Maybe not always for English cards, but collectors rarely care about card language. Speaking from experience, I pick up cards because they are cool or intriguing. That is also why I own cards in Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Chinese, English, Italian, etc.
Buying Entire AR Sets off Ebay
One intriguing opportunity I recently came across involved eBay. Japanese vendors are selling entire AR/SAR sets of new and older sets. This way, you can buy cards you want, without having to deal with sealed products and the “gambling odds”. That doesn’t mean this replaces pack openings, but it is a wonderful complementary option.
About a week ago, I purchased the full AR set from Storm Emeralda. As this set is out in Japan already, shops and vendors have been collecting AR cards like crazy. The listing I purchased from had 115 packages of the full AR set available. More importantly, the whole set cost $90 – excluding shipping.
Some may think that is a high price to pay for 10 Art Rare cards. However, buying a booster box of this set – which might give 3-4 ARs – costs $130-$160. Therefore, if you are mainly interested in Art Rares, these eBay listings are a much better value for money. Of course, no one really “needs” these cards right now, and they will likely drop in value in the coming months.
Another option is to buy “AR lots” from specialized Pokemon vendors. I found such an option about 2 weeks ago. They sold 100 Art Rare cards from various Japanese sets for $160, including shipping. Adding import duties pushed this toward $225, but still a good deal.
Conclusion: Buying Singles vs AR Packs
There is no wrong way to collect Pokemon cards, but there are many right ways to do so. Buying AR bundles and sets is one way. For others, buying singles to complete sets or chase specific illustrations is the preferred choice. Both are valid and this is not “one or the other”. They can work in tandem to help you achieve what you want.
Which option works better for you? Is it buying singles? Or still mainly focusing on sealed products and hoping for the best?
