Pokemon Cards - Help Needed

AFOS on 25/07/2022 - 10:09

Hey guys,
Our little one is getting into pokemon cards stuff. Everybody seems to be collecting them at school. Now she wants to get some for her birthday. Whilst I find exchanging money for paper rather odd (to put it mildly), I remember myself being a kid, so naturally I would not want to disappoint her. Offer of LEGO was rejected:)

We know nothing about the stuff. Would please anyone give any recommendations on what to look for and where to buy. She is not into serious collecting, it is just child's play. I have checked gumtree/ebay and a couple of shops: EB Games, Troll&Toad. The choice is overwhelming and, given my ignorance on the subject, is overbearing.

Would appreciate your input!

My budget is $100 - $120.

Toys & Kids Card Game Pokémon Trading Card Game

Comments

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 25/07/2022 - 10:11
    -2

    Everybody seems to be collecting them at school.

    Wait for school to ban them. Happened at my kids' school after allegations of theft and bullying. I think the one pack my kid had is in a bin somewhere. Fad.

    • Archi on 25/07/2022 - 10:17
      +22

      fad for 20 or so year now

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 25/07/2022 - 11:36
        -1

        Very few will be in it for 20 years. For 99% of the kids, it IS a fad.

        • Benno007 on 26/07/2022 - 08:34
          +1

          Was in it back in 1998 and now back into it again in 2022 😅

    • RandomNinja on 25/07/2022 - 11:22
      +2

      Disagree about the fad, but do agree it's pretty common for schools to ban stuff that triggers schoolyard conflicts. Aside from Pokemon cards, Coles and Woolies collectables are also banned at my kids' school.

      I guess whether a ban happens depends on how popular it gets amongst the kids. If there's only a few kids with minimal conflict, they might avoid being banned.

    • pegaxs on 25/07/2022 - 11:31
      +5

      Sorry for your negs, but I can confirm this. The same thing at my daughters school.

      The cards were starting arguments, parents were coming to the school and trying to "undo" trades the kids had made because of some arbitrary value placed on these cards (eg: "My kid got duped into trading their 9.5/10 Super Pikachu holographic Mega EX card for a chewed up Digglet").

      Fights were breaking out and a cartel started happening where older kids were strong-arming the younger kids into handing over their best cards in trades for trash cards, or if you wanted to trade, you had to go see a certain group and they would get first pick of your trades.

      Then there were the bag thefts. Apparently kids would see what you had at recess, say "no trade" and then need to go to the toilet while in class, make a b-line for that kids bag and steal their cards.

      Needless to say, the principle had had enough of the crying kids and their whining parents and just banned Pokemon cards from school.

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 25/07/2022 - 13:14
        +1

        Sorry for your negs, but I can confirm this.

        No need to be sorry, I don't expect everyone to share the same opinion :)

    • Odin on 26/07/2022 - 10:14

      That's pretty lame. I'd just let kids have fun. Even if the school eventually bans them, at least they had fun for a while. I wouldn't try to take that away from them

    • Ultimate Gattai on 26/07/2022 - 23:21

      This happened when I was a kid in Primary school when Pokemon first came out (the theft and bullying), and people are still collecting and trading them. Unfortunately I thinking banning them was the right decision.

  • AFOS on 25/07/2022 - 10:13

    Good idea, actually:) We also heard complaints about kids stealing them at our school…

  • ssx on 25/07/2022 - 10:18
    +3

    I went through the same thing - I bought second hand cards from ebay (they were like new) and my kid stopped caring about them after 6 months.
    This was the listing I used: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/124193245973

    • RandomNinja on 25/07/2022 - 11:23
      +4

      This is a pretty good way to start, no tears if they get lost, damaged, stolen etc. And can't get ripped off if there's no value to begin with!

      • aragornelessar on 25/07/2022 - 12:03
        +3

        You can go even less value and get the Aliexpress versions, which are obviously non-legit but more likely to be fancy shiny evolved Pokemon

    • jacross on 26/07/2022 - 10:44

      This is 100% my suggestion. This is how I started with my son. It's cheap, you get a bunch of cards, and they'll either keep going or get bored with it. My son kept going.

      I think buying packs is a high cost way of getting your kid into it and the benefits that come with buying cards like that will be lost on them.

  • jozsurf on 25/07/2022 - 10:24
    +2

    You might find some in your local $1/$2/$3 shop. My kids claim that they are 'fakes' but they were happy enough with them :-D

    • Ryven on 25/07/2022 - 12:18
      +1

      They would be fakes. They won't be happy with them after they rip some other kid off with fakes in a trade and it starts a fight, which I've seen many parents go through in the collecting community. You can actually pick up a lot of the foil cards for 50 cents for holos, $2-3 for EX/GX/V and many full arts are around the $5 range in collectors groups. So you can get real cards, you aren't paying for pirated goods and you won't have your kids falling out with their friends.

  • coolhead on 25/07/2022 - 10:25
    +6

    my little one also got into this as his elder friends starting swapping & trading.
    So usually these gifts shops or $2 shops as we call them, although hardly anything is $2 - sell these card pack of 20-30 cards for $4-$5.

    with kids it better you give them something every few days or weeks rather than all at once. eg. give her a new pack every week rather than giving 100 cards at ones. this will give her time to digest the stuff & she will start swapping so she will learn those skills as well PLUS she will appreciate the cards more.

    You can also get her a collector book - just like old school photo album where she can arrange all her cards.
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/254357489332?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mk…

    Upward if you want to spend - just search pokemon on Kmart web site and so many options will come.

  • seanfoite on 25/07/2022 - 10:27
    +10

    We bought our son the Pokemon Battle Academy for a birthday and he is super happy with it. $35 for 3 complete decks, plus the instructions and all the bits that you need to play. https://www.bigw.com.au/product/pokemon-tcg-battle-academy-b…

    • Mr Haj on 25/07/2022 - 11:25
      +1

      Second this. I posted a comment advising the same thing haha.

      Each card in the Battle Academy decks have a card number (1-60) and are meant to be played in that specific order. I wouldn't worry about that though as it is a hassle and reduces the randomness of the game. In my opinion the deck should always be shuffled.

      I see there is a 2022 version and I am unsure whether those decks are also numbered.

      • seanfoite on 25/07/2022 - 12:22
        +2

        The numbering is really only just to assist with playing the first game. The instruction book walks you through the steps that you need to take to play properly and the ordering of the deck just assists with making sure that you can follow along. You can shuffle away after you've played a couple of times.

    • Nikovegna on 26/07/2022 - 09:23

      On top of getting the cards it teaches you how to play the game rather than just looking at the pretty ones. My son loves it and we play all the time (without resistances and weakness). He's even taught his grandparents how to play. It can be fairly tactical at times and a win can come out of nowhere.

    • jacross on 26/07/2022 - 10:45

      Yeah this is also a great idea. I started my kid off with the cheap ebay bundle and then got the Battle Academy.

      If it looks like the kid may be interested in actually playing the game then the Battle Academy is a really solid entry. It gives you a simple version to play and then you can progress to the full game (still using the Battle Academy bundle).

  • AFOS on 25/07/2022 - 10:32
    +3

    Thank you guys! I think we will start with Battle Academy from BigW. If it gets traction, we will progress to Collector's Book.

  • tallkid123 on 25/07/2022 - 10:36

    Wow, these cards are still popular in schools?

    I remember in 1999-2000 when one of my friends got a Charizard and paraded it around the school grounds. And then some other kid had imported some new sets from the US and we were trading all our shinys, uncommons and rares just to get his lousy commons.

    If only I had the money back then that I do now.

    • Benno007 on 26/07/2022 - 08:36

      And now those charizards are selling for up to $1300 if they’re mint😂

    • jacross on 26/07/2022 - 10:46

      My cousins had the full set of the original series back then. Being who they are, the set didn't last. Would be worth a decent chunk of change now…

      • tallkid123 on 26/07/2022 - 13:06
        +1

        My mother actually stopped buying me booster packs because I never got holos and would rage when my little sis would be swimming in duplicate holo eevee evolutions (jolteons, flareons, vaporeons).

  • yippy on 25/07/2022 - 10:44
    +1

    https://www.gameology.com.au/ is a decent place to buy Pokemon cards, maybe get an elite trainer box. Comes with booster packs and other goodies.

  • Archi on 25/07/2022 - 10:44
    +1

    beware or counterfeit cards, there are heaps in circulation.

  • Fergy1987 on 25/07/2022 - 10:55
    +10

    Basically, to be the very best at pokemon cards, like no one ever was. You have to catch and collect them, which will be your real test. But remember to train them is your cause. So you must travel across the land, searching far and wide and teach your Pokemon to understand the power thats inside.

    So, Pokemon - Its you and your daughter. Just know it's your destiny. But also, Pokemon - your heart must be true and your courage will pull you through. You teach your daughter and She'll teach you. Thats Po-ke-mon. You gotta catch them all.

    • inasero on 25/07/2022 - 14:28
      +1

      +1 for effort

  • askbargain on 25/07/2022 - 11:08

    Just take a screenshot of them like NFTs.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 25/07/2022 - 11:21
    +2

    Whilst I find exchanging money for paper rather odd

    This is a really odd take on this.

    Do you buy board games? You're exchanging money for 'paper'
    Do you buy pillows? You're exchanging money for cotton
    Do you buy tables? You're exchanging money for wood

    You're exchanging money for something that has value to someone.

    In any case, is it 2000 again? They were banned at my primary school after all the older kids ripped off the younger kids in trades.

    • AFOS on 25/07/2022 - 11:40

      Yes, I get it. It is just the value in kid's eyes is very subjective. Funny, but the same applies to adults too…

  • pegaxs on 25/07/2022 - 11:37
    +3

    Aliexpress. Get the good looking fakes for about 1/10th the cost because the kids are only going to lose them, trade them or damage them anyway…

    • aragornelessar on 25/07/2022 - 12:05
      +1

      That's what my kids used to take to school to play with - and because they're fake, they're more likely to be the 'cooler' Pokemon

  • CrispyChrispy on 25/07/2022 - 11:43

    There are 2 types of people who buy Pokemon cards: those who actually play (actual games with others with the full deck, game mat, counters, etc.) and those who simply collect the cards, eg. The more expensive EXs, full arts, GXs, textured cards, whatever it is now.

    Which one is your daughter? I would imagine it's the latter. If so, buy a binder/collector's book to display those fancy cards.

    Avoid the $2 'decks' at all the dollar shops. These are like the 'Pokemon Go' decks and whatnot, you can usually tell they're fake by the printing quality of even the cardboard box itself. They are fake, and it's quite easy to tell especially if you also have genuine cards on hand too. I would recommend buying some booster packs or an elite trainer box, so your daughter can open some and potentially pull an ultra rare card, or some promotional card. EB Games and Big W will have some type of box with maybe 3 booster packs, a promotional card, a coin, maybe some other stuff. These will be between $40-$80 probably.

    I haven't caught up with Pokemon cards in quite a while (5-6 years now), but the excitement is arguably in the pack opening - check out channels like UnlistedLeaf and Leonhart, and what type of stuff they buy and open on their channels.

    • jacross on 26/07/2022 - 10:48

      My mum bought my kid some of those fake packs. I was like 'what are these weird spanish cards'? I think their actually pretty perfect for kids who want to look at them, touch them, throw them around, bend them.

      Even better to just go on ebay and buy a big bundle of commons for nothing.

  • trustnoone on 25/07/2022 - 12:05

    My budget is $100 - $120

    Personally I'd probably buy the elite trainer box. Its about that price and will have everything you need from dice, to special pokemon sleeves, a special promo card and like 10 boosters or so to open.

    Or else you can buy like a starter deck and the rest in boosters.

    Also worth checking out the PCTGO this is Pokemons version of the online game, its a great way to learn the game if she wants to play and free. Plus you get to open packs too https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/play-online/

    Just keep in mind, buying boosters/blind is never "worth it" from a game point of view you're better off buying specific cards on troll n toad or where ever (its also a bunch cheaper). So I'm assuming the fun here is basically being able to have lots of boosters/packs to open to what they get.

    Also a heads up, if your buying boosters definitely shop around. I've found game stores to be some of the cheaper ones for a few bucks.

  • Ryven on 25/07/2022 - 12:29
    +2

    Best product to buy is one she likes. If she's a fan of a particular pokemon and there's a promo she loves, that's a good start for sealed products. Opening packs is literally a gamble, so at least if she likes the promo she's getting something guaranteed out of it. As others have said though, if it's a matter or getting into play or serious collecting the most economical way to get cards is to buy the ones you want directly rather than opening product. I'd also note taking care of the cards you do buy and in an economical manner. You can get clear plastic sleeves for about $2 for 100 if you look for the LPG brand where other brands can cost more like $7-8. And good quality folders, top loaders and the likes to protect any valuable cards pulled. I'd recommend Palms off Gaming products for that.

  • firestint on 25/07/2022 - 16:14
    +1

    My partner's nephew is also very much into Pokemon TCG, seems like all the craze now.

    We got him an elite trainer box for his birthday, which he absolutely loved. Sometimes certain sites like Target or Catch have pretty good discounts like $20 off a $79 box so worth having a look around.

    What I also did as back up gifts was use JB perk voucher of $10 to offset the price of 2x booster packs, so worked out to be $1 per pack if you C&C and each pack has 10 cards.. good back up gifts.

    I have a box of base 1 TCG cards from when I was a kid before year 2000. Nothing too exciting unfortunately, like the rare holo Charizard or this USD $5M perfect PSA grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card owned by Logan Paul.).

  • NEO-R26B on 25/07/2022 - 17:10
    +2

    Whilst I can understand the logic behind buying the Battle Academy, as a kid at school they won't really have any trade value with the included cards, the academy is intended to be played as a standalone product and parting the cards out from it would just make it unusable. I would recommend looking for the best money to card ratio you can find in any on-shelf products if the little one is looking to join an existing school community who are collecting rather than playing the actual card game.

    Your big name brick and mortar stores like EB Games will have the best value generally in the Elite Trainer Boxes, but the ratio is roughly $10 per booster pack which is your typical mark-up. You can find much better value from smaller stores or online distributors like Collectible Madness or Critical Hit, often offering booster packs at $5-$7 each. You can apply the same logic to box products to figure out the cost of the booster packs included. Also be conscious that promo or holiday sets that do not include the "Sword & Shield" logo may have less cards per booster so check the fine print to see what you're actually getting.

    A great starting point is an Elite Trainer Box as it comes in a box to store everything, a set of card sleeves for a playing deck or just to protect the holos, dice and promo items. Half the fun of collecting Pokemon cards is opening the booster packs to see what you get, and the ETB gives you the best value entry to that at your budget. Put any money leftover into booster packs of whatever set you can get your hands on for the best price and see how they go. I'd recommend adding at least 1 folder for storing the rarer cards, the rest of the 'bulk' can sit in the ETB, this'll give them something safe to transport the cards in.

    At the end of the hype you can bulk sell everything as a package on eBay or marketplace, the better the condition and pulls, the better your return is for their next hobby.

  • cloudy on 25/07/2022 - 22:18

    Hey OP,

    It depends on how you view the cards. As a kid of the 90s, me and my mates started on Pokémon cards and many of us still have them, sentimental value I suppose of our childhood, but it turns out many kids our age are now in our 30s and making decent bucks and want to buy them back for big $$$.

    This is likely to be your daughter, Pokémon has brand value, that I suspect wont die. It's survived 20 years already, and clearly it's still mega popular. So consider it fun, with investment value.

  • Soundwave on 26/07/2022 - 09:33

    Personally, if you're overwhelmed about the different variations, I would give your daughter a $100 EB Games gift card or $100 Myer gift card that allows you to use it at K-Mart and Target. This way you can take your daughter to these stores and choose the Pokemon packs she wants and the Pokemon types she likes. I know it won't be as excited when she actually gets a gift card as a birthday present but saves you the stress of getting the wrong version depending what may be popular at her school. She could also use it to get a Pokemon theme card holder etc.

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