5 Reasons To Collect Sealed Pokémon Products

Why do people collect sealed Pokémon card products?

1. Investing for a profit
2. For display purposes
3. To get the product graded
4. To resell and flip for a profit
5. To save for a special occasion

1. Investing In Pokémon Card Products

A booster pack in 1999 would cost $3-$4, but today goes for $500. That’s a crazy return on investment!

Of course, the original Base Set of 1999 is a special case, and it will never happen again. But many of the other booster packs from the early and mid-2000s have also blown up in price. 

This graph shows the eBay sales for Base Set booster packs within the previous 365 days. The highest sale was $1428, and the lowest was $322.

Today we’re seeing booster packs from just 1-2 years ago almost doubling in value. Other products such as tins, collection boxes, and Elite Trainer Boxes are also seeing an increase.

Once an expansion set has seen its final print, the quantity of booster packs will begin to decrease as people open up more packs. 

This graph shows the eBay sales for Hidden Fates ETBs over the past 3654 days. There are two recent spikes where an ETB has sold for $290. This could indicate a sharp value increase on the horizon.

It’s also worth mentioning that promo cards are often included with sealed products and can be the primary driving factor in a product’s price increase. For example, the Celebrations Ultimate Premium Collection includes two metal cards. These are highly sought after and the cost of a Celebrations UPC has exploded because of that. 

2. Collecting Sealed Products For Display

If you collect Pokémon cards, you’ll know that displaying your favorite cards is part of the hobby. Whether it’s a vintage booster pack or the newest promo, it’s cool to have it out in the open to admire.

People feel the same way about sealed products. If you’re part of any Reddit or Facebook communities, then you’ll be familiar with the collection posts that are mainly sealed ETBs and booster boxes.

The Eeveelution collection boxes from 2022 are a great example here. These products are designed beautifully. The Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaproeon promo cards are presented elegantly, and the cardboard box itself has debossed patterns that make it look and feel premium.

The Pokémon Company International went the extra mile to make these products stand out, and seeing them on the shelves in retail stores gives you a bit of a rush. For these reasons, many have chosen to buy them simply to display at home. 

3. Grading Sealed Booster Packs

PSA will actually grade booster packs, which is a whole sub-niche of the hobby. Booster packs preserve the era in which the cards are from, acting as a mini time capsule.

For those who like to grade their cards, grading booster packs is the next level. Obviously the grading company cant grade the cards inside, so instead the actual packaging is graded on a scale of 1-10. 

This Base Set 2 booster pack is a little too beat up to get graded, so we display it as a cool collection piece.

To make things a little more complicated, English booster packs usually have 4 different artworks, so there are 4 different booster packs to collect and have graded! 

4. Flipping For A Profit

Some collectors like to make a little bit of cash on the side. 

The prices of Pokémon cards fluctuate but generally increase in value over time. If you can buy low and sell high, there’s a profit to be made. This is essentially short-term investing within the hobby.

Some products aren’t in print for a very long time, and they might be sold out at your local Gamestop before you even have a chance to see one in person. Well, the person who bought them all will gladly sell you one but at a markup.

What I just described is scalping. We don’t endorse that practice here, but it does happen and it hurts the hobby.

However, buying a product to resell in 1-3 years doesn’t fall under the same category. This is generally accepted, as long as you don’t buy out the store and leave nothing for the kids.

Maybe you bought the product for your personal collection, but ultimately decide to sell it when you see the value spike a few years later.  

5. Saving Sealed Products For A Special Date

Our number one entry on the list is a wholesome one. 

Many collectors buy products to save for a rainy day. Sometimes people just want to sit down and rip open 100+ booster packs. Or maybe to celebrate a special event.

But what some people do is save up products for their friend’s or kids’ birthdays. This can be a great way to make a birthday truly memorable. 

One father decided to put away one booster pack from each set until their son is old enough to start collecting. This is an amazing idea and should be practiced more! 

Final Thoughts

If you choose to rip open every pack you buy, that’s totally fine. But many prefer to keep some TCG products sealed. At the end of the day, collecting Pokémon cards is a personal hobby, and one can partake however they please. 

If you’re looking to get started, I’d recommend purchasing a vintage booster pack. These make great display pieces and everyone’s eyes go wide when they see that old ‘99 booster pack from childhood.