How Long Pokémon Card Investments Take To Actually Pay Off
Investing in cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game is more popular now than ever, which has in turn enabled collectors to make huge profits and fast. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a dramatic surge in trading activity that resulted in a significant rise in card prices, especially for original English Pokémon card sets from the 1999-2000 era. But because card values are still at record highs, making an investment can ward off newcomers who are worried about making a profit.
Even veteran collectors in the Pokémon TCG have been thrown off by the events of recent years. Generally speaking, the Pokémon TCG market is characterized by its stability. From its beginning, the market has seen steady rises except in years of economic collapse, hence why values for Pokémon trading cards saw modest increases each year leading up to 2019. However, the past three years have been a turbulent mess in which the market has become oversaturated with high-valued cards (from 1st Editions to rare Pokémon Brilliant Stars cards) that were quickly bought up and now seem rarer and more expensive than ever. Indeed, it seems with almost each new sale there is a new Pokémon TCG record-breaking profit: A 1st Edition Charizard in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition sold for $420,000 this past March, and original Pikachu cards have seen a value increase by 1,000% since January of 2020.
Because these surges in sales are continuing into 2022, some investors can make profits very quickly. On the other hand, those looking to make major bucks by PSA grading their cards and selling at auctions or conventions may have to wait a while longer to see profits. The increase in activity in the trading card community at large - and the fake Pokémon TCG Logan Paul fiasco - has made PSA grading a substantially longer and more expensive process than ever before with no real signs showing it may return to normalcy. Consequently, turning over cards could take anywhere between days or years depending on the trading people want to do within the Pokémon TCG community.
Indeed, making profits on Pokémon trading cards can take just a few days depending on the market and the price. Lower level sales under $100 happen all the time, and getting the hang of the market by engaging in this range is recommended for those just entering the Pokémon TCG space. But at higher levels where traders are selling classic Pokémon trading cards from early sets, having a keen understanding of the market - what is currently hot or popular or selling - can lead to quick and major sales. These transactions usually take place over eBay, however, not the major auctions where the record-breaking Charizard sale from last month took place.
For sales of that magnitude - or at least sales that could result in extreme profits - collectors may want to hold onto their cards. This is not only necessary because of the time it takes for PSA grading and the right auctions to pop up but crucial for maximizing profits. The Pokémon TCG has had a strong correlation with the Magic: The Gathering market for a long time, and this correlation suggests steady price inclines for the next five years. Thus, those looking to make huge profits off of investing in Pokémon cards (hopefully not scamming) - even after paying for PSA grading and buying spaces at conventions and auctions to sell - should wait and monitor the Pokémon TCG for at least one to five years to ensure they make the most from their cards.