Latest articles
Pulse Report: Every Pack of 30th Celebration Now Comes With a Pikachu
30th Celebration's guaranteed Pikachu packs and September 16 worldwide simultaneous release, Storm Emeralda's Mega Rayquaza ex trading near $1,587 in Japan, and PSA's backlog finally trending down.
Pulse Report: The Pokemon Card That Sold for $16.5 Million
A PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator just sold for $16.49 million, Ascended Heroes gets new tins on August 28, and a $14.99 starter collection drops August 7. What the numbers mean if you're not selling seven-figure cards.
Pulse Report: Storm Emeralda's Secret Rares Are Out
Storm Emeralda's secret rares hit social media, Japanese booster boxes are up for preorder at 22,000 to 24,000 yen, and Pokemon TCG Pocket launches its own Mega Rayquaza set the same week.
Pulse Report: Mega Rayquaza's Storm Emeralda Lands This Week
Storm Emeralda releases in Japan Thursday, Mega Darkrai ex has already cratered 93.6% from release, and the 30th Celebration set gets its first preview.
Pulse Report: Pitch Black Incoming, and the Market Splits in Two
Mega Darkrai ex headlines the July 17 set, a Greninja collection drops today, and vintage keeps beating modern. What I'm buying and holding.
The Card Flip Calculator: The Math I Run Before Every Lot
Landed cost, eBay fees, sell-through risk, and break-even in one number. The free tool behind every lot I buy, and how I use it.
How I Import Pokemon Cards from Japan: Proxy Services, Shipping, and Real Costs
A step-by-step walkthrough of buying card lots from Japanese marketplaces with a proxy service, including the fees nobody warns you about.
Japanese vs English Pokemon Cards: Print Quality, Prices, and Which to Collect
Having handled thousands of both, here's how they actually compare, centering, card stock, pull rates, and market value.
The Complete Guide to Sleeves, Toploaders, and Penny Sleeves for Card Sellers
After shipping thousands of single cards, this is the protection setup that survives the mail, and what's a waste of money.
How to Ship Pokemon Cards So They Arrive Safely (and Cheaply)
The exact packaging method behind thousands of eBay orders with a near-zero damage rate, plus how to keep shipping costs down.
Is Grading Pokemon Cards Worth It? A Cost Breakdown with Real Numbers
PSA, BGS, and CGC fees, turnaround times, and the math on when grading adds value, and when it destroys it.
Best Storage Solutions for a Growing Card Collection
Binders, boxes, cases, how to organize inventory when you go from 100 cards to 10,000.
How to Spot Fake Pokemon Cards: A Reseller's Checklist
Fakes are getting better. Here's the inspection routine used on every incoming lot, light test, texture, font, and more.
10 Tools Every Card Seller Needs (From Someone Who Ships Weekly)
The equipment that actually earns its keep in a card-selling operation, and the gadgets that don't.
Understanding eBay Fees When Selling Trading Cards (With Real Examples)
Final value fees, per-order fees, promoted listings, worked examples from real sales showing what you actually keep.
Buying Card Lots: How to Evaluate a Lot Before You Buy
The framework for deciding whether a mixed lot is profitable, sell-through rates, per-card cost, and the hidden cost of bulk.