I'm wanting to get into the TCG and start collecting, but I don't really know where to start... Can I get some good advice about collecting and how I should go about collecting (Just buying boosters/tins/boxes, good websites to buy cards off of, etc.)?
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Wanting to start collecting TCG...
- Thread starter MarioManH
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Take a look around at all the cards on Bulbapedia or some other card database and see if any cards catch your eye.
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I myself, are more interested in the collection of Pokemon Tcg rather the playing of it however I have had a reasonable start from having collected these cards from the day they came out. The downside with that is they are all played. Since restarting collecting the cards rather than playing them, approx 5 years ago, I have amassed a collection of reasonably excellent condition cards, some mint straight from boosters.
If you choose to pursue the classic sets such as base set 1 and 2, jungle, fossil, rocket, gym heroes etc, the neo series.. They will cost. Also if you choose to get boosters to start off your collection there is an unfortunate culture of pack weighing certainly on eBay which can result in you purchasing a booster that is nearly always containing a non-shiny rare.
However purchasing the cards you want individually will ensure that you get the cards you want, just unfortunately not always in the condition described as.
Perhaps the best way to start is to bring together a nice collection of recent Pokemon sets like X and y. You can get boosters and tins from most superstores and is highly unlikely any will be weighed. There are expansions released on a regular basis and will be interesting to collect. Unfortunately with boosters you will keep getting the same few cards from them as the commons really are common and you may find yourself opening loads of boosters just for one or two rares you might be missing.
I've been getting a folder together of X and y and all the expansions within and have set them out in numerical order and it's frustrating the number of blanks I have in my folder . Beware it is a very addictive hobby but one that will be worth something in the foreseeable future.
Theme decks for any set are ok but you end up with a high number of the same card.
Personally I enjoy collecting cards from the NEO series. They are the last set from the original series and as a result of that the highest quality I find. Issue is that neo destiny for example is one of the most sought after sets in the whole of Pokemon tcg and boosters are nearly extinct.
If you have the money, booster boxes contain 36 booster packs and can sometimes finish a set straight away but are extremely expensive certainly earlier sets.
There is much out there to choose from
Good luck
If you choose to pursue the classic sets such as base set 1 and 2, jungle, fossil, rocket, gym heroes etc, the neo series.. They will cost. Also if you choose to get boosters to start off your collection there is an unfortunate culture of pack weighing certainly on eBay which can result in you purchasing a booster that is nearly always containing a non-shiny rare.
However purchasing the cards you want individually will ensure that you get the cards you want, just unfortunately not always in the condition described as.
Perhaps the best way to start is to bring together a nice collection of recent Pokemon sets like X and y. You can get boosters and tins from most superstores and is highly unlikely any will be weighed. There are expansions released on a regular basis and will be interesting to collect. Unfortunately with boosters you will keep getting the same few cards from them as the commons really are common and you may find yourself opening loads of boosters just for one or two rares you might be missing.
I've been getting a folder together of X and y and all the expansions within and have set them out in numerical order and it's frustrating the number of blanks I have in my folder . Beware it is a very addictive hobby but one that will be worth something in the foreseeable future.
Theme decks for any set are ok but you end up with a high number of the same card.
Personally I enjoy collecting cards from the NEO series. They are the last set from the original series and as a result of that the highest quality I find. Issue is that neo destiny for example is one of the most sought after sets in the whole of Pokemon tcg and boosters are nearly extinct.
If you have the money, booster boxes contain 36 booster packs and can sometimes finish a set straight away but are extremely expensive certainly earlier sets.
There is much out there to choose from
Good luck
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It depends.
If there are only certain cards you want, definitely buy them individually. I'm lucky enough to have two great TCG stores in my town, and one of them is a giant warehouse that will most likely have almost anything you want. But, you can also order on websites like Troll and Toad or TCG Player. Since I actually play in addition to collecting, I generally will purchase my cards individually.
However, it's also really fun to open booster packs. We're really having fun with Generations! If you open boosters though, you'll have a lot of common duplicates, so keep that in mind too. It's okay for us since we play, but might be annoying for just a collector.
So, generally...it's just cheaper to buy them individually, plus then you know what you are getting and you can avoid duplicates. Pay attention to the condition of the card you are buying. I've never had a problem buying online as far as condition and I'll usually buy played cards (you can buy mint - damaged). It's still fun to open booster packs on occasion though!
If there are only certain cards you want, definitely buy them individually. I'm lucky enough to have two great TCG stores in my town, and one of them is a giant warehouse that will most likely have almost anything you want. But, you can also order on websites like Troll and Toad or TCG Player. Since I actually play in addition to collecting, I generally will purchase my cards individually.
However, it's also really fun to open booster packs. We're really having fun with Generations! If you open boosters though, you'll have a lot of common duplicates, so keep that in mind too. It's okay for us since we play, but might be annoying for just a collector.
So, generally...it's just cheaper to buy them individually, plus then you know what you are getting and you can avoid duplicates. Pay attention to the condition of the card you are buying. I've never had a problem buying online as far as condition and I'll usually buy played cards (you can buy mint - damaged). It's still fun to open booster packs on occasion though!
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The only issue I find with buying singes is that you can't guarantee they'll be mint. From opening a booster to putting it in a sleeve the card is exposed to a number of things especially if it's put in amongst other cards and scratched.
If you're lucky you can get singles in mint condition
But boosters will provide you with the best guarantee that they will be gem mint (providing it's printed properly - centering and off corners are an issue)
If you're lucky you can get singles in mint condition
But boosters will provide you with the best guarantee that they will be gem mint (providing it's printed properly - centering and off corners are an issue)
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Near mint cards still hold value quite well, and you can frequently get singles in near mint condition. Mint condition is pretty difficult to keep, even pulling straight from the pack, while near mint is far easier to maintain and from a value standpoint with trading cards is considered near equal in value to mint condition.
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While in the ideal world that's correct it's difficult as I have found singles to be described and sold as mint condition and arrived with marks.
The issue here is that some sellers regard a fairly shoddy card as 'mint' just because it hasnt got any obvious damage.
But in reality mint must mean no marks whatsoever.
This difference in understanding is often difficult to tell over the internet as pictures normally don't show the surface scratches and finger marks that you would see with the naked eye.
For example the other day I bought a Hitmonlee (Fossil 7) and Wigglytuff (Jungle 16) online from the same merchant and both were sold as mint condition. The Hitmonlee arrived without a mark, booster fresh. The wigglytuff was blotchy and scratched. Both cards sold for the same price too.
The issue here is that some sellers regard a fairly shoddy card as 'mint' just because it hasnt got any obvious damage.
But in reality mint must mean no marks whatsoever.
This difference in understanding is often difficult to tell over the internet as pictures normally don't show the surface scratches and finger marks that you would see with the naked eye.
For example the other day I bought a Hitmonlee (Fossil 7) and Wigglytuff (Jungle 16) online from the same merchant and both were sold as mint condition. The Hitmonlee arrived without a mark, booster fresh. The wigglytuff was blotchy and scratched. Both cards sold for the same price too.