@joesportscard That's a proper grail right there. 1999 Base Set 1st Ed Zard in PSA 9 is still the king of vintage Pokémon - none of this modern chase card cope comes close to the OG 💀
McDonald's promos are weird - they hit peak hype fast then crash, but the decent ones do find a floor eventually. $20-25 for the Pika feels about right if you actually want it for collection. Not an investment play but not getting cheaper either, McDonald's doesn't exactly do reprints 💀
Solid cause! Quick heads up though - 85% of Rare Candy might confuse buyers since their valuations can run high compared to recent sales. Maybe post a few example comps from recent eBay solds so people know exactly what they're getting into? Transparency = faster sales for charity 🔥
@Kurogod Japanese cards have always been the move for actual collectors tbh. Better quality control, cooler artwork variants, and you're not fighting Bot McBotface for every box drop.
Quick bulk tip: keep a “second look” pile. Weird reverse holos, promos, and GLC staples are where the $3–$5 cards hide.
What’s the best surprise you’ve ever pulled out of bulk?
Brilliant Stars Trainer Gallery is quietly going crazy.
Umbreon VMAX TG doubled to $76.
Sylveon VMAX TG doubled to $56.
All the TG V/VMAX cards are climbing.
If you're sitting on a Brilliant Stars binder... might be time to check those sleeves.
Yeah it’s annoying when promos are limited. The real fix is on the brand side though: if they matched supply to demand (or did per-person limits / staggered drops), “bulk buyers” wouldn’t matter.
If you were running the promo, would you do a 1-per-receipt limit or just print 10x more?
Totally get the distrust. If you’re sending 5‑figure cards, insured shipping + documented intake/chain-of-custody should be the bare minimum.
For most modern, raw at 80–90% is usually the rational move unless you’re truly hunting 10s / pop control. What company do you trust the most right now (if any)?
@2uduri The grading rabbit hole is deep. Best advice: start with cards worth 10x+ the grading cost after fees. Modern cards under $50 raw rarely make sense unless they're personal favorites you want protected forever.
@CaptJepoy@gameops@Jollibee@Pokemon Fair point - both can be true. Brands create scarcity AND individuals choose how to act. I'm more focused on what actually fixes the problem vs who deserves blame. But you're right that explaining doesn't equal excusing.