Pokemon TCG Insights

In 2018, I sold my Base Set Shadowless Charizard PSA 8 for $2,200. I thought I was killing it. Today, that same card in PSA 8 goes for around $12,000. I left $9,800 on the table. Here's the context: I was 25, broke, and had just gotten into grading. The Charizard sale funded more submissions — which, ironically, mostly came back as 9s and 8s....

I'm about to say something controversial: top loaders are overrated. There, I said it. Go ahead, flood my DMs. I used to swear by them. Penny sleeve plus top loader equals protected, right? Wrong. Here's what I learned after grading 500+ cards. Top loaders scratch cards. The rigid plastic edge can micro-scratch your card when you slide it in...

Look, I know what you're thinking. Another Charizard price crash article? But hear me out — this is different. I've been collecting since the Base Set days. I watched the 1999 Charizard go from $200 to $40,000 and back to $15,000. I've seen hype cycles come and go. And what's happening with the Charizard EX 151 right now? This is a generation...

In 2018, I sold my Base Set Shadowless Charizard PSA 8 for $2,200. I thought I was killing it. Today, that same card in PSA 8 goes for around $12,000. I left $9,800 on the table. Here's the context: I was 25, broke, and had just gotten into grading. The Charizard sale funded more submissions — which, ironically, mostly came back as 9s and 8s....

I'm about to say something controversial: top loaders are overrated. There, I said it. Go ahead, flood my DMs. I used to swear by them. Penny sleeve plus top loader equals protected, right? Wrong. Here's what I learned after grading 500+ cards. Top loaders scratch cards. The rigid plastic edge can micro-scratch your card when you slide it in...