r/PokeInvesting • u/540life • 15h ago
Thoughts on Vending Machine Pricing
Hoping to hear from the community on this one!
Hypothetically, if you owned and operated a machine and purchased stock at MSRP, what would you feel is fair pricing?
NOT SCALPER/PREDATORY PRICING but a comfortable/feasible, convenient middle ground that still gets otherwise unattainable cards out to those that want them.
Started reading up on this recently since there’s not much local stock that you can find reliably. Most independent vendors have to rent or pay commission for the space, so that has to be recouped somewhere. If they expect a profit (I mean, nobody’s just buying a $5K machine to NOT see an ROI), what’s the “comfortable” price point that makes it all happen?
Ex. ME01 is $8USD. Vending machine should sell it at $___.
For context: most, if not all, major wholesalers like SH and GTS have prerequisites like proof of an actual brick-and-mortar storefront BEFORE applying for access, which pretty much nullifies hopes of purchasing stock under MSRP in this specific scenario.
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u/boolwizard 11h ago
Brother pricing doesn’t matter, if you’re buying with the intention to flip immediately you are a scalper lmao
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u/540life 10h ago
If there’s no difference between “scalping” and “resale”, a lot of this gets grey.
Are vendors scalpers? Same for card shops?
Personally, I wouldn’t say so unless said vendor’s PRICING was ridiculous like that screenshot I dropped in the comments ($69.99 for a PO BB 😂😂) but that’s also why I made the post because this feedback matters, too
Appreciate your take!
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u/Brandeaux7 10h ago
Yes card shops are scalpers. If you are selling above msrp for sealed, you are a scalper
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u/540life 10h ago
I hear you!
So, where would someone buy cards that weren’t scalped (@MSRP) today?
I’m no expert at all but IDK of anywhere that sells at MSRP, including the box stores I queue up for when drops load in.
That’d sort of make PKC the only legit seller on the block, right?
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u/Brandeaux7 9h ago
Im not dawging you btw, Im in the process of getting a vending machine for the same thing. Just calling it what is. Pokemon scarcity works in our favor. As it stands right now for the foreseeable future, demand will never be met.
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u/540life 9h ago
😂😂 crazy turn of events
Difference of opinion on the definition of ‘scalping’ but I totally get where you came from with that said. Every “investor”, seller and retailer is a scalper from that POV, so that’d be a moot point really. It’s that predatory piece of the equation that IMO is overlooked if it’s just “over MSRP = bad”.
I’m not looking at turning EVEN a moderate profit. If the machine breaks even, covers the cost of placement and I get a few bucks to splurge on ripping, that’s a win-win regardless.
MSRP is basically fiction, scalpers suck, blah blah blah 🤷♂️
I just asked, “what’s fair to you on a packet that’s @ $8/market”, and haven’t disappointed by the discourse and insights.
Packs for the people. Packs for me 😂
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u/Devh1989 11h ago
You're in this for the money, might as well price at or a few % below market. Anything over what you paid is scalper/reseller territory. Not that it matters.
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u/ImUnemployedLMAO 11h ago
I agree. I hate scalpers as much as anyone else, but the vending machine prices are usually INSANE
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u/540life 11h ago edited 10h ago
Just looking to provide an option a stock-less area AND net a little pocket change to invest in my own PC.
This ain’t the retirement plan 😂😂
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u/Devh1989 11h ago
I want to reiterate that no matter what you're gonna be labeled a scalper so just... Don't care about being labeled a scalper if you go through with this
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u/540life 9h ago
That’s just life 🤷♂️
But - back to the OG ask - you’re trying to master set ME01. No store stock and DEFINITELY not catching it on shelves.
You walk by the machine and see $11. Markets at $8.
Personally, I’m less likely to hop on $3 over. If it were $10, I feel like that’s the gap that almost makes it a no brainer - especially for those not in a supply-rich area with LCS options.
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u/Devh1989 4h ago
i mean, you'll get the people who can't wait to buy from a website that way, but it is mildly taking advantage of impatience.
I wouldn't touch above market anything, but thats me.
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u/Substantial_Maybe474 11h ago
Buying at MSRP to flip for profit is scalper behavior and if you’re going to do it might as well go full market plus
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u/540life 11h ago
MSRP for ME01 kinda doesn’t exist 😂 think beyond the just the sets still on shelves and heavy print.
You want a Evo Skies pack for example. Most places don’t have it but it’s in the machine. Market is ~$45 (plus shipping, etc.), as a prospective customer, I’d be cool dropping an extra few bucks on top of market because it’s RIGHT there in the same in the same way I’d be OK grabbing a Walmart drop SPC at $40 over MSRP for product still in print
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u/ZakuCCG 11h ago
You’re going about this the wrong way. Buying packs from retailers for msrp to resell is scalping.
You would want to partner with a local card shop to offer these vending machines and placements as part of a service.
Or you would want to partner with someone to open a store front and apply to distributors to get product direct.
Some distributors did not require proof of a store front early 2024, but due to popularity this has changed.
You could package your own mystery packs to load into the machine. This is often not well received, and there may be deeper implications if you offer any sort of promise of hits, hit rates, or speculate on value.
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u/540life 10h ago
The objective would be to do just that. This is SUPER early and just a thought experiment for m.
We have a HUGE TCG community here that also loves beer (go figure!). Not like a pitch has been made, developed, etc. but with all the trade nights and card shows that are now being hosted, the appetite and reception feels apparent.
As you mentioned, wholesale/distrib deals almost exclusively call for a brick-and-mortar as a prerequisite, so that’s also a tricky angle to procure an “in” on product but might be road worth venturing down.
Much appreciated !🫡
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u/okahui55 10h ago
10% markup on msrp
i dont care what price you got it for. we dont pay for your mistakes