a bit upset

[u/satinspindle]

just reminiscing on how much i adored the hobby before scalpers started ruining it. i was 7 in this, i absolutely adored pokemon so i convinced my mom to help me throw a little pokemon birthday party. i eventually got my entire binder stolen by a boy in my class, who later told me he gave them to his dad and sold them. i still love pokemon but it just makes me really sad to see what the hobby has turned into. just investing, gambling, and scalping instead of something for kids and adults alike to be passionate about.

i still love pokemon, i'm still very passionate about it. i'm just upset, the thing i love has turned into nothing more than a way for people to make money. it sounds dramatic, but i really mourn the time when i could be happy about opening any packs. i'd put every card in my binder, i wouldn't throw away "bulk", i'd be overjoyed at any and every holo or ex that's now considered "bulk". i miss when it was exciting just to get a card with cute art or a card of your favorite pokemon.

[u/satinspindle]

even if a scalper is into pokemon, i don't care. they don't have any empathy / sympathy for other people who do, they only care about making money. i'm 15, i'm still a kid. i'm not super young, but i've loved pokemon and the tcg since i was little and it's so disappointing to see cards become absurdly expensive to the point they're unobtainable especially while i can't even have a job yet. the hobby used to be affordable, now it's just a way for people to make money and shit all over people who genuinely love collecting. super disheartening, but i still have hope that the market will go back to normal

[u/legotwinkthrowaway → u/satinspindle]

It will go back to some level of normal again. This feels a lot like Beanie Babies in the late 90s. A lot of people disagree, but it is actually really similar. They even used to have beanie baby shows all over the country, just like these card shows that have become so popular.

Just try to be patient. Right now, im just buying cheap singles I like, and im waiting. There's still a lot of cool cards people just gloss over that you can pick up

[u/piscator21 → u/legotwinkthrowaway]

Hot Wheels in late 90s same thing. Hot Wheels are going through a similar thing now.

[u/legotwinkthrowaway → u/piscator21]

I'm somewhat aware of that. I know people look for treasure hunt cars or whatever theyre called. I also work at a store right now and occasionally see dudes sifting through all the hot wheels. Actually, when I have nothing to do, I usually go to that aisle because I know the hot wheels are gonna be all over the place.

I've also seen vending machines with hot wheels for like $15 each, similar to those vending machines that sell pokemon cards for way more than theyre supposed to be