Where to Buy Authentic Pokémon Cards

Nowadays, it is difficult to find places to reliably buy both single Pokémon cards and sealed product at good prices.

The single card market is saturated by the quantity of cards that exist and the number of people currently selling given the popularity of the hobby. There are many people selling fake cards, and others looking to take advantage of this popularity by selling at exorbitant prices. This also happens with sealed or new product, where scarcity and high demand cause certain individuals to want to take advantage and profit by selling their products at very expensive prices.

That is why this guide aims to inform the reader on how to be able to distinguish the different participants in the sector and which one to turn to depending on their interests.

 

 

Where to Buy Single Cards

To reliably acquire individual cards, we can categorize the options into two main groups: Buying and Selling Platforms and Specialized Stores.

 

Online Buying and Selling Platforms

We can differentiate them into two types:

• Platforms dedicated to card buying and selling: These platforms specialize in the buying and selling of collectible cards and therefore offer greater security and protection when buying our cards from them. These platforms allow users and stores to sell to other users equally, so when buying, we must look at whether the sellers have a good reputation, as this will mean they are more trustworthy (although these platforms usually offer good consumer protection, it does not hurt to be extra sure). The leading platform in Europe is Cardmarket.
• Generic buying and selling platforms: These platforms allow buying and selling of almost anything, so collectible cards are also included. Although these platforms allow it and most also have a section for them, it is highly recommended to only buy from sellers with a good reputation to ensure that the card we are buying is legitimate. The most popular platforms are eBay, Wallapop, and Vinted.
  

 

Specialized Pokémon TCG Stores

There are many specialized stores, both physical and online, that have been dedicated to selling Pokémon TCG products for many years and also sell single cards. These stores offer the guarantee that the cards are authentic, as specialists and professionals sell them, as is the case with CollectorsTrader.

 

 

Where to Buy Sealed Product

To ensure authenticity and get the best prices on new packs, boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs), we must turn to sources with a well-established supply chain.

 

Large Toy Stores, Department Stores, and Recognized Supermarkets

Large toy stores are usually where the greatest amount of inventory is received, as they are the main focus of the distributors. That is why it is here where we can find authentic product at a competitive price, in the large toy store chains and in some supermarkets or department stores. However, it should be noted that these stores usually only have the latest expansions, as they do not typically reserve inventory and prefer to liquidate it quickly.

 

Specialized Pokémon TCG Stores

In these stores, both physical and online, we can find a wide variety of product from different expansions, although at different prices and with little inventory. Depending on the store, prices can vary significantly, which is why it is recommended to look for stores with a good reputation.

 

Pokémon Center

Pokémon Center is the official site where Pokémon products are sold, although given the high demand, it seems that they always have little inventory as it always sells out quickly. Pokémon Center is currently not in all countries, so if you are from a country in the EU, you probably do not have access to it.

 

Some Stationery Stores and Retail Stores

There are some stationery stores and shops that also sell Pokémon TCG products because their distributor has access to them. However, you must be very careful, as this is where it is easiest to find fake product. That is why we recommend being cautious when buying in these places, although it is easy to detect them if you are careful since the fake product is usually sold at a much lower price than the authentic one, so with a simple Google search, we can know and identify it.