Finding a collection of Pokémon games and cards you've long forgotten is fun. Even if you're too old to play them, they may have a pretty high selling value on the online market. In less than an hour, the collection can turn into some money!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Selling Cards Retail
Step 1. Sort the cards according to their respective sets
Conscientious sellers must learn to know the set of every card they sell so buyers know exactly what they are buying.
- Card sets are defined by a small symbol located at the bottom right of the Pokémon illustration (old set), or the bottom right of the card (new set).
- To learn the symbols for each set, try to match an illustration of a card you have with someone else selling on eBay. You will generally also find a list of the sets along with the items they sell.
Step 2. Sort the cards by number
Use the number listed in the lower right corner of the card (applies to all sets).
- You will find two numbers, namely the card number, a slash (/), and the total number of cards in the set (for example, a Charizard card numbered 5/102 is the 5th of 102 cards).
- This numbering system has only two exceptions. The first exception was the Base card set, which was one of the first three Pokémon card sets sold in America. You can recognize this set of cards quite easily because Base is the only set that doesn't have a symbol. The second exception is a set of Promos cards which only have a card number to indicate the order of the cards in the set (for example, Ivy Pikachu has the number 1, which means the card is card number 1 from the “Black Star Promos” series).
Step 3. Use a thin cover (often called a “Penny Sleeve”) to protect the card from ultraviolet light
- After all the cards are in the cover, it's a good idea to store them in a plastic box to avoid damage such as warping. You can also use a special plastic card binder for easy storage. This type of binder can usually accommodate 9 cards per page. An example of a card cover brand that has a variety of colors and is inexpensive is Ultra Pro.
- These items can be purchased at the card collection shop. The recommended brand to buy is Ultra Pro.
Step 4. Make a list of the cards you have (based on each set)
Look at the bottom right of the card, some of which have stars, diamonds, or circles.
- After separating the cards by number, you will see that in the pile, the cards will be arranged in this order: stars, diamonds, circles, and finally trainer, and so on. The Pokémon at the end of the set of stars are Secret Rare cards (rare and secret). Here are the rarity levels for Pokémon cards: a star means the card is Rare, a diamond means the card is Uncommon (not a regular card), and a circle means the card is Common. Even though rare cards have a higher market value, you don't need to be disappointed because other cards can still be sold.
- Note: If you have a Pokémon card from Japan and it has a black star/diamond/circle, it means you have an Ultra Rare (very rare) card! Three-star Japanese Pokémon cards are Ultra Rare Premium cards (premium and very rare), that is, the rarest type of Pokémon cards!
Step 5. Determine the price of the card you want to sell
Like other items, the price of Pokémon cards changes frequently. Avoid buying Pokémon card pricing guides. In addition to saving money, the guide is also not necessarily accurate. A better way to determine prices is to compare the prices offered by other traders on online trading sites.
In general, the price of the card will be above the price listed in the magazine, although sometimes it can be cheaper. To find out the right price, try to study the buyers
Step 6. Create an explanation page to lure buyers
List the set, number (for example, "this card is from the Dragon Frontiers set with number x/104"), rarity (Rare, uncommon, common, secret rare, and so on.), and condition (perfect (mint), near perfect (near-mint), good, already played, bad, and so on) cards.
Describe the card you are selling in as much detail as possible to the buyer. Make sure they know what they are buying even if you have to explain any flaws. Of course the “act of honesty” will reduce the value of the card you are selling, but it is better than receiving complaints and losing buyers
Step 7. Register the card you are selling on well-known online trading sites
In general, these sites will only cut a small part of your profits. Of course, you can also sell without intermediaries if you want.
Method 2 of 2: Selling Collections
Step 1. Split the cards into four piles:
Pokémon, trainers, energy, and the rest.
- Separate stacks of Pokémon by type, for example: Pikachu, Ratatta.
- Separate the stack of trainers based on their respective types, for example: Switch, Potion.
- Separate energy based on their respective stacks, for example: Lightning, Grass.
Step 2. Count the number of cards in each pile
Give each stack a label indicating its number.
Step 3. Estimate the unit price of each card in the pile
You can do this by browsing Pokémon card pricing guide sites or by comparing prices offered by other sellers on online trading sites.
Step 4. Create a table
Fill in the table columns with the name, amount, price, and the total price (amount times price) of the card. This table can be created using Excel or a similar program.
Step 5. Calculate the total price of your Pokémon card collection
Add up the prices listed in the total price column and write the results at the bottom of the column.
Step 6. Use OLX, Kaskus, or other online trading sites
You can sell cards as a set, packs of 10 cards, or at retail. Don't forget to ask the people around you, maybe the “garbage” you want to get rid of is a “priceless treasure” for your neighbors or friends!
Tips
- Try to keep the card condition. Damage such as bending/folding/ripping will reduce the value of the card.
- Try to enter the auction. If you just sell it, someone will think the price you are offering is cheap and buy it right away. By registering at the auction, you can get an advantage over buyers who really want to complete the collection!
- Try advertising the cards you sell on Facebook or eBay to earn more money.
- Don't be disappointed if you don't get as much money as you'd like, just remember how much fun you spent playing the cards!
- Use a clean and spacious table or place when arranging cards.
- Study the cards you have before selling them! Apart from rarity, check the edition of the card, i.e. first edition, second edition, or unlimited (on old cards). Also check the shadowless card (shadowless). Shadowless cards have a higher value compared to regular ones.
- Use a rubber band to tie the pile of cards you want to sell to make it easier to hold. Tied stacks will also be easier to count (use post-it to label the number).
- Do your research before selling Pokémon cards.
Warning
- Make sure the card you are selling is a genuine Pokémon card. Don't try to sell fake cards. Selling counterfeit goods can damage your reputation and cause problems. Of course there are cards that clearly look fake, but sometimes some are hard to tell apart. Check the corner of the card, if you see only one layer of paper, then the card is fake. The original card consists of two layers of paper and has a black line around the center of the corner.
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Other ways to spot fake cards:
- Picture. Some fake cards have an image that is distinguishable from the real thing, such as an image print that shouldn't be in the original (for example, a pattern similar to a holofoil print.)
- Holofoil. Some fake cards are intentionally made to look like holograms, but you can tell the difference if you have a trained eye. Most holofoils have certain patterns that appear on the image or on all but the image (also known as inverted holofoil). Fake cards will generally have similarities to holofoil cards, but have a low holographic quality (some just look like shiny metal).
- "Taste" card. The original card has a special coating that makes the card feel smooth, which is even more pronounced on older cards. Counterfeit cards are often made from inexpensive materials that look just the same, but have a distinctly different texture.
- Text display. Many fake cards have slightly italicized text. If you are unsure of the authenticity of a card, compare the text with the original. However, there are some older cards that have different text types (e.g. Vulpix).
