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Collecting Pokemon CardsCollecting Pokemon cards is a great kids collectible idea. They can be loads of fun, and (sometimes)frustrating. On this page we try to help you out with some tips and idea's, with your collection! Remember parents...let your kids have fun with these cards. They are colorful and fun to collect. And the kids still love them!
They will spend countless hours playing with them, sorting them, trading them, and eventually storing them away! So, before you hit the streets, take a quick read through this page. Here's a few ideas to help get your collection started...
Asking For Help...Okay, let's face it! We don't know very much about Pokemon cards! But we do know someone that does... Let's ask our "mystery guest" a few questions, shall we?
About 5 years (Whoa! I know ) What makes these cards so appealing? (Why do you like to collect them?) I began collecting after a neighbor showed them to me. And once you start, it can get beaddictive! I also collect them because of my Nintendo DS Lite and Gameboy games. I like collecting the ones in my games. But, the cards started it all. What makes Pokemon cards so popular? Well, I guess all of the advertising, the electronic games, and their T.V. show. Plus, a lot of collectors like to trade with others, and finding the right card becomes a goal for them. Have they always been popular? I think that they go through phases just like any other cards or toys. But they always seem to come back around or come out with something new that draws me back in. Do you think Pokemon cards will remain popular?Well it depends on if they "keep it in the know", and if people who like it now, tell other people about it... It's been going on for quite a few years now! But I don'tknow if they can keep it going strong with all these new ideas coming and going. They have a lot of similar concepts out there now!
No doubt! But it depends on the cards you have! Log onto to ebay and you'll see a huge difference, depending on the type of card and how many are being sold!
They also have a lot of different price guides and even a magazine, where you can check the value, too!
Oh! And look for a high HP number on the front of the card. That will also make your card more collectible! Do you think, in your opinion, that they will hold that value? (as time passes on)Yes, especially if they maintain this popularity! The longer they keep making the cards, the more valuable the early cards will be. And, once they retire a series of cards, they become more valuable too! When you are looking to buy Pokemon cards, which ones do you look for? I like to buy packs of cards from the newer editions. And personally, I like any holo cards, which are the shiny ones, or "foil cards"! Plus, I usually look for packs that guarantee a certin specific card, like, for example, "Palkia"! Are there some cards more valuable than others?Yes, Most definitely. Pokemon have different stages. They "envolve" and they have cards of all stages which makes the last stage, the most vaulable. Some are selected asrare to start with, such as: Arceus, Manaphy, Cresselia, or Giratina. There are legendary, rare, and basic cards. Each one has a different value, but the legendary cards probaby are worth the most. What are the "hot cards" right now...on the retail shelves, in the stores?Well, the most recent edtion is the Platinum Supreme Victors. But the ex cards have always been wanted more then normal cards.
Can you explain what an ex card is? Sure! An ex card is like a more advanced version of an already existing Pokemon card. But, it's a totally different card; it's a newer version with more power...and a different picture!
How do you store your valuable cards?I keep 1 copy of every card I get and store it in a 9 pocket clear protector sheet (front and back) that goes into a binder. And I keep any extras in rubberband stacks in a card board box because they have less value to me.
These sleeves will help protect your cards,not only from the dirt and dust, but also the harmful UV rays which can damage your cards over the long run. That's a good idea! And, one other thing...get rid of the rubberband! Store your loose cards in an acrylic, acid-free box. Buffer the important ones in separate individual sleeves or some buffer paper. Okay! But I don't have much money to spend on all of that stuff! Well, that's true! You will have to spend some extra money to properly store your cards. But look at it this way, you'll be protecting thoses cards as they increasein value over the years! And, it really won't cost as much as you might think. You can buy a package of 100 polyethylene sleeves for around $5.00-$10.00. And the acrylic storage boxesare usually only a couple of bucks a piece. You can even buy a frame with an acrylic acid-free front for around $15.00. There are a ton of choices. But hey, let's get back to the interview, shall we? Okay! Is there anyway to find out more information about these cards?Yes, Pokemon has an official website where you can find out more information.And there's another cool site called "go-pokemon" that has more card information. There are a ton of other sites on Pokemon, but I like those two the best!And like I said before, they even have their own magazine, which is kind of cool! Since you enjoy collecting these cards so much, has it made you want to purchase other Pokemon products?If so, what are they?
Yes, once you get hooked on the cards, they can lead you to other pokemon stuff. Stuff like Nintendo DS or Gameboy games which are almost more addictive than the cards because its more of a newer thing. And then there's always the stuffed animals and the little figure guys too! Do you think that collecting Pokemon cards is a good idea for kids?Yes. It gives them something to do when they have "nothing to do". And I also think that these are better for kids going to elementary school. It can give them something in common with other kids and then trading can become more fun. Is there anything else that you would care to add related to these cards?Well, pokemon has been a good part of my life so far, and it always fades in and out! But you never know what their going to do to make you want more. We would like to thank our mystery guest for participating in this interview! No Problem! Your firsthand knowledge of Pokemon cards has been a valuable addition to our "lack of knowledge" related to this topic. How Did All of This Get Started Anyway?Well, that's a good question! It seems like these cards have been with us forever, but really, it's only been about ten years. The "Pokemon Craze" has been unbelievably successful, and there appears to be no end in sight! We can't begin to summarize this success in one brief paragraph. However, if you are interested in learning the full history about Pokemon cards, here's a good link for you to try... Oh, and don't forget to mix in a few cards on your child's scrapbook pages. They make for great scrapbook ideas and the kids will enjoy looking back at them later on... But, make sure to protect the valuable ones!
History of Pokemon
Random Notes...If your just getting your Pokemon card collection started, a nice place to begin is by checking out ebay. There are usually a ton of auctions to bid on. Read through them carefully, so that you fully understand what you are bidding on.
Beware of huge quantities of Pokemon cards that are selling cheap. They normally contain mostly "energy cards". These are very common cards that are used to play the board game, but are extremely boring for the first time collector! Buying new packaged cards in the store can be expensive, but it is one way to pick up new edition cards. And for those of you who were wondering who our mystery guest was...well, we didn't have to travel far! Our mystery guest lives upstairs in our own home, and is one of our favorite people in the world!
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