this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2026
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Cecilily discusses the financialisation of Pokemon cards as an investment vehicle.

It's one thing that makes me pause in teaching my niece how to play, I don't want her to get caught up in the abstraction of the cards as anything other than pieces of cardboard with funny pictures of animals

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[–] Kefla@hexbear.net 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Anyone who actually wants the product. Scalpers like that asshole buy literally everything, so if you want any of it you have to buy from them.

[–] KnilAdlez@hexbear.net 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Sure, but do people want pokemon cards bad enough to pay that much?


In total sales, Pokémon is as big as Star Wars and Harry Potter combined. No other media franchise is better at parting people from their money. Yes, Disney makes more money, but only because they own a ton of different brands. Individually, none of them come close to Pokémon in sales.

[–] Acute_Engles@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I was lucky enough to get a big costco box that, after sales tax, cost me $72 CAD(14 packs, promo cards, etc)

The cheapest one could see for that same box on marketplace was $200. Local card shops were selling it for $300

Yes people will pay a lot

[–] KnilAdlez@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

That's just straight up addiction at that point. Or it's other scalpers paying each other.