If you've been able to buy Pokemon card packs recently, where the fuck did you buy them from?

[LockLowMan]

I need to buy a shitload a good few packs of Pokemon cards - the 'booster packs' that you buy at the tills in shops.

But, apparently, there's a global shortage of Pokemon cards.

If you've managed to buy any recently, where did you get them from, please?

Completely random threat I know!

There is a guy near me who runs a shop trading Pokémon cards etc, you could try them?

https://elemental.cards/

He has a few special ones. I think he plans to sell at some point when he collects them from our loft! Also a box full of YuGiOh cards.
I asked him about the shortage and he said scalpers.

I remember the phase when a little pack of Pokémon cards were a great parenting tool as reward, bribery, treats.

Thanks all.

Even though the prices are inflated and there's a risk they've been tampered with, I might have to buy some online.

My local One Stop, which is usually a sure bet for cards, doesn't have any. 😫

Are you looking for specific sets or any packs?

My DH collects them, we get them from Smyths mainly, but have also got them from Waterstones, WHSmith and B&M recently. Apparently hobbycraft do them but we’ve never had any luck there. You pretty much always have to ask at the till.

Smyths do pre-orders for sets (the most recent was last Saturday for the 10th October drop) and he got there an hour before opening to secure it.

We’ve also got them from pokemon shops or stalls but they’re always more expensive.

Before anyone says anything, yes he is an adult 😂 I enable it because I like organising the binders and our toddler loves the cards!

They are all over Whatnot. https://whatnot.com/s/lCAzSk48

https://whatnot.com/s/gfl5DLMT

A couple of examples

We got our most recent ones in Tesco!

Nothing specific. I just need about 20 packs (doesn't matter what ones) by month-end - for a party.

You might have trouble getting that many in one go as shops are restricting the amounts you can buy.
Do you have a plan B?
Is this for party bags? Maybe get the individual Lego minifigs instead. The latest theme is Spiderman.

https://magicmadhouse.co.uk/pokemon-trick-or-trade-booster-bundle-2024?gl=1j94eys_upMQ..gsMQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndRl7fMMn0ps-u4fdSdCZmS8l0n9xe0Z-anMnLPyIx9Q0JZRDqnw2QaAqU3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Would this work?
Actually found the same cheaper here
https://www.chaoscards.co.uk/prod/booster-packs-pokemon/pokemon-trick-or-trade-booster-bundle-2024?_gl=11o51x3r_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndR45UMTmqvq3hQL9eSHcVpDyerTNv1gx_RbxTZFwzTOoVIWbDBcbFsaAlwfEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADsA2Sbxhp-l2eOmRmKar69owyzsT

Oh us too....we have stacks of them. And YuGiOh cards too. Maybe we can make some money!

Our local corner shop sells them. Only place I’ve been able to find them.

https://www.chaoscards.co.uk/prod/booster-packs-pokemon/pokemon-scarlet-violet-shrouded-fable-booster-pack-10-cards?_gl=11bqiyau_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndR45UMTmqvq3hQL9eSHcVpDyerTNv1gx_RbxTZFwzTOoVIWbDBcbFsaAlwfEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADsA2Sbxhp-l2eOmRmKar69owyzsT
Here are old booster packs for £4.95 each

Yeah I think I'm going to have to go for something like this and suck up the risks of buying online, and the inflated price.

@LockLowMan to be honest buying 20 packs will cost you a lot of money and half the kids won't be that interested in them.
I'd split packs and just put a couple of cards in each party bag instead.

Yeah it's for a Pokemon-themed party.
So they have to be Pokemon packs. So no Plan B.
I've got 17 packs so far (I started buying a pack or two a week in January before the supply dried up). I need 40.

Newer packs are generally around £4.50 anyway so that isn't much of a inflated price.

Are they, I didn't know that.

Last time I bought some, they were £3.99. That was bloody months ago.

I seriously would just split the packets and just give them 2 or 3 cards each.
40 packs is almost £200 !
That's a lot for party bags.
(so would the Lego minifigs I previously suggested - scrap that idea too 🤔)

One Stop/local store

One Stop is my local corner shop - they used to have an incredible supply but its dried up.

I don't mind the cost (within reason - I'd prefer to pay the usual £3.99 but will go up to £5).

I did a pokemon party recently - bought a load of tins and a stack of old cards on Ebay. Each party bag had a tin full of cards including some shiny ones, nothing valuable but ended up much cheaper than buying a new pack each

Hopefully someone here can help. My son buys Pokemon cards. He’s just told me he has a very rare one that’s worth alot of money. Seems to good to be true. I don’t understand it all enough to know if he’s right. I will try and add a photo. Is that safe to do?

The value of some cards is crazy but they need to be in mint condition and generally graded.

I’m nosey so please do!