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You might have heard that Pokémon card collecting is undergoing a sort of renaissance, thanks to the pandemic. But it’s a little more intense than that. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
The resurgent interest in Pokémon cards has brought multiple major, well-respected companies to their knees. Target stores have even considered calling the cops on people waiting to get their hands on cards. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9dd/target-is-prepared-to-call-the-cops-on-frantic-pokemon-card-hunters
This demand has led to shortages and/or price increases of basically anything even remotely attached to the hobby of collecting cards. And however wild you might think any of this is, it is even wilder than that.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
The prices people are willing to pay for Pokémon cards are very high, but that's pretty normal collector stuff. What is not normal is what is happening at the higher ends of the collecting hobby and, specifically, in the “graded” card market. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
Once a card has been graded, it is not only considered to be authentic but it also means a professional has looked at it and, in the case of a 10, determined that it is perfect, the ideal specimen of a card that was made in limited quantities.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
Getting a card graded at a high score means a higher resale value.
An ungraded, holographic First Edition Charizard card from the base set is worth a few thousand dollars. A First Edition Charizard graded a 10 is worth $300,000. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
An ungraded, holographic First Edition Charizard card from the base set is worth a few thousand dollars. A First Edition Charizard graded a 10 is worth $300,000. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
The popularity of Pokémon cards and other trading cards are leading hundreds of card graders to work "thousands of hours of overtime." Companies are offering massive bounties for new hires to keep up with demand, and are still failing to do so. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times
