Welcome to Common Rare!

Two issues a week — Tuesdays for market analysis and buy/sell verdicts, Fridays for the collector conversation I wish someone was having when I started.

A premium tier is coming. More on that soon.

Feedback is always welcome — reply to this email, comment, or reach out directly. I read everything.

Jon

This dip in the market is a blessing to us.

Nothing screams “bargain” more than a dip like this, and especially ahead of the 30th anniversary set release on September 16th, the frugal collector should be paying close attention.

We’re seeing consistent decline, the typical “summer dip” as many a content creator has pointed out. With summer spending largely in the rearview mirror, and holiday spending still a few weeks out, Pokemon’s 30th Anniversary set comes at almost the perfect time. Spending on Pokemon cards should see a jump over the next 30 days, and with that, there should be a rise in our collection value trend lines coming.

But what does that mean for you and me right now?

Everyone’s attention has shifted to the 30th Anniversary set, pulling demand away from Chaos Rising and the Prismatic and Mega Charizard X Premium Collection Boxes.

It means sets like Chaos Rising are seeing near-MSRP prices on the secondary market for booster boxes. Prismatic SPCs, once a must-buy collectors item, are now regularly hitting Facebook Marketplace for under market value. And seemingly everyone interested in the Mega Charizard X ex UPC has what they need and is ready to offload their extras.

Start buying up insurance for your collection. Build your foundational collection value now. Booster boxes will always have value down the road, regardless of the current sentiment towards sets like Chaos Rising. Premium collections like the Mega Charizard X ex and Prismatic Super are coming down in price, seeing restocks/reprints everywhere too. Buying up items like this, when the market is down on them, is how you build a collection worth something in five years.

Small positions taken during market dips have historically outperformed chasing hype. This is that moment.

I’m looking specifically at Chaos Rising booster boxes (anything $180 and under), the Prismatic SPCs (anything $240 or under), and the Mega Charizard X ex UPCs ($220 or under). Facebook Marketplace. Sports Card shops. Local sellers that were never deep into Pokemon. Deals can be had now.

If you’ve been patient, like I have been, and avoided buying into the hype of the upswing market, it’s time to be rewarded, and to start getting the deals and bargains we’ve been waiting for.

YouTuber Pokebeard put out his weekly wednesday Q&A and changed my stance on the values of a PSA 9… watch it here.

Common Rare · a Binder Grail newsletter · bindergrail.com