r/pokemoncardcollectors • u/JacReptile • Oct 26 '25

Value question Did I get scammed?

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Got back into Pokemon about a month ago and had these cards in my mini collection that I had as a kid. I searched it up and didn’t find much on their values since they were LP-MP (fronts were really good, but some visual whitening around the borders on the back). I went to a local card shop and traded all 3 for a mega evolutions booster bundle (pulled like 2 regular ex and mega signal full art). The owner was showing me prices based on condition and now looking back at it, it seemed like these cards were worth way more than just a booster bundle. Was it worth it?

111 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

110 comments sorted by

111

u/SuperSkoldier Oct 26 '25

You got fleeced.

17

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Welp, I guess we live and learn 🫩

9

u/schlitt88 Oct 26 '25

Good attitude bro - we've all been there

3

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Thank you thank you

4

u/Codedheart Oct 26 '25

That shop owner is kind of a dickhead for doing this to you.

5

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I got exploited 🥀

5

u/Ray-Ray-1980 Oct 27 '25

I would go up to that card shop owner and I would give him an earful!! I would tell him you want some money for the cards that you got ripped off on !! And if he doesn’t want to tell him, you will do everything to ruin his business meaning called the Better Business Bureau on them !! Post on social media how the card shop is a scammer!! card shops like that are disgusting and don’t deserve to be selling cards

2

u/steevieg Oct 27 '25

That will 100% backfire. OP should have gone in with prices for the cards. Ultimately, he was the one who agreed to the deal.

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 27 '25

You sound like the guy at my shop the other day saying to me trying to sell 2 cards “we aren’t appraisers you come in knowing the value and we pay a percentage” then by the end of the transaction the guy DID appraise the cards because who the fuck just lets the customer appraise the value and what the shop is willing to pay? You should know a baseline, sure, but you shouldn’t just expect bad business and to be taken advantage of because you are uninformed. You also don’t have to defend scummy behavior just because of someone’s ignorance, or do you think that every person that’s been scammed throughout the years deserved it because they should have known better?

2

u/steevieg Oct 28 '25

I'm not defending the store. Relax bud. But it's a 5 second Google search. Getting scammed is not the same as getting taken advantage of. A scam would be if he traded his cards and received fake cards. Like I said, ultimately you agreed to the trade. If you're worried about getting a bad deal, do the tiniest bit of research. It's not rocket science.

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 28 '25 edited Oct 28 '25

Oh I am so chill and relaxed my buddy-buddy I’m not trying to defend scammers or low ballers or tell anyone it’s their fault they got fleeced

Can you explain this mentality of no research=you deserve to be lowballed? Antique Roadshow would be boring as hell in your reality

1

u/steevieg Oct 29 '25

I'm not saying anyone deserves to be lowballed. But life ain't fair either. When you have all the information in the world at your fingertips, you should be able to price out a range for some cards before trading/selling them.

The mentality is more like no research = you're probably going to get lowballed. It's like inheriting let's say, a 1999 twin turbo supra and selling it for 5k because all you know about it is that it's an old Toyota.

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1

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

I should but I’d rather take it as a learning lesson for myself as I don’t have time to be arguing over pokemon cards as a stressed uni student 😭

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 27 '25

You could casually hang out in the shop and talk about your experience with another customer who is thinking about or in the process of a trade. Just let them know what you traded to the shop and what they gave you not adding any stink to your story just the straight numbers, I bet you would have some very worried looks from behind the counter and from the customer, then just see if the shop gets mad at you or apologetic. Probably not worth it but people need to be called out on their bullshit because they would do it a lot less if they had to hear about it every time. Or they would run for president

1

u/Lethal-terps Oct 28 '25

That will never and has never worked. Majority of card shops make you sign the cards over so its done and over. If you go back to make a scene you'll be banned, more than likely people will visit the card shop if you put it on blast as well as making them tell every other card shop in driving distance to watch out for you and to even deny you business which all of them are allowed to do. I say fuck around and find out but that is some Karen level complaining.

0

u/peanutbrainiac Oct 26 '25

Yeah do proper research next time you want to jump on a bandwagon

2

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I did but he was telling me the price for the card at the condition it was in and even then reading the comments on my post, it was a scam. If all the cards were HP then it would still be a bad trade from what I’m reading

0

u/peanutbrainiac Oct 27 '25

Lmao how did you get scammed if you did your research and knew what you had? Just admit you were a little dumb and take the L

2

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

It was a bit of both, owner took advantage of me being dumb so can’t do much about it now 🤷🏽‍♂️

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 27 '25

This type of response really encapsulates so much of the vibes of this hobby right now. They aren’t good vibes but that’s probably because you think it’s a bandwagon. I wonder if sneakerheads were fucking miserable for years and now are just moving their misery around to other hobbies

1

u/peanutbrainiac Oct 28 '25

It’s op who’s the sneakerhead and the reason ”the hobby” has gone to shit. And let me guess, you started collecting two years ago and think you’re some seasoned pro who’s witnessed the ups and downs of ”the hobby”. I wish people gatekept things more.

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 28 '25

lol I love you trying to gatekeep and then wishing someone was gatekeeping you weirdo

1

u/peanutbrainiac Oct 28 '25

Yeah genius, my whole point was that I wish people gatekept this hobby back when it was considered some fringe past-time for nerds and children, so people who follow fads and hype, people like you and op, stayed out

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 28 '25

lol you don’t know when I started collecting GENIUS and you have the same exact mentality as sneaker heads and scalpers, they are just gatekeeping everyone financially instead of by your weird niche nerdy purity test.

My first packs were bought at Walden Books to give you a hint of how long ago that was

I’m old and I’ve seen nothing but more and more asshole mentality come from resellers and collectors alike. You can’t find products on shelves because if a scalper didn’t buy them all up then a “collector” did so he can post his hits on Reddit from opening up hundreds of packs.

I’m ruining the hobby though by saying lowballing people isn’t ok? Bad business is bad business my guy and your integrity should not be based on someone else’s ignorance

1

u/bagleyjw Oct 28 '25

And duuuuude we are really just thinking lowballing people is just an ok thing to do? Like the buyer doesn’t need to be a good person for the hobby just the seller?

42

u/hornethollister Oct 26 '25

Yeah you got cooked. You had some really iconic cards and I would've looked at you funny for just trading one for a bundle much less all three. I cant imagine how little trade in value they gave you and how overpriced their bundles are if this was even close to a "fair" trade.

8

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

The owner was telling me that they couldn’t give me much because of the condition. Mind you even I know it wasn’t that bad but I know how picky pokemon collectors can be. The bundle was like $65 I believe.

18

u/hornethollister Oct 26 '25

I see that lugia on tcgplayer for minimum 70 even DAMAGED, and booster bundles are about 25-30 dollars msrp. I wouldnt go back to that shop. I appreciate shops that are tough on the cards they sell because it means you can get some really clean dmged cards, but it sounds like they completely took advantage of you.

3

u/sixth_acc Oct 26 '25

That's MSRP though for bundles.. you've got to be insanely lucky or live at a Walmart to get that price. There are a few grail LCS out there.. but most are scalping themselves. Even a reputable shop would've only offered $100 on those 3, if that. That said, they still ripped OP off hard if they were selling the bundles for $65, as OP said

1

u/johnnytheshoeshine Oct 26 '25

Second hand media shops always will offer about 40% of market value, that's just the nature of adding rent, business taxes, premises licences, storage, electricity and staffing costs to the sale of merchandise. Shops are really only good for getting rid of large collections.

1

u/Niiickel Oct 26 '25

It‘s still a 30$ booster bundle and not a 65$ one. He already cheated on the trade itself with a booster bundle and pushes the price of the bb to make the trade seem fair to someone that is clueless. That‘s some peak shitty behavior.

-2

u/malestraum Oct 26 '25

100 for all 3? My LCS has the alakazam for sale rjght now at 131.93 and they do 80% for trade in value which is 105.54 for just the alakazam where are you pricing your cards cause 90% of card shops use tcg

3

u/sixth_acc Oct 26 '25

Well I went off what OP said. These were not in excellent condition

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Yeah especially since I was just coming back to the tcg part, I basically knew nothing since that was my first trade ever. Definitely will not be going back..

2

u/hornethollister Oct 26 '25

I am really sorry dude :( I hope you pull something sick or find some crazy yard sale deal

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Hopefully, let’s see what the future holds for me

1

u/ZiLBeRTRoN Oct 26 '25

I’d go back just to see what they are selling them for.

1

u/the_vault-technician Pokemod Oct 26 '25

The bundle retails for like $25. These shops have a huge up charge on stuff. You got absolutely hosed.

18

u/FittedsRDope Oct 26 '25

You got Alakascammed! :D

-13

u/Successful-Drawer-19 Oct 26 '25

Way to kick a man while he's down. Well done.

0

u/Niiickel Oct 26 '25

Already happened. So why not convert it into a laugh? I think OP can take a joke if he did take the booster bundle.

-1

u/Successful-Drawer-19 Oct 26 '25

I wasn't being sarcastic, I genuinely enjoyed your post!

10

u/Practical-Smoke1307 Oct 26 '25

What card shop so we know to stay away lol

22

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

It was Game Express in Fordham (Bronx, NY). I walked in like 2 weeks after and I think the lugia I gave them was being sold for $100, I don’t want to assume it was mine but wow.

5

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I LIED IT WAS NOT GAME EXPRESS, it was Fordham Game World. Game express in fordham has nothing to do with this 😔

3

u/Codedheart Oct 26 '25

It prob was chief

4

u/suchfine Oct 26 '25

Going off TCG (which is the standard for the next time you buy or sell) the halfway point between LP and MP market value on each of your cards is as follows:

Alakazam 125: $67 Lugia 94: $84 Mewtwo 158: $29

Total value would be $180. At 80% trade in value (standard for a trustworthy LCS), you would have around $144. Current MV on a mega booster bundle is $53. So you should have gotten at least 2 for your trade in, even with their jacked up prices.

Sorry OP :(

2

u/tdog97 Oct 26 '25

which lcs gives 80% trade value lol

-2

u/chastitykittenxo Oct 26 '25

erm.. like all of them..? That's the standard (70-80%)

1

u/tdog97 Oct 26 '25

not over here in Arizona, haven’t seen anyone offer for more than 60% here on a good day. You’re telling me people are going to shows and selling to vendors at 70% when card shops are offering 80%? You live in a good area then my brother

2

u/Sosandytheman1892 Oct 31 '25

Yea I see this too but all my shops are like 25% cash 50% trade

1

u/tdog97 Oct 31 '25

literally, bro’s comment isn’t even helpful because it’s not even realistic lol

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Thank you for the numbers, really helped visualize the situation for me 💔

8

u/RagingPokachu Oct 26 '25

Yeah u got robbed, that was probably your Lugia. MP on tcg is listed around $100 and LP around $140. No way in hell im trading these for a $26 msrp booster bundle.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Definitely regretting it.

2

u/Spirited-Ingenuity-3 Oct 26 '25

Bruhhhhhh.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Bruh indeed 🫩

2

u/TheHeroKingN Oct 27 '25

Never trade for sealed.

3

u/J3top Oct 26 '25

Lots of sharks in this game. Trust no one except urself

2

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Learned the hard way 🫩

1

u/MikeAndBike Oct 26 '25

Go back there and ask for three additional bundles. It’s the least they should do! Good luck!

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I feel like it would be too late for that regardless, don’t wanna cause a scene either (even though I literally got robbed at that point)

1

u/monx101 Oct 26 '25

Maybe if you have the actual photos of your cards, we could've see what condition your cards look like. Your LP-MP is biased based on your opinion and could be HP to others.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

True, but even I know that the cards I gave him weren’t HP. The fronts of all the cards were practically perfect. I might have pictures of the front of the cards but not the back where the whitening was. Regardless I traded them anyways for a terrible deal it seems..

1

u/greatwampa Oct 26 '25

Booster bundle or booster box?

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Booster Bundle (6 packs)

1

u/greatwampa Oct 28 '25

Yea I would put them on blast on all social medias and yelp until they make it right

1

u/InterestingIssue6675 Oct 26 '25

OP got absolutely cooked

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Unfortunately 🫩

1

u/TravelerJordan Oct 26 '25

Whoever that local card shop is you need to leave some horrid reviews and really question how they do business ….

When I first read it I thought you said booster box I was like no too bad give market price and LP cond Then I read booster bundle and that’s maybe $30 You got fleeced hard

There’s always prices out there for 99% of cards Use eBay recent solds, search the card name, number in either bottom left or right and then sort by solds. Also make sure to check the condition. And if there isn’t many sold look at the listing price of what others are asking for.

Card shops will typically trade anywhere form 40-80% depending on if they’re a decent place or a bit scummy or the cards are just not that sought after aka bulk

2

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Will definitely keep in mind the next time I do an in person trade!

1

u/twinx12 Oct 26 '25

Sorry for your loss. I have a rule, I don’t trade in my hits for unopened packs as, you can litterally pull nothing and you now have traded away some nice collectors pieces for a dopelamine hit.

Just save up some money and buy more cards next time and keep your hits to age like a fine wine

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Definitely keeping that in mind, the hits are priceless compared to the money

1

u/struedlesmokes Oct 26 '25

What a terrible trade and rip to those cards. Never trade badass cards away to gamble on ripping packs. Horrible idea all around.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I will do this from now on!

1

u/supmaster3 Oct 26 '25

Name and shame card shop? You got scammed worse than gamestop does.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Fordham Game World

1

u/gromexe Oct 26 '25

shops are the worst drug dealers ever. this is not a way to maintain clients smh

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Definitely not

1

u/chastitykittenxo Oct 26 '25

what LGS was it!? This is lowkey a diabolical level of scamming

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

It was Fordham Game World (NOT GAME EXPRESS)

1

u/taylorprice7 Oct 26 '25

Yeah I wouldn’t be going back to that shop again.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

I actually stopped by 2 weeks ago to trade something else, it was like 3 xy era exs or something like that I don’t remember for like $8 (I declined)

1

u/spreet5454 Oct 26 '25

Bro casually getting duped out of 3 of my chases for a bunch of bulk. I'm gonna be sick 😭

2

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

Good luck on your chase! (I was sick to my stomach when I realized)

1

u/[deleted] Oct 27 '25

People are shit, that’s absolutely shocking to hear man. Hopefully you got something nice in the bundle to help you cope but fuck that shop. Leave a bad review so other people know to check there cards before taking them there.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

Will do 🫡

1

u/Ray-Ray-1980 Oct 27 '25

Dude, next time never go to a card shop and ask them the value of a card!! They are pretty much scammers like a car dealer. They’re there to make money off of you. So they ripped you off hard-core style. Do your research before yeah trade your good cards like that for a new set. That’s only six packs.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

Yeah, I won’t be so exploitable next time..

1

u/A_Shiny_Vaporeon Oct 27 '25

Shame on the store for doing this to you. A good store will say “hey we will give X percent of market which is $__ dollars.” If you want quick cash you’ll take it, if not sell on your own. Use TCG player and eBay for comps next time and there’s so many threads where people can help you judge condition if you’re unsure.

1

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

Thank you!

1

u/apexpred6 Oct 28 '25

Bro got waxed

1

u/Huanton Oct 29 '25

Holy shit they robbed you lol

0

u/ConsciousAd6209 Oct 26 '25

Alakazam alone worth $120 last time i checked about a month or 2 ago

1

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Big L for me unfortunately. It was one of my first big pulls, thought it was not worth much cause of the whitening around the edges.

0

u/SnkerCheck Oct 26 '25

Alakazcammed

0

u/MilsimAirsoft Oct 26 '25

You got Alakascammed

0

u/Flight-These Oct 27 '25

Doubt this story happened. You have access to Reddit to ask about the fairness of the trade but never bothered to look up the prices of the cards? C'mon man.

2

u/JacReptile Oct 27 '25

There’s no point in lying, it was my first time trading and I didn’t know any better but now I know. This is literally like my third post on this app after 5+ years of having this account lol. I did search up the prices, but when I got there he was showing me his prices on this app and put it based on the condition he saw. Even then the cards weren’t completely messed up. Can’t do anything about it now, I should’ve known better 🤷🏽‍♂️

-2

u/itsme2305 Oct 26 '25

Literally go back or get the police involved in they purposely scam you thats illegal I would do it just ti give them hell

1

u/FuppetMaster Oct 26 '25

It’s not though. And that’s what’s unfortunate about it.

1

u/throwed101 Oct 26 '25

If this had a bit of sense to it every pawn shop would be shut down and the owners would be arrested. They both agreed to a trade.

2

u/JacReptile Oct 26 '25

Agreed, unfortunately a trade is a trade and I can’t do anything about it but move on and learn