Buying Pokémon cards
Buying Pokémon cards without getting ripped off
The right price, the right condition, the right seller, a real card: what to check before paying, online or in person.
· Free · your phone and your computer
The short answer
Before buying, compare the asking price with the market price of the same card, in the same language and condition: gotem. gives it to you with one search or one photo.
Ask for sharp photos of the front and back, check the seller's reviews, and always pay with a method that protects you.
A price far too low, a seller in a hurry or a booster with dodgy wrapping should ring alarm bells.
The price
- 1Identify the exact card: name, set, number, language, version. The name alone isn't enough.
- 2Look at its price on gotem. for the stated condition: that's your reference.
- 3Above it, negotiate or walk away. Far below it, be wary: it's often too good to be true.
- 4Add shipping and the platform's fees to compare the real total.
Real example: the price by condition
Tempète Plasma · 134 · FR
€475.34
gotem. price today, Near Mint · Cardmarket trend, smoothed
- Trend
- €734.58
- 7-day average
- €377.64
- 30-day average
- €475.34
- Cheapest offer
- €69.80
| MT | NM | EX | GD | LP | PL | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €475.34 | €475.34 | €427.81 | €380.27 | €332.74 | €261.44 | €190.14 |
Live figures, read every day: they may have moved by the time you read this.
Check the price on gotem. before buying
Search for the card or scan it: gotem. gives you its market price by language and condition. Free.
Condition
- Ask for photos of the front and back, in daylight, out of the sleeve for an expensive card.
- Look at the corners, the edges (especially on the back, where white shows), the surface (scratches, creases) and the centering.
- Be wary of blurry photos, taken from far away or found online: ask for a photo of the card next to a piece of paper with the seller's username and the date.
- Compare the stated condition with Cardmarket's scale: Near Mint means almost new, not « in good condition ».
The seller
- Look at their reviews, number of sales and how long they've been registered.
- Pay through the platform; elsewhere, with a payment that protects the buyer, never « friends and family ».
- Beware of anyone pushing you to pay quickly, outside the platform, or via a link sent by message.
- In person: a public place, and you check the card before paying.
Fake cards
Counterfeits exist for every game, especially for expensive and popular cards. Always compare with a card you know is genuine:
- The print: dull or overly bright colours, blurry text, a different font, typos.
- The shine: a real holo or textured card has precise reflections; a copy is often flat, or shines everywhere.
- The back: the colour, sharpness and centering should match a real card's.
- The material: a fake card is often thinner, floppier or too smooth.
- The edge: on a real Pokémon card, a thin dark layer shows in its thickness.
- Existence: check in gotem.'s catalogue that the card, its number and its version really exist in that language.
Boosters and sealed product
- A resealed booster (opened, emptied of its good cards, then glued shut) gives itself away with uneven seals, glue marks, wrapping that's crumpled or too smooth.
- Boosters sold one by one may have been weighed or sorted to keep those with a rare card: prefer a sealed display, or a shop.
- A display or a box: the original wrap should be clean and tight, with no creases or tape. Compare with official photos.
- A price well below market for recent sealed product is suspicious.
Graded cards
Check the certificate number on the grading company's site: the card, grade and photos must match. Also look at the label and the edges of the case.
How to send a card for grading: the complete guideThe companies, the grades, and how to spot a fake slab.Read the guide →The checklist before paying
- I compared the price with the market price for the same language and condition.
- I've seen sharp photos, front and back.
- I checked the seller's reviews and how long they've been around.
- The card really exists in this version and language.
- I pay through the platform or with a method that protects me.
- I keep the listing, the messages and the photos until delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a price is fair?
Compare it with the market price of the same card, same language, same condition: search for it or scan it on gotem., the price shows by condition.
How do I spot a fake Pokémon card?
Compare it with a real one: colours, text sharpness, shine, back, thickness. Also check the card really exists in that version and language. At the slightest doubt, ask for more photos, or don't buy.
How can I tell if a booster has been opened?
Look at the seals at the top and bottom: uneven, reglued or damaged is a bad sign. Preferably buy in a shop, or displays in their original wrap.
Which payment method should I use?
The platform's own when there is one; otherwise a payment that protects the buyer. Never a bank transfer or a « friends and family » payment to a stranger.
What if the card I receive isn't as described?
Take photos right away, contact the seller and open a dispute on the platform in time. Keep the packaging.
Is buying at a convention safer?
You see the card before paying, a real advantage. Take the time to take it out of its sleeve and check its price on your phone.
Check the price on gotem. before buying.
One search or one photo: the card's market price, by language and condition.