By Brian Hsieh
Booster packs are a common way to obtain cards. For around the $4.00 mark, booster packs strengthen one’s collection by adding a set of random cards that one pulls after the purchase. But many websites have been established that sell singles of the card at decent prices. Their philosophy is that you can get what you want without spending more money on a Pokemon booster pack and possibly being disappointed. Take ultra-rare cards; they can be obtained in booster packs but with a low ratio of them being pulled. Even if you actually pull an ultra-rare card, it might not be the one you’re looking for. With card store websites, the hassle of buying many packs just to be possibly disappointed is thrown away. For a fee similar to two to three booster packs, one can obtain an ultra-rare card. For a smaller fee, one can obtain rares, holographic cards, and many others to complete their collection.
So why are booster packs being sold? My answer would be due to the overwhelming desire to know what’s inside the packs. The outer design and foiling hides the cards and our interests in them grow exponentially. The possibility of pulling a Gengar Prime or a Luxray GL Lv X immediately deserve bragging rights, as buying the single card can be quite expensive. When you actually buy the card itself, you already have an understanding of what you’ll be getting. Even the idea of opening a booster pack, especially the boosters from older sets, can be quite enticing to collectors. The feel and sound of a fresh pack filled with mint cards being pulled can immediately attract customers to create a purchase.
These ideas might not be for everyone, but it does apply to a general public. Anyone wishing to find a few cards for a cheap price without the frustration of not finding what they’re looking for in a booster pack should look to purchase the cards online. For the ones who enjoy opening booster packs for the experience, local and online stores are for you. Me personally, I enjoy both aspects equally, as I initially buy booster packs for the experience, and round out what I still need with purchasing single cards from websites.
Tags: Gengar, Luxray, Lv. X, Pokemon boosters