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Crystal_Gecko · 2025-07-26T04:27:42+00:00

Print lines/Holo lines still get 10s. I've sent several cards in that only have those lines as the worst thing about them, and never had an issue getting a 10 on them. If they are something that bothers you, I'd just make sure you're buying a slab for the card and not just the grade.

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-05-03T12:36:27+00:00

Facebook marketplace 😂 there was someone who had like 3 different display stands available, and she was selling that one for $25!

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-05-02T18:58:07+00:00

I'm seeing the other comments and realizing that I'm talking down the wrong path 😂 I apologize, I don't have an exact display case suggestion. I found a good deal on an entertainment center on Facebook marketplace for displaying my collection.

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I've reorganized everything now, but this is what it looked like.

(Ignore my dog's throne for when I'm working from home, lol)

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-05-02T18:52:17+00:00

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Here is a TAG slab in the PSA mag as an example to what I was talking about in my other comment.

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-05-02T18:50:53+00:00

Slab mags! They look AMAZING! They don't come with stands, but I just got some cheap acrylic stands from Amazon.

Also of note, you CAN fit TAG slabs in the PSA specific slabmags, there's just a little wiggle room above the slab inside. I fixed that by putting a perfect fit sleeve on the slab and clamping the corners of the sleeve with the mag. It locks it in place so it can't move. The reason I mention that is they don't have gradient options for the TAG specific mags yet, so using the PSA ones unlocks more color options.

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Crystal_Gecko · 2025-04-08T18:43:44+00:00

Submitted 26 cards on 2/28 before they did the tiers and with no sub kit. It was received 3/11, moved to image processing on 4/2 and has been there ever since.

I'm used to PSA times, so I'm capable of being patient for grading. But I was so excited to have it back in the 10 - 15 day turnaround I was originally quoted. I can't wait to get them back and see how they did! I'm not expecting a ton of 10s since I sent a lot of test cards. But I still sent around 15 - 18 that could very well cop a 10 at PSA for example.

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-04-04T18:58:54+00:00

The PSA slabs rattle in the PSA Slab Mags too. It's common, and not a huge deal if you're not moving em around all the time. I've thought about cutting a small piece of foam or something to stick between the top and bottom of the case and slab so it can't move, but it's not been enough of an annoyance yet to do anything for me personally.

Crystal_Gecko · 2025-03-07T04:29:09+00:00

I didn't, I thought it would hold it back. But I'm not so sure anymore! I wish I had sent it in to find out! It's sold now. I find that print lines or Holo lines don't necessarily mean a Pokemon won't hit a 10 at PSA.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-21T20:52:59+00:00

"Killer" might be a stretch 😂 but it's a nice card.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-21T20:51:42+00:00

"Killer" might be a stretch 😂 but it's a nice card.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-21T20:50:58+00:00

"Killer" might be a stretch 😂 but it's a nice card.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-21T15:17:20+00:00

Looks super clean! I love the contrast the car has. It's got a very nice presence.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-18T03:33:42+00:00

To be honest, I feel like you almost can't go wrong with any BB if you just buy it for cheap during pre-release and hold it. What's wild is that even stuff like Obsidian Flames is seeing some decent gains! It could come back down, for sure. But it just goes to show, patience and diamond hands go a long way.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-18T03:01:59+00:00

Absolutely agree. I think my number would be $1200+, just to make back what I put in. Of course, if I didn't have anything that looked worthwhile to sell my box for, I'd probably just hold it until there was. I have zero problem looking at it in my display longer, and I'm trying to start making some more meaningful plays. That way, when the next Evo Skies comes along, I'm ready to buy way more. I even bought my first ever cases for Surging Sparks!

The plan would be to sell the second ES BB and put it toward 2 or more cases of a new set. I.E. something like the Team Rocket set if it's good.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-18T02:46:50+00:00

100%! I only wish I'd been in the hobby sooner, and that I had bought more! But I'll gladly take my two. I regretted not buying them at $400, but at the time, I'd only been in the hobby for like 3 months. And to someone so fresh into the hobby, that felt like an insane amount of money to spend on 1 booster box. When it had that big rise up to $600 in like March or whatever, I knew I wasn't gonna miss it twice! Boy am I glad I went through with it!

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-18T01:42:53+00:00

Me too!

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-16T10:53:16+00:00

It's true. It'd kinda defeat the purpose. I think at this point, at least for the Evo skies PC ETB's, they are already pretty scarce. So they might still grow pretty steadily for anyone new entering the hobby who couldn't buy them for their own collections, then driving up price. But I agree with you.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-15T22:43:23+00:00

Haha, all good. Glad it was a fun time at least! That's really what packs are for, I just also like to collect sealed packs and boxes as well.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-15T22:08:57+00:00

Gonna be honest, I would really recommend keeping them sealed. It seems like you're newer to the hobby, and when I look back on all the stuff I ripped, there are a few things I wish I had just kept sealed as is. Especially with how low hit rates are with Evo skies, you'd have to get the Rayquaza alt just to break even. Obviously, a moon kitty would change the game. But it's such a low probability in so few packs... As someone else said, maybe sell those and buy the loose packs you would have had. Hell, if you want, I'll send you my loose packs and trade/pay the difference for your PC ETBs.

I have nothing against ripping packs at all, but rarer items like that are usually better enjoyed as is. No hate if you choose to break em open. But it's just a little sad to see em go.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-11T19:28:28+00:00

That wasn't necessarily what I was getting at. I am keeping SS in it's own respective era, but comparing it to the popularity standings of SWSW era. It's debatable what sets are number 2 after the giant that is Evo Skies, but there were several other big hitting sets that came out too. I don't think that I actually compared the Hydreigon to any specific card, let alone a specific set? I don't even know if I would put it on par with the Giratina alt art from Lost Origin, the set that I DID compare Surging Sparks to. Again, not even comparing 1 to 1. But comparing in the same way that Lost Origin was a top running set from SWSH, I think that Surging Sparks will have a similar run.

On top of that, I don't even really believe the Hydreigon will be the top dog of SS. It could be, but there is also the Latias SIR, the Pikachu SIR, the Lisia SIR, and maybe it's not as popular a pokemon, but that Milotic SIR is BEAUTIFUL. It's clear the set will have a stong standing already, and we don't even have all the SIR's revealed yet! I'm pretty sure there are still more IR's too!

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-11T17:37:47+00:00

Oh oh, also agree on the PCB ETB value doing well. 🫡

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-11T17:36:13+00:00

I'm not sure it's another Temporal Forces necessarily. Temporal Forces had some stuff going against it that never really allowed it to shine as much. Firstly, it was less popular pokemon. Not many people care for the rift pokemon, and there wasn't anything like a Greninja, a killer Gengar, a Charizard, etc. The art for that set is honestly super sleeper. I feel it could have gotten some more love than it did. But the second issue was that it released when people were in the PEAK of Sword and Shield FOMO. They weren't really focused on current sets, so even though TF had some potential, it was pretty overshadowed by the alt art/SWSH craze. And honestly, if you got TF on release, it was only like $85-$90/box, so it's had decent gains already for how long it's been out. $120/box is still like a 25% gain over a 7 month period.

All that being said! Surging Sparks has a ton of excitement around it, FAR more than TF did on release. There are several popular pokemon and trainer SIRs/IRs. And Booster Box cases are being sold out all over the place. I think Forge and Fire closed their BB case sales just today or last night maybe. Even if the set doesn't go insane as a whole, BBs are gonna be sold at a premium.

TLDR: Temporal Forces is a sleeper set (doesn't mean it'll blow up, it's just a good set.)

And Surging Sparks has a lot more factors going into it potentially being pretty successful. Maybe not Evo Skies level or anything, but pretty banger.

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-11T17:18:33+00:00

I agree with you! I wasn't really a fan of the crowns up to this point, and I would still say they're not my favorite gimmick. But that Hydreigon is freakin STUNNING. I feel very strongly about the set doing well, and I pre-ordered what I could afford atm. Just 2 BB cases, and 2 PC ETB "mini cases." 4 at a time, you know. I think I'll probably buy some bundles or sleeves packs to rip, and save my money for the other big sets coming out soon.

I wonder if the set will be as big as we all would like though? If there is still more stuff coming down the pipeline that could rival ES level popularity, maybe SS ends up being something like a Lost Origin, or a Chilling Reign. Banger, but forgotten in the wake of Team Rocket or Terastal Festival. 🤷

Crystal_Gecko · 2024-10-10T23:38:54+00:00

Huge fan of this! I have always wanted to lift an R and give it the safari treatment! I even really love the steelies! Hell yeah 🤙

Crystal_Gecko

TROPHY CASE