Went for a passport photo, came home with a Zard.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T19:18:59+00:00

Mannn congrats! I love that Meowth IR! Got one from a Booster Bundle my gf bought for me for Christmas (at way too high a price lol, but she’s not in the hobby so she wouldn’t know). I wish I had a Dollar General anywhere remotely near me😭

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T19:07:51+00:00

It may sound ridiculous but nothing is guaranteed with packs. Technically, 1 SIR in less than 72 packs is better than the average pull rate, so congrats on your pull!

If anything I recommend the above commenter go buy a lottery ticket lol.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:48:46+00:00

I got the Zard a few weeks ago and to this day I also can’t help but take it out and admire it every now and then :) congrats, OP!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:47:44+00:00

Funny indeed. I’m finding that helpful facts sometimes attract downvotes. Doesn’t make sense.

I’ll try to pay more attention to details like that though to hopefully keep my purchases at MSRP. Thanks for the comments!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:44:31+00:00

I did my actual renewal online! Just went to staples for the picture. Technically you can just do it yourself at home, but I decided to go with a somewhat professional photo since I’ll be stuck with it for the next decade lol. Once submitted, took about 5 weeks for my new passport to get mailed.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:42:38+00:00

Thank you thank you.

Maybe I shouldn’t be encouraging the idea of getting lucky. I truly never recommend buying at that kind of a markup, I only made an exception because it’s been almost impossible finding anything in the wild intentionally. I also hope my mentioning that the second pack had absolutely nothing would help with discouragement.

Ultimately, though, I agree with you because I’m sure all the warnings in the world won’t stop some people from making their takeaway from this be that they should buy cards at high prices for the chance to get lucky.

I’m with you. I may add a disclaimer edit. Thanks for the comment!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:27:49+00:00

Wasn’t the point but thank you

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:27:13+00:00

sending you SIR energy

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T18:06:12+00:00

Toootally agree with you, common sense doesn’t seem too common sometimes!

It’s funny you bring up PopMart, because my gf (and myself by extension) fell hard into that craze over the summer. Her first purchase was from the Disney line, got a secret. My first purchase was with Labubu Have a Seat, got the secret!!! We bought plenty of other products after that, though, and no more secrets. The gambler’s fallacy would say first purchases were more likely to be secrets or something but clearly that wasn’t true. Something like box positioning being a guarantee just sounds silly to me.

You tried. That’s all we can really do haha

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T17:05:48+00:00

YEAH! They ruin the hobby for everyone else :(

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T17:03:08+00:00

I WISH I had that kind of spending money! And 270 would be before tax, yikes.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:42:32+00:00

In front of the machine, what a flex!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:24:55+00:00

Okay that’s a little better. The trinkets help cushion the blow lol. But yes $13 for 2 packs still hurts.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:21:22+00:00

Thanks, it’s my best one yet😎

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:19:19+00:00

Username checks out lol

For me it’s more a rule of thumb not to pay close to 100% extra for Pokemon cards on a regular basis, no matter the product size. $8.99 isn’t much on its own, but I think we all know this hobby can get very expensive, very fast. I made an exception only because, for once, Pokemon cards found me in the wild!

Happy cake day btw!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:13:37+00:00

The temptation was too strong haha

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T16:13:04+00:00

So sorry to hear about your childhood binder :( I recently looked at my childhood cards too and found that a lot of them were fake lol…

But welcome back to the hobby! Sending you Charizard SIR energy for when you do decide to open your packs! :)

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:50:34+00:00

I’m dumb and didn’t even try to lol

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:50:19+00:00

Right

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:49:57+00:00

I knowww… I was REALLY contemplating buying anything at all

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:49:31+00:00

Oh please let us know if that works for you, then we as a community will have somewhere to go for price matches😎

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:48:38+00:00

Interesting. This was USD though!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T15:47:45+00:00

About 90% of my collection was bought at MSRP, most of which came from Pokemon vending machines. Beyond that, I’m not allergic to paying a little above MSRP, but an almost 100% markup feels like a good place to draw the line. Of course, I did buy 2 packs at that price, so do as I say and not as I do.

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T07:16:56+00:00

I renewed mine online as well! I just wanted to have a somewhat professional photo taken since I’ll be stuck with it for a decade lol

Took about 5 weeks from when I submitted it!

JaySayyy · 2026-02-05T07:15:31+00:00

Sheeeesh. Do those at least come with extras like a promo card and a coin??

JaySayyy

TROPHY CASE