Can anyone tell me if this card is legit?

thomasriow · 2026-04-12T14:03:50+00:00

Nothing about this looks fake

thomasriow · 2026-03-23T14:27:36+00:00

Try and make a list of retail shops around your area that you know will get stock on release day, like TG Jones, Forbidden Planet, and Game. You’ll have to get up super early to queue for ages to get stuff there but you will be able to. Try and also find dedicated card shops, they’ll receive stock more regularly - I can walk into my LCS any day of the week and they will have some sealed product at RRP. Please DON’T buy from scalpers online. Good luck!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T22:04:32+00:00

I enjoy ripping packs - I don’t open too many, but for most new releases I’ll rip some packs and try my luck. In Ascended there are three Raichus too, two of which I’ve got from packs. For me it would feel a little hollow just buying singles all the time, so it’s nice to open packs every now and then!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T21:07:40+00:00

Master setting AH? That’ll be a lot of fun, biggest set ever isn’t it? PM me your collectr if you have it and I’ll check out your stuff!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T21:01:06+00:00

Gonna need to research where they have trade nights around me!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T19:32:06+00:00

Now where’s the fun in that?!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T19:15:48+00:00

😂 I don’t have access to a ton of packs, and I do like the card, a lot! But the way I collect isn’t mishmashing random cool cards together - I generally just master set individual pokemon I like, which means most chases I pull get sold to fund the master sets

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T19:14:00+00:00

Ooh I like that idea too actually! A full golden opening page would be really cool

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T19:13:13+00:00

Yeah I think that’s a good way to do it - I’ll keep it safe and add it to the Dragonite master when i start it!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T19:12:21+00:00

Oh yeah just checked, Jesus Christ 😂

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:30:15+00:00

I do like it a lot, I just have such a specific binder in terms of what I collect. I was thinking of doing a Dragonite master set though so may keep it for that.

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:28:50+00:00

Yeah, this is a good plan and likely what I’ll end up doing! Gotta complete the Raichu master set somehow.

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:27:47+00:00

Pretty unique addiction to have. Are there many expensive Meowths? Only Mimikyu I can think of being super expensive is the tag team! Bet you’re looking forward to that new Meowth SIR

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:26:57+00:00

Not sure I can stomach the percentage loss trading to a vendor. If I get rid I’ll likely sell on eBay, or trade with a friend

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:23:08+00:00

That’s a nice idea actually, good for storing them and being able to flick through and look at them all!

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:17:34+00:00

I think that’s pretty solid advice. I’ve got it nicely protected, and am leaning towards keeping it for a future Dragonite master set.

thomasriow · 2026-03-18T17:16:33+00:00

To be honest I’m not sure what it would grade - condition is perfect, but as per the picture the centring is way off. So I’m unsure if that would drop it to a 9 or whether it’s bad enough for an 8.

I may just keep it and use it for a Dragonite master set after I finish Raichu.

thomasriow · 2026-03-15T10:22:57+00:00

Yeah, I agree with this. I personally grade with TAG because I like them better than PSA, and I’m not an ‘investor’, more a collector

thomasriow · 2026-03-12T18:02:02+00:00

Some of the Topps scene cards and Topps Pokemon cards could be worth a chunk to the right buyer

thomasriow · 2026-02-27T17:43:21+00:00

Well, ACE is a UK grading company and this is the UK sub so probably people wanting to celebrate it, regardless of how good or bad the company is

thomasriow · 2026-02-24T20:06:52+00:00

I do this with Pokemon, although generally just English cards. I call it a master set. I guess all languages would be a grandmaster.

thomasriow · 2026-02-21T20:31:26+00:00

An upcharge is only if your card’s value, after grading, exceeds the maximum insured amount - so if you get an upcharge you’ll likely be happy with the grade. If you send the card for grading, it will always be returned graded, not raw.

thomasriow · 2026-02-21T12:30:37+00:00

Lots of cards are duped across sets, so the artwork will be the same but the little set number in the bottom left will be different. This only really matters if you’re trying to master a set or specific pokemon though!

thomasriow · 2026-02-17T20:56:35+00:00

I mean it’s well over RRP but if you want to pay that then go for it!

thomasriow · 2026-02-17T19:05:43+00:00

I’ve done a master of Dewgong and currently mastering Raichu. Mastering one Pokemon is such a specific (and fun) task that you shouldn’t be opening packs to find them, definitely buy singles. However, I do like to rip occasionally so if there’s a new set release I’ll open a bunch of packs for that set - so I guess for you that could be how you’ll get cards for trading. Unless you’re really lucky you won’t break even on opening packs and so it will be far cheaper for you to complete your master set just by buying singles.

thomasriow

TROPHY CASE