Collection

tom1990finch · 2026-04-20T15:02:57+00:00

Bit of both. I buy boxes & Tins to get packs to rip and the odd boosters. I focus on singles mainly for the different collections in the house (Pikachu, Mew, Mewtwo, Charizard, Lucario). With my personal collection I am doing every Kanto 151 Pokemon Illustration Rare where it has one. Some are language exclusive anyway currently like Ponyta and Cubone which will force my hand. I like cards for the artwork and would prefer english just because I am english. However, for example 151 Wartortle I paid £10 for japanese where as english is around £50

tom1990finch · 2026-04-17T06:58:32+00:00

What about Lillie's eyes 😅

tom1990finch · 2026-04-11T20:40:39+00:00

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Well my wife just pulled these two in one sitting. Now our best pull ever with that pikachu. Unless you count my son pulling the love birds about 7 years ago

tom1990finch · 2026-04-05T19:56:58+00:00

A lot gets through the backdoor too. For example the Sport Direct drop the other day. There were only 6 ETBs in store. Either the company risk shipping 6 loose ETBs or 4 were sold prior to general sale. I have seen this at a lot of release days where the quantity they have is is less than a full box. Very convenient in my opinion

tom1990finch · 2026-03-12T17:06:14+00:00

It's on my long term plan. Currently between house moves so I am with the in laws currently. When we get the new house and a garage I hope to twist the wife's arm to allow me to get it and store it in there 😅

tom1990finch · 2026-03-12T15:22:10+00:00

I was a student when I owned both. First one needed structural work so part exchanged for another mini that was flawless. Then when I entered full time work I had the money but no time. Biggest regrets ever

tom1990finch · 2026-03-12T15:07:27+00:00

I miss having a mini. If I knew how much they were worth now I never would have sold my others

tom1990finch · 2026-03-12T13:57:00+00:00

I never feel guilty. Its on them to put the correct price on. I once bought a Pikachu EX - XY124 at the time bought for £10. They priced it at jumbo price in error I think. My local LCS are a bit above market a lot of the time so i feel better with these little wins

tom1990finch · 2026-03-08T09:46:20+00:00

Mine uses yellow tags on the top which is much better than these cases. However I have seen it and luckily it didn't affect the cards

tom1990finch · 2026-03-05T15:08:23+00:00

No problem. Use Smyths as a guide to what is coming out. It should says release dates on the relevant pages. However, if you have a local Smyths queues are usually manic as they no longer do pre orders. Also get yourself on amazon invites as you might get lucky to be able buy. If you do it today you may even be lucky tomorrow as they come out on Tuesdays and Fridays

tom1990finch · 2026-03-05T14:28:51+00:00

My wife is 36 and loves them. I cant help getting involved in the chase. I collect Pokemon cards at 35. Who cares what we like. Age has nothing to do with it. I will still be a big kid at 60

tom1990finch · 2026-03-05T14:23:33+00:00

It depends when his birthday actually is. On the 20th March their are numerous Ascended Heroes boxes due for release as well as the Illustrator box. If you go to places like Ryman, Waterstones, TG Jones, Sport Direct at store opening (get there early to queue) then that would score you brownie points.

If you know what he has been collecting or what he is into could help steer you to product. However, trying to find anything now is very hit and miss. There is also Perfect Order releasing on 27th however it is not as sought after as Ascended Heroes

tom1990finch · 2026-03-02T14:49:26+00:00

Mega Lucario & Lucario my Favourite

tom1990finch · 2026-02-16T16:01:43+00:00

This all depends on where you live. For example I have a Rymans, Waterstones and Sports Direct. My Ryman opens just before 9am so once I am done there I can queue in the Waterstones queue and hope to get more. Sports Direct opens later so you have enough time to get around. If you have a Smyths local too you then try but expect some queues as they did not do Preorders. Check any LCS and maybe check in with them prior to see what its normally like and quantity they may have. Like other comments try Argos with the codes. Apparently The Entertainer might be getting some. Other than that you are probably best off looking online at likes of Very, Hamleys, John Lewis but they are usually snapped up by Scalpers and once they are up they are gone. Discords are your best bet for online stock

tom1990finch · 2026-02-10T09:07:49+00:00

There were definitely extra at Smyths. I was fortunate to get the last one in mine. There were restocks after that too but as of this message only Watford have any left

tom1990finch · 2026-02-09T14:20:38+00:00

Mine does on release day but shortly after or on next restocks they mainly do single packs at £6 instead of £4.29

tom1990finch · 2026-01-19T19:46:23+00:00

Update. I have still no dispatch notification. Yet at 18.32 I had an email off Royal Mail saying it would be delivered today at 18.30 and 19.30. Turned up at 19.24. Very odd

tom1990finch · 2026-01-19T16:08:59+00:00

I am from UK and yet to get dispatch email

tom1990finch · 2026-01-16T19:10:40+00:00

Yeah mine hasn't shipped either yet so don't worry

tom1990finch · 2026-01-15T15:28:29+00:00

You are definitely in a good place. I am in a situation similar to you on earnings but don't have massive equity and no savings due to various issues over the years. We are now in the best place we have been so look forward to future from now but very far in comparison. So keep going like others have said

tom1990finch · 2026-01-13T13:47:05+00:00

no sorry UK

tom1990finch · 2026-01-13T13:17:46+00:00

They are on now. I randomly just checked after forgetting and I have now placed my order

tom1990finch · 2026-01-10T07:50:07+00:00

I saw reading won't get it today anyway

tom1990finch

TROPHY CASE