If you have a big box of Pokemon cards and want to know what it is worth, the rates are further down this page and on our buylist. The harder part is working out which of those rates your box falls under, because the answer depends entirely on what kind of cards are in it.
The going rates
Bulk is priced per thousand, sight-unseen, by category. Our current buying rates:
- Non-foil bulk: $30 to $35 CAD per 1,000 cards. The top of that range is for genuinely large, sorted lots.
- Holo and reverse holo bulk: $70 to $80 CAD per 1,000.
- Pokemon V and EX cards: $1 CAD each.
Anything with real individual value comes out of the bulk conversation entirely and gets priced as a single.
Why bulk is worth what it is
Bulk pricing looks low until you count the handling. A thousand cards has to be received, counted, sorted, checked for anything valuable hiding in it, stored, and then eventually moved, usually to players and collectors buying commons a handful at a time. The cards themselves cost almost nothing. The hours and the shelf space are the expensive part.
Anyone offering dramatically more per thousand is either buying something different from what you have, or has not counted the work yet.
What actually moves the number
Sorting. A sorted lot is worth more than an unsorted one because it costs us less time. Separating foils from non-foils is the single highest-value hour you can spend before selling.
Era. There is a lot of modern bulk about, and very little older bulk in decent shape. A box of Sword & Shield commons and a box of e-Card commons are not the same product.
Condition. Bulk assumes played-but-intact. Water damage, mould, or cards that have been through a washing machine are not bulk, they are recycling. One mouldy stack can ruin a whole box, so keep those out.
Completeness. Sets and near-complete runs are worth more together than broken up. If you have a nearly complete set, say so before you box it.
How to prepare a lot before you sell it
- Pull anything holo, reverse holo, V, EX, GX or full art into their own piles. These are all worth more than base bulk.
- Pull anything you recognise as valuable. Early Charizards, sealed product, anything graded: ask about those separately.
- Bin the damaged. Water damage and mould, out. Creased commons are still bulk.
- Count in stacks of 100 and note the number. You do not need to be exact, but “roughly 4,300” gets you a real quote where “a big box” does not.
- Pack tight. Cards packed loose in a big box arrive with fresh edge wear.
Getting a number
Our bulk buying page has a form that takes your rough counts and gives you an estimated payout range on the spot, before anyone talks to anyone. We buy from anywhere in Canada. Sellers ship to us, and there is local pickup anywhere on Vancouver Island. For very large lots, pickup further afield is worth asking about.
Payment is by Interac e-Transfer or PayPal, sent once the cards arrive and the count checks out. No consignment, no waiting for things to sell.