Should I Keep Pokémon Card Packs Sealed or Open Them?

If your goal is maximizing long term value, keeping packs sealed is almost always the better choice. However, opening packs can still be worthwhile for the thrill and potentially pulling rare cards. Let‘s weigh the factors to help decide the best option for your collecting goals.

Why Keeping Packs Sealed is Ideal for Value

Sealed Pokémon cards, boxes and packs have exploded in value over time, especially vintage items. Here‘s why collectors and investors leave products untouched:

Guaranteed Perfect Condition

Once open, cards risk all kinds of damage from improper handling, storage issues, etc. A pristine sealed item guarantees cards inside are mint.

Scarcity Drives Up Prices

There‘s only so many vintage booster boxes and packs still surviving. Even for new releases, print runs eventually end. Limited supply combined with high demand equals huge gains.

Easier to Predict Values

Sealed product value tends to climb steadily over decades. With cards, prices rely more on condition and population reports.

According to PWCC Marketplace, Q4 2022 saw sealed Pokémon boxes increase in value 1.5x faster than graded cards.

Cool Collection Piece

Whether it‘s iconic base set art or a rare collab, sealed items display beautifully. Pack wrappers also preserve history.

Strong Long Term Investment

While the card market fluctuates, sealed only appreciates. Here are some examples:

• 1st Edition Base Set booster box – $38,400 (Dec 2020) to $408,000 (May 2021)
• Neo Genesis 1st Edition booster box – $122,399 (Feb 2021) to $255,294 (Nov 2022)
• Expedition Base Set booster box – $89,372 (Feb 2021) to $180,000 (Sept 2022)

But what if you really want to open packs? Let‘s explore when ripping might make sense.

Potential Benefits of Opening Packs

Opening packs can absolutely be rewarding despite more risk. Here are some reasons you may want to tear into a box:

Pure Nostalgic Joy

Let‘s be honest – few things beat opening a classic pack for the first time, smelling that nostalgia, and seeing rare cards fall out. It‘s magical!

Chance at High Value Hits

Modern sets have Rare cards worth hundreds or even thousands. Pull them yourself and their value is higher ungraded.

According to safestbettingsites.com, the rarest Pikachu Illustrator card sold for $5.2 million! Even something like the Rainbow Rare Charizard VMAX from Champion‘s Path can go for $300+.

Completing Your Master Set

Open enough packs and through luck and persistence you‘ll eventually pull that holo or ultra rare you‘re missing to check the set off your list.

Use Cards in Your Collection

It‘s no fun just looking at sealed products. Enjoy your pulls in a binder, displays, or playing the TCG.

But how much can you expect to pull in value by opening versus keeping sealed?

Pack Odds and Expected Value Analysis

To highlight the differences in value, let‘s compare a $144 Unbroken Bonds booster box to its potential contents opened:

Sealed booster box: $144

Expected pack pulls:

• 5 Ultra Rares at ~$15 ea: $75
• 26 holos at ~$2 ea: $52
• Bulk commons/uncommons: ~$10

Total Expected Value: $137

As you can see, the sealed box already beats the expected value of contents! And over time as supply decreases, the sealed box will likely keep increasing.

This EV analysis doesn‘t even factor chase cards like the Rainbow Rare Reshiram & Charizard GX from Unbroken Bonds, which alone can hit $200 mint. So big hits are possible, but not probable.

Let‘s move on to more factors to consider when debating whether to open or keep packs sealed.

Key Considerations for Your Collection

There are a few factors that may sway your decision beyond just financials:

Your Collecting Goals

• Are you a sealed collector or loose card collector?
• Do you care more about completing sets or long term value?
• Does the nostalgia of ripping open packs outweigh potential future price gains to you?

The Set/Pack Details

• How old is the set? Remember, typically the older the better for sealed.
• Is it still in print and easy to find? Harder to find sets gain more.
• Does the set have very rare cards that could drive up opening demand?

Your Budget

• Can you afford to open packs just for fun without concern of value lost?
• Or is value retention and growth a priority based on a limited collecting budget?

Let your unique goals and circumstances help guide your decision, not just hypothetical returns.

Expert Tips for Spotting Valuable Sealed Products

Part of sealed investing is identifying which products have high growth potential. Here are signs a sealed item may be undervalued:

• An older or vintage set, especially pre-2000. The holy grails are 1st Edition Base Set, Neo Genesis, etc.

• Currently lower population relative to other sets based on grading company census data.

• Iconic or striking pack artwork and logos that appeal to collectors.

• Part of a discontinued series like EX, e-Series, or XY. Out of print sets become scarce.

• Inclusion of extremely popular Pokémon like vintage Charizard, Gold Stars, or Waifus.

• Special Edition packaging like Premiere Ball tins and Collector Chests with shorter print runs.

• Collaborations e.g. McDonald‘s promos are limited distribution.

• Modern sets with strong chase cards gaining buzz and attention.

Seeking out items like this before they spike too high gives you the best shot at major future gains.

Recommendations for Collectors and Budgets

Here are my top tips tailored to different collector budgets and goals when it comes to the keep sealed vs open packs debate:

For Nostalgic Collectors

I recommend selectively choosing more modern and affordable packs to open for the thrill without cutting too much into potential future sealed value.

For Investors on a Budget

Focus your budget on sealed products, even if just a pack or two of an older set. The cheapest sealed option you can find of a vintage set will appreciate much more long term than modern packs.

For Intermediate Collectors

Aim for a balanced approach. Buy vintage packs and boxes to keep sealed, but also rip some packs of new sets. This way you enjoy opening but also gain sealed value over time.

For Advanced Collectors

With a higher budget, you have flexibility. Buy vintage sealed, open modern for chase cards, get grading, and keep sealed multiples of favorite new sets to hold longer term.

Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Cards Graded

Since grading maximizes card value, here is a step-by-step overview:

1. Research grading companies like PSA, Beckett, and determine service level based on declared value and turnaround time needed.

2. Select your best condition cards that could score a high grade like 8, 9 or even 10. Mint is ideal.

3. Purchase grading submission materials – card savers, top loaders, labels. Properly package cards to protect them.

4. Ship your submission to the grading company and pay for the requested service level.

5. Wait for your cards to be graded! This can take weeks to months depending on ordered turnaround time.

6. Receive your graded and encapsulated cards back safely protected and now with an official condition grade.

7. Profits! A high grade, especially a 10, can multiply a card‘s value many times over.

Popular services like PSA‘s Economy level start around $25-50 per card. High demand means longer wait times, so pay more for faster turnaround.

Raw Card	PSA 10 Value	ROI
Base Set Charizard Holo 1st Ed	$600,000	$500,000+
Shining Charizard 1st Ed	$350,000	$300,000+
Rainbow Pikachu VMAX	$500	$200+
Eevee VMAX Alt Art	$200	$100+

Grading cards maximizes their collectibility and value, making it a sound investment in the long run.

Safely Storing and Protecting Your Collection

Proper storage and protection will keep your Pokémon investments safe. Here are some tips:

• Use sealable inner sleeves on all cards, especially expensive hits. Double sleeve vintage or graded.

• Organize cards in binders with side loading pages, but limit UV light exposure.

• Keep sealed products like booster boxes in protective clear acrylic cases.

• Store cards and sealed items in cool, dry conditions away from moisture.

• Avoid touching card surfaces directly and hold gently by the edges only.

• Consider a safety deposit box or home security system if housing extremely valuable items.

• Catalog your collection with photos and inventory lists in case of damage or theft.

Following collector best practices pays off when it comes time to sell or pass down your collection one day!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most valuable sealed Pokémon item?

1st Edition Shadowless Base Set booster boxes. A PSA 10 graded box sold for $408,000 in May 2021! Even loose packs go for $10,000+

Are Weighted/Mapped packs worth opening?

No, avoid weighed packs. They‘ve likely had the rare cards removed and resealed. You‘re better off buying sealed boxes which can‘t be mapped.

Should I keep new set booster boxes sealed?

Sealing some is smart, but for sets with chase cards you want, open a few. Long term even standard boxes gain value sealed.

How long until opened Pokémon cards gain value?

Depends heavily on rarity. For example, a Base Set Charizard took about 20 years to really explode over $100,000. Now, fancy new Ultra Rares can gain value much quicker.

Which modern sealed Pokémon set is the best investment?

Look for sets like Hidden Fates, Shining Fates, and special sets with iconic Pokémon remaining in print for a shorter period. Out of print sets with strong chase cards have the best future sealed growth potential.

Conclusion

While ripping packs generates excitement, keeping products sealed over the long term is the safer bet for maximizing growth in value. Vintage boxes and packs in particular belong sealed away.

That said, modern sets can still be fun to open while you keep some sealed too. Find the right balance for your budget and interests as a collector. Approaching Pokémon with a mixed collecting strategy will let you enjoy the cards, while your sealed holdings grow as an investment for the future.