If you’re constantly scrolling eBay or other marketplaces for Pokémon cards, chances are you’ve had a tab on another site checking current market prices. It’s a frustrating first-world problem that all of us Pokémon TCG enthusiasts eventually have, yet when different marketplaces use different data, the results can be ever so slightly off. Fortunately, eBay UK is removing the need for that tab swapping.
With the Pokémon TCG continuing to be as popular as ever, and prices changing constantly, having a tool that tracks sales data isn’t just helpful; it’s increasingly important. I’m not a big fan of cards being treated as assets, but the reality is, apps like Collectr makes finding those ‘deals’ easier, and eBay’s new price guide feature cuts out the middle man.
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Rolling out to accounts starting from Tuesday 1st September, eBay UK will allow both sellers and buyers to use historical sales data for TCG cards across Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, and more. Like many apps that allow you to scan your cards for instant valuations, eBay’s latest update helps identify up to two years of the sales data of cards, as well as an updated sales data as of the last 24 hours.
It’s also helpful in another way: allowing collectors to see accepted Best Offer figures. While sold listings sometimes appear with a dashed price when bought at an offered price, this data will help users see how much buyers are generally paying for cards from a variety of Pokémon sets, whether that’s the upcoming Pokémon 30th Celebration expansion or older ones like Delta Species, for example.
For clarity, I don’t have access yet. I’ve updated the app and haven’t been able to find the tool on existing listings or through trying to sell my own cards. However, I think anything that gives consumers more information before buying is always a good thing.
The fact it also takes into account two of the biggest Pokémon card grading services, PSA and CGC, including population reports is also useful. Although, in the UK, ACE is also fairly popular - it would be helpful if that information was also included. Maybe it’s an eventual change, but one that I would certainly welcome.
eBay seems to be the best option to host such a tool, and while other platforms like Cardmarket and TCGPlayer do offer price data, the breadth of eBay’s listings makes it particularly useful. For someone who doesn’t use TCG-specific platforms, it’s certainly a helpful tool.
For example, anyone can list a card for £200, but that doesn’t mean it will sell for that figure. Using eBay’s price guide, that mistake is less likely to happen, and while demand can occasionally exceed the supply, so future sales may get more expensive, it’s still a useful way to buy and sell cards through eBay.
Of course, it doesn’t tell you what you should pay for a Pokémon card. It just gives you useful information before making your purchase. That’s why I think it’s a clear win for collectors.
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