There are significant price differences for rare Pokémon Trading Card Game cards across different language versions. Alexandre Boissenot, head of eBay Live and a collectible card expert, stated that if collectors primarily value the card's artwork, choosing Spanish or Korean versions can reduce the purchase cost of some cards to one-fortieth of the English version.
Boissenot cited an example where the English version of a popular card might be worth $2,000, while the Spanish version costs just $50. Different language versions share the same artwork, illustrations, theoretical rarity, and card stock, but secondary market demand is influenced by language, with French and English versions typically commanding higher prices.
In addition to Spanish and Korean versions, Portuguese cards are also less sought after by European and American buyers, potentially offering lower prices. Japanese versions fall somewhere in between, typically cheaper than French cards while still retaining appeal for some collectors.
Following the release of Pokémon's 30th-anniversary products, demand has outstripped supply, with some stores experiencing long queues and consecutive sell-outs. The Elite Trainer Box, originally priced at around €55, has seen numerous listings on eBay exceeding €200, with asking prices for rare cards from certain expansion sets reaching as high as €40,000.
A survey conducted by IFOP for eBay revealed that 6% of French collectors hope to accumulate financial assets through collecting, a figure that rises to 11% among card enthusiasts. Among French collectors, Pokémon accounts for 62%, surpassing Yu-Gi-Oh! (24%), One Piece (20%), and Magic: The Gathering (17%). On eBay, there are over 500 searches related to "Pokémon" every minute.
Boissenot also advised collectors to avoid impulse buying anniversary products immediately upon release. Such items are prone to shortages and resale speculation during the initial launch period, often resulting in inflated secondary market prices. Referencing previous anniversary releases, additional print runs usually appear after several months, at which point market prices tend to stabilize. For those looking to purchase at the suggested retail price, participating in lottery-style invitation sales on e-commerce platforms remains a viable option.