Sealed versus singles

Sealed versus singles is a common comparison in the Pokémon hobby: should one own unopened products such as packs and boxes, or specific single cards? Both approaches have followers, and both have characteristics worth knowing. This entry describes the differences without saying which suits best, since that depends on what each person wants from a collection.

Sealed products

• The contents are unknown until the product is opened, and only while it stays unopened does the option to open it later remain.
• Products are physically larger and need more space than cards. See storing cards.
• Condition is about the packaging: plastic, corners and the shape of the box.
• There is a risk that products have been opened and closed again; see resealed and weighed packs.

An overview of the types is under sealed products, including the booster box.

Single cards

• You know exactly which card you own, and can choose Pokémon, edition and condition.
• Cards take up little space and can be graded; see the grading scale.
• Price and condition can be checked against cards sold on the market.
• You get only the cards you choose, not the experience of opening packs.

Randomness and pack opening

Opening packs is random. Publishers do not state exactly how often particular cards appear, and collectors' estimates, called pull rates, are uncertain. Many who want a specific card therefore end up obtaining the single instead. Others feel the opening is the whole point.

Turnover

Both sealed products and singles can be sold, but how quickly depends on demand; see liquidity. Prices change for both kinds, and there is no rule that one type holds up better than the other. This entry does not give financial advice, and readers must judge for themselves what fits their interests and situation. See also the sealed products page.

In summary

Sealed and singles are two different ways of collecting, and neither is right for everyone. One offers randomness and experience, the other precision and control. Many combine both. If you are weighing the two, it can help to ask what you want from the collection: to open, to own particular cards, or to keep something unopened.