Hello!
I hear many people ranting about how little kids are trying to trade cards
that are in bad conditions because of the way they stored. I have a few tips
on how to keep your cards in good condition when they aren't being used for
decks so you can be proud of your cards and trade them.
#1. Sleeves! Sleeves! Sleeves!(you say that enough and it doesn't sound like
a real word anymore!) As soon as most kids open packs and find a holo, they
might neglect it. I'm not saying wear rubber gloves and never let your
fingers touch the card, I mean, as soon as possible, get the card in a
plastic clear sleeve. This prevents unfortunate accidents that might leave
some scratches.
#2. Toploader Protection.
This method should be used only after you put the card in a sleeve. I've
learned the hard way that you'll end up scratching a card when it goes in.
As a side note, some people like to put their whole decks in toploaders.
Don't do that. It is impossible to shuffle and no one likes it when their
opponent's deck is 2 feet tall. Toploaders should go on cards that probably
won't see action so it isn't a hassle to get them out.
#3. Gotta love them plastic containers.
What I did after the foils were in the Toploaders was put them in a medium
sized container. If you really want to be organized, put them in order of
type. These first suggestions are really for foils, but that's why there's a
#4 tip!
#4. What do I do with these 47 Porygons?!?
For common and uncommons, a long cardboard box does best. Some card shops
may sell them. They range in size from half a foot to 3 feet(from what I've
seen)Usually you can fit 3 different color types in a 2 foot long box. Put
post-it notes on them so you know where you can find Magikarp or someone
else.
#5. Okay, I have nowhere to put the boxes!
Buy a do-it-yourself shelf kit. While building it may annoy the heck out of
you, you can be sure that the containers will fit. Make sure small
animals(or big) and children that are too young to play can't reach up and
pull down your cards. If your collection is small though, don't run out and
get a huge storage center.
Alright, that's what you can do, now here's what happens if you don't take
care of them correctly.
#1. Aagh! A crease!This has been where?
Without proper storage, a card will become creased or bent easily. I can't
tell you how many times a person tries to trade cards that have been sitting
under a ton of stuff and are ruined and smell like something you'd find in
the refrigerator from last years Thanksgiving dinner.
#2. Evil binders!
I know I must sound stupid, going against binders, but this one's more of a
theft warning. In my experience, binders were an easy way to steal. You turn
the page and they already have slipped away a card on the top of the page.
The binders that are made especially for Pokemon cards, the ones with
Charmander and Bulbasaur on them and such, are better, but it's hard for the
cards to stay in and the pages stick. If you do plan on trading cards, tape
the tops of the pages where you put the card, but be careful when peeling
off the tape or Gyarados's color type may go with it. I recommend putting
what you want to trade in toploaders and putting them in a small box.
#3. Glove Compartment of No Return.
A child leaves his local card shop and opens his base booster and amazingly
pulls out Charizard. He gets in the car to leave and as he's getting on his
seatbelt he finds it hard to do with 11 cards in his hand. So he tosses them
into the glove box and forgets about them. I'm not saying everyone will be
ignorant, but seriously, some will toss the cards in there and forget it.
I've done it and a certain Pichu now has a funny arch in it. This causes
cards to become arched liked Pichu and make it hard for them to be used.
Don't leave them out in the car too long!
#4. Washer Wars and Pocket Traps.
It's not bad if you put your deck(in a case hopefully) in your pocket. It is
bad if you put your foils in your pocket and sit down. This always bends
cards. What's worse is when you leave them in your pants and your mom or dad
takes it out to be washed. Can we guess who wins in the battle between
Charizard and the Washer? My friend actually did this and sure Charizard was
squeaky clean, or at least what was left of him, but the card was almost
unrecognizable.
Pokemon Cards are like pets. They are a new responsibility and neglecting
them will result in "death"(or in Charizards case,disintegration) So take
care of them! This has been a message from Q. If you're still reading feel
free to e-mail me at:
qcontinuum2169@hotmail.com