‘It’s like the ‘90s again’: Trading cards surge in value as people relive nostalgic hobbies

EDMONTON – An Edmonton store was forced to pull some of its items off the shelves – but not due to any recall.

A London Drugs on the city’s north side recently moved its Pokemon trading cards from their normal spot on open shelves to behind the counter.

That’s because the trading card phenomenon – from Pokemon to hockey and basketball cards – is back in a big way, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wayne Wagner, the owner of Wayne’s Sports Cards and Collectibles, says trading cards have seen a resurgence in popularity as people revisit their nostalgic hobbies.

Those people are realizing their cards might be worth a pretty penny.

“A lot of people have had a ton of time to go back and relive times when they collected Pokemon cards back in the day, or hockey cards,” said Wagner. “So they’re rediscovering their cards. In rediscovering cards, you rediscover value.”

Welcome to 2021… where Pokémon cards are kept at customer service along with Lysol wipes. #yeg pic.twitter.com/w00BC2H6kD

— Carly Robinson (@CarlyDRobinson) February 24, 2021

Wagner says there are dozens of cards from the ’90s that fanatics might have in plastic sleeves in binders that could be worth a few hundred dollars. Some of the new Charizard cards, for instance, could go for $800.

“We’ve got this influx of cards coming in all these new sets. And people are gravitating to specific names,” he said. “Everybody is looking to buy these new packs, the new boxes, in hopes of pulling this new $500, $800 Charizard card.”

Adam George, a card collector and YouTuber, says he’s noticed more places are selling out of trading cards.

“I went to London Drugs last night because I saw they were getting stuff – completely sold out,” said George. “Toys R Us is sold out. In three minutes, as soon as the store opened, it was sold out.

“It’s crazy. It’s like the ‘90s again.”

In a recently purchased pack of Pokemon cards, George says he pulled out a rare Charizard card – the first one he’s ever found in a pack.

Collectors can send cards to get appraised – or graded – in order to find out their approximate value. Some of those grading companies are so backed up, wait times can be six months or more.

And while some of George’s cards, including a rare Mewtwo, may be worth more than $1,000, he has no intention of selling.

“I’m really bad for keeping things,” he said. “I can’t really sell stuff. It’s a blessing and a curse.”