Pokemon cards draw predawn crowds at 30th anniversary drop
Collectors waited in lines of 100-plus for 30th anniversary Pokemon card packs costing hundreds of dollars, with rare cards reaching thousands.
Queues formed outside Big W and Toyworld stores as Pokemon's 30th anniversary card packs went on sale. William Lee drove from Melbourne to Bendigo overnight with friends to buy an Ultra-Premium Collection.
The Ultra-Premium Collection included 29 booster packs plus two rare promo cards. The 18-year-old collector said: 'Now that I do have adult money, it's something I can enjoy.'
Rare cards in the drop, like Lugia or Charizard, can fetch hundreds of dollars each, depending on condition. Toyworld's manager said the 5am queue was the biggest she'd seen during this year's Pokemon craze.
She called it 'very good for business.'
- 18 years old
- Collector's age
- Approximately 100 people
- Queue size
- Hundreds of dollars each
- Rare card value
Why it mattersNostalgic collectibles are driving consumers to spend hundreds on trading cards, showing how childhood interests become premium purchases in adulthood.
AustraliaAustralian retailers like Big W and Toyworld are seeing surges in foot traffic during Pokemon drops, boosting their hobby and gift sections.
