Sales characteristics of Pokémon trading cards: A prospective one-year field study
Johannes Heck, Sarah Schormann, Benjamin Krichevsky, Adrian Groh, Thorben Pape, Sebastian Schröder, Alexander Glahn, Carsten Schumacher, Martin Schulze Westhoff
TL;DR
This study analyzed the sales of Pokémon trading cards on eBay in Germany over one year, finding that rare and holofoil cards drove most revenue.
Contribution
The study provides empirical sales data and identifies regional and demographic trends in Pokémon card trading.
Findings
Rare and holofoil cards disproportionately contributed to total revenue.
Uncommon cards sold quickly, showing economic potential.
Thuringia and Hamburg were hubs for Pokémon card sales despite smaller populations.
Abstract
Since its inception in North America in 1999, the Pokémon trading card game has become a global phenomenon, combining strategic gameplay with collectible culture. The economic value of Pokémon trading cards, particularly as collector’s items, underscores their significance beyond mere playthings, making them a subject of both academic and commercial interest. In the present study, a convenience sample of 300 Pokémon trading cards were offered on the e-commerce platform eBay between 28 May 2024 and 27 May 2025, with a minimum follow-up period of 3 months per card. All cards were sold nationally in Germany to avoid high shipping costs for international transactions. The aim of the study was to comprehensively analyze sales characteristics of Pokémon trading cards, using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques including “survival” analyses and Cox regression models. 73.3%…
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Taxonomy
TopicsDigital Games and Media · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Consumer Market Behavior and Pricing