Booster Box Cases at Prerelease?

T

Tamara

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hi everyone. I'm fairly new to the Pokémon TCG world & I'm nothing but a collector. I planned to go to the next prerelease, but I'm not entirely sure how that all works. I've heard that they sell boxes at the prerelease for about $100. Is that correct? If so, do they also sell cases? I usually get a case & split it with my best friend and call the set done. I know $600 is a pretty big amount of cash to come to a prerelease with, but if I can get the boxes ahead of time, why not, right?
Anyways, I was just wondering what all they have to sell there as far as merchandise goes.
I'd also be going to the one down in Vancouver/Surrey, British Columbia, Canada if that helps any.
Thanks!
 
Not sure about the selling cases thing. I've never heard of anything like that before. It might vary from location to location. If you want to know if your location does this, you're probably best off contacting the Tournament Organizer of the prerelease, or if the prerelease is being held at a store, contact the store itself. I don't think any of them would sell before the release date of the set, though; at least they shouldn't.

As far as merchandise goes, that will also depend on the location. All prereleases have some special promos they give out as part of the prerelease (usually a deckbox with artwork from the set and a promo card), but any other merchandise for sale would be provided by the TO or the store at which it's held. People at the prerelease might also bring their own collections of cards to trade.
 
Well, they would probably have to order an extra case in order for you to purchase it.

Not saying that isn't possible, but I don't think that's within their privileges as a Tournament Organizer.

EDIT: You might be able to get a sealed box or two without much trouble. :)
 
I tried to buy a box from a pre-release at Medford and the guy was like "No of course not! The set's not even supposed to be out yet!"

However a friend of mine found a store near a pre-release that had Plasma Storm boxes before it was supposed to be released and got some good EX's. No Full Arts though.
 
I'll probably just call in ahead of time and get details about the prerelease & merchandise there.
I probably won't ask about getting a case; might just try to get ahold of a box or two.
I'd like to know what the pull rates are like before I just up and buy 6 boxes, in case the pull rates end up being crap.
Just because the last few sets have been decent on pull rates doesn't mean they're all gonna be good, so.
 
Tamara said:
I'd like to know what the pull rates are like before I just up and buy 6 boxes, in case the pull rates end up being crap.
Just because the last few sets have been decent on pull rates doesn't mean they're all gonna be good, so.
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You ought to take a look at the Pull Rates thread. Previous to Plasma Storm, most boxes came with 2 EXes and 1 FA (and maybe 1 Shiny, about 1 box in 3, if I remember right). Plasma Storm pull rates seem to vary wildly. There likely won't be any detailed information on pull rates for the next set until after it's released, so if you're fine with not getting your box right at release, you can wait and see. Otherwise, you can judge based on previous box rates, and look at the set lists for Japan's BW8 to see what kind of cards you'll be looking at in the English set*, and decide whether you think the pulls are worth it or not.

* - Japanese set lists don't usually match exactly with their English counterparts, but they're decently close. At least the EX/FA/Shiny cards will probably be the same.
 
I've been looking at Spiral Force & Thunder Knuckle, so I have an idea as to what's in there. And there's definitely stuff I want. I think the only thing that makes me a little on edge is the thought of buying a case & like you said, getting 2 EX & 1 FA per box and having my boxes end up not being worth the money I spent.
I'm definitely going to end up getting a box or two at prerelease (or at least try) & see how that goes. If it works in my favour, then great!
And if not, well then it's better to have spent 100/200 & lost, rather than to have spent 600 and end up completely regretting my choice. :p
Besides, you win some, you lose some. It's a gamble, essentially.
 
As far as I know, you cannot purchase booster boxes at a PreRelease unless you're judging in which case you could purchase a full or "half" box if you wish. The ones I go to to only have enough boxes for the event and for those who judged. I don't think they would be allowed to sell boxes before release date anyways as they'd probably get in trouble.
 
Tamara said:
I've been looking at Spiral Force & Thunder Knuckle, so I have an idea as to what's in there. And there's definitely stuff I want. I think the only thing that makes me a little on edge is the thought of buying a case & like you said, getting 2 EX & 1 FA per box and having my boxes end up not being worth the money I spent.
I'm definitely going to end up getting a box or two at prerelease (or at least try) & see how that goes. If it works in my favour, then great!
And if not, well then it's better to have spent 100/200 & lost, rather than to have spent 600 and end up completely regretting my choice. :p
Besides, you win some, you lose some. It's a gamble, essentially.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's no way to tell how much you'll get for your money from a box until after you open it, sadly. Every time is always a gamble. The only way to truly be safe is to take the money you were going to spend on the case and use that to purchase the singles you want from the box instead. Though, that's not nearly as fun, in my opinion anyway.
 
Definitely not as fun. & from my point of view, I'd rather pull it myself, that way I'm 100% sure of the condition it's in. Instead of people saying something's NM & having it turn out to be something else (in my eyes).
 
ForeignDude said:
As far as I know, you cannot purchase booster boxes at a PreRelease unless you're judging in which case you could purchase a full or "half" box if you wish. The ones I go to to only have enough boxes for the event and for those who judged. I don't think they would be allowed to sell boxes before release date anyways as they'd probably get in trouble.
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Well, it depends on location. At mine, its a 2 floor building. First floor sold Boxes of the new set early and single packs from a box. And abov, the pre-release was held.
 
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