Tariffs and An Ever-Changing Pokemon Market

Let's Talk: Price Transparency at PokeKoreTCG

Hey Everyone!

Let’s get straight into it: this post is all about price transparency. I want to share some insight into why prices fluctuate, how the Korean Pokémon card supply chain works, and what’s going on behind the scenes when you see restocks priced differently.

I paid $25 more per box on my second restock!

If you’ve been following the store from the beginning, you’ve probably noticed that prices tend to change with every restock. For example, my initial run of Terastal Festival was priced at $55. That same set now sells for $70. And honestly, the price will most likely change on the next restock as well. It all depends on what I pay to source them.

The Korean Market.

Here’s the general supply chain for Korean Pokémon cards in the US.

Pokémon Korea → Official Retailers (7-Eleven, Pokémon Centers, etc.) → Korean Resellers → Me (PokeKoreTCG)

This is the typical route for almost anyone outside Korea trying to sell Korean cards — especially in the U.S. And this actually applies to Japanese and Chinese as well. But everyone in this chain takes a cut, and the price can shift dramatically by the time it reaches me. The frequent price change happens at the Korean reseller level. Once product hits that market, pricing is fully dictated by demand. This isn't unique to Korean cards either. We’re seeing the same thing now with English (and Japanese) Pokémon products. The market will always determine the price.

I paid $8 more per box on the second restock!

To restock the same booster boxes I launched with, I’m now paying $5 to $25 more per box. That means you’ll sometimes you'll see some pretty drastic price differences between sets. I will NEVER raise the price of a box before a restock! For example, I received some more Crimson Haze Booster Boxes before initial run of inventory sold out. I kept the price at $35 until it sold out. Now the current restock of Crimson Haze sits at $40.

But here's the good news: if the market cools and my sourcing costs go down, prices on the site will go down too. And I’ll be transparent when that happens.

Also, as the store grows and I’m able to buy in larger quantities, I can negotiate better deals and pass those savings along to you!

Now, let’s talk about tariffs.

Every time I import a shipment of booster boxes, I get hit with a customs bill. Currently, most countries (including South Korea) fall under a 10% blanket tariff. That means if I import $1,000 worth of inventory, I’m paying an additional $100 just to get them into the U.S.

This is a simplified explanation, and I’ll be honest, I’m still learning the ins and outs myself — but it’s one of the hidden costs of running a store like this.

I do my best not to pass these extra costs directly to you. Instead, I’m constantly working on finding a pricing balance that keeps things fair for everyone while keeping the store sustainable. I’m hopeful that, with South Korea's strong trade relations with the U.S., we’ll see these increased tariffs reduced or removed in the future.

Korean Pokémon cards are still one of the best values in the hobby, especially for collectors who want official cards without spending hundreds on English or Japanese products. I remain committed to offering Korean cards as a budget-friendly, high-quality option for all collectors — and I truly appreciate your support in making that possible.

Thanks for reading and for supporting the store!

— Kevin