Following the combined launch of both Pokémon TCG expansions last week, the new Black Bolt and White Flare Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) have been hotly sought after, with prices skyrocketing well above MSRP.
However, Amazon has recently dropped the price of the Black Bolt ETB to $78.75, down from the retailer’s inflated list price of $109.99. That’s a 28% reduction if you’re looking for market price, but still over $28 more than the standard $50 MSRP.
Pokemon TCG Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box
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Just like with recent restocks for Destined Rivals, the main retailers listing Black Bolt & White Flare ETBs at above retail are Walmart and Amazon. Walmart continues to list both at around $99, and Amazon still lists the White Flare ETB for roughly $105, but Black Bolt’s price cut is an unexpected bargain in contrast.
However, this is still way above what these would normally be priced at. The best-priced among big stores listing Black Bolt & White Flare at their actual value is Best Buy, at $49.99 for each ETB, but both are sold out at the time of writing.
It’s the same case for the Pokemon Center, which was listed both for a slightly more expensive $59.00. Whichever retailer you buy from, though, each Black Bolt & White Flare ETB contains:
- Nine respective booster packs
- Full-art promo card — Thundurus with Black Bolt, Tornadus with White Flare
- The Pokémon Center version also comes with an extra full-art promo with the website’s logo
- 65 sleeves for your cards
- 45 Energy Cards
- A player’s expansion guide
- Damage counter dice, coin flip-die, and condition markers
- Collectable box with dividers
- Pokémon Trading Card Game Live code card
The assumed reason for these inflated prices is to both scare off scalpers and bots, since these automatically reduce reseller profit margins, whilst still making the money from those who are still willing to pay.
Amazon UK had implemented its own fairer way of controlling the stock shortage of Pokémon cards by implementing the invite-only system, allowing any with an invitation to buy ETBs at their RRP value.
Sadly, the US equivalent doesn’t seem to want to follow suit. Still, Amazon and Walmart have technically followed the market value of Pokémon card products like these, even if they are still going a fair amount higher.
On dedicated selling platform TCG Player, for instance, the market price for the Black Bolt ETB is around $91 whilst White Flare’s is almost $92 at the time of writing. eBay also have listings that are a little bit cheaper, showing Black Bolt ETBs going for at least $86 and White Flare for $85.
Even going by the most expensive cards from the Japanese version of the set, Black Bolt and White Flare have plenty of valuable potential pulls to make the higher investment worth it, but we know it’s still a major sting knowing you’re paying well above what you should be.
Whichever way, though, paying around 50% mark-up at minimum for an ETB appears to just be the name of the game in the Pokemon TCG market these days. If you want to get any of these new cards at the best price available, grab this Amazon deal whilst you can before you have to pay at least $10 more from an eBay seller.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.