Guide
Pokémon Christmas gift: plan early, source the cards properly
Before Christmas, postal routes are longer and popular cards sell out faster. A Pokémon binder is still a welcome gift if you start early enough and plan for delivery.
Why the timeline matters more here
You buy trading cards on marketplaces from many individual sellers. Each ships on their own, some from abroad. In the weeks before Christmas this can take longer than usual. So allow more buffer than for a gift from a shop.
A plan until Christmas Eve
- By the end of November at the latest: decide on the Pokémon or motif and choose the cards.
- Early December: order, preferably from few sellers so fewer parcels are on the way.
- Before the holiday: check what has arrived, look at the condition, sort and wrap the cards.
- If something is missing, reorder from another seller or replace the card with a similar one.
Idea: the card advent calendar
24 cards for 24 days: every day until Christmas Eve one card is unwrapped or slipped into the binder. Three pages of nine pockets leave room for 27 cards, so for the calendar plus three surprises on the day.
How to do it: choose a favourite Pokémon or motif and have more cards suggested than you need. Keep the nicest ones for Christmas Eve.
Where to buy
In Europe, Cardmarket and CardTrader are the obvious marketplaces. On both you can look at the sellers and choose who delivers how fast. Check the expected delivery date and the seller's rating before ordering.
Your Card Binder may receive a commission on purchases made through CardTrader links. Your price stays the same.
Wrapping and handing over
- Wrap the binder, with the favourite card on top as a hint.
- Add a short note on why you chose this Pokémon.
- Leave pockets free so something can still be added under the tree.