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Pokémon
US market vs Europe: where cards are cheaper
The same card on both sides of the Atlantic: US market price against the European trend price, converted at the day's euro rate. Gaps above 30% are common — shipping and grading habits differ, and so do the players.
Questions people ask
4 answersWhy is the same card a different price on TCGplayer and Cardmarket?
They are two separate markets with different buyers. TCGplayer is the US market, Cardmarket the European one. Shipping across the Atlantic, import duties, different grading habits and different local demand keep the two from converging, and gaps above 30% on the same card are routine.
Are the prices converted to one currency?
Yes. Cardmarket trend prices are quoted in euro and converted to dollars at the day's rate before the gap is calculated, so the comparison is like for like.
Does a big gap mean I should buy on the cheaper side?
Not by itself. Shipping, customs and the risk of a card arriving in worse condition than described eat into the gap, and the cheaper venue may have a single listing behind that price. Treat the gap as a starting point, not a conclusion.
Which games are compared?
Magic, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! first, since those have the deepest coverage on both venues. Other games appear as their Cardmarket data is connected — the page fills in automatically.