This promo Pokémon card featuring everyone's favorite road block, Snorlax, has jumped up in price by $80 since the start of February, putting it at an impressive $280. That's pretty damn good for a newer promo card, and it's particularly staggering when you discover that there's an almost identical version of the same exact card (same picture and everything) that costs only $22.
Literally the only difference between this expensive card and the cheaper version is a small stamp that marks it out as a Pokémon Center exclusive. Yes, that little bit of text is apparently worth $260.
The rising price of this promo card is tied to the market value of the 151 Elite Trainer Box. Both saw a little dip in December, then shot up this year to their highest values yet. And the Pokémon Center exclusive ETB, which could only be bought at the official Pokémon company store, is particularly prized as a collector's item. It's currently valued at $1,400, whereas the regular ETB goes for a still not too shabby $700.
You might expect the regular Snorlax promo to have gained a bit more value, given that its box is actually worth hundreds of dollars. I suppose part of the explanation for that is that the Pokémon Center ETBs come with both a stamped and a regular version of their promos, so the unstamped Snorlax can be found in two different places and is just way more common.
It should be no surprise that this ETB is one that's gained value fast, especially now that it's out of stock everywhere and many collectors are holding onto their copies as an investment. 151 as a Pokémon set drew upon fan's nostalgia for the original 151 Pocket Monsters, and that's always a recipe for success.
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