. Interview with Niels Hakkert Marketplace, deals & pitfalls
Pokémon maps Marketplace: tips, scams and best deals: In the Pokémon TCG hobby, Marketplace for many collectors is a place full of opportunities but also risk derivatives. We spoke to Niels Hakkert (28), an experienced collector and trader, about his experiences, tips and the biggest pitfalls.
How did you get into the Pokémon TCG hobby?
My Pokémon adventure started when I was about 6. Until I was 13, I gathered fanatically and played games. After that it was quiet for a while, but around 22 I picked up the hobby again.
Since then, I've only gone deeper. I mainly focus on sets from my childhood, such as the EX series and Legendary Collection. That piece of nostalgia remains the best for me.
I also flip cards to fund my own collection. That's how the hobby maintains itself a little bit. Lately I have also been looking more and more at the investment side, especially PSA graded bibs and cards that I like and I expect to see rise in the long term
How long have you been using Marketplace for Pokémon cards?
6 years. At that time I actually experienced everything, from very good deals to situations where you really learn to be sharper
What makes Marketplace interesting for Pokémon cards?
In particular, the quantity of supply. There are thousands of ads online every day, so there's always something in between. That makes it interesting, because sometimes you can find deals that you don't quickly see on platforms like Cardmarket.
In addition, Marktplaats is not as standardized as a result of which people sometimes do not know exactly what they are selling and there are opportunities
Scam at Marketplace: How do you look at that?
It's a bit of a part of it, unfortunately. If you have experience, you'll soon know when something is wrong. But beginners are often even more gullible and therefore more vulnerable.
The problem is that scammers are getting smarter and using AI more and more, so you always have to look critical
What are the most common scams in the Pokémon hobby?
The most common is that people offer products they don't own at all. They use photos from the internet or other advertisements and hope that someone pays quickly without checking properly
How do you recognize red flags in ads?
There are a few things I always pay close attention to:
- New accounts without reviews
- Photos with different backgrounds
- Name or location not consistent
- Cannot retrieve
- Do not want to use buyer protection
- Ask for a deposit
If more than one of these things occur at the same time, I'm actually going to go straight to the end
How to protect yourself as a buyer/seller?
I try to keep it as safe as possible:
- Or pay with buyer protection
- Or I pick up the product
In addition, I often ask for additional evidence, such as:
- multiple-card photos
- or a picture of the package before it is sent
And on reception I always film it opening. That may sound excessive, but it can really help if something goes wrong
Pay & Send: What do you recommend?
Always use buyer protection if possible.
And on dispatch: PostNL with track & trace, and with more expensive websitems insured.That's just a little more certainty
Do you have any tips for beginners at Marketplace?
Take your time and always do your checks.
Use buyer protection wherever possible and buy sealed products preferably from shops or really reliable sellers.And for more expensive cards, just pick up. That's still the safest thing
What should you NOT do?
Too fast to pay without checking properly. That's really where it often goes wrong
What are the risks associated with sealed products (ETBs, booster boxes)?
You see more and more that products are damaged or even resealed. That risk is just higher with private sellers.
That's why I would only buy sealed products from shops or people you really trust
What do you have to look for in graded cards?
Make sure you know what real PSA bibs look like. For example, check YouTube or ask in Discord. You can check with a UV light for a PSA logo.
There are plenty of fake bibs in orbit, so if you don't know what you're looking at, you can easily go wrong in that
Best deal ever?
I saw an advertisement with a large alt art collection for €500 that was already reserved. I quickly offered €100 extra and that was accepted.
When I had everything inside and looked carefully, it turned out to be about €3,000 worth of cards. Those are really the moments your Marketplace is watching
Most bizarre ad?
A Crystal Charizard Holo for $10... and he also came in. You hardly believe that kind of thing
The golden tip:
Niels Hakkert
👉 Always use buyer protection.
Closure
Marketplace can be a gold mine, but only if you know what you're doing.
With the right knowledge, a critical look and a little patience you can not only avoid risk derivatives, but also score bizarre deals. Thanks Niels for your time! You can find Niels on our Discord or through his Marketplace account:
Stay sharp. Stay honest. And help each other.
Do you have any more questions you'd like to ask Niels? Join the Stockmonster Discord:
So basically you're taking advantage of ignorant sellers at marketplace! Quickly outbid to steal someone else's deal also classy, no good doing man, good for your karma points too!
Eventually, the seller chooses to accept the offer, right? In my view, that is less . . . . . . By the way, as a seller, you have to do good research into what you sell, they take that risk themselves.
Abuse is a big word. Niels simply buys into an open market where everyone has the same chance to react. Anyone who gets faster or sharper gets the deal, that's how supply and demand work. That you call it "Roadmap" doesn't change that