Protecting and storing sealed Pokémon products: the full guide

To store a sealed Pokémon product properly, keep it in its original shrink-wrap, away from light, in a dry, temperate room, without crushing it under other boxes. For the pieces you care about most, an acrylic case on top completes these basics. The damage done by time is slow, but rarely reversible: it is best to adopt good habits from your very first purchase.

The original wrap: leave it alone

The shrink-wrap is the proof that a booster display or ETB has never been opened. Once removed or torn, the product is no longer considered sealed, even if the booster packs are intact. A few simple rules:

• never remove the wrap, not even to "see the box";
• avoid sticking labels directly on the wrap: they tear it when removed;
• handle the box by its sides, without pulling on the corners of the wrap.

Learn to recognise factory wrap, too. Our checklist for spotting a fake booster box will help you.

Light, enemy number one

Sunlight and, to a lesser extent, some types of lighting fade the inks on the cardboard. A box left for a few months behind a window can fade on one side only, and the flaw is glaringly obvious.

• Store your products away from windows and direct light.
• To display them, choose a shelf in a corner that gets little sun.
• An acrylic case with anti-UV treatment slows fading without stopping it. The details are in our guide to acrylic cases.
• For long-term storage, a closed cupboard or an opaque box is still ideal.

Humidity and temperature

Cardboard and cards are sensitive to humidity. Air that is too damp makes boxes warp and can curl the cards inside the booster packs, or even encourage mould. Temperature swings, meanwhile, encourage condensation under the wrap.

• Avoid: cellars, lofts, garages, conservatories, unheated rooms, cold exterior walls, and spots near a radiator or heat source.
• Prefer: a temperate, dry living space, such as a bedroom or study.
• A small indoor hygrometer lets you keep an eye on the room's air. If humidity stays high, a dehumidifier can help.
• Don't put your boxes directly on the floor: in the event of a leak or cleaning, they would be the first to suffer.

Stacking without crushing

A booster display is not designed to bear the weight of a stack. Over time, the bottom boxes sag, the corners dent and the wrap stretches until it splits.

• Limit the height of your stacks and put the heaviest boxes at the bottom.
• Only stack boxes of the same format, neatly aligned, to spread the load.
• For large quantities, use multi-level shelving rather than a single column.
• Rigid acrylic cases spread the weight better than bare cardboard.

The shipping carton, an ally

If you have bought several booster displays from the same set, the original shipping carton, often called a "case", offers excellent protection: it is made for these boxes. Keep it closed and dry, and note its contents on a label stuck to the outside of the carton, never on the products themselves.

Protection by product type

You will find suitable cases in our Acrylic cases section and our sealed products in the Pokémon section.

Keep an inventory

One last useful habit: keep a list of your sealed collection with the product, language, purchase date, storage location and a few photos. If you move house, suffer water damage or simply want to keep track, this small effort will save you a lot of time.

Frequently asked questions

Can sealed products be stored in airtight plastic boxes?

Yes, provided the products go in completely dry. On the contrary, an airtight box closed in a damp room can trap moisture.

The wrap on a booster box has split: is it still sealed?

A small split in the factory wrap does not prove it has been opened, but it reduces the product's appeal to a collector. Protect it quickly to stop the split growing.

Should I turn my booster boxes over from time to time?

That is not necessary. Simply store them flat, the right way up, with no excessive weight on top.