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Collecting’s Best Bargain is Gathering Dust on Target Shelves Everywhere
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- Collecting’s Best Bargain is Gathering Dust on Target Shelves Everywhere
For the last several years, I've given out Pokemon Trick or Trade "BOOster Bundle" packs on Halloween. We don't get a ton of kids at the house, so I managed to accumulate a bunch of packs over the years. And then, because I have a problem, I would buy a couple new sleeves every October anyway. The pile of Pokemon packs would grow and I'd occasionally cull it by grabbing stacks to hand out to nieces and nephews throughout the year. Imagine my shock last October when they weren't for sale in the usual spots (Walgreens and Walmart, basically). And now take that shocked image and add flashing lights and sirens for the moment I discovered these weren't just worthless Halloween handouts – the unopened boxes are going for $75+ on eBay .
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I still have two. And I'm holding.
But today isn't about the BOOster Bundles. It's about something a little more interesting.
Score-A-Treat.
If you've bought Score-A-Treat the last two years (or its closely related sister line, Haunted Hoops), you probably know what they used to be: single-sport Halloween-themed cards with limited checklists and some random players included. We have covered the sets before . I will not deny my fandom.
But for 2026, Panini made some significant changes, and for the first time in my "giving out cards on Halloween" history, I'm purposely keeping a box for myself. And opening a box for myself. I'm definitely giving out the 2024 and 2025 versions to kids first, too.
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The 2026 version of Score-A-Treat is incredible. It's the perfect mix of holiday, fun and "this might be worth something." It actually has a very Leaf-ey feel to it, but the box is $20, not $349. The set features multiple sports, parallels, autographs, and 1-of-1 inserts. There are current and retired players. College players, pro players, and even Ric Flair . I got a Deontay Wilder and stared at it for a moment, wondering if I should get my toploaders. The design is fantastic and the inserts are clever, but the real star is the back: Halloween-style language with clever turns of phrase.
This isn't a set of cards simply skinned with Halloween-ish borders; this feels like the person in charge has both The Monster Squad and The Monster Squad 's 2007 documentary on DVD. Maybe multiple copies.
I was in Target on Friday and saw at least 12 boxes sitting on the shelf for $19.99. I think there are a few reasons for this:
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Nobody knows about the 2026 improvements. Maybe this will help. UR welcome, Panini.
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These Halloween packs have never sold out. Even the BOOster Bundles were available after Halloween, and this was happening in 2023 and 2024, the height of Pokemon craze (or at least "close to the height.")
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The last two years of this line have been low-effort "scary borders" without many chase cards for parents to go after. The rookies were literal headshots. This year's set has Magic Johnson autographs .
I've talked myself into going back to the store to grab two more sleeves. I'll open one for fun and then hold the other. And I'll distribute the 31 packs I have left of the first box I bought. After I relieve myself of the 50+ packs from the previous two years. The old Pokemon packs have already been securely tucked away in the "unopened box" tub.
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I think this set may age well. If I'm wrong? I have packs of cards that are cheaper than bulk bags of candy to give away the next several years.
If I'm right? We all win!
Here are some examples of what I pulled in the few packs I dared to open myself. Watch this be the year we get a lot of trick-or-treaters…
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Quick hitter for all the art lovers out there: we recently broke a martini glass in the sink – as I'm sure most martini glasses meet their demise, under a giant pasta pot – and I went searching for a fun replacement. I found this seller on Etsy who does some fantastic work on glass.
Unfortunately she's in the Ukraine and shipping is $22. So that sucks. But I sometimes get stuck on things, and wanted to support this shop and the artist, so I bought the Christmas Lights tutorial . So far so good! I'll keep everyone updated! CEO Evan Parker will be getting 14 glasses of varying quality depicting Marge Simpson's Playboy cover for Christmas this year!
Side note: Whenever someone isn't a "5" star on Etsy, it stands out. I know it's weird, but I like to poke around anyway. Look at Mary here dragging poor ArtMasha down to 4.9 for no reason:
This is a developing story, but I think the time of a sub-$10 "F**K cancer" Dak Prescott 2026 Holiday/Flagship card (which I think was two days) is coming to a close. It's our generation's Billy Ripken! But with a warm and fuzzy twist! Get yours now!!
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And for those wondering what I'm talking about, Dak has it written on his wristband: Zoom in!
Sooz has a great overview on it here. My take: free press for the Holiday line! And it settles at $15-20 for Holiday and $10-12 for flagship. The combo of Christmas decorations and slightly censored swear words does it for me.
One last quick hitter: Bob Vila rookie cards are still decently priced – and available!
On that note, I am out of here! Enjoy your Halloweens, hopefully you get something wonderful from your Score-A-Treats, and see you next time!
