Where Pokémon Vendors ACTUALLY Get Their Inventory: Vending 101 Ep. 2, Sourcing Inventory

Sourcing inventory is the hardest part about starting as a Pokémon card vendor. Everyone wants to vend, but nobody talks about where vendors actually get their cards, how they evaluate deals, or what types of cards sell consistently at shows. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real sourcing strategies I use for Mt. Silver Trading Co., the same ones I wish I knew when I first started. We’re talking local shops, Marketplace deals, Reddit finds, collection buying, and everything in between. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a table that actually moves inventory, this is your episode. What you’ll learn in Episode 2: – Where new vendors should source their cards – Why modern IRs, SIRs, and Alt Arts ($10–$50 range) are your bread and butter – How to avoid getting burned on bad deals – The “60-second test” for evaluating inventory fast – Why relationships make sourcing easier over time – How Reddit’s r/pkmntcgtrades can actually be a secret weapon – What NOT to buy as a new vendor – How to build a starter table that won’t sink your budget This is Episode 2 of Zero to Hero: Vending 101, the series where I show the entire process of building a real Pokémon vending operation from the ground up. 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - What to buy as a new vendor 01:58 - Stick to what you know 03:03 - Margin 04:28 - Local Card Shops 05:21 - FB Marketplace 06:11 - Reddit 07:21 - Collection Buyouts 09:08 - Things to Avoid