How PikaCards presales work: lock today's price, pay nothing extra later

A presale is exactly what it sounds like: you order a box before it releases in Japan or China, and we ship it the moment our allocation arrives. Here is how it works at PikaCards, in plain terms.

The price is locked when you check out

Japanese sets move fast. A booster box that lists at $160 in the week of announcement can be $220 by release day once the chase cards are known. When you pre-order with us, the price you pay at checkout is final. We never come back asking for a top-up, and we never cancel a presale because the market went up.

What you are actually buying

Every presale listing is backed by a real allocation from our Japanese and Chinese distributors, not a hope. If a listing says "Presale" it is because we have secured stock and are waiting on the release date. Listings show the expected release month so you know roughly when to expect dispatch.

When does it ship?

Product releases in Japan or China on a set date, then travels to us. Presale orders are dispatched within 1–2 business days of the stock arriving, tracked, and you get the tracking number by email the moment it leaves. Some presale lines are sent directly from our supply partners in Japan or China; those can take a little longer and may pass through customs.

Shrink or no shrink?

Most presale boxes are available sealed with the factory shrink wrap on, or with the shrink removed. If you plan to open the box, no-shrink saves you a few dollars and is identical inside. If you are collecting sealed, take the shrink option. Read With shrink or without for the full breakdown.

Changing a presale order

Contact us with your order number before dispatch and we will sort it out. Once an order has been dispatched, our standard refund policy applies.

Mixing presales with in-stock items

If you order a presale box together with something that is in stock, the whole order ships together when the presale lands. If you want the in-stock item sooner, place it as a separate order.

Browse what is open right now on the Presales page.