Whether you are keeping a booster box for years or just want an Elite Trainer Box to look good on the shelf, sealed products are fragile. The cardboard dents, the shrink wrap tears and the printing fades. The good news is that a few simple habits prevent almost all of it.

Keep it cool and dry

Damp is the biggest threat. Moisture makes cardboard warp and cards curl inside the packs, even through shrink wrap. Keep sealed products indoors, in a room with a steady temperature, and never in a garage, loft or basement where it gets hot, cold or damp. A cheap hygrometer will tell you if a room is too humid; somewhere around 35 to 50 per cent relative humidity is a sensible target.

Stay out of the sun

Direct sunlight fades box art surprisingly quickly, and a faded box is worth less to a buyer. Display pieces should sit away from windows, and anything you are storing long term is best kept in a closed cupboard or box.

Store boxes flat and don’t stack too high

Most sealed boxes are designed to lie flat. Stacking too many on top of each other crushes the bottom boxes and dents their corners, and corners are the first thing a collector checks. Keep stacks low, put the heaviest boxes at the bottom and avoid leaning boxes against each other on their edges.

Leave the shrink wrap alone

The factory shrink wrap is proof that a box has never been opened, so don’t peel it, tape it or put stickers on it. Price labels and tape leave marks that are hard to remove. If a wrap does split, keep the box anyway, but expect it to be treated as opened.

Use protective cases for your best boxes

Clear acrylic cases fit most booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes. They stop dust and knocks and make a box easy to display without handling it. For bulk storage, plastic storage tubs with lids are a solid, cheap option, as long as the room they sit in is dry.

Keep the paperwork

Keep your receipts or order confirmations. If you ever sell or insure a collection, proof of where and when you bought each box helps.

Every product in our shop is sold new and factory sealed, and we pack orders to protect the corners on the way to you. Browse our booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes to start or grow your collection.