A buyback is the platform's offer to purchase the card you just pulled. It's what turns a pack into a quick round trip: rip, see the value, and take money or credit instead of the card. The rate, who sets the value, and whether you get cash or credit all change what a pull is worth to you.
Fair market value
Buybacks are quoted as a percentage of fair market value (FMV). Each platform sets its own FMV, usually from recent sales of the same card in the same grade. A "100% buyback" is only as generous as the FMV it's based on.
Buyback terms by platform
| Platform | Stated buyback | Paid as | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rips by Triumph | 100% of FMV | Cash balance | Auto sell-back after 7 days |
| Courtyard | 90% of FMV | Account balance | Instant offer after each pull |
| Packz | 90% | Cash out | Not stated |
| Collectibles.com | 90% | Not stated | Not stated |
| Fanatics Live | 90% | Credit | 48 hours |
| Arena Club | Instant offer; 90% on eligible Pokémon (reported) | Not stated | 24 hours (reported) |
| Phygitals | 85% | Account balance | Not stated |
| GameStop Power Packs | 90% of FMV less a 6% fee | Bank withdrawal | 7 days |
| Collector Crypt | Set per machine (85% reported) | USDC | 3 days |
| ClutchPacks | About 90% of FMV | USDC | Not stated |
| Beezie | Up to about 90% (SWAP) | Not stated | 15 minutes |
| Pullz | Market value (stated) | Debit, ACH, PayPal, Venmo | Not stated |
| PrizePicks Packs | Auto sell-back | Pick'em balance | 72 hours |
The math on one pull
Say you buy a $50 pack and pull a card with an FMV of $40. With a 90% buyback you get $36 back, so the rip cost you $14. With a 100% buyback you'd get $40, a $10 cost. On a pull worth $400, the same 10-point gap is worth $40.
Use the EV calculator with your platform's buyback rate to see the expected cost per pack before you rip.
Cash or credit
Credit you can only spend on more packs is worth less than withdrawable cash, even at the same percentage. If you plan to sell most pulls back, the payout form matters as much as the rate.
When to keep the card instead
- When the card's value is likely to rise and you're happy to hold it, ideally somewhere with free storage.
- When you can sell it elsewhere for more than the buyback after fees and shipping.
- When it's a card you actually want in your collection.