Forget Amazon, this Pokemon card offer is the best I've seen on a must-have new set

Amazon may be breaking out its "Big Spring Sale," but honestly, you're far better off grabbing your Pokemon cards elsewhere. Although it's worth starting with the caveat that all new releases for one of the best card games are overpriced, the most tempting offers I've found haven't been at the mega retailer.

To be precise, the best prices I've tracked down for Perfect Order (the upcoming set that launches in just a few days) have been at Miniature Market, and it's not even close. While we're still battling cost hikes here, it's less wince-inducing than I've seen elsewhere. In much the same way, Walmart has listed the Perfect Order Booster Box for $214.99 - a far cry from the near-$250 asking price at Amazon. Which is apparently a "discount," by the way. (It really isn't.)

Pokemon Perfect Order Booster Box - 36 Packs: $214.99 at Walmart

This is by far the best price I've found today on this box set of 36 booster packs. While it's from a third-party seller (so take that into consideration before hitting checkout), the vast majority of reviews for them are five and four stars.

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Pokemon Perfect Order Booster Box - 36 Packs: $219.99 at Miniature Market

Although it's slightly more than Walmart's offer, I trust this reliable indie retailer - it's never let me down, particularly not where Pokemon cards are concerned. If you're a bit leery of the third-party seller at Walmart, I'd go for this offer instead.

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I spend a lot of time each week tracking Pokemon card stock and run a guide on where to buy Pokemon Perfect Order, so I'm confident that you won't find a better price any time soon. Does the fact that everything's so wildly overpriced right now suck? Absolutely. It's a rough situation thanks to a combo of demand and unscrupulous resellers scooping up as much stock as they can to flog at a far higher cost (they're the worst). However, that doesn't mean you have to pay those rates. With a bit of searching, it's possible to uncover better prices like the ones above.

It may be something to get used to, because I suspect the situation is going to stay this way for a while. Chaos Rising is on the way in a couple of months, and stock for that is already selling like wildfire when it does appear. (That's why I'm keeping a close eye on it in our guide on where to buy Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising.) Even though the Pokemon Company is acquiring a trading card game distributor in the US, it'll be a hot minute before things start improving. Keep your fingers and toes crossed, everyone.

• See all Pokemon card deals at Amazon

For recommendations on what you should play next, don't miss the best board games. If you're in the mood for more Poke-goodies, on the other hand, be sure to check out the best Pokemon merch.