Alters
Economics forum
Posted on Aug. 16, 2015, 11:22 a.m. by RADiO
Recently I started doing alters, and I was wondering what price you guys thought these could go for. Thanks!
Link: http://imgur.com/a/GDpvh
Epochalyptik says... #3
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August 16, 2015 11:36 a.m.
NoPantsParade says... #4
$20 to $30 is the normal price for alters. But these are very good.
August 16, 2015 11:49 a.m.
Thanks NoPantsParade! I will most likely try to trade or sell these at my lgs, so do you think I could ask for about $25 for each?
August 16, 2015 11:59 a.m.
TurboFagoot says... #6
I don't think so at all. Even if it's altered, it's still a Swan Song, or a Bonescythe Sliver.
Personally, when trading or valuing an alter, I take the base price of the card, and knock off a few dollars because the conditioned is automatically lessened due to the alter. These cards are now played.
If you ever take an altered card to a dealer you're going to get very little for it, so I value it accordingly.
August 16, 2015 12:08 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #7
At my shop, I take alters at 85% what I would normally give because there's like a 12% chance of me selling it within the year (for example, I buy Liliana of the Veil at $63, i'd buy an alter at like $45-55 depending on quality). They're very hard to move.
However, personally (so for alters that I want that someone just has in a binder already), I give either +15% of the card price or + $6, whichever is higher. Alters are not worth $20 in the general sense, unless they are commissioned. If you are just making these to make them, you will never sell it for $20-30. As the guy above me said, it's still just a swan song. If you want to make that kind of money, take commissions. The most i've ever traded for an alter is $5 for a pokeball Ponder.
August 16, 2015 12:15 p.m. Edited.
VampireArmy says... #8
I'm not sure $25 is the correct number. You might be able to tack on about 10-15 extra onto them. Also the process you used to alter them also comes into play. Are these guaranteed not to flake even with sleeved play?
August 16, 2015 12:17 p.m.
Vampire Army Yes, I put a matte finish on them so they don't flake or scratch. So it seems like everyone has a different idea about how to price alters so do you think a good strategy would be to ask the person I am trying to trade with what they are willing to give?
August 16, 2015 12:31 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #10
Have a number in mind for what you want for it (I'd say a cap of like $12 for the Swan Song or whatever), then haggle from there. They all come down to the individual piece.
August 16, 2015 12:32 p.m.
The problem is that some people value alters differently. Since game shops automatically consider them as heavy play or damaged and give little on a trade in, some players view it the same way because they tend to sell/trade to shops in order to get their cards. Some are really into the art and like what you did and can appreciate the work that went into it so they're willing to pay a lot more for an alter (how much extra depends on how much they like it). Others are like me and can appreciate what you've done, but rarely want to pay to much extra for a card that does exactly the same thing as a non altered one when you play it.
Your best bet, is to gauge people's interest first when trading away uncommissioned alters. Don't trade them away for less value than a regular art, the amount of effort and work you put in shows and that should help them hold at least that much value. People who collect alters are a small niche group to begin with so basically the problem with alters that aren't commissioned is your taking a small group of people and making it even smaller. They'll be a little harder to move because you need to find someone who not only wants these specific cards, but also wants the art you put on them. Once you find someone who is looking for these cards you'll should easily get more for them than normal value, you may need to haggle a little bit but anyone looking for an altered swan song (or just really into the art you did) will be willing to pay a little extra for it.
What you can do though is make a small portfolio showcasing these cards and some of your other artwork and start doing commissions. That way you charge a fee for your time/work, and don't have to get value for both the card and your work. People will be more likely to pay a premium for you to put what they want, on the card they want, than they will be to just pick up something they think is cool from your binder. For example, you might not be able to charge someone $10 for that altered Swan Song but you could charge them $10 to alter their Swan Song how they want it. Commissioning work is probably going to be your best bet, if you want to make a few dollars from your hobby.
August 16, 2015 1:33 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #12
Oh, wait, I misread the question. People typically charge $20 to $30 to do an alter. I didn't realize you were asking about these specifically as I was really tired and stuff. I'd probably add another $10 to the alter.
August 16, 2015 1:58 p.m.
Some people will pay $15 or more to do alter work. Most people who play with alters, do it to "pimp" the deck they are playing with. Most of these people play eternal formats. So commissioned work(where they say can you alter this card and I will give you this(insert money amount or trade amount here) is probrable be the safest bet. I would only alter lower value cards that see some play, if not being commissioned. This way you can have some good examples of your work without losing trade fodder, and you can practice alters this way. Basic lands are a good card to alter for this as a lot of people like to pimp their lands. And also, I would personally never value an alter for more than what I could get a foil for.
August 16, 2015 2:54 p.m.
Just stopped by to say that Future Sight is REALLY pretty. Good job.
August 16, 2015 3:15 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #15
Your best bet is to go out and ask people who do alters and see just how much they can get their alters for. I have an entire list of altered cards and links to their creator's pages on either their home site or on deviantart.
HolyFalcon says... #2
Pic for the lazy:
August 16, 2015 11:27 a.m.