Best trade-in value.
Economics forum
Posted on March 12, 2014, 10:24 a.m. by Didgeridooda
Does anyone trade in to stores? If so which store gives the best value that you have found?
Servo_Token says... #3
Back when it was the next big thing, I sold a Thundermaw Hellkite to a store for like $40. It was retailing around $50 at the time, and I got it for free, so... profit?
March 12, 2014 11:09 a.m.
The counter to that CommanderOfBolas is not every one has the time and energy available to do all that, from listing to mailing (in the case of individual cards) to max the value out of it. Selling to stores is an ease factor, sure you lose some value, but the convenience makes up for it.
March 12, 2014 11:12 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
My advice, from trader to trader, is not to do it except in special circumstances. And only trade in, never sell. Trade-ins get some extra value. If you're looking to sell, sell to individual players.
Trading in to a store is like selling something on Pawn Stars. The store has to make a profit, so the most they can give you is really not much at all. Stores generally buy at 40-60% of secondary market retail value. That isn't much when you consider that you could find individual buyers who pay more than that.
The only time I trade in is when I'm selling my random value bulk (stuff that I'll never trade because it's casual or not competitively playable, yet stuff that's worth money) for staples or other value. I turned a binder full of bulk+ into a signed Japanese Mana Vault , a Sensei's Divining Top , a signed Mox Diamond , and other goodies.
March 12, 2014 11:12 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #6
I understand economics, and general ideas of running a business like that. I have just come to the conclusion that I will not be able to trade them because my wants are rather specific. Card kingdom offers 84 dollars trade in on a 100 dollar card. That seemed very high for trade in, and was just wondering what other options were out there. Or if they are more of an anomaly. I tried to see how much SCG offers, but no account there. (did not want to make one)
March 12, 2014 11:19 a.m.
trousseau11 says... #7
My local store gives you 80% if you try to sell the cards, but they give you 100% of the average price between ChannelFireball, and SCG if you trade in for store credit (The same way they price their sales).
Needless to say, I trade in quite often with them. It saves me time because if I have fifty rares I need to sell, I just trade them all in and get a couple of Dark Confidant , Liliana of the Veil , or a Tarmogoyf , or something and sell those couple instead.
My recommendation would be to find out what your store's policies are. Never, however, sell to buylists on ChannelFireball or SCG. Those don't give near enough.
March 12, 2014 11:19 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
@Didgeridooda: SCG is typically around 50%, but it varies.
March 12, 2014 11:20 a.m.
local stores give 100% for a lot of cards, one of the bigger stores is 100% for EDH foils they need (guy has like 17 edh decks), and the other is 100% for things they need such as standard staples or cards people are requesting
after that, normal trade credit varies, to 2/3 SCG value, down to SCG buylist depending on the store, with 1/2 tcg mid cash wise at another store
March 12, 2014 11:22 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #10
trousseau11 that is pretty crazy. Not sure that is the best way to conduct business, but that is awesome for you. Is it a little store, and do they have an online presence?
March 12, 2014 11:23 a.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #11
I need to go to some of your guys' stores. my store give 50% tcg mid for store credit, and 40% if you want cash
March 12, 2014 11:24 a.m.
Magiclover318 says... #12
I usually get better store credit because I do trade quite a bit to my lgs. I take a loss because supporting local business is better and they do start giving more credit for some of my cards, usually on mythic rares only but I happen to trade in a lot of them, and buy a lot of cards from the stores in person.
March 12, 2014 11:48 a.m.
trousseau11 says... #13
Didgeridooda They only do that for value rares. Once you start getting in the lower value or cards with no demand, sometimes they don't even want them.
And since they only offer full price on trade-ins, they aren't losing any money by trading straight across.
However, yes it is just a small local store. I don't think they have a website - but they have been in business here for a number of years and have a couple of locations around here.
March 12, 2014 12:22 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #14
I am just saying that trading 200 junk rares for a goyf is an insane trade for you,. If that is how they go about it, get all you can.
March 12, 2014 12:25 p.m.
My LGS gives store credit for trade ins and really doesnt mark down too bad in my opinion because they price off of SCG so they are selling/buying based on inflated prices (vs like ebay to TCG).
I traded in a handful (about 5 I think. All standard) of cards and got a good deal at about $80 in store credit that I'm now using to put towards EDH staples and things that will hold value like snapcasters and such.
I have seen some stores that rip people off as bad as like what stores that trade in video games do. You bought the game for $60 (or more) and 4 months later they only wanna give you $8 for it.
There is a store that I swear survives on the ignorance of new players by doing just that. Heard someone tell me they were only gonna give him $15 for a foil Snapcaster Mage . Being an experienced player he knew better but I wonder how many didn't?
March 12, 2014 12:38 p.m.
notamardybum says... #16
I would say that most stores would give you about 50% store credit. If you want cash, sell it on ebay
March 12, 2014 1:31 p.m.
bulk rares my LGS gives 10c cash or 20c store credit regardless of what rare it is when bulking, but i end up getting 25c cash which im pretty fond of
March 12, 2014 1:50 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #19
Never trade in, well not unless you have a mad store like some people in here. Sell on eBay, (but be careful with junk rares or cards that have flooded eBay, just because Desecration Demon is worth x dollars doesn't mean you'll get it, some staple rares, especially standard are really common listings on eBay, so there's a good chance not many people will bid on yours and hence less money for you.)
If you use buy it now on eBay, you can ensure none of your rares get sold for silly low prices, but then eBay charges you more, so i always auction my sales off, but only if i think it has a good chance of actually selling, and selling well.
March 12, 2014 1:52 p.m.
Channelfireball gives pretty decent value, I'd say between 55-75% of the card value. They also give you a 30% bonus if you take store credit over cash. I just got $32.50 store credit for a Brimaz when he was at $40, which is a little over 80%.
I trade around as much as possible, but sometimes you have a "valuable" card that no one in your region seems to want. Rather than waiting for the next giant tourney to try to trade with the one person out of 3000 that wants your random money rare, it's sometimes easier to just trade in to the shop. It's also good right after a release or at the beginning of modern season if you can identify cards that will drop in price after the initial hype dies down.
Also, CFB tends to have pretty good selection when looking to spend that store credit and for cheaper prices than SCG, but SCG has a little more stock normally.
I had a bad experience with an ebay sale, so while you might average higher returns and have overall success, the chances of a negative transaction are a lot less when dealing with an established retailer.
CommanderOfBolas says... #2
I never trade in to stores. they still have to sell their product for a profit, so you wont get much in value. you would be better off selling your cards on ebay. you will get more for your cards, and the buyer will get the cards for a bit cheaper than if they bought from a store.
March 12, 2014 11:03 a.m.