When your trading hits a wall....
Economics forum
Posted on July 30, 2015, 10:01 a.m. by ThisIsBullshit
What would you do?
I've recently started using pucatrade to pick up a bunch of cheap stuff for my decks, but that means that now I've found myself halfway finished with my Legacy deck (took a lot of luck and some awesome friends). However, the most expensive card in my trade binder is currently Lightning Bolt. Like, what the hell man.
What do? I'm too poor to buy the cards I need, but I don't know how to spruce up my binder/collection short of buying a bunch of shitty cheap cards and trying to trade up.
Epochalyptik says... #3
Playing Limited is a decent option, but it costs money over time.
I expanded my collection several times by buying other collections. If you know what to look for and how much to pay, this is a great way to add to what thou have without breaking the bank. You often get much more value than you pay for. In return, the other person gets to unload a large number of cards with little effort.
July 30, 2015 10:09 a.m.
Isn't this the goal of trading at the end? To not have a binder, but cards that you will use?
I put up my binder on pucatrade and I was surprised to know I have more 100k points in my binder alone. I sincerely want to get rid of all those useless cards for something better and I envy you that you have succeeded.
July 30, 2015 10:13 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #5
You could learn how to alter cards... that's how I did it. xD
You could also save up store credit/prizes an use it to buy either the other cards you need or things you can trade away.
July 30, 2015 10:15 a.m.
Souljacker says... #6
Rob a bank? Seriously though, if you don't have (valuable) cards and don't have money, it's gonna be hard because those are the 2 things people that are looking to deal away cards you want, want. Magic is a hobby that costs money, so I think you'll need to find ways to make some if you can't use your cards as trading material...
July 30, 2015 10:16 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #7
One other thing -- in order to keep a trade binder in working order, you occasionally have to trade a card you have for other things that you can trade away.
I don't endorse ripping people off, but a lot of the trade ideals that people use when approaching pack-to-power apply subtly in real life trading -- such as trading away cards that are in less demand for equal value of cards that are in high demand. Basically, do pack-to-power, but play the economy instead of the people you trade with.
July 30, 2015 10:28 a.m.
SpartanCEL says... #8
Same boat actually. Except my most expensive card is Coercive Portal
. (Nobody seems interested in it) then gidion coj who's like 4$.
Once all my cards come, my modern jund deck will almost be complete, (need the goyfs and a few lands) so I'm thrilled. I traded about 160$ on puca and I'm receiving the bulk of the deck
Once I get all my cards I want to start a thread about my experience so far. Trading foil cards (and normal) during prerelease is what I'm gona do the most now.
Sword of the Animist for 2499 and Demonic Pact for 1199 btw:p
July 30, 2015 10:43 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
I'm approaching the same situation. I just traded away my last "expensive" piece last night (Leyline of Sanctity, I think it was well worth it). I've been trying to clear out my "bulk binder" by finding casual players, collectors, cube-builders, or anyone who loves their bulk. These players often have a trade binder that they'll trade anything from as long as the prices somewhat match up.
You could also play limited to expand your collection. A lot of people leave their draft bulk behind, so one of the guys I know uses these piles to assemble a playset of every set. Sometimes you get lucky too, just last night my pod pulled a Jace, Nissa, and Liliana (yay this one was mine).
July 30, 2015 10:45 a.m.
HolyFalcon says... #10
OH MY GOSH THOSE ARE THE CHRISTMAS ALTERS...
I NEED those. So beautiful.
July 30, 2015 10:52 a.m.
There was a time when commander players seemed to be just "trying out everything" and I did a bit of trading of cheap stuff for cheap stuff. That has slowed a bit and it could be because, like me, many newer commander players have "settled" on what works among older cards and are more up for trying out some new ones.
I'm thinking .... tokens ... proxies ... and wishing I had gone with even more of a focus on foils than what I did.
July 30, 2015 10:52 a.m.
HolyFalcon says... #12
I had a bunch of commander staples (SFM, swords) but I traded them for Tron pieces. Now I'm trading for modern Vampires.
Moral of the story: don't build modern decks, they eat up your trade binder :P
July 30, 2015 10:56 a.m.
UpsetYoMama says... #13
I spend way too much money on this game.
That being said, I agree with Epochalyptik on buying collections. It's a way to possible make a bit of money while keeping some cards, too. Then again, you need to have money to make money.
I also spec on cards somewhat. I usually at least break even, but this requires a good knowledge of the metagame, timing, and a little bit of gambling.
Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not. In the end it might even out. I bought a collection once for under $100 that probably had a value of close to $600-$700. I got an EDH deck for $40 that was worth about $400. But I've also whiffed a lot.
You can also borrow decks. I have a lot of modern decks, so friends sometimes borrow one to play with. I don't mind at all. Find that friend with resources :)
July 30, 2015 11:38 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #14
TheAnnihilator the only reason I've gotten this far is because I've worked my ass off trying to turn my bad cards into better ones lol.
Boza: yes, but I'm not done building decks yet. Like I said, I've got $1200 of a legacy deck that I have to pick up.
What do you guys recommend I watch for when trying to pick up collections for cheap?
July 30, 2015 12:36 p.m.
exactly what you said in your last sentence. "try to pick up collections for cheap"
i wont tell you about the christmas wish list stories about people pulling duals out of these collections, but you can get decent trade bait from them.
July 30, 2015 1:07 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #16
I generally look for collections from players who were around during important Modern sets and then ask for a list of the important cards as well as an estimate of the overall card count and composition (i.e. total card number, then common:uncommon:rare:mythic count).
Normally, I price everything out according to various buylists and then negotiate from there. Generally, you want to spend about 60% or less of the total cash value of the collection, but the number could go up depending on the quality and size of the purchase.
July 30, 2015 1:45 p.m.
Play the decks you built and win tournaments open packs get cards...thats what I do.
July 30, 2015 2:01 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #18
My LGS doesn't really do tourneys, unfortunately.
July 30, 2015 2:51 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #20
That's like asking any Commander player why they play Magic
Because it's fun, and once I get a steady paycheck then I can travel farther for tourneys.
July 30, 2015 3:14 p.m.
Ok youre right I really meant to say why are you build a competitve and expensive deck. By saying that that kind of eliminates the whole commander thing because commander is not a common competitive format at fnms and such. I can understand that its fun but if youre not playing the deck its not exactly fun unless of course you have a bunch of friends to play with but even then are you really getting your moneys worth? Totally opinionated no wrong answer but something to think about. I personally am not building a legacy deck because I dont have any competitve scene where I live and only playing with one or two friends with the same deck over and over isnt worth the price to me.
July 30, 2015 3:20 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #22
Once (if) I finish my Legacy deck I'll be in college and have a bit more freedom to go to GPs and such where I can actually play my decks.
But I digress.
Is eBay a good place to look for collections? Most of the ones I've found have a shit ton of commons and few, if any, rares.
July 30, 2015 10:09 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #23
eBay is a mixed bag for all purchases. Same with craigslist (which is also exponentially more dangerous because people get robbed or kidnapped over craigslist meets).
The collections I've bought have been arranged through friends, this site, or other contacts.
July 30, 2015 10:12 p.m.
You could do what I do: Offer to sort people's collections if they'll let you pull out and keep some of the cards (ask them to approve your choices, obviously). There's a lot of stuff in large collections that people don't really want, especially if they don't play the formats those cards are useful in. Why do you think I have 10 Chromatic Stars and 11 Lava Spikes in my binder?
July 30, 2015 11:22 p.m.
@ Epochalyptik Craigslist is better if you're near a large city and can meet in public places.
July 30, 2015 11:25 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #26
Nobody around here has a collection big enough to warrant that
July 30, 2015 11:30 p.m.
Find some casual / rich players who have gotten bored with the game. My friend and I got gifted like 30k cards. That's really a matter of luck though.
Just let people know you play Magic once you're in college. You be surprised how many people you meet who play / used to play and now aren't that into it. And if you mention you play Magic enough you'll eventually get someone who goes, "Yeah, I used to play that, but I blah, blah, blah..." and then you just have to pounce on them and convince them they no longer need their cards. (Figuratively of course, don't actually pounce on them.)
Anyway, what kind college are you going to? State? Private? ...Other?
July 30, 2015 11:47 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #28
U of Minnesota, hopefully. So I'm sure I'll run into people.
July 30, 2015 11:49 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #29
So, ebay is loaded with mtg "collections" aka, lots of commons and uncommons -- so lolno. And then my area on craigslist is inundated with "will buy mtg collections" ads, and then a few nothings. So I guess I'm back to savvy trading and occasionally peeking in to thrift stores...
Bye magical christmasland mtg collection with ABUR duals... I never knew ye.
Epochalyptik says... #2
This thread was moved to a more appropriate forum (auto-generated comment)
July 30, 2015 10:07 a.m.