There's an interesting story from a ptq I was at a while back. I needed 4 Distress for the SB of a deck I was playing (standard). None of the players I talked to had it so I decided to go to one of the vendors. The card was only about 10c at the time. The vendors had it marked up to $1. I tried talking them down to 50c at least but they wouldn't budge. Finally I decided I would just go ahead and buy it since I needed it. As I was about to pay another player came up behind me and said: "wait you're not actually going to pay $4 for distress are you? Here take mine". He pulled out 4 distress and just gave it to me and wished me good luck. The look on the vendor's face was priceless.
As a general rule: if the shopkeep isn't into haggling, it tends to be bad deals.
There's an interesting story from a ptq I was at a while back. I needed 4 Distress for the SB of a deck I was playing (standard). None of the players I talked to had it so I decided to go to one of the vendors. The card was only about 10c at the time. The vendors had it marked up to $1. I tried talking them down to 50c at least but they wouldn't budge. Finally I decided I would just go ahead and buy it since I needed it. As I was about to pay another player came up behind me and said: "wait you're not actually going to pay $4 for distress are you? Here take mine". He pulled out 4 distress and just gave it to me and wished me good luck. The look on the vendor's face was priceless.
With so many accusations in that post, one thing in particular bothers me. If all of this is true, do you think that some of the stores were working with some of the thieves plaguing every larger event?
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I see what I see... and what I see is a division within WOTC. WOTC works with classified information, starting with R&D and going all the way of the production process (printing, translation). The information that flows through these process channels is probably meant to stay in there.
We also know that WOTC give information to people outside their production process. The godbooks are an example of this. Why is wizards so interested in the secondary market? Maybe wizards gets a good chunk of its revenue from selling boxes at special prizes to the big singles stores, and these stores need to know in advance of what is coming so they can plan their investments.
I don't think that is wrong, btw. I just think that is necessary. I just hope they have the necessary controls in place to catch the ones that spread these leaks. I really think they are hurting the company.
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"Up until now, I haven't followed anyone on twitter. The first tendrils of corruption can now be plucked away if these people step forward.
If any of these people would like to talk to WOTC about what they've seen, we can get closer to ending corrupt vendors.
For what it's worth, all of these people are innocent. But they all have witnessed what has gone on amongst mutliple vendors.
I ask that each person I follow contact WOTC and help pinpoint the 2-3 corrupt vendors out there."
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Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!
So is he saying MTGPrice is part of the group that had access to leaks, and got backstabbed by another vendor who had the leaks?
Most vendors take each other to strip clubs to try and get each other drunk enough to make bad deals. One even fired their buyers at a club
What the **** am I reading?
Are you doubting that kind of thing happens just because we're talking about a hobby involving elves and dragons and knights? That it somehow couldn't happen in our pure little game?
Oh, you sweet summer child.
If there is a profit to be made, somebody will be taking somebody else to some place with food/drinks. There may be some standards on the part of one of the groups as to whether or not there are nekkid ladies present, but if that's what it takes, it will happen.
I am not surprised by one iota of any of this. I'm only surprised it hasn't blown up in their faces sooner.
So is he saying MTGPrice is part of the group that had access to leaks, and got backstabbed by another vendor who had the leaks?
Most vendors take each other to strip clubs to try and get each other drunk enough to make bad deals. One even fired their buyers at a club
What the **** am I reading?
That's what I thought. It sounds more like someone who wants to stirr some things up instead of having something constructive to say. It's hard to take this seriously.
But then someone re-tweeted that and said they'd seen it happen.
That said, I'm having a hard time picking out a coherent line of thought in these tweets.
For example, why say this?
Most vendors bring 30-60k to the GP floor each day..... in a box. Security is the least of their concerns.
It has nothing to do with corruption. It just puts people in danger of being robbed.
And everything this morning sounds more like the ravings of a conspiratorial loon than a leaker:
Up until now, I haven't followed anyone on twitter. The first tendrils of corruption can now be plucked away if these people step forward.
...
If any of these people would like to talk to WOTC about what they've seen, we can get closer to ending corrupt vendors.
...
For what it's worth, all of these people are innocent. But they all have witnessed what has gone on amongst mutliple vendors.
...
I ask that each person I follow contact WOTC and help pinpoint the 2-3 corrupt vendors out there.
This "no reserved list legacy" rumour is getting out of control, too. Why would WotC hurt existing Legacy and Modern players so badly by making a large amount of card value in each format worthless? What kind of message would it send to players if they gave up on modern after five years? Why would you expect this new format to last longer?
This, so much this. It`s not even a rumor, it`s baseless speculation that has gotten out of hand. Dude on Goldfish wrote a "what if" article based on nothing but hypotheticals, like a thought experiment, MaRo didn`t deny on his blog that a new constructed format could ever possibly appear in the history of the game, and the new Masters set isn`t specific to an existing format… and voila, suddenly everyone seems sure that this new format is just around the corner. It`s all air, based on nothing at all.
It's not a rumor or speculation. It's brainstorming what to do when Legacy as-is inevitably dies. Nobody's saying WotC is going to do this anytime soon; people are just debating the merits of the idea. I don't see what the problem with that is.
This is the current list of people he is following:
Saffron Olive
@SaffronOlive
Writer, Podcaster and Youtuber forhttp://www.mtggoldfish.com . Lover of janky combos, budget decks and Stasis locks
ChannelFireball
@ChannelFireball
The #1 Source for Magic Strategy on the Internet
Ben Bleiweiss
@StarcityBen
I'm the General Manager ofhttp://StarCityGames.com !
TomoharuSaito
@TomoharuSaito
Heiko S
@MtgHeiko
Paul Feudo
@plfeudo
generally foul mouthed
Kyle Lopez
@itsyourboyLOPE
#MTG aficionado. Owner, Æther Games
Thomas Dodd
@Amistod
Ecommerce, Marketing, Dj, Ambient/Experimental, Social Media, Owner of @card_advantage
Pastimes
@pastimesonline
The Midwest's #1 site for gaming and events - plus a huge online inventory of Magic!
Ryan Bushard
@CryppleCommand
Deal with Magic the gathering on a trading/buying/selling basis. I also write weekly for http://Gatheringmagic.com , cohost of Brainstorm Brewery
If what is being said about big vendors is true, it doesn't surprise me. Look at the price jump of seedborn muse after prophet of kruphix was banned in edh, it basically doubled in price on that day. And that is an example where they can't really prepare for it as there is no 'heads up' from the rules committee. Just a case of vendors in the business of ripping off their customers. Business must be good!
I always wondered how people managed to overlook the fact that former WotC Employe Ben Bleiweiss now works for SCG as a manager [edited - thanks EvincarCrovax]. It's like you're going from working at the Federal Reserve to being a president at a large bank. It's super shady and to think that he has no communications with former coworkers is just naive.
This is pretty exciting. Don't even need a TV to have access to drama!
Who knew our own little old card game had such a seedy underbelly. The funny thing is if this was a wall street thing FBI would be all over it but it's MTG so who cares.
@ Sonnerad Ben Bleiwiess isn't just a writer for SCG, he is the manager! He is the #2 guy in the company. He doesn't just work for SCG he IS SCG.
The one that always sticks out to me was SCG buying up lots of zendikar fetches at an event, then mysteriously the following week Wizards announced modern to be the new eternal format......
This stuff has got to stop, these limited print run sets already rake people over the coals or totally alienate huge chunks of the playerbase due to wizard's fear of backlash from collectors and vendors alike, rather than printing things for the player it feels more like they are printing things for the seller now.
Combine that with the shady business of "insider trading" esque collusion and deals between vendors and possibly staff at WOTC themselves and I feel it's time this game purged the cancer from it's system.
This is actually a great point and that bit on "they are printing things for the seller now" is spot on.
He posted that someone found out who leak user on reddit was, and got a retweet saying "Hi Travis"... makes me wonder what is happening, o man this drama, i will bring popcorn to work tomorrow so i can watch it.
I want to watch some vendors suffer. For people who rely on us so heavily to make a living, they sure as hell don't appreciate us more than the average fly.
WOTC has officially responded to some of my leaked screenshots. We're going to nail at least 1 of these vendors.
...
30+screenshots were sent out to multiple parties last night confirming their guilt. After talking w/ multiple WOTC ppl, we are working on it
...
These screenshots involve multiple vendors confirming seeing cards in MM2015 months before release, as well as Eternal Masters.
WOTC has officially responded to some of my leaked screenshots. We're going to nail at least 1 of these vendors.
...
30+screenshots were sent out to multiple parties last night confirming their guilt. After talking w/ multiple WOTC ppl, we are working on it
...
These screenshots involve multiple vendors confirming seeing cards in MM2015 months before release, as well as Eternal Masters.
Are these pics available somewhere?
"I obviously will not be releasing screenshots yet, as that implicates who I am/ who I shared them with. Gotta give WOTC time
US and International Laws will tend to disagree with you.
https://www.sec.gov/answers/insider.htm
As a general rule: if the shopkeep isn't into haggling, it tends to be bad deals.
RETIRED - GAME SUCKS
Modern:
UUUMerfolksUUU
RGoblinsR
Ad Nauseam
BR 8 Racks RB
WUB Mill BUW
Legacy:
XOps! All splels! X
What I think of MaRo
Oh man, you are my HERO.
Fully-powered 600-Card "Dream Cube" https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/dreamcube
450-Card "Artificer's Cube" https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/artificer
Cubing in Indianapolis...send me a PM!!
We also know that WOTC give information to people outside their production process. The godbooks are an example of this. Why is wizards so interested in the secondary market? Maybe wizards gets a good chunk of its revenue from selling boxes at special prizes to the big singles stores, and these stores need to know in advance of what is coming so they can plan their investments.
I don't think that is wrong, btw. I just think that is necessary. I just hope they have the necessary controls in place to catch the ones that spread these leaks. I really think they are hurting the company.
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!
"Up until now, I haven't followed anyone on twitter. The first tendrils of corruption can now be plucked away if these people step forward.
If any of these people would like to talk to WOTC about what they've seen, we can get closer to ending corrupt vendors.
For what it's worth, all of these people are innocent. But they all have witnessed what has gone on amongst mutliple vendors.
I ask that each person I follow contact WOTC and help pinpoint the 2-3 corrupt vendors out there."
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!
Hold on to your butts!
Are you doubting that kind of thing happens just because we're talking about a hobby involving elves and dragons and knights? That it somehow couldn't happen in our pure little game?
Oh, you sweet summer child.
If there is a profit to be made, somebody will be taking somebody else to some place with food/drinks. There may be some standards on the part of one of the groups as to whether or not there are nekkid ladies present, but if that's what it takes, it will happen.
I am not surprised by one iota of any of this. I'm only surprised it hasn't blown up in their faces sooner.
But then someone re-tweeted that and said they'd seen it happen.
That said, I'm having a hard time picking out a coherent line of thought in these tweets.
For example, why say this?
It has nothing to do with corruption. It just puts people in danger of being robbed.
And everything this morning sounds more like the ravings of a conspiratorial loon than a leaker:
It's not a rumor or speculation. It's brainstorming what to do when Legacy as-is inevitably dies. Nobody's saying WotC is going to do this anytime soon; people are just debating the merits of the idea. I don't see what the problem with that is.
Saffron Olive
@SaffronOlive
Writer, Podcaster and Youtuber forhttp://www.mtggoldfish.com . Lover of janky combos, budget decks and Stasis locks
ChannelFireball
@ChannelFireball
The #1 Source for Magic Strategy on the Internet
Ben Bleiweiss
@StarcityBen
I'm the General Manager ofhttp://StarCityGames.com !
TomoharuSaito
@TomoharuSaito
Heiko S
@MtgHeiko
Paul Feudo
@plfeudo
generally foul mouthed
Kyle Lopez
@itsyourboyLOPE
#MTG aficionado. Owner, Æther Games
Thomas Dodd
@Amistod
Ecommerce, Marketing, Dj, Ambient/Experimental, Social Media, Owner of @card_advantage
Pastimes
@pastimesonline
The Midwest's #1 site for gaming and events - plus a huge online inventory of Magic!
Ryan Bushard
@CryppleCommand
Deal with Magic the gathering on a trading/buying/selling basis. I also write weekly for http://Gatheringmagic.com , cohost of Brainstorm Brewery
Derek Madlem
@GoingMadlem
#Magic Player, #mtgfinance ethicist, #Vorthos loremaster, freelance critic of everything #Destiny addict
Nick Becvar
@Becvar
#MTGFinance aficionado. Snare drummer in the #Pacers High Octane Drumline.
Xemit
@XemitSellsMagic
Writer for MTGPrice. College Student. Vendor. I run MTG in Columbia
My understanding is that he isn't accusing these sellers and pro-players, he is just prompting them to come forward isn't he?
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!
Who knew our own little old card game had such a seedy underbelly. The funny thing is if this was a wall street thing FBI would be all over it but it's MTG so who cares.
@ Sonnerad Ben Bleiwiess isn't just a writer for SCG, he is the manager! He is the #2 guy in the company. He doesn't just work for SCG he IS SCG.
none
Modern
UBG B/U/G control
BBB MBC
WUR Control
WWW Prison
RRR Goblins
Legacy
BBB Pox
UBG B/U/G Control
UWU StoneBlade
UW Miracle Control
RETIRED - GAME SUCKS
Modern:
UUUMerfolksUUU
RGoblinsR
Ad Nauseam
BR 8 Racks RB
WUB Mill BUW
Legacy:
XOps! All splels! X
What I think of MaRo
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!
Spirits
Are these pics available somewhere?
"I obviously will not be releasing screenshots yet, as that implicates who I am/ who I shared them with. Gotta give WOTC time
2:20pm - 16 Feb 16"
Breathe out.
Let your passion give you strength for the task at hand... And let the bashing begin!