I just paid $300 for one just in case the price continues to trend upward. We lined up at 4 AM this morning to try to get one for retail and didn't make it...pretty ridiculous. Decided it was worth it to get it and feel better about the experience rather than walking away bitter, or more bitter than we already are.
I collect planeswalkers but in all honesty I don't feel like paying 350 on this anymore. I really hope WOTC somehow makes it up for people in general as the vast majority had hopes of getting them from the Hasbro page and they couldn't even fulfill their 4 day quota.
This is my exact feelings right now. I'll just have 5 empty slots for now.
There's a point were a company gets to greedy, and self-serving, and exploitative, that it ends up poisoning its own well and can't recover.
I am sick of stuff like this. Collectable is one thing, but this is insane.
and yet magic players pay for it. they fork over hundreds of dollars for it. they admit it freely just a few posts before yours. change is not going to happen any time soon. its a disgusting culture.
They keep doing more and more things like this too, very frustrating and unnecessary. I like hot rare items but the obscurity of this one is kind of offensive...
I seriously hope the panel gets bombarded with questions about this set....assuming they take any questions after whats going on with this promo set. would love to hear what they say.
I don't mean to be confrontational, but is there really anything wrong about having promotional alternate artwork cards available at a special event? It's a special event and part of what makes it special is that there are unique experiences and take-aways to be had for those willing to make the trip.
It's not like you can't get reasonably priced legal versions of the cards to play with. You are not being denied an opportunity to the functionality of these cards in an affordable fashion; it's not like Wizards is forcing you to buy this. And you shouldn't look down on those who pay money for it or those willing to travel to the event and wait in line for however long for it or those who are flipping the items for a significant margin.
I'm sad that I can't get these cards for cheap too. But if I wanted it enough I would just pay however much it would cost to get them. But I don't want it enough. And if I was attending Comic Con I would be happy enough to know that someone cares enough to make a special product to sell there even if I can't get it; that the event is worthy of that effort, because it sure beats the alternative like PAX where there's NOTHING special to buy there that you can't get down the road. And I feel that most of you who claim to want it all so badly don't want it enough because you're not willing to pay for it.
It's there. On ebay. Go buy it. Don't be offended that someone is profiting off this immensely. All that matters if that you are happy with your purchase. Is your happiness in this regard worth $500? Your endorphins have a price tag.
it shows them that they can print exclusive cards and people will pay for them. it sets the precedent of well lets make a planeswalker even more powerful than jace the mindsculptor but make him only available at special events in limited quantities because people will pay for him.
it shows them that they can print exclusive cards and people will pay for them. it sets the precedent of well lets make a planeswalker even more powerful than jace the mindsculptor but make him only available at special events in limited quantities because people will pay for him.
and people WILL pay for him.
slippery slope my friends.
There's a vast difference between limited print special editions of already existing Planeswalkers and just making one up and only printing 500 units of it.
it shows them that they can print exclusive cards and people will pay for them. it sets the precedent of well lets make a planeswalker even more powerful than jace the mindsculptor but make him only available at special events in limited quantities because people will pay for him.
and people WILL pay for him.
slippery slope my friends.
Don't worry... they have already proved to themselves in the past this doesn't work (google Nalathni Dragon).
This is a special edition of something that ALREADY EXISTS special for the convention. Comics do this kind of stuff all the time. They don't need to find a better way to distribute, this is the intended distribution. It's ended to be an incredibly small print run for those at the special event to get "exclusive" access to. Just go to ebay and type in SDCC Exclusive and see how many other companies are doing the exact same thing. Hell, the hasbro booth does this for all their other lines so it only makes sense they do it for magic (and actually shows hasbro putting its faith in the brand). This isn't a slippery slope and the sky isn't falling. You didn't get the planeswalkers and you wanted some? I'm sorry. Next year go to SDCC. Or start hitting some big tourneys, maybe you can trade for one. I have no sympathy for this. This is what these special events are about.
They could've done this with basic lands. They could've done this with old-style frames instead of black-on-black. They could've done this with a fairly large print run with a low initial price so that more people would have a chance of ever seeing one of the things in person.
Instead, they did a limited run of cards with high intrinsic desirability in a variety of special treatment never before used on a Magic card, and they did it in such a ridiculously low print run that there's really no chance of the things gradually filtering out into the world at large.
As for why people get irked at this sort of thing, it's because the entire appeal of a collectible game is that anybody can tell themselves that they can get something really valuable if they're lucky or if they're savvy enough in trades. And, at the very worst, they'll be able to see some cool rare things every now and then. Things like this make that demonstrably untrue. People are going to keep these boxed up and hoarded, and by this time three years from now there won't be any point in opening the boxes because each 'walker will be outclassed by new hotness down the line. The net result? There's going to be fewer of these things actually "out in the wild" than most parts of Power 9. I'll likely never own a Black Lotus or even a Guru Land, but I've seen several of each out there... I have no such hope about seeing these things.
They'd have been better off either doing something else for the promo or finding some way to do the whole "black on black" a few times on more generally-available cards so that by the time they did it on 'walkers it would be old hat.
I don't mean to be confrontational, but is there really anything wrong about having promotional alternate artwork cards available at a special event? It's a special event and part of what makes it special is that there are unique experiences and take-aways to be had for those willing to make the trip.
It's not like you can't get reasonably priced legal versions of the cards to play with. You are not being denied an opportunity to the functionality of these cards in an affordable fashion; it's not like Wizards is forcing you to buy this. And you shouldn't look down on those who pay money for it or those willing to travel to the event and wait in line for however long for it or those who are flipping the items for a significant margin.
I'm sad that I can't get these cards for cheap too. But if I wanted it enough I would just pay however much it would cost to get them. But I don't want it enough. And if I was attending Comic Con I would be happy enough to know that someone cares enough to make a special product to sell there even if I can't get it; that the event is worthy of that effort, because it sure beats the alternative like PAX where there's NOTHING special to buy there that you can't get down the road. And I feel that most of you who claim to want it all so badly don't want it enough because you're not willing to pay for it.
It's there. On ebay. Go buy it. Don't be offended that someone is profiting off this immensely. All that matters if that you are happy with your purchase. Is your happiness in this regard worth $500? Your endorphins have a price tag.
I'm not getting mad over the whole ordeal but I am a bit dissapointed that I'll have to sell my kidney to keep my planeswalker collection up to date.
What baffles me though is the fact that wizards/hasbro so drastically underestimated the quantity and demand of these kits. They apparently either thought they'd have a ton or that convention goers wouldn't be very interested in them if they thought they'd have some to sell on the hasbro site. Another thing is I feel like this is something that should've been limited to 1 per person. I would have been so pissed off if I had stood in a line for hours, watched ten people in front of me walk away with the limit each and then be told that they are completely sold out.
It doesn't really make sense that they would produce these at such a low quantity. While the low availability will make them more coveted, it doesn't affect the money that wizards/hasbro gets. For each kit, they got $65 or whatever whereas the resellers are getting 200-300 in profit.
It seems like the important thing for these would have been to make sure that convention goers had a good experience even after waiting hours for the item but for them to be turned away like that just seems rotten.
I like promos and wierd rare cards, but the big difference here (or lately, rather) is access.
Normally when wizards release a rare product like FTV or something it's an equal oppurtunity release. Everybody CAN get in on it if they're quick enough, preorder, or show up to the LGS on day 1. They're rare, occasionally expensive, but for a brief period of time, everybody got the chance to get it.
This, Commanders Arsenal, and to a lesser extent, Modern Masters follow this wierd trend of erasing access... FOR NO REASON! Its not even a smart business move. It would be more profitable to create inventory to meet demand! So why they do it is beyond me.
Again special alternate fancy items are cool. but the approach on this means that only a VERY, VERY limited number of people had access to buy these and the vast majority of them are scalpers.
I like promos and wierd rare cards, but the big difference here (or lately, rather) is access.
Normally when wizards release a rare product like FTV or something it's an equal oppurtunity release. Everybody CAN get in on it if they're quick enough, preorder, or show up to the LGS on day 1. They're rare, occasionally expensive, but for a brief period of time, everybody got the chance to get it.
This, Commanders Arsenal, and to a lesser extent, Modern Masters follow this wierd trend of erasing access... FOR NO REASON! Its not even a smart business move. It would be more profitable to create inventory to meet demand! So why they do it is beyond me.
Again special alternate fancy items are cool. but the approach on this means that only a VERY, VERY limited number of people had access to buy these and the vast majority of them are scalpers.
It's an economic law called "Artificial Demand". You limit the amount of something in the market, thereby vastly increasing its value.
Artificial Demand helps out those with the means and opportunity to acquire the product. Like CA, this product was made solely for Speculators and Scalpers.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Fitting into some kind of economic law or theory, or being transparently targeted at sleezy people does not make it any more likable, and furthermore, is only helping out people who probably don't need to be helped out.
Like CA, this product was made solely for Speculators and Scalpers.
And that's a large chunk of the problem. Speculators and scalpers don't need special products made for them. They get a product made for them every time there's a chase rare.
And that's a large chunk of the problem. Speculators and scalpers don't need special products made for them. They get a product made for them every time there's a chase rare.
You think people who speculate on Magic cards (mainly LGSs) make so much money that they don't need help? You are wildly misguided if you believe that.
You think people who speculate on Magic cards (mainly LGSs) make so much money that they don't need help? You are wildly misguided if you believe that.
LGSes aren't the ones picking up masses of these promo cards at SDCC. It's a customer-facing promotion. LGSes get their help in the form of a massively popular card game that guarantees a playerbase, fresh injections of new products to sell, and the chase rares I already mentioned. That, in addition to things like From the Vault. And while LGSes can always use more help, customer-facing promotions like this are aimed at individual speculators. And I have zero sympathy for an individual speculator who is in need of financial help and yet can afford plane tickets, hotel room, time off from work, and a four-day pass to SDCC.
Don't worry... they have already proved to themselves in the past this doesn't work (google Nalathni Dragon).
This is a special edition of something that ALREADY EXISTS special for the convention. Comics do this kind of stuff all the time. They don't need to find a better way to distribute, this is the intended distribution. It's ended to be an incredibly small print run for those at the special event to get "exclusive" access to. Just go to ebay and type in SDCC Exclusive and see how many other companies are doing the exact same thing. Hell, the hasbro booth does this for all their other lines so it only makes sense they do it for magic (and actually shows hasbro putting its faith in the brand). This isn't a slippery slope and the sky isn't falling. You didn't get the planeswalkers and you wanted some? I'm sorry. Next year go to SDCC. Or start hitting some big tourneys, maybe you can trade for one. I have no sympathy for this. This is what these special events are about.
Really? Go to the convention that is sold out months in advance, on the other side of the country (for some), very expensive to attend, and is tough to schedule around for most people's jobs, and even then you still likely won't get whatever exclusive is offered that year? Uh huh. Right. Same deal for the trading at large tournaments idea.
damn... good thing I didn't go today
This is my exact feelings right now. I'll just have 5 empty slots for now.
I am sick of stuff like this. Collectable is one thing, but this is insane.
How To Keep Your FOIL Cards From Curling: http://youtu.be/QTmubrS8VnI
The Best Deck Boxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwgLph_Pjk
The Best Binders: http://youtu.be/H5IauASYWjk
and yet magic players pay for it. they fork over hundreds of dollars for it. they admit it freely just a few posts before yours. change is not going to happen any time soon. its a disgusting culture.
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
It's not like you can't get reasonably priced legal versions of the cards to play with. You are not being denied an opportunity to the functionality of these cards in an affordable fashion; it's not like Wizards is forcing you to buy this. And you shouldn't look down on those who pay money for it or those willing to travel to the event and wait in line for however long for it or those who are flipping the items for a significant margin.
I'm sad that I can't get these cards for cheap too. But if I wanted it enough I would just pay however much it would cost to get them. But I don't want it enough. And if I was attending Comic Con I would be happy enough to know that someone cares enough to make a special product to sell there even if I can't get it; that the event is worthy of that effort, because it sure beats the alternative like PAX where there's NOTHING special to buy there that you can't get down the road. And I feel that most of you who claim to want it all so badly don't want it enough because you're not willing to pay for it.
It's there. On ebay. Go buy it. Don't be offended that someone is profiting off this immensely. All that matters if that you are happy with your purchase. Is your happiness in this regard worth $500? Your endorphins have a price tag.
WotC, please hire me already.
and people WILL pay for him.
slippery slope my friends.
agreed but i still want to hear the panelists get bombarded with questions about this:p
edit: wizards has to figure a better way of distributing these types of sets.
There's a vast difference between limited print special editions of already existing Planeswalkers and just making one up and only printing 500 units of it.
Don't worry... they have already proved to themselves in the past this doesn't work (google Nalathni Dragon).
This is a special edition of something that ALREADY EXISTS special for the convention. Comics do this kind of stuff all the time. They don't need to find a better way to distribute, this is the intended distribution. It's ended to be an incredibly small print run for those at the special event to get "exclusive" access to. Just go to ebay and type in SDCC Exclusive and see how many other companies are doing the exact same thing. Hell, the hasbro booth does this for all their other lines so it only makes sense they do it for magic (and actually shows hasbro putting its faith in the brand). This isn't a slippery slope and the sky isn't falling. You didn't get the planeswalkers and you wanted some? I'm sorry. Next year go to SDCC. Or start hitting some big tourneys, maybe you can trade for one. I have no sympathy for this. This is what these special events are about.
Sets completed in the "Vale" Block
Vale: The Shadowlands
More sets to come
My Have/Want List
Instead, they did a limited run of cards with high intrinsic desirability in a variety of special treatment never before used on a Magic card, and they did it in such a ridiculously low print run that there's really no chance of the things gradually filtering out into the world at large.
As for why people get irked at this sort of thing, it's because the entire appeal of a collectible game is that anybody can tell themselves that they can get something really valuable if they're lucky or if they're savvy enough in trades. And, at the very worst, they'll be able to see some cool rare things every now and then. Things like this make that demonstrably untrue. People are going to keep these boxed up and hoarded, and by this time three years from now there won't be any point in opening the boxes because each 'walker will be outclassed by new hotness down the line. The net result? There's going to be fewer of these things actually "out in the wild" than most parts of Power 9. I'll likely never own a Black Lotus or even a Guru Land, but I've seen several of each out there... I have no such hope about seeing these things.
They'd have been better off either doing something else for the promo or finding some way to do the whole "black on black" a few times on more generally-available cards so that by the time they did it on 'walkers it would be old hat.
I'm not getting mad over the whole ordeal but I am a bit dissapointed that I'll have to sell my kidney to keep my planeswalker collection up to date.
What baffles me though is the fact that wizards/hasbro so drastically underestimated the quantity and demand of these kits. They apparently either thought they'd have a ton or that convention goers wouldn't be very interested in them if they thought they'd have some to sell on the hasbro site. Another thing is I feel like this is something that should've been limited to 1 per person. I would have been so pissed off if I had stood in a line for hours, watched ten people in front of me walk away with the limit each and then be told that they are completely sold out.
It doesn't really make sense that they would produce these at such a low quantity. While the low availability will make them more coveted, it doesn't affect the money that wizards/hasbro gets. For each kit, they got $65 or whatever whereas the resellers are getting 200-300 in profit.
It seems like the important thing for these would have been to make sure that convention goers had a good experience even after waiting hours for the item but for them to be turned away like that just seems rotten.
Normally when wizards release a rare product like FTV or something it's an equal oppurtunity release. Everybody CAN get in on it if they're quick enough, preorder, or show up to the LGS on day 1. They're rare, occasionally expensive, but for a brief period of time, everybody got the chance to get it.
This, Commanders Arsenal, and to a lesser extent, Modern Masters follow this wierd trend of erasing access... FOR NO REASON! Its not even a smart business move. It would be more profitable to create inventory to meet demand! So why they do it is beyond me.
Again special alternate fancy items are cool. but the approach on this means that only a VERY, VERY limited number of people had access to buy these and the vast majority of them are scalpers.
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
It's an economic law called "Artificial Demand". You limit the amount of something in the market, thereby vastly increasing its value.
Artificial Demand helps out those with the means and opportunity to acquire the product. Like CA, this product was made solely for Speculators and Scalpers.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
And that's a large chunk of the problem. Speculators and scalpers don't need special products made for them. They get a product made for them every time there's a chase rare.
You think people who speculate on Magic cards (mainly LGSs) make so much money that they don't need help? You are wildly misguided if you believe that.
Check out http://www.mtgbrodeals.com/author/john-murphy/ for my EDH articles!
LGSes aren't the ones picking up masses of these promo cards at SDCC. It's a customer-facing promotion. LGSes get their help in the form of a massively popular card game that guarantees a playerbase, fresh injections of new products to sell, and the chase rares I already mentioned. That, in addition to things like From the Vault. And while LGSes can always use more help, customer-facing promotions like this are aimed at individual speculators. And I have zero sympathy for an individual speculator who is in need of financial help and yet can afford plane tickets, hotel room, time off from work, and a four-day pass to SDCC.
Who am I kidding, of course I will.
Surprised they didn't see this coming.
Really? Go to the convention that is sold out months in advance, on the other side of the country (for some), very expensive to attend, and is tough to schedule around for most people's jobs, and even then you still likely won't get whatever exclusive is offered that year? Uh huh. Right. Same deal for the trading at large tournaments idea.
Thanks goes to SpiderBoy4 for this banner. Check out the following thread link for more: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=91142