If a store had set prices for NM cards but then had an option for Gem Mint that were only straight from the pack would you be willing to pay 5% more for those cards?
*Currently most sites put NM and Gem Mint cards together and list both as NM
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depends- on older stuff, yeah, id pay a bit of a premium. for new stuff- nope- odds are good i can get the newer stuff unplayed cheaper online than at most stores, although my local store does a good job of keeping the prices comparable to online. they are the exception, not the rule, though
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Yeah I only mean when you are buying online from a site that already has competitive pricing. This way you would know for sure that that card will be completely up to your expectations.
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Near mint/Pack fresh/ Gem mint are all the same grading. I wouldn't pay extra for gem mint, as there is nothing above what's already given. The grade you are looking for is the grading given to those cards that get stuck into hard plastic cases after grading that will never see the light of day because they are left inside dark, climate controlled spaces. For that, I would only pay extra, but I'm not that deep of a collector as most aren't. There is also an official company for that, but I can't remember their name. Someone, please help me here.
+1
Near mint/Pack fresh/ Gem mint are all the same grading. I wouldn't pay extra for gem mint, as there is nothing above what's already given. The grade you are looking for is the grading given to those cards that get stuck into hard plastic cases after grading that will never see the light of day because they are left inside dark, climate controlled spaces. For that, I would only pay extra, but I'm not that deep of a collector as most aren't. There is also an official company for that, but I can't remember their name. Someone, please help me here.
Yeah I guess it makes sense that typically people would only pay for that if it was for older cards.
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Yeah I only mean when you are buying online from a site that already has competitive pricing. This way you would know for sure that that card will be completely up to your expectations.
A smart buyer will first do a test purchase from a online retailer and review feedback where they can... if everything went well with that first purchase including expectations on a NM card/s there is a certain level of trust built between that store and buyer and chances are further purchases are made. As long as the customer service is up to the task to further make the customer happy if anything does go wrong with a purchase... online rep is everything...
I frequently do. I'll contact a seller (on ebay) prior to bidding/purchasing to verify condition. IMO, vendors are often way too lax with grading and "NM" typically gets much too wide a range for my taste. NM should be unplayed-a little handling wear is fine, but don't send me cards with scuffed up faces when I order NM. I've found that pack fresh cards will stay such as long as you keep them sleeved and handle them reasonably. It's something I tend to care way too much about, but it's kinda fun that way.
I frequently do. I'll contact a seller (on ebay) prior to bidding/purchasing to verify condition. IMO, vendors are often way too lax with grading and "NM" typically gets much too wide a range for my taste. NM should be unplayed-a little handling wear is fine, but don't send me cards with scuffed up faces when I order NM. I've found that pack fresh cards will stay such as long as you keep them sleeved and handle them reasonably. It's something I tend to care way too much about, but it's kinda fun that way.
That's the thing, allowing sellers and traders to say NM and giving you a SP condition card and you accepting it as NM, even if it is older, is falsehood of a claim and plain laziness to correct the problem and drift down a slippery slope. Regardless of its age, if I buy NM it better be NM. If its an older card, I will gladly buy a lower grade so that I know exactly what I am getting into beforehand and no expectations when I receive. Meaning if I'm buying a dual, I know most are dinged by now, so I will buy a SP one so I know its not perfect when I open my package and no disappointment is received.
With all but the oldest cards (ABU + sets through Legends), I really don't even care between Gem Mint and SP condition, let alone NM. I wouldn't pay extra over SP since I am a player and not really a collector; cards I pick up will be played and will probably be SP by the time I'm done with them anyhow.
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Heath, why would you open yourself up to a host of problems and complaints for an exta 5% on a few cards.
You would also have to tighten up your quality control. I have ordered a decent amount of cards from you but had problems with two cards. Maybe 0.25-0.5% of the cards I have ordered from you. This is at only the NM service level. Gem Mint customers are going to be on a whole other level of pickyness.
Heath, why would you open yourself up to a host of problems and complaints for an exta 5% on a few cards.
You would also have to tighten up your quality control. I have ordered a decent amount of cards from you but had problems with two cards. Maybe 0.25-0.5% of the cards I have ordered from you. This is at only the NM service level. Gem Mint customers are going to be on a whole other level of pickyness.
Yeah I guess you are right. I was just trying to think of a service we could add for people that only want gem mint and nothing less.
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That's the thing, allowing sellers and traders to say NM and giving you a SP condition card and you accepting it as NM, even if it is older, is falsehood of a claim and plain laziness to correct the problem and drift down a slippery slope. Regardless of its age, if I buy NM it better be NM. If its an older card, I will gladly buy a lower grade so that I know exactly what I am getting into beforehand and no expectations when I receive. Meaning if I'm buying a dual, I know most are dinged by now, so I will buy a SP one so I know its not perfect when I open my package and no disappointment is received.
I think the whole "what to do when a vendor doesn't honor stated conditions" is a separate discussion. Irrational or not, yes, I'd pay a 5% markup almost every time to guarantee pack fresh cards. A store that did this would get my business consistently so long as the regular prices and shipping were reasonable to begin with. That said, I'm probably in the minority on this, as I've found it to be a niche collector trait more than anything else.
With all but the oldest cards (ABU + sets through Legends), I really don't even care between Gem Mint and SP condition, let alone NM. I wouldn't pay extra over SP since I am a player and not really a collector; cards I pick up will be played and will probably be SP by the time I'm done with them anyhow.
This sums my feelings up too. For older cards it is very tough to find a NM version. Anything SP or better is acceptable. Those cards are hard to find in the first place and even if sleeved the card will have some slight wear being used for that long.
That said I agree far to many people say NM when it's actually the high end of SP. I've had to open eBay claims etc over this and it really stinks. I hate doing it but if they say NM it better be NM as I am paying more for it. I don't think it will be worth your time opening yourself up to that further wilmheath. I've been very happy with my orders from you so I'm sure you would handle it well... But only the most stringent people would order those gem mint cards and they are the most likely to complain (and they should if they pay an extra 5%)
No, I am mainly a player so NM- is good enough for me. I even don't usually mind VF+.
Now for a card that I was collecting, I would definitely be willing to pay a premium for a NM copy. Black Lotus, for example, I would definitely pay more for a NM copy.
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I'm with Karakas on this one. It is a niche market and collectors do tend to be rather picky, but when you are building a quality collection (maybe not gradable, but at least pack fresh) having access to more cards is good. I would support it. It would be a nice feature for those in the collectors market.
My question is, would you only focus on older sets, or all of them? Furthermore, are there enough cards out there to support a long term gem mint service, especially from older sets?
I wouldn't, and on older cards, most gem mint cards are probably already graded, and the premium on them is more than 5%. I think that it might even create a stigma to buyers, who will think that NM is no longer the best conditions cards. I expect nearly all standard NM cards to be pack fresh, so I'm not sure why I should pay 5% extra for the same cards I would get normally.
I wouldn't, and on older cards, most gem mint cards are probably already graded, and the premium on them is more than 5%. I think that it might even create a stigma to buyers, who will think that NM is no longer the best conditions cards. I expect nearly all standard NM cards to be pack fresh, so I'm not sure why I should pay 5% extra for the same cards I would get normally.
If you're able to consistently get those results (NM = pack fresh) from any online vendor, I'd be impressed and would definitely like to know who that is.
The gem mint cards are out there, you just have to be inquisitive and sometimes be a little patient.
If you're able to consistently get those results (NM = pack fresh) from any online vendor, I'd be impressed and would definitely like to know who that is.
The gem mint cards are out there, you just have to be inquisitive and sometimes be a little patient.
ChannelFireball and abugames has always been really good for me. Admittedly, it is mostly for Standard cards and no cards over $20, but they have always given me better condition than I expected.
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ChannelFireball and abugames has always been really good for me. Admittedly, it is mostly for Standard cards and no cards over $20, but they have always given me better condition than I expected.
Yeah, I've used ABU, CFB, and SCG plenty. They're all fine stores, but you don't consistently get pack fresh cards at NM. You're right that with Standard stuff your odds are probably better, but overall you can get anything from mint to EX and sometimes worse (in which case you should probably complain). I think it would be really cool if stores had a "gem mint" designation, but I would still expect the vast majority of quantities in stock to fall into their "NM" buckets. I think it would be unrealistic for a store to be able to do otherwise.
I would pay a slight premium for older "gem mint" cards but with that comes alot of scrutiny. I think the seller would cause more problems for themselves by offering them because most people will want a flawless card and even the slightest wear means you have to replace it. I think its a decent idea but there are too many problems that could arise should a dealer list Gem Mint separate from NM.
*Currently most sites put NM and Gem Mint cards together and list both as NM
I must have missed this part of your op. I should ask what is the difference between Gem Mint, Mint, and Near Mint?
To me NM and Mint are the same only the NM has been handled. I would accept maybe some very light scuffing and maybe one or two very small nicks but that is at the bottom of the scale for NM.
Once a card is say bent or has edge wear or more then a few small nicks it is in a sp condition. So what is it that you consider Gem Mint? To me there cards that are graded or gradeable. I don't think I have ever heard of a store grouping Gem Mint with Near Mint.
*Currently most sites put NM and Gem Mint cards together and list both as NM
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+1
Near mint/Pack fresh/ Gem mint are all the same grading. I wouldn't pay extra for gem mint, as there is nothing above what's already given. The grade you are looking for is the grading given to those cards that get stuck into hard plastic cases after grading that will never see the light of day because they are left inside dark, climate controlled spaces. For that, I would only pay extra, but I'm not that deep of a collector as most aren't. There is also an official company for that, but I can't remember their name. Someone, please help me here.
http://www.gradedmagiccards.com/
Yeah I guess it makes sense that typically people would only pay for that if it was for older cards.
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Exactly. I would, but only for the oldest cards (Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, and Legends).
A smart buyer will first do a test purchase from a online retailer and review feedback where they can... if everything went well with that first purchase including expectations on a NM card/s there is a certain level of trust built between that store and buyer and chances are further purchases are made. As long as the customer service is up to the task to further make the customer happy if anything does go wrong with a purchase... online rep is everything...
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That's the thing, allowing sellers and traders to say NM and giving you a SP condition card and you accepting it as NM, even if it is older, is falsehood of a claim and plain laziness to correct the problem and drift down a slippery slope. Regardless of its age, if I buy NM it better be NM. If its an older card, I will gladly buy a lower grade so that I know exactly what I am getting into beforehand and no expectations when I receive. Meaning if I'm buying a dual, I know most are dinged by now, so I will buy a SP one so I know its not perfect when I open my package and no disappointment is received.
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You would also have to tighten up your quality control. I have ordered a decent amount of cards from you but had problems with two cards. Maybe 0.25-0.5% of the cards I have ordered from you. This is at only the NM service level. Gem Mint customers are going to be on a whole other level of pickyness.
Yeah I guess you are right. I was just trying to think of a service we could add for people that only want gem mint and nothing less.
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I think the whole "what to do when a vendor doesn't honor stated conditions" is a separate discussion. Irrational or not, yes, I'd pay a 5% markup almost every time to guarantee pack fresh cards. A store that did this would get my business consistently so long as the regular prices and shipping were reasonable to begin with. That said, I'm probably in the minority on this, as I've found it to be a niche collector trait more than anything else.
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This sums my feelings up too. For older cards it is very tough to find a NM version. Anything SP or better is acceptable. Those cards are hard to find in the first place and even if sleeved the card will have some slight wear being used for that long.
That said I agree far to many people say NM when it's actually the high end of SP. I've had to open eBay claims etc over this and it really stinks. I hate doing it but if they say NM it better be NM as I am paying more for it. I don't think it will be worth your time opening yourself up to that further wilmheath. I've been very happy with my orders from you so I'm sure you would handle it well... But only the most stringent people would order those gem mint cards and they are the most likely to complain (and they should if they pay an extra 5%)
I get so irritated what people call NM. Like eflin said ^^, perfectly, "it's actually the high end of SP".
It's only the highest-level cards I really even care about though. A $5-10 foil, meh..no biggie probably doesn't matter.
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Now for a card that I was collecting, I would definitely be willing to pay a premium for a NM copy. Black Lotus, for example, I would definitely pay more for a NM copy.
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Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)My question is, would you only focus on older sets, or all of them? Furthermore, are there enough cards out there to support a long term gem mint service, especially from older sets?
If you're able to consistently get those results (NM = pack fresh) from any online vendor, I'd be impressed and would definitely like to know who that is.
The gem mint cards are out there, you just have to be inquisitive and sometimes be a little patient.
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ChannelFireball and abugames has always been really good for me. Admittedly, it is mostly for Standard cards and no cards over $20, but they have always given me better condition than I expected.
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Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
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Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Yeah, I've used ABU, CFB, and SCG plenty. They're all fine stores, but you don't consistently get pack fresh cards at NM. You're right that with Standard stuff your odds are probably better, but overall you can get anything from mint to EX and sometimes worse (in which case you should probably complain). I think it would be really cool if stores had a "gem mint" designation, but I would still expect the vast majority of quantities in stock to fall into their "NM" buckets. I think it would be unrealistic for a store to be able to do otherwise.
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I must have missed this part of your op. I should ask what is the difference between Gem Mint, Mint, and Near Mint?
To me NM and Mint are the same only the NM has been handled. I would accept maybe some very light scuffing and maybe one or two very small nicks but that is at the bottom of the scale for NM.
Once a card is say bent or has edge wear or more then a few small nicks it is in a sp condition. So what is it that you consider Gem Mint? To me there cards that are graded or gradeable. I don't think I have ever heard of a store grouping Gem Mint with Near Mint.
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