Every once in a while I mention here (mostly) that I buy singles and collections on Craigslist, OfferUp, 5Mile, etc... Sometimes the trolls come from under the bridge and call me a shark or an opportunist (when others do not know the full extent of what they have). Don't worry, I'm not going to do what everyone think I'm going to do...
It seams to be getting more accepted that finding cards/collections outside of the typical Magic realm (LCG's, casual group meet-ups, conventions, etc...) for "treasure hunters" to pay a fraction of the cost without getting judged. I am asking for a general, candid consensus on what the community thinks about buying cards these ways at a small percentage of their actual cost is? Are these just lucrative buyers, or are they still viewed as sharks patrolling the beach, so to speak?
My opinion: just like anything else bought online or at a garage sale/swapmeet(i.e. collectibles like toys, records, antique dolls, etc...), it is your gain for your knowledge when others have not put forth the time to do the research. Some do not know how to go about researching, while others just don't care. I try to look at what I buy as a business transaction and do not let emotions cloud my judgement. I do not equate me buying cards to the colonists who came to America and trades pelts and guns for land, it's an apples and oranges comparison. I bring this up because I am attempting to answer the argument before it comes up. Others might argue against these ways of obtaining cards because they simply do not agree about getting them in the manner above. They believe in buying online at market price, trading, and the luck of the pull. Some might equate the luck of the Youtube videos as finding a unicorn, or might say the video is staged. I plainly do not believe that.
To answer your question, no. I don't feel like there's any stigma attached to buying something at a yard sale/garage sale/Craigslist posting for a fraction of "value". That's the whole point of a yard sale - you put in minimal effort and get minimal return. Doesn't matter if it's a box of Unlimited, a comfy chair, or an original pressing of The White Album signed by all four Beatles. You say "come to me at my convenience and take my thing for some cash that I will not report to the IRS," and then it happens, and it's done.
Read Saffron Olive's thoughts on collectionbuying for the polite profiteer.
I've only had the opportunity to buy MTG cards at a yard sale twice, and both times they were ridiculously overpriced for what was there - one lot had 4E uncommons and commons for $5/starter box (60ish cards), the other had booster boxes full of Conflux commons and uncommons for $10/box (no PtE). That guy also had Starter promo (aka no rare, just fixed cards) packs for $5. I made him an offer that I thought was more reasonable and he laughed at me. I bet he still has all that stuff.
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Yeah, I am aware that I am defensive here. I have been called a shark in the past here, so I wanted to address anything before it came up. It did get to me that some Joe Shmo pubically accused me of taking advantage of others, so I had removed the post to save face. This time I decided to speak quietly, but carry a big stick, so to speak.
I just wanted to return to the topic about a year or two later & put my fingers on the community's wrist to get a pulse.
I had discovered Booster Tutor's videos and realized that he goes about treasure hunting the same way I do.
That's the point of collection buying. You get a better deal for doing the work of sorting and valuing all the cards. Besides, most bulk collections online are pure chaff anyways. Usually it's the buyer who's getting hosed. If you can find some lapsed player selling his old ABUR cards for bulk prices at a swap meet, all the more power to you.
It only becomes a problem when it's "too good to be true" in which case it's probably someone hawking a stolen collection.
IMO, you are fine as long as you don't lie. Selling collections is normally at a discount anyways.
At rummage sales/swap meets, negotiate whatever price you are able, just don't claim something is worth less than it is if they ask. There is no obligation to inform them of value otherwise.
For one-on-one meets, I personally try to give them a good offer based on the collection I see, but you can negotiate whatever price you can (just don't lie).
Those who prey on the new/inexperienced within the community or use false information are sharks.
I got back into Magic 10 years ago after leaving around 8th only because I got a used Tolkien book that had a beta Mox Pearl as a bookmark.
I've seen and bought very cheap stuff at random flea markets and nerdy swap meets, Aether Vials for dimes, Mox Diamond in commons piles, but that was most common years before mtgfinance and History/A&E's trash hunter shows showed up. Now you're more likely to get sharked by the people selling if you go to an auction or street market.
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All joking aside, I have been watching Youtube video's about swapmeet finds and from app/online sale sites. I have been watching Booster Tutors finds (here is a playlist for easy viewing of his videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magic the gathering random buys).
It seams to be getting more accepted that finding cards/collections outside of the typical Magic realm (LCG's, casual group meet-ups, conventions, etc...) for "treasure hunters" to pay a fraction of the cost without getting judged. I am asking for a general, candid consensus on what the community thinks about buying cards these ways at a small percentage of their actual cost is? Are these just lucrative buyers, or are they still viewed as sharks patrolling the beach, so to speak?
My opinion: just like anything else bought online or at a garage sale/swapmeet(i.e. collectibles like toys, records, antique dolls, etc...), it is your gain for your knowledge when others have not put forth the time to do the research. Some do not know how to go about researching, while others just don't care. I try to look at what I buy as a business transaction and do not let emotions cloud my judgement. I do not equate me buying cards to the colonists who came to America and trades pelts and guns for land, it's an apples and oranges comparison. I bring this up because I am attempting to answer the argument before it comes up. Others might argue against these ways of obtaining cards because they simply do not agree about getting them in the manner above. They believe in buying online at market price, trading, and the luck of the pull. Some might equate the luck of the Youtube videos as finding a unicorn, or might say the video is staged. I plainly do not believe that.
So, politely please, what is everyone's thoughts?
To answer your question, no. I don't feel like there's any stigma attached to buying something at a yard sale/garage sale/Craigslist posting for a fraction of "value". That's the whole point of a yard sale - you put in minimal effort and get minimal return. Doesn't matter if it's a box of Unlimited, a comfy chair, or an original pressing of The White Album signed by all four Beatles. You say "come to me at my convenience and take my thing for some cash that I will not report to the IRS," and then it happens, and it's done.
Read Saffron Olive's thoughts on collection buying for the polite profiteer.
I've only had the opportunity to buy MTG cards at a yard sale twice, and both times they were ridiculously overpriced for what was there - one lot had 4E uncommons and commons for $5/starter box (60ish cards), the other had booster boxes full of Conflux commons and uncommons for $10/box (no PtE). That guy also had Starter promo (aka no rare, just fixed cards) packs for $5. I made him an offer that I thought was more reasonable and he laughed at me. I bet he still has all that stuff.
I just wanted to return to the topic about a year or two later & put my fingers on the community's wrist to get a pulse.
I had discovered Booster Tutor's videos and realized that he goes about treasure hunting the same way I do.
It only becomes a problem when it's "too good to be true" in which case it's probably someone hawking a stolen collection.
At rummage sales/swap meets, negotiate whatever price you are able, just don't claim something is worth less than it is if they ask. There is no obligation to inform them of value otherwise.
For one-on-one meets, I personally try to give them a good offer based on the collection I see, but you can negotiate whatever price you can (just don't lie).
Those who prey on the new/inexperienced within the community or use false information are sharks.
I've seen and bought very cheap stuff at random flea markets and nerdy swap meets, Aether Vials for dimes, Mox Diamond in commons piles, but that was most common years before mtgfinance and History/A&E's trash hunter shows showed up. Now you're more likely to get sharked by the people selling if you go to an auction or street market.