As many of you know, SCG recently increased power buy/sell prices. Moxen now sell for a whopping $750 credit or $600 cash each, if near mint. Vintage is already too expensive for most people to play, so this is an interesting move for them to make. Power is still great for cubes and collectors, but I didn't see this coming. What do you guys think?
I think they just want all the very rare cards. Seriously, it's not limited to "power" -- take a look at Moat, Tabernacle, Imperial Recruiter, Ravages of War, Imperial Seal, Grim Tutor, etc. They're inflating card prices across the board.
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10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
I think they just want all the very rare cards. Seriously, it's not limited to "power" -- take a look at Moat, Tabernacle, Imperial Recruiter, Ravages of War, Imperial Seal, Grim Tutor, etc. They're inflating card prices across the board.
From what I have seen from Ben, they are just increasing buy prices so that they can actually keep things in stock. Apparently there are alot of players who want to buy cards from them because they can be assured of the authenticity of the card.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
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What is the standard organisational structure of shadow organisation?(Gotta love 4Chan)
Current MTGO Player and paper reseller/speculator.
yeah, the problem is not SCG, its wizards/players, wizards (supply) for not reprinting things out of the reserves list (FOW, Wasteland, etc) and people (demand) for just buying at any price.
The issue is not that they have a Monopoly, is it many stores set there prices off SCG sock prices. So when the prices go up, it is felt far and wide. Even here in Australia where SGC has almost zero reach, just because they have become the sudo default price.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
The thing is, if they have a monopoly, which I think they do in North America, they can just set the prices they want because they know people will buy from them no matter what.
Also, Force of Will, like Clone before it, was taken off the reserved list.
They definitely do not have a monopoly. Channelfireball does a large amount of business, and there are thousands upon thousands of other sellers. I havent bought from starcity in about 6 years. Usually I buy from ebay.
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Former DCI Tournament Organizer
What is the standard organisational structure of shadow organisation?(Gotta love 4Chan)
Current MTGO Player and paper reseller/speculator.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
The thing is, if they have a monopoly, which I think they do in North America, they can just set the prices they want because they know people will buy from them no matter what.
Also, Force of Will, like Clone before it, was taken off the reserved list.
They definitely do not have a monopoly. Channelfireball does a large amount of business, and there are thousands upon thousands of other sellers. I havent bought from starcity in about 6 years. Usually I buy from ebay.
SCG doesn't have a monopoly, but they sure have the market cornered. Which can be worse, especially if you convince enough people you have a monopoly. If you don't believe me, just ask Bill Gates if you get a chance.
But seriously, even if you haven't bought from starcity in 6 years, your purchase price was DIRECTLY affected by it. Either by your seller undercutting or matching SCG prices. SCG is the bar, everyone else either meets it or comes under it. And anyone coming under it is suspected of being shady for one reason or another if they are too far under it. Now that sounds good, because you think, SCG can't rise prices arbitrarily because people will just buy the cheaper card. The problem is, when SCG rises the price on a card, people buy that card because it must be good or SCG wouldn't have raised the price right (you might recall prices should rise because more people are buying the card, not the other way around)? This is where the accusations of price fixing come from. Their authors write about a card, and then it's price goes up. everywhere.
Yes, SCG may not have a monopoly, but they are the Walmart of the MTG world in terms of being able to control pricing (or highly influence it).
They almost assuredly buy boxes for less than ANY other store. Many B&M stores wait for SCG to set a card price on cards (New PW's, high-demand cards, recent spike cards), then either just match it or undercut it by a low $ amount.
As it pertains to vintage cards...SCG can likely offer a higher buy price than other stores can afford to (most local shops probably cant sit on P9 and wait for it to sell). This allows them to have a significant hold in the Vintage market and be able to hold influence/sway over card pricing. If SCG is buying a Moxen at $600, and Joe-MTG-Player-Smith needs to sell his Mox Sapphire for whatever reason and see's that his local shop is only offering $450...he's going to SCG.
Can anyone here predict a possible drop in demand for the moxen? I understand their rarity and the reserve list, but at $600 these cards are starting to get unattainable for the average player. At 300-400 I would be willing to invest in power, but I think that if these prices continue to rise there will be a significantly smaller market looking to get into vintage, finish their cube, etcetera.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
The thing is, if they have a monopoly, which I think they do in North America, they can just set the prices they want because they know people will buy from them no
matter what.
Also, Force of Will, like Clone before it, was taken off the reserved list.
When you say that, it makes people think you don't know what "monopoly" means.
And, other people take note: there are things to take issue with when it comes to SCG. But when you make hyperbolic, inaccurate, and ridiculous statements it undermines all of the good points you make and make you look like a clown instead. Legitimate arguments are accurate, not exaggerated.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
The thing is, if they have a monopoly, which I think they do in North America, they can just set the prices they want because they know people will buy from them no
matter what.
Also, Force of Will, like Clone before it, was taken off the reserved list.
When you say that, it makes people think you don't know what "monopoly" means.
And, other people take note: there are things to take issue with when it comes to SCG. But when you make hyperbolic, inaccurate, and ridiculous statements it undermines all of the good points you make and make you look like a clown instead. Legitimate arguments are accurate, not exaggerated.
I am curious for your response to the poster above.
10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
From what I have seen from Ben, they are just increasing buy prices so that they can actually keep things in stock. Apparently there are alot of players who want to buy cards from them because they can be assured of the authenticity of the card.
Star city is a business like any other. IF they raised prices too much they would go out of business. Since the massive amounts of tournies they run seem to be doing extremely well, it seems maybe they know the market better than some players do, who would rather whine about prices than acknowledge that maybe things have changed.
Current MTGO Player and paper reseller/speculator.
As for increasing power? Not surprising, they're usually out of stock on power pieces.
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They definitely do not have a monopoly. Channelfireball does a large amount of business, and there are thousands upon thousands of other sellers. I havent bought from starcity in about 6 years. Usually I buy from ebay.
Current MTGO Player and paper reseller/speculator.
SCG doesn't have a monopoly, but they sure have the market cornered. Which can be worse, especially if you convince enough people you have a monopoly. If you don't believe me, just ask Bill Gates if you get a chance.
But seriously, even if you haven't bought from starcity in 6 years, your purchase price was DIRECTLY affected by it. Either by your seller undercutting or matching SCG prices. SCG is the bar, everyone else either meets it or comes under it. And anyone coming under it is suspected of being shady for one reason or another if they are too far under it. Now that sounds good, because you think, SCG can't rise prices arbitrarily because people will just buy the cheaper card. The problem is, when SCG rises the price on a card, people buy that card because it must be good or SCG wouldn't have raised the price right (you might recall prices should rise because more people are buying the card, not the other way around)? This is where the accusations of price fixing come from. Their authors write about a card, and then it's price goes up. everywhere.
They almost assuredly buy boxes for less than ANY other store. Many B&M stores wait for SCG to set a card price on cards (New PW's, high-demand cards, recent spike cards), then either just match it or undercut it by a low $ amount.
As it pertains to vintage cards...SCG can likely offer a higher buy price than other stores can afford to (most local shops probably cant sit on P9 and wait for it to sell). This allows them to have a significant hold in the Vintage market and be able to hold influence/sway over card pricing. If SCG is buying a Moxen at $600, and Joe-MTG-Player-Smith needs to sell his Mox Sapphire for whatever reason and see's that his local shop is only offering $450...he's going to SCG.
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When you say that, it makes people think you don't know what "monopoly" means.
And, other people take note: there are things to take issue with when it comes to SCG. But when you make hyperbolic, inaccurate, and ridiculous statements it undermines all of the good points you make and make you look like a clown instead. Legitimate arguments are accurate, not exaggerated.
Criticize the idea, not the person - Jay13x
I am curious for your response to the poster above.
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