Contacted Starcitygames.com. Most of the people i talked to don't seem to know whats going on. Finally got to talk to someone that did. I asked for additional contact information or any information that can help me. He said he would email with some additional information. So far i haven't received any e-mails.
@ oneiros: unfortunately, and this is my fault as well, i wasn't given a receipt. I didn't pay in money, i paid in a large card trade (however i had taken off several $ on the card value since he was taking cards instead of cash, the real amount would be well over $100). Also my ride was pressuring me to hurry up. I, unfortunately, am too trusting of people. So any legal action is probably not a route I can take. I do have private messages that prove that there was a deal, but i doubt they hold any weight legally. My main objective with this thread was as a warning. I'm hoping that if enough people are aware of his actions, that he will get caught when he tries to sell the stolen cards.
@Ben i have sent a message to starcitygames.com yesterday ( i waited until july, because his girlfriend stated on her wall that they would start doing alters in july, its july now and they aren't responding to anyone, i was really hoping this whole ordeal was a misunderstanding). I haven't received a reply yet. Also, please note that i don't blame starcitygames, i realize this has nothing to do with your company.
Back in march i attended the SCG Dallas tournament. There I made a deal with the Featured alterer Brian Ace Byrd (his website is http://www.acesalteredart.com/ ). The full value that was given to him was 80$. I was notified that he was backed up, so i didn't think anything of it after 2 months passed. I then tried contacting him again. So far, i haven't gotten a word from him. There are several others who are trying to get their cards back. Some of them have given him several dual lands and power nine. He has disabled posting on his wall and deleted all comments concerning the cards. I'm posting this as a warning and also i would like to know if anyone else has had dealings with Brian. I thought that going with a card alterer that's featured at an SCG would be the safest route, I guess I was wrong.
Also, not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this.
However, this now raises a new questions: if we, the players, have little or no influence over the decisions and actions of WotC, why do we still purchase and use their products? What is our incentive to financially support the company when we are completely subject to their decisions as to what actions to take and what products are released? Should we, the end consumers, not have a greater level of influence over the actions of a company that produces a product that we use?
I don't know, maybe because we enjoy playing the game? First of all, i'm sick of this way of thinking. Its their company, they can do whatever they want as long as their actions aren't illegal. I really don't understand why you think wizards needs to consult you or anyone before making a decision. But rest assured, they actually do care what you think. In fact its a basic lesson in economics that you should of already learned. They want to make money, and you have money. So they are going to take the neccessary path in order to get that money from you. Normally this results in a product that you want, or rather, what the majority of the customers want. Sometimes, the fans are wrong, and wizards has to decide if this is true or not. Fandoms have ruined plenty of things, magic can be ruined by the fans as well.
Also, if i knew what it takes to make a successful card game work, then shouldn't i just make a card game and make millions? People love to give large companies like Blizzard and Wizards a hard time, but they made the game we fell in love with. They don't always make the best decisions, but i'm willing to bet that their decisions are better then the decisions the average player would make.
one of my first boosters that i opened had a mox diamond in it. Has been one of my favorite cards since then. I may not use them much but i'll never part with my playset.
most of the legacy cards i've purchased over the years still see use in legacy. Because of this i really hate the statement "legacy is expensive". Initially it is expensive, but over the span of 2 or more years, i spend less money on legacy then most players spend on standard. One of the greatest feelings ever is not having to participate in the "arms race" that occurs after a new set comes out. I use to spend a minimum of 100$ every time a new set comes out (much more, now that planeswalkers/mythics are automatically 25-50$ a peice).
currently i still try to keep up with standard, but since i get to wait a while before i get my cards, i don't get burned on the "omg is this the next jace? lets make it 50$" hype.
as for it dying, no its not. its popularity keeps increasing. Modern players are generally butt hurt because they spent a large amount on modern only to find out that everyone else cares about that format as much as they cared about extended (which is, not much at all unless there is a ptq/grand prix coming up).
unfortunately, reporting these things to wotc and actually have wotc take action is a little difficult. We have sent pictures of the opposing shop having an early draft before release date and was told that wasn't proof enough. They want us to send a receipt, but the receipt just says mtg cards, so of course that doesn't prove anything. As for promos, all the shop has to say is that they are selling ones they traded/bought from customers.
some decks don't care about duress. Thoughtseize may not be an optimal choice v. some decks, but its never a "dead" card. versatile cards are always more powerful and worth more. ( in legacy, thoughtseize sees more play then duress). Its also a rare that was printed once, while duress is a common that was reprinted several times. If cards were worth $$ based on their power level only, brainstorm, delver, lightning bolt, swords, etc would all be 30$ or more.
edit: also, like the above poster stated, 2 life is not a big deal. the only life point that matters is the last one that you lose, the other 19 are useless.
i recently had dealings with abugames.com and as for huge money rares are concerned, i was pleasantly impressed. i ordered played conditioned dual lands and the condition of the cards were better than i expected. the m/nm prices are a little higher then starcitygames.com but the played prices are good.
opponent had ever creature in is reanimator deck out except elesh norn. he swings with inkwell leviathan and i used a combinantion of wastelands and knight of the reliquary (fetching another wasteland) to get rid of all my islands, blocked with batterskull then watched him lose to his jin-gitaxias becouse his library was less then 7 cards.
i'm sure you have plenty of white bordered cards that are dirty and worth nothing. i would suggest finding a method that doesn't destroy those then try to clean your duals.
but seriously, Goblin charbelcher has to be my favorite card to counter. not only did i not lose, but there is a good chance i'm winning that game becouse 1 land belcher won't be doing much for the next couple of turns.
several spindown d20 from over the years, some blue and yellow counters that came from the 1rst pokemon starter set, 1 set of dnd dice that came from the original dnd starter set (i highly doubt it was a first printing, but its still cool) and several small d6.
edit: i realize this is overboard, and i don't need all these dice, but its dice that i've been collecting since i started gaming. (i got the dnd dice from my dad). oh, and i also forgot my d100 :).
Candelabra of Tawnos is only used in specific decks built around it and its worth 160$ and at one point was worth close to the value of the bazaar's current value. A large part is availability, the older sets had such a low print run. There are several cards that have a decent value from those sets, but are useless in competitive play. It just so happens that Bazaar is broken in the decks that are built around it and its hard to find, causing it to be worth a lot of money. The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale and Moat are also cards that see small amount of play (though moat is more of a staple then vale), and they are also worth a lot. Also note that black lotus is card disadvantage.
the following reasons are why players don't play legacy:
1. they can't afford the cards, this one doesn't seem to be a problem for you.
2. Wizards doesn't support legacy at higher level play and isn't supported as an fnm format. This has become less of a problem with the rise of the scg 5k tournies.
3. players are ignorant about the format and think that all legacy games are resolved on turn 2. this is far from the truth but some people are stubborn no matter how much you try to convince them otherwise.
if wizards supported legacy as much as it supported standard and reprinted all the "money staples", a lot of players would prefer playing legacy over standard.
@Ben i have sent a message to starcitygames.com yesterday ( i waited until july, because his girlfriend stated on her wall that they would start doing alters in july, its july now and they aren't responding to anyone, i was really hoping this whole ordeal was a misunderstanding). I haven't received a reply yet. Also, please note that i don't blame starcitygames, i realize this has nothing to do with your company.
Also, not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this.
I don't know, maybe because we enjoy playing the game? First of all, i'm sick of this way of thinking. Its their company, they can do whatever they want as long as their actions aren't illegal. I really don't understand why you think wizards needs to consult you or anyone before making a decision. But rest assured, they actually do care what you think. In fact its a basic lesson in economics that you should of already learned. They want to make money, and you have money. So they are going to take the neccessary path in order to get that money from you. Normally this results in a product that you want, or rather, what the majority of the customers want. Sometimes, the fans are wrong, and wizards has to decide if this is true or not. Fandoms have ruined plenty of things, magic can be ruined by the fans as well.
Also, if i knew what it takes to make a successful card game work, then shouldn't i just make a card game and make millions? People love to give large companies like Blizzard and Wizards a hard time, but they made the game we fell in love with. They don't always make the best decisions, but i'm willing to bet that their decisions are better then the decisions the average player would make.
currently i still try to keep up with standard, but since i get to wait a while before i get my cards, i don't get burned on the "omg is this the next jace? lets make it 50$" hype.
as for it dying, no its not. its popularity keeps increasing. Modern players are generally butt hurt because they spent a large amount on modern only to find out that everyone else cares about that format as much as they cared about extended (which is, not much at all unless there is a ptq/grand prix coming up).
edit: also, like the above poster stated, 2 life is not a big deal. the only life point that matters is the last one that you lose, the other 19 are useless.
but seriously, Goblin charbelcher has to be my favorite card to counter. not only did i not lose, but there is a good chance i'm winning that game becouse 1 land belcher won't be doing much for the next couple of turns.
edit: i realize this is overboard, and i don't need all these dice, but its dice that i've been collecting since i started gaming. (i got the dnd dice from my dad). oh, and i also forgot my d100 :).
1. they can't afford the cards, this one doesn't seem to be a problem for you.
2. Wizards doesn't support legacy at higher level play and isn't supported as an fnm format. This has become less of a problem with the rise of the scg 5k tournies.
3. players are ignorant about the format and think that all legacy games are resolved on turn 2. this is far from the truth but some people are stubborn no matter how much you try to convince them otherwise.
if wizards supported legacy as much as it supported standard and reprinted all the "money staples", a lot of players would prefer playing legacy over standard.