When this topic came up in 2005, the numbers ended up being around 45% to 50% off retail for premier stores. So no huge discounts for big sellers.
As another poster mentioned, maybe the eBay seller is hoping future sales by its buyers will be directly through their website rather than eBay. So using eBay as an ad for future business. For myself, this has held true since 2001. My initial order was on eBay, then for the next 8 years I went to each seller's website instead and enjoyed the same low price and they enjoyed no eBay and PayPal fees (now only their small credit card fee).
I would disagree that eBay sellers are faceless and anonymous. If they treat me right, they get all my repeat business. The same holds true for local businesses. Hopefully I'm not one of those poisoning the well buyers, but for Magic I don't play anymore and just collect for the nice art and interesting concepts (and ok, the addictive ink smell when cracking a booster ;)). If I did play socially, I'd probably end up splitting 50/50 between B&M and online buying (I used to pay full retail at my comic store since they were good to me).
The place I buy online from has them at $82/box if buying a case, and with free shipping. Though annoyingly they aren't taking pre-orders yet, so I suspect the price could increase at some point before release.
Looking on eBay, looks like there are sellers with over 1,000+ and 58,000+ and 99.5% feedback selling boxes for $83 to $86 and free ship.
Do I think StarCity price gouges? Yes. Earlier when their M10 white intro packs went out of stock mysteriously after a rumor mill post, then re-appear at near twice MSRP, what can you say. That's business, I don't like it and take my money elsewhere.
Great high-res photos. If you want, you can email them to me and I can host the 1MB one on re.com as needed.
I guess he'd have to be - WotC prints him hundreds of foil judge promos as his paychecks. [...] A free employee, basically... just print tons of cards for 2c each... which are worth $20 each!
1MB image forwarded.
$20 each? I think these will go for at least $75, if not higher like the foil Sol Ring range of $110-$180.
I asked the seller and he was very courteous to send high-res scans.
From Collin Jackson, the seller:
"Here are some reasonably high res photos, including one shot of the Lavamancer that has the other cards on the edges. I'd take a nicer looking one with the cards closer together but I'm en route to Worlds and left the cards at home in the USA.
I have notified WotC about my sale of these cards on eBay this week and received their approval. Note that the auction doesn't end until after Worlds."
No linkage as that'd be advertising for the seller who listed the cards. Just do a search on "DCI alternate art" when you're in the MTG category on eBay.
I own all 10, all Unlimited except for an extra Beta Timetwister. I hate those Alpha and Beta set collectors that can throw down six grand on a PSA 10 Beta Lotus.
Heh, this BGS 10 lotus he was trying to sell in September 2006. He had a buy it now back then of $49,000.
Some completed auctions:
Nov 2003 - PSA 9 Beta Black Lotus - $1,925
May 2004 - PSA 9 Beta Black Lotus - $2,665
Mar 2005 - PSA 10 Beta Black Lotus - $6,000
Apr 2005 - PSA 9 Beta Black Lotus - $3,011
Oct 2005 - PSA 9 Beta Black Lotus - $2,400
Dec 2005 - PSA 9 Beta Black Lotus - $1,763
Mar 2007 - BGS 9 Beta Black Lotus - $1,725
Feb 2004 - PSA 9 Alpha Black Lotus - $3,561
Dec 2004 - PSA 9 Alpha Black Lotus - $2,249
As another poster mentioned, maybe the eBay seller is hoping future sales by its buyers will be directly through their website rather than eBay. So using eBay as an ad for future business. For myself, this has held true since 2001. My initial order was on eBay, then for the next 8 years I went to each seller's website instead and enjoyed the same low price and they enjoyed no eBay and PayPal fees (now only their small credit card fee).
I would disagree that eBay sellers are faceless and anonymous. If they treat me right, they get all my repeat business. The same holds true for local businesses. Hopefully I'm not one of those poisoning the well buyers, but for Magic I don't play anymore and just collect for the nice art and interesting concepts (and ok, the addictive ink smell when cracking a booster ;)). If I did play socially, I'd probably end up splitting 50/50 between B&M and online buying (I used to pay full retail at my comic store since they were good to me).
Looking on eBay, looks like there are sellers with over 1,000+ and 58,000+ and 99.5% feedback selling boxes for $83 to $86 and free ship.
Do I think StarCity price gouges? Yes. Earlier when their M10 white intro packs went out of stock mysteriously after a rumor mill post, then re-appear at near twice MSRP, what can you say. That's business, I don't like it and take my money elsewhere.
Did a little searching, and Wizards has a nice search on judges.
U.S.A. judges (3 level 5's)
Netherlands judges (2 level 5's)
I learn something new everyday about Magic. So I wonder how many judge promos Wizards prints for the many judges they have?
1MB image forwarded.
$20 each? I think these will go for at least $75, if not higher like the foil Sol Ring range of $110-$180.
Yes, in Yokohama, Japan - Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2005
Linkage provided for Terese Nielsen's pretty pic. 8^)
From Collin Jackson, the seller:
"Here are some reasonably high res photos, including one shot of the Lavamancer that has the other cards on the edges. I'd take a nicer looking one with the cards closer together but I'm en route to Worlds and left the cards at home in the USA.
I have notified WotC about my sale of these cards on eBay this week and received their approval. Note that the auction doesn't end until after Worlds."
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/broodbozo/others/highres_perniciousdeed.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/broodbozo/others/highres_exaltedangel.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/broodbozo/others/highres_grimlavamancer.jpg
Edit: Removed 1024x768 image to save my bandwidth, please see the 1MB image now hosted courtesy of RancoredElf.com
Thumbnail preview of the 1MB file:
eBay is a wonderful thing.
No linkage as that'd be advertising for the seller who listed the cards. Just do a search on "DCI alternate art" when you're in the MTG category on eBay.
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What's with judges always getting the goodies?
Unlimited edition is the least expensive. Generally $600 (good condition) to $1,100 (mint).