Everyone knows Oswald went down after trading Jack Ruby an Akromas Memorial for his Foil Tarmogoyf
“Hey, you got some trades?”
I probably get asked this question 3-8 times per major event. Competitors, dealers, and drafters alike all have new cards to trade, and thus you always have chance to profit at a PTQ or another major event. We’ve already published an article on MtGO and its Free Market found here, but how do you profit on an abundant trade community? This guide will offer techniques to maintain a profitable collection and to ‘win’ when you trade.
We’ll hit home on this later, but the key to understanding trades is to know this: all parties profit. When you buy one hamburger, you are declaring that you value that burger more than the one dollar it cost you. And hence, if someone offers you a buck for it, the answer is obviously NO. What if they offered you $1.50? Would you sell? Which leads me to another key of trading: Everything is for trade. I don’t want to hear the old line of “this isn’t for trade.” Yes it is. Everything is. Name the price.
The Score
Trading seems simple enough, right? Most people don’t get it, though. When they ask me “What do I value Inkmoth Nexus at?” in my collection I’ll readily say $13. If it’s in their collection it becomes $6. And it’s not a scam. Simply put, I don’t want to acquire an Inkmoth Nexus, really. If you give it to me at 6 then I’ll take it. Conversely if “the market” says that Nexus is worth 13, I’m fine getting value for it. Trades aren’t meant to be even. Neither person would complete the trade if they didn’t profit.
Sometimes profit doesn’t translate to straight dollar value, but to playability. If someone needs one more Nexus to complete their 4-of for the deck they play, then they might be willing to take a dollar-loss in the trade since they will receive immediate returns from the card they acquired. This should never be you. If you are an active trader then you will, by virtue of the job, see all the cards you could want. Never lose on a trade if your only gain is the playability factor. Alright, never say never… five minutes before registration is a time that losing two dollars may be worth your improved chance at Top 8. Normally, though, you can always trade for value and eventually end up with the cards you want anyway.
The Turn
How many Standard-legal cards have you watched rot in your collection as they rotate out of the most played format? It’s no secret that cards rise and fall in value, the former usually directly correlated to strong performances in Pro Tours (or a Commander/EDH staple), and the latter with the rotation out of standard/extended. Too many people keep their ‘staples’ for too long. They weigh a collection down and become lost investment. Let me start this section by saying NOW IS THE TIME! Start moving your Lorwyn-block cards. They’re only relevant in any format worth a damn for another month. If you need that Bitterblossom for your PTQ, then so be it, but move the cards you aren’t using ASAP.
Obviously, timing is everything when turning your collection over to survive rotations. You want to keep cards that you might play, but not hold onto them long enough to see them drop in value/tradeability. Like I mentioned, the time is now for Extended. By May the format will already be an afterthought. Soon will come the time for standard. This means moving your Lotus Cobra (the card is terrible in most other formats), your Gideon Jura, and yes, even your Stoneforge Mystic.
The Stakeout
What are you looking for? Predominantly, you want cards that will be valuable in the next PTQ season. This way you constantly can sell the cards you have at their “peak” and buy at their “trough.” Try to anticipate which cards will be good, or take cards that are already good that will become better once the format rotates (ie. Knight of the Reliquary, Noble Hierarch). You’re also looking for agelessness. Previously, Stoneforge Mystic was one of these cards. They were easily attainable for $5.00 because there was nothing worth searching for. A smart trader will look for cards like Mystic which have almost zero chance of falling and the potential for huge profit. Now the Stoneforge Mystic goes for upwards of $20, and is at its peak. It has a timeless appeal for Extended use, but Extended season is almost over and so is its relevance in Standard. Start moving your Mystics. More examples of ageless cards (or cards that could become broken): Wargate, Grand Architect, all of the fetch-lands, and of course Jace, the Mind Sculptor.
The Hit
And now the fun part. How do you actually manage a trade so that you either A) win, or B) win? Let’s re-visit some of the ideas from earlier
- No card is “not for trade.” By labeling a card as such you are losing on potential value. You’re allowed to be honest, though. Say “I’m planning on using it” and then mark it up 40%. You can find another one. If they’re willing to give you more than it’ll cost you to get another, go for it. Example: I, like many others, have my favorite card. It’s a foil Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind that I’ve had since I opened my first pack of Guildpact. Well, let’s be honest. It’s probably the fourth copy of him I’ve had, and each other one has made a tidy profit. many people might say their Commander General foil is “NOT FOR TRADE.” Stupid. You can have my Mizzet for $40. If you do, I’ll go find another and get it for $15. Worth it? Yes.
- Both sides win. Do not take a trade where you are losing value. Not even for that card you really really want. Other people have it. You can get it. When you enter the trade, know that your trades will be valuable to the guy you’re trading to, so let him inflate his own prices based on desires. There’s never an urgency to complete any trade.
- You can always get more. Whatever trade you have on the table that looks final, get more. Get him to throw in a Grand Architect or say “I don’t think it’s quite right… lemme see if you have anything small.” Some players have IMMENSE collections and you might be surprised by what they’re willing to give up for nothing.
- Cards change value. I don’t mean that the market changes the value of Stoneforge from $8 to $25 in a weekend. I mean a bird in hand is worth two in bush, and if you trade the bird you have for the two in the bush, then you win. Cards in your collection are worth more. You have invested in them already, so when it’s time to move them, aim high. Cards in other people’s collections are commodities. You don’t need them, you just want to profit off of them. They have hundreds of cards for trade and you can certainly find some at values they’re willing to sell and you’re willing to buy. If Inkmoth Nexus is worth $13, that doesn’t mean I want to acquire it for 13, but does mean I’d sell it for 13.
Hopefully this guide will help you keep your collection rolling and recycle your old value for new studs!
bad article is bad. Can be summed up in 2 sentences. Rip people off. Don’t be ripped off.
Actually Steve this is as far from that sentiment as I could possibly reach. I do not believe in ripping people off because it is bad for the community. I see you trading with Timmy on FNM giving him Vampire Nighthawk for Force of Will because they’re both Uncommons.
A healthy trade community constantly benefits all the players. The key is to make your benefits from cycling formats outweigh any potential rotting assets in your collection.
Thanks Steve, your constructive criticism really helps move things forward. Where would we be without people who don’t contribute but take the time out of their day (which I’m sure is just loaded with writing articles and providing content for other people to read) to to tell the rest of us when we haven’t met your standards. It must be tough being perfect, could you do us all a favor and comment on how you do it? I’m sitting eagerly in front of my screen waiting for your reply in which you’ll enlighten us to the method in which you’ve obtained such majesty.
Also, just in case you’re as dumb as you appear and don’t understand sarcasm, you’re douche.
Okay, I was too harsh in my first comment. There is a lot of good to be taken from this article. Particularly, paying attention to the rotations of cards and considering the best time to ship and pick up cards.
Having an understanding of what cards may rise and fall in price in the relative short term (weeks to months) is a very respectable way to gain value in your collection. Recently for instance, when Caw blade first starting splashing red and using Inferno Titan I recognized a good opportunity to buy extra Inferno Titans the day after the spark blade made its debut. I figured buying or trading for them at or near the market price ~4 (on MTGO) at the time was a very safe bet to at least retain value. Fortunately it was a good bet, as most MTGO bots are selling them for ~12 now.
What I do not agree with and why I was overly harsh in my first comment is the idea that ‘I trade my cards at 100%, and I buy cheaply or not at all’. Don’t get me wrong, a good trader almost always earn value in trades and even boost his margin with ‘throw ins’. But I find statements such as,” “What do I value Inkmoth Nexus at?” in my collection I’ll readily say $13. If it’s in their collection it becomes $6.”, deplorable and not healthy for the community. This sort of absurdly uneven trading is what turns people away from trading with non-dealers. Hopefully you were exaggerating to prove a point.
@Psilocyn , an obnoxiously sarcastic internet message board post. How unique. Keep it up. also, it should be ‘you’re A douche’.
A grammar Nazi, how unique.
Steve: I don’t think it is deplorable at all. The amounts might be slightly ridiculous, but the principal is sound. If you are looking to make a profit, you have to buy low and sell high. He is not forcing people to make bad trades, he’s just doing what any car shop would do. Hell, I purposely traded cards knowing I was “losing” the deal because I needed a few cards and didn’t want to spend cash. How is that different if an individual does it?
Psi: seriously?
This is a great article.
I can’t say that I can argue with anything in the article. But then, I’m the jerkass that will trade that kid the nighthawk for his FoW so….I mean, stupid kid should learn to use the internet. His parents probably bought him a damn smartphone, even. Did I mention how much I hate kids?
The idea of “trade for it at $6 isn’t to rip off- but simply to underline the importance that you never NEED a card in their collection. If you only acquire at prices you want to acquire at, you maintain a good collection.
A decent technique to get good prices on your stuff is to sort your binder by value and have a $2page, a $3 page etc. Make it easy for people to find the cards you want to sell.