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Fossil4182
11-28-2011, 02:20 PM
I've been into pimping for a while now, but graduate school tends to suck the funding from you fairly quickly and I've been down grading my FBB and Beta cards into Revised and Unlimited versions over the past few months.

My criteria for rebuilding my collection in Revised and Unlimited is that I would like the cards to keep there value over time allowing me to liquidate them if the need arises while still being able to make my initial investment back. I think there is an argument for buying "beat" cards in this instance because there are players who seek only "beat" cards and the initial investment is low. However, my issue here is that the seekers of such cards will always be trying to get a bargain price on them. This makes me believe that at best, I would probably break even on them if I had to resell a better card (such as a dual land).

My experience suggests that one will have an easier time moving a card that is in SP or NM condition over a "beat" card. While I don't have data to support this, SP and NM cards also appear to gain more value over time and one is less likely to incur a loss if one needs to liquidate them. My logic behind this is that if the cards do appreciate over time, then if one needed to sell them quickly, one could sell them for whatever price they purchased them for and people would look at it as a bargain price and purchase the cards quickly. On the opposite side of the coin, one can still retain the option to sell for a closer to market value price if one has the time to do so and turn a profit.

Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on the condition of cards one should purchase if the primary criteria is the ability to liquidate in the future while retaining value?

*I am looking at purchasing Unlimited Dual lands when possible (especially on Underground Sea).

Mr.C
11-28-2011, 11:32 PM
Beat cards are super hard to move.

sdematt
11-28-2011, 11:41 PM
Yep, Beat cards are harder to move for sure. They won't increase in value as much compared to SP/NM copies.


-Matt

dahcmai
11-29-2011, 07:02 AM
Totally agree. Moving beat cards just sucks. It's not too bad if it's high demand betas, but otherwise forget it. Even in the case of betas, it's still hard to get a decent price compared to the not so played versions. They just aren't hard to sell.

Just stick to EX stuff if you plan on playing with it. That way you really won't be paying premium for a sparkling mint card that you'll have to downgrade the condition when you sell because you played it.

Richard Cheese
11-29-2011, 01:43 PM
Yep, Beat cards are harder to move for sure. They won't increase in value as much compared to SP/NM copies.


-Matt

Interesting, I always assumed there was a big enough contingent of people that just care about playing to keep beat but playable cards moving as fast or faster than minty collector-level stuff.

from Cairo
11-29-2011, 01:59 PM
Yea played-beat stuff can definitely be harder to move. I would think it would be better to sit on ex+ stuff as far as an investment/long term. As you recognized, even when you do find people looking to buy in to poorer condition cards it's usually with the expectation/understanding that they're getting a deal.

Justin
11-29-2011, 04:47 PM
Anytime anyone is having trouble selling something, from Magic cards to a house, it's always a function of price. Demand is lower for beat-up cards than for near mint ones. As was said above, people who are in the market for beat-up cards are expecting a significant discount. If you don't give it to them, it will always be hard to move your cards.