Need a little advice about selling a decent sized collection

[Peter_Rotten]

I haven't played Legacy in about 5 years. Haven't touched my cards until today.

On a whim, I figured I'd check some prices on eBay. WHOA!

232

City of Traitors? Duals are how much? FoWs? And motherf-ing Tarmo-fucking-goyf? Back in the day, I was almost too cheap to buy him for $20-30! Polluted Delta? I haven't even looked much beyond my lands, but, hell, this shit needs to move.

If I sell this collection, there are a lot of worthwhile things I could buy (like whiskey, whores, and tattoos. The wife is thinking about new windows for the house or paying off a small car loan, but that sounds really-really boring). So my question is the following:


What is the overall best way to sell a decent sized collection?
How bad will a store/dealer "rip me off"?
How much will eBay and paypal ding me?
What is the FASTEST way to sell the collection while still making some decent cash?
Which method will get me the MOST money? Is that method really worth the effort? After all, time is money, friend.


I guess that I'm a little overwhelmed with the task of liquidating these cards. I'm just looking for advice on where to start. (And things ain't gonna be easy-peasy. For example, it won't be like selling 4 revised duals. I have a mishmash of Italian, Revised, Unlimited. 2 of my FoWs are signed, etc. Some cards are played and others are played-as-hell. etc)

[Peter_Rotten]

And Horizon Canopy? WTF? I was about to throw that thing out...

[Phoenix Ignition]

My advice (even though you'll take a rather large hit) is to go to a GP and sell it all to dealers. You'll take hits on it, but in terms of safety and ease it's the best. Ebay takes a chunk of money, but you more have to worry about liars saying you never sent them the cards you ordered and paypal always siding with the buyer no matter what. I say GP instead of SCG open because you'll have multiple dealers to play against each other or at least get the best deal from. You also spend less time, even if you have to drive a few hours, than you would divvying up your collection and listing it all individually.

Although walking out of a GP with a wad of thousands in cash may provide its own safety concerns.

[Bed Decks Palyer]

I guess there's something similar to MKM in Murica, right? I found it very good for selling the more expensive singles (which in turn financed my EDH OCD, but w/e), but it's pretty annoying speaking of anything below ten bucks or so. Basically you want to avoid as much paperworks as possible, so instead of lots and lots of work with lists, grading, etc. you may simply put two hundred of your best cards and see what happens. Unfortunately, no one will rush to buy the cards, unless you price them really low, and then of course you'll be sitting on the pile of the remaining crap, so in the end you'll need to visit the GP, as nearly none lgs will buy it, esp. if it's played stuff.

Thing is that you need to get money out of your American MKM account to your own bank account, something something transfer fees.

IDK. Does the GP plan sound good? Maybe you can contact some vendors before the tournament so that they reserve some time for you and tell you what to bring.

[Peter_Rotten]

Of course last week's GP would have been the closest to me. The next closest will be in November in NJ.

[Bed Decks Palyer]

Of course last week's GP would have been the closest to me. The next closest will be in November in NJ.
"Raise, raise, raise. The price of cardboard."
Well, maybe you may try to sell something through the web services. Otoh, it might be too much hassle for too little profit, especially IF the prices rise up even more until Nov.
Don't know. Maybe you can sit on the cards for a bit long and then simply contact the vendors few weeks before the GP?

[Lemnear]

I guess there's something similar to MKM in Murica, right?

Is Cardshark still a thing in the USA?

[Peter_Rotten]

Is Cardshark still a thing in the USA?

Yes.

[Barook]

Why do you need to sell asap?

Selling in November still sounds fine. Reprints aren't going to happen, so prices are likely to stay the same or even rise until then.

[Peter_Rotten]

Why do you need to sell asap?

Selling in November still sounds fine. Reprints aren't going to happen, so prices are likely to stay the same or even rise until then.

There is no actual reason to sell ASAP. In theory, we would use the money for new windows, and getting new windows in a New York November seems sorta stupid.

[TheArchitect]

I usually just use eBay, but it is time consuming and in the past ~6 months the amount of return you get has been getting much lower. I think rapid price inflation is finally stabilizing, and eBay sees that effect first, and also the counterfeit scare might be having an effect too.

You already noticed your Horizon Canopy, but look at everything, like even cards more garbage than that. EDH and Modern's popularity have made some really stupid cards valuable. Daybreak Coronet, Grave Pact, Linvala, Keeper of Silence, Sliver Legion, sen triplets just to name a few

[Peter_Rotten]

Pithing Needle is garbage now? WTF?

[Phoenix Ignition]

It kind of got reprinted to shit. That and that there aren't decks it really hits hard anymore. Grizzlebrand is still a 7/7 lifelink flier even if it isn't a yawgmoth's bargain.

But yeah, definitely look over your big stupid fat creatures. A TON of those are EDH staples and worth money now.

[Peter_Rotten]

Lion's Eye Diamond... BOOM!

[ESG]

So life after Magic is ... new windows. Damn, I wish this was a troll post.

For the fastest way to liquidate, sell your cards to a local shop or a dealer. For the second-fastest way, sell them as a single lot to a Sourcer for either dealer buy price or just over buy price. To make a greater percentage, you'll need to put in the time, and your options range from eBay to Facebook to your friends and former LGS peers.

[Peter_Rotten]

Here are a few of the odd birds:

8 Foil Vexing Shusher
8 Zuran Orbs
4 Jeweled Amulet
4 Skullclamp
1 Foil Infernal Tutor

I raised an eyebrow at each one.

[cuthbertthecat]

In my experience, the best way to unload a bunch of cards is through TCGplayer. You have to go through a bit of setup to sell, and sell some smaller things before you can list larger things, but they take ~12% whereas Ebay takes ~15% and they deposit directly into your bank account instead of making you deal with paypal. You also don't have to list pictures or write descriptions, all you have to do is add the cards you're selling and their condition to your inventory. After you sell enough things, your price and number of things you can list caps go away. I've sold a ton of stuff of various price levels through them and have yet to have a negative experience.

[goblinsplayer]

Well, there is SCG Syracuse next week, and you live in NY, so maybe you can sell your cards there instead of a GP 4 months away.

[HammafistRoob]

SCG would probably kick him in the dick price wise. If your wife is that amazing, selling to TCGplayer is probably a wise choice. If your wife is meh, or your windows are at least decent, wait until the GP and continue looking up card prices in your spare time so you know exactly what to bring. A nice alternative would be to ship the cards over to me.

Why you no magik no moar? Makes me sad :,(

But I know you'll be back, slinging poop with all the standard players since you don't wanna buy back into Legacy. You should at least stick around the Source and liven up the mish mash thread. This place is pretty dull nowadays.

[Bed Decks Palyer]

selling to TCGplayer is probably a wise choice.

If TCGp is that similar to MKM, then I support this. While it takes some time to arrange the things, etc., the difference in money is pretty big. I wouldn't bother myself with every card you got, but simply sell the cards that matter, then make a deal with your lgs/friend and then throw the rest of your pile into stove.

Also, 8 Zuran Orb?

[Esper3k]

You take a 13% hit through eBay, iirc between eBay and PP fees. The plus side is that once it all clears in your PayPal account, you can move the money out immediately.

Highest, but most time consuming is sites like MOTL where you won't lose anything to fees, but it'll take you the longest to sell unless you're willing to take a hit to undercut everyone else.

[H]

I can find you people in the NY metro area that will buy things, or stores in Pennsylvania or Jersey that will. I can't guarantee prices, but I doubt you lose too much compared to moving it to dealers at a GP.

[Peter_Rotten]

Signed Lim-Dul's Vaults? WTF do I do with those? :rolleyes:

[Admiral_Arzar]

I would try and sell stuff to local players first, then liquidate whatever's left at the next GP.

[Peter_Rotten]

Nice. For every four 25 cent rare I waste my time with, I stumble upon a Creakwood Liege.

[cab0747]

I'm still looking for one more LED.

Any idea what you are trying to offload yours for? :wink:

[Bed Decks Palyer]

I would try and sell stuff to local players first, then liquidate whatever's left at the next GP.

P_R isn't thirteen. I guess his time is more valuable than that. Trading is pretty time-consuming and nerve-wrecking, unless you got a dude that buys everything without too much blathering.

[Admiral_Arzar]

P_R isn't thirteen. I guess his time is more valuable than that. Trading is pretty time-consuming and nerve-wrecking, unless you got a dude that buys everything without too much blathering.

I was thinking more of a mass email to players you know with a list of cards and instructions to "if you want something, email me an offer" than actually wandering from LGS to LGS or some such. Ain't nobody got time for that.

[Megadeus]

It really just matters how much work you put into it. The more you do, the more you make. Flipping it all at a GP is the easiest, but since it would be at buy list, the least profitable. Making a spread sheet of everything then posting it online with what you want for each card is probably the best assuming you are reasonable with prices

[Arsenal]

Also, although you may be done competitively with Magic, if you're at all interested in something more casual like building a Cube, I'd hold onto 1 of each of everything you have.

[Peter_Rotten]

Ya know, throughout the ages, I've forgotten the names of some of my favorite students. But I have this crappy foreign black rare. I look at it and don't even know if it's Japanese, Chinese, Korean, whatever. I think to myself, "Hmmm... wasn't this called something like Reprocess?" Yeah. I can remember the name of a shitty 25 cent rare, but not important shit.

[Megadeus]

As for signed shit, like the Lim-Dul's that you mentioned, there is a market for signed cards, and depending on signature it can be a lucrative one. That stuff most dealers probably wouldn't buy, so anything signed would have to be ebay'd or something.

[Peter_Rotten]

Seriously, you're gonna tell me that Cabal Therapy is my most expensive black card? There has to be something else.

[Dice_Box]

If you have Obliterator, that's worth more.

Honestly, my first point of call would be Facebook. Check out the groups on the site. From there, move on. Also I am on need of a few Fetches, I so if you are open to some haggling, I can PM you and see what we can get moving.

[Bryant Cook]

Lion's Eye Diamond... BOOM!

You're welcome.

[Megadeus]

Seriously, you're gonna tell me that Cabal Therapy is my most expensive black card? There has to be something else.

Gotta have something else? Thoughtseize is a bit more if you have any Lorwyn ones. What block did you quit around?

[Peter_Rotten]

Gotta have something else? Thoughtseize is a bit more if you have any Lorwyn ones. What block did you quit around?

Ichorid was my only close second. I had some CRAPPY black cards.

[Richard Cheese]

Might check the old Facebook for local Magic groups. We have one specifically for sales/trades here that seems to get a fair amount of action. There's also Deckbox, but I'm not sure if that does sales or just trades.

I don't mind ebay for smaller stuff, like Esper said they'll take about 13% off the top (10% of total sale to ebay, 2.9% to paypal), but shipping can make up some of that on smaller items. There are the occasional horror stories for bigger things, and they do tend to side with the buyer in nearly all cases, but there are things you can do to protect yourself like delivery confirmation, buyer restrictions.

[Higgs]

Nice. For every four 25 cent rare I waste my time with, I stumble upon a Creakwood Liege.

Lol. Every time I go through the 15 y.o. junk pile still lying around in my parents' basement I wish the same thing. Never happens :)

[Peter_Rotten]

Here are some blue surprises: Gilded Drake, Glen Elandra Archmage, Serum Visions, Threads of Disloyalty.

And why do I own 3 Magus of the Unseen? 8 signed Memory Lapse?

[Peter_Rotten]

Green surprises: Seedborn Muse and um, yeah. No real surprises I guess. Rofellos is still decent, Tarmo is expensive, ESG is worth a few bucks.

[Richard Cheese]

Here are some blue surprises: Gilded Drake, Glen Elandra Archmage, Serum Visions, Threads of Disloyalty.

And why do I own 3 Magus of the Unseen? 8 signed Memory Lapse?

Also keep an eye out for the random Modern common/uncommon staples. Remand is $11, Serum Visions is $6, Gitaxian Probe is $2.

[Peter_Rotten]

Last batch of surprises and WTFs:

Asian Lava Darts! Too lazy to look them up to tell if they are Chinese or Korean. 4 Fire Imps?

Hmmm... Elspeth, Knight Errant, Ranger of Eos.

My white and red sucks.

[r3dd09]

There are a few ways to go about this.

Want money instantly? I can recommend one store/dealer in the NY area and he'll treat you right. Downside, you wont make as much it's a store.

Want to put time in and make a little more? TCGPlayer, MOTL, High End group on facebook (I mod this group and can help out a little). Downside? You have to list ever card and your price and take times.

Want to have some fun? Attend a GP, spend a few hours with a dealer, talk numbers, then enjoy a few days in the area. Downside? Flying with such a large collection can be a hassle.

Want to possibly sell it to a member? Contact me and we can talk. Downside? I make kids cry :(

[raudo]

Well. Maybe Im late and you never log on this site again. But as a father of two.. Just keep the cards and give them to your children when they grow up. New windows? Seriously man! Use your Fallen Empires cards to cover your old windows instead. :D