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Before Your Next Big Spec

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Every once in a while, someone writes an article about finance that I think should be read by everyone. Whether it's Corbin's article about selling his fetchlands or Anthony Capece's article about counterfeit cards, every once in a while a really solid finance article comes along.

Today, Travis Allen talked about his experience quadrupling up on a spec where he got in around $3 and barely making money. It really gives you pause when you think about all the times you think you quadrupled up but how you actually did when you total up your costs. Some of those "well, this spec is low risk and if it goes up a buck or two, that's all profit" conversations going on on reddit and MTGSalvation might not be so popular if everyone really had a clear idea of all the hidden costs and traps involved in speculation. If you're new to MTG Finance or even an older veteran, this is a must-read.

Travis' Piece, titled "My Spec quadrupled but I only made $0.75 each.

I don't throw the phrase "must-read" around often, so you know this is solid writing.

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Jason Alt

Jason Alt is a value trader and writer. He is Quiet Speculation's self-appointed web content archivist and co-captain of the interdepartmental dodgeball team. He enjoys craft microbrews and doing things ironically. You may have seen him at magic events; he wears black t-shirts and has a beard and a backpack so he's pretty easy to spot. You can hear him as co-host on the Brainstorm Brewery podcast or catch his articles on Gatheringmagic.com. He is also the Community Manager at BrainstormBrewery.com and writes the odd article there, too. Follow him on Twitter @JasonEAlt unless you don't like having your mind blown.

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2 thoughts on “Before Your Next Big Spec

  1. I want to echo what Jason wrote above. This is a must-read for anyone serious about speculating and participating in buy-outs of MTG cards.

  2. I absolutely agree. I read the article earlier and it resonated with me perfectly. How liquid are the assets you are investing in? What are the actual profit margins? You may buylist to many different sources, but if a spec has quadrupled and buylists are still low, did you actuate anything?

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