good article, and indeed very accurate. I can relate entirely, especially offering 80% just to get the cards.

I did that with goblin rabblemaster as well,
had to do it with Deathmist Raptor and Dragonlord Ojutai.

Sometimes the hot cards dont even make it to my case, players just snipe them. It looks like I havnt had some cards in months when really every time I get them its just instantly sold.

My mistake is that I do not order as many copies of the hot cards as I should when a set first releases, and I regret it every set. I wait for the prices to drop from over-hype, but in the process miss out providing players with the cards they want immediately. That would kind of relate to your zero-profit reference. Sometimes just providing your customers with what they want short term at no profit will benefit you more in the long run, because if you have what they want, they will come back.
You will not always make zero-profit from their future transactions.

Oh, absolutely. I wish I had realized many of these things before I was a store – I could have done much better for myself. Maybe I’d have those elusive Foil Tarmogoyfs…

I enjoy reading about Business and marketing strategies for fun, so I have a decent understanding of what will make a customer come back. It is always harder to gain a new customer than to keep a current one. Understanding that, and being flexible, will build you a great customer base.

Instead of asking if people want to trade, I ask what they need/are looking for. Usually anyone who is interested in trade needs something. Then, you migrate into a discussion of what they are building, and strategy in general.

With a shark, I usually get blunt with them. I tell them I also trade, buy, and sell for profit, and we can either make a mutually beneficial deal, or we may not be able to do business. If they are just wanting value, it may be hard to do anything.

I tend to be honest all of the time. I tell people what I do, why I want cards. Sometimes, I make one trade where I’m picking up a card personally, a card to speculate on, and something my store needs. Often, if the person if friendly and talkative, they are fully aware of all three.

I think I poorly worded that. That was a low profit deal, I often do offer even trades in order to gain a new customer, or get cards I have a guaranteed sale lined up for.

“I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don’t have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?”

Perhaps he was buying at 80% of market value, and his sell price was also 80% of market value. Additionally, there may be an unmentioned 20% fee for the store owner he works with. As it is written, I see your point.

Welcome back!