Note: There is a lot of data presented in this article as text. Please excuse formatting issues some devices may experience. 

Last week I began an exploration of buylisting, which is selling cards to a store as a middleman so they can ultimately sell them to the consumer.

I explained the basic economic principles of buylisting, discussed the reasons one would want to buylist compared to other outlets, and went through some of the process on how to do it effectively.

Today I want to dig deeper into the process of buylisting, and I’ll share my experiences as an example.

Buylisting Outlets

Buylisting is a way for stores to get cards to sell, and it’s essentially done by every card shop there is. From local stores to StarCityGames, every shop has to get their cards somehow. The question for someone buylisting to ask is “who will give me the best price for my cards?”

That answer is complicated because there typically isn’t a catch-all formula for determining the buylist price. Stores determine the prices they want to pay for specific cards based on their specific needs, so it’s very possible--if not likely--that a store will have the best price for one card but the worst price on another. Efficient buylisting requires shopping around, and there are a variety of outlets.

Major tournaments are populated by card dealers, and the primary purpose of these stores at events is not to sell cards, but to buy cards to later sell online. They will typically have their own paper buylists circulating the floor and/or a team of buyers that price cards on the fly. Selling at a tournament is a good way to avoid shipping costs and to avoid any uncertainty with grading.

It’s a way to definitively sell nearly anything with very little work, but it’s important to note that these tournament dealers don’t necessary honor their posted online buylist prices, so it’s not likely the best option for getting the best price. In specific cases, including the night or morning before an event where card prices are inflated, they may have the best prices on certain cards, so don’t count them out. These stores also have limited physical capacity, so they aren't likely to be looking to buy bulk cards.

Local shops have to get their cards somehow too, and I haven’t seen a card shop that doesn’t buy cards. If you are fortunate enough to have a strong local shop, buylisting to them may be a good outlet that avoids shipping costs and uncertainty in grading. The biggest issue here is that most local card shops offer very poor prices on their buylist--often a blanket price of “50% of the value”, at best--so it's typically the worst of the options, but it may be worth looking for outliers.

On the other hand, if you can get the right price, local stores are the best option for unloading bulk cards because of logistical concerns.

The major online retailers post their buylists online through a text list or--increasingly popular--a dynamic reverse-shopping cart style storefront. This allows one to build a cart of cards to sell and ship out. This is the primary option for buylisting at the best prices, but selling a collection through this process will require selling to multiple stores. It requires searching each store for each card, selecting the best price, and eventually shipping out multiple packages.

Luckily, if you are reading this, you have access to QuietSpeculation’s excellent Trader Tools 3. Trader Tools 3 streamlines the buylisting process, and all but eliminates any inefficiencies by saving a ton of time and hassle.

Using Trader Tools 3 is the gold standard for buylisting and a process I’ll explore in greater depth today.

Trader Tools

The primary function of Trader Tools is to bring all of the major buylists together in one place. So rather than having to search each site for each card, one searchbar covers all of the stores at once for easy comparison. In reality, there are countless buylists out there for countless stores, but Trader Tools encompasses the major, top-tier buylists that are likely to give the best prices and buy the biggest range of cards.

Searching for a specific card with the Trader Tools 3 searchbar will yield a few pieces of information:

• First is the price the card is selling for, using the average from TCGPlayer.com, which provides an idea of what the card is worth at a retail level.
• Then comes a list of retailers and the price they will pay for that specific card, ordered by price from high to low.
• Each retailer also comes with a “Quantity” number that reveals how many cards the store wants to buy at that price.
• The output also includes a spread %, which calculates the difference between the average sell price and the best buylist price. This spread can be thought of as the margin of profit, meaning the higher the spread, the more the store makes,and the lower the spread, the more the buylister makes.

TT3 is in the process of including an “expert rating”, which takes input from QS staff and shares their opinion on whether the card is a buy, hold, or sell. There aren’t yet many ratings uploaded yet, and it isn’t necessarily relevant for our discussion today, but it’s something to consider when making buylist decisions.

Once a card has been searched for, the best price is determined, and cards sorted, the next step is actually getting the card to the store’s buylist. Trader Tools 3 has the very handy option of being able to create a list to sell to a store and push it directly to their buylist.

My Buylisting Experience

I recently had my first buylisting experience in years, and today I will reveal it all, hoping others can learn from my success and failures.

I sold to:

• Troll and Toad
• ABUGames
• Card Kingdom
• adventuresOn
• MythicMTG

I sold cards to each store based solely on who had the highest price.

I designated a box to each store, and after I searched for a card, I put it into the box corresponding to the store offering the best price.

If a card had a particularly high spread, I put it into a special “TCGPlayer” box for cards I would sell there. If a card wasn’t in near-mint to very lightly played condition, I also put it into the TCGPlayer box.

I repeated this with every card, and eventually each card was sorted into a buylist box. I then went through each box one at a time and uploaded each card to the shopping cart of its corresponding store or TCGPlayer storefront. I could have made lists within Trader Tools and pushed them to the stores, but I chose to do it the old fashioned way, which allowed me to double check my work and make sure card prices had not changed in the few days it took me to go through my collection.

Going through the cards a second time allowed me to take another look at condition, ensuring a smooth process. If a card was worse than I first thought, I could act accordingly by shifting it to the tcgplayer pile or even my trade binder. Stores have guidelines on condition and their corresponding prices, and some even offer a shopping cart option of selling played cards at a reduced price.

I was very aggressive in terms of condition and I sold cards I knew were not necessarily near mint but could pass as such. For my purposes, lightly played cards were considered near mint. I overlooked small scuffs, whitened corners and edges, and minor bending. It’s “near” mint after all!

I reasoned that I had little to lose in this regard, and most stores would still gladly take cards that weren’t quite near mint. After all, it’s all profit for them, and if they did not want a card, I could pay to have it shipped back. I was also primarily selling cards that were of little value to me, tedious to sell on TCGPlayer, and difficult to trade. I simply wanted to convert them to cash that I could put to work for me, so there was little downside.

I also put this note in each buylist:

Thank you! I tried to follow your condition guide as much as possible, but with so many cards I am sure some won't make your cut. Take as much as possible and I'll repay to return the rest. -Adam

Here is the list of cards I sold to each store, and the ultimate result:

Troll and Toad

I fit these cards into a basic ultrapro deckbox and shipped in a large bubble mailer for just over $3.

Troll and Toad offered me the full value of my buylist order: $247.82. They sent me a confirmation e-mail a few days after I sent the cards, and I received a check in the mail a few days later.

It couldn’t have gone smoother, and based on this experience, I’ll be eager to sell to them again and recommend them highly.

ABU Games

I fit these cards into an old DragonShield sleeve box and shipped in a large bubble mailer for just over $3.

A week after shipping I received this e-mail:

The cards have been received. However there is $79.52 in cards listed as NM-M that do not meet our criteria for NM-M. We can offer $58.36 for these Played cards and send $146.04 for all the cards received, or we can send them back along with payment of $87.68. Please let us know what you would like us to do.

Here is a list of the cards in question along with the amount we can offer for being Played-

(1) Ageless Entity (Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas) - $0.18 -- $0.12
(1) Dauntless Escort (Alara Reborn) - $0.75 -- $0.54
(1) Thraximundar (Alara Reborn) - $2.40 -- $1.85
(1) Spiritmonger (Apocalypse) - $1.50 -- $0.60
(1) Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep (Champions of Kamigawa) - $0.76 -- $0.55
(1) Spell Crumple (Commander) - $2.41 -- $1.81
(4) Last Word (Darksteel) - $0.24 -- $0.17
(1) Promise of Power (Divine vs. Demonic) - $0.26 -- $0.17
(1) Mortivore (Duels of the Planeswalkers) - $0.22 -- $0.16
(1) Rage Reflection (Duels of the Planeswalkers) - $0.63 -- $0.45
(1) Endless Horizons (Eventide) - $2.40 -- $1.85
(3) Night's Whisper (Fifth Dawn) - $0.48 -- $0.33
(1) Champion of the Parish (Innistrad) - $1.17 -- $0.84
(3) Endless Ranks of the Dead (Innistrad) - $0.59 -- $0.43
(3) Obliterate (Invasion) - $0.82 -- $0.66
(1) Urza's Rage (Invasion) - $0.49 -- $0.19
(1) Voracious Dragon (Knights vs. Dragons) - $0.18 -- $0.12
(5) Graveborn Muse (Legions) - $0.26 -- $0.17
(1) Cloudthresher (Lorwyn) - $0.33 -- $0.23
(1) Primal Command (Lorwyn) - $4.80 -- $3.70
(1) Spinerock Knoll (Lorwyn) - $1.27 -- $0.91
(1) Windbrisk Heights (Lorwyn) - $2.97 -- $2.29
(2) Leyline of Punishment (Magic 2011 / M11) - $0.24 -- $0.16
(4) Lightning Bolt (Magic 2011 / M11) - $0.59 -- $0.41
(1) Chandra's Phoenix (Magic 2012 / M12) - $0.23 -- $0.17
(2) Sorin's Vengeance (Magic 2012 / M12) - $0.19 -- $0.12
(1) Staff of Nin (Magic 2013 / M13) - $0.33 -- $0.23
(2) Braids, Cabal Minion (Odyssey) - $1.37 -- $0.55
(1) Darkwater Catacombs (Odyssey) - $1.98 -- $1.44
(1) Rhystic Tutor (Prophecy) - $0.30 -- $0.06
(1) Vulturous Zombie (Ravnica: City of Guilds) - $0.42 -- $0.29
(2) Artisan of Kozilek (Rise of the Eldrazi) - $0.66 -- $0.45
(1) Awakening Zone (Rise of the Eldrazi) - $0.84 -- $0.60
(1) Student of Warfare (Rise of the Eldrazi) - $2.08 -- $1.52
(1) Arashi, the Sky Asunder (Saviors of Kamigawa) - $0.49 -- $0.24
(5) Kami of the Crescent Moon (Saviors of Kamigawa) - $2.41 -- $1.86
(1) Steel Hellkite (Scars of Mirrodin) - $0.66 -- $0.47
(2) Wilt-Leaf Liege (Shadowmoor) - $10.47 -- $8.38
(1) Sedge Sliver (Time Spiral) - $1.27 -- $0.91
Total in question: $79.52
Our offer for these: $58.36

-----------------------------
For your reference here is the entirety of the shipment-

(1) 10th Edition - Traumatize (NM-M) @ 0.92: $0.92
(2) Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas - Ageless Entity (NM-M) @ 0.18: $0.36
(2) Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas - Profane Command (NM-M) @ 0.36: $0.72
(1) Alara Reborn - Dauntless Escort (NM-M) @ 0.75: $0.75
(1) Alara Reborn - Thraximundar (NM-M) @ 2.40: $2.40
(4) Apocalypse - Phyrexian Arena (NM-M) @ 5.76: $23.04
(1) Apocalypse - Spiritmonger (NM-M) @ 1.50: $1.50
(1) Avacyn Restored - Bruna, Light of Alabaster (NM-M) @ 0.76: $0.76
(1) Avacyn Restored - Silverblade Paladin (NM-M) @ 0.31: $0.31
(1) Champions of Kamigawa - Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep (NM-M) @ 0.76: $0.76
(1) Commander - Akroma, Angel of Fury (NM-M) @ 4.27: $4.27
(1) Commander - Archangel of Strife (NM-M) @ 0.75: $0.75
(2) Commander - Brainstorm (NM-M) @ 0.82: $1.64
(1) Commander - Collective Voyage (NM-M) @ 1.65: $1.65
(1) Commander - Comet Storm (NM-M) @ 0.49: $0.49
(1) Commander - Dread Cacodemon (NM-M) @ 1.65: $1.65
(1) Commander - Reiver Demon (NM-M) @ 0.50: $0.50
(1) Commander - Spell Crumple (NM-M) @ 2.41: $2.41
(1) Conflux - Martial Coup (NM-M) @ 1.86: $1.86
(2) Dark Ascension - Increasing Savagery (NM-M) @ 0.24: $0.48
(4) Darksteel - Last Word (NM-M) @ 0.24: $0.96
(1) Divine vs. Demonic - Promise of Power (NM-M) @ 0.26: $0.26
(1) Duels of the Planeswalkers - Mortivore (NM-M) @ 0.22: $0.22
(1) Duels of the Planeswalkers - Rage Reflection (NM-M) @ 0.63: $0.63
(1) Eventide - Endless Horizons (NM-M) @ 2.40: $2.40
(4) Fifth Dawn - Night's Whisper (NM-M) @ 0.48: $1.92
(1) Gatecrash - Master Biomancer (NM-M) @ 1.57: $1.57
(1) Innistrad - Bloodgift Demon (NM-M) @ 0.18: $0.18
(1) Innistrad - Champion of the Parish (NM-M) @ 1.17: $1.17
(5) Innistrad - Endless Ranks of the Dead (NM-M) @ 0.59: $2.95
(3) Invasion - Obliterate (NM-M) @ 0.82: $2.46
(1) Invasion - Urza's Rage (NM-M) @ 0.49: $0.49
(1) Jace vs. Chandra - Daze (NM-M) @ 3.41: $3.41
(1) Knights vs. Dragons - Kinsbaile Cavalier (NM-M) @ 0.55: $0.55
(1) Knights vs. Dragons - Thunder Dragon (NM-M) @ 0.48: $0.48
(2) Knights vs. Dragons - Voracious Dragon (NM-M) @ 0.18: $0.36
(7) Legions - Graveborn Muse (NM-M) @ 0.26: $1.82
(1) Lorwyn - Cloudthresher (NM-M) @ 0.33: $0.33
(1) Lorwyn - Primal Command (NM-M) @ 4.80: $4.80
(1) Lorwyn - Spinerock Knoll (NM-M) @ 1.27: $1.27
(1) Lorwyn - Windbrisk Heights (NM-M) @ 2.97: $2.97
(2) Magic 2011 / M11 - Leyline of Punishment (NM-M) @ 0.24: $0.48
(10) Magic 2011 / M11 - Lightning Bolt (NM-M) @ 0.59: $5.90
(1) Magic 2012 / M12 - Chandra's Phoenix (NM-M) @ 0.23: $0.23
(2) Magic 2012 / M12 - Sorin's Vengeance (NM-M) @ 0.19: $0.38
(2) Magic 2013 / M13 - Staff of Nin (NM-M) @ 0.33: $0.66
(1) Modern Masters - Demigod of Revenge (NM-M) @ 1.68: $1.68
(2) Nemesis - Daze (NM-M) @ 1.50: $3.00
(2) Odyssey - Braids, Cabal Minion (NM-M) @ 1.37: $2.74
(1) Odyssey - Darkwater Catacombs (NM-M) @ 1.98: $1.98
(1) Prophecy - Rhystic Tutor (NM-M) @ 0.30: $0.30
(1) Ravnica: City of Guilds - Vulturous Zombie (NM-M) @ 0.42: $0.42
(2) Rise of the Eldrazi - Artisan of Kozilek (NM-M) @ 0.66: $1.32
(1) Rise of the Eldrazi - Awakening Zone (NM-M) @ 0.84: $0.84
(1) Rise of the Eldrazi - Student of Warfare (NM-M) @ 2.08: $2.08
(1) Saviors of Kamigawa - Arashi, the Sky Asunder (NM-M) @ 0.49: $0.49
(5) Saviors of Kamigawa - Kami of the Crescent Moon (NM-M) @ 2.41: $12.05
(1) Scars of Mirrodin - Steel Hellkite (NM-M) @ 0.66: $0.66
(2) Shadowmoor - Wilt-Leaf Liege (NM-M) @ 10.47: $20.94
(2) Sorin vs. Tibalt - Browbeat (NM-M) @ 0.66: $1.32
(1) Time Spiral - Sedge Sliver (NM-M) @ 1.27: $1.27
(4) Apocalypse - Pernicious Deed (Pld) @ 6.27: $25.08
(1) Champions of Kamigawa - Myojin of Life's Web (Pld) @ 1.52: $1.52
(1) Duels of the Planeswalkers - Banefire (Pld) @ 1.12: $1.12
(1) Innistrad - Endless Ranks of the Dead (Pld) @ 0.43: $0.43
(1) Phyrexia vs. The Coalition - Rith, the Awakener (Pld) @ 0.16: $0.16
(1) Ravnica: City of Guilds - Vulturous Zombie (Pld) @ 0.29: $0.29
(1) Rise of the Eldrazi - Eldrazi Temple (Pld) @ 1.44: $1.44
Original Total: $167.20
Standard Processing: -$0.00
Total: $167.20”

ABU sent me a receipt confirmation a week after I sent the cards, and two days later they sent me the e-mail I just shared.

Notice that when selling, I designated a significant amount of cards as played, as ABU offers that option in their buylist cart. Upon processing the cards, they specified some additional cards as played, and then sent me an e-mail with their new assessment and price.

I like how they specified the cards they said were played, then gave me the option to sell them at the new price or pay to mail them back before they offered payment. They seem to have applied their played price to the cards they isolated, and given that I accepted the played price on cards I designated played myself, I accepted the played price on the cards they isolated, which was approximately 73% of the full value.

I was impressed with, though not surprised by, their professionalism, and ABU was a good experience all around that I'll look to repeat in the future.

CardKingdom

This was my largest order. I fit them into an old plastic clamshell box and shipped in a large bubble mailer for around $9-10.

The majority of my cards, most of which were on the low end of the spectrum, went to CardKingdom. Nine days after shipping, I received a confirmation that the cards had been received and payment was being sent.

I buylisted the cards under the only near-mint option, and my buylist receipt was for $262.58 with a “(before grading)” clause.

When I received the payment, however, they had discounted nearly all of my cards. I went to their website for a look at the new invoice, which revealed most cards were discounted.

This lists:

• the card
• the quantity I sold and the price they decided to pay
• the price I intended to sell for
• the total for that particular card

Total After Grading: $192.14

They met my aggressive buylisting with aggressive grading. They certainly discounted more cards than were truly played, which left a slightly sour taste in my mouth. They did not give me an option to return, just sent a payment.

On the other hand, I wasn’t terribly surprised. While I took a nearly 30% cut on the price, I was still fine turning a pile of useless cards into nearly $200. I’ll avoid CardKingdom in the future unless my cards are truly mint, and I recommend that others do the same.

AdventuresOn

A small order, I fit it into a small plastic clamshell case and shipped it in a small bubble mailer for a couple dollars.

AdventuresOn took the longest, giving me a receipt confirmation 11 days after shipping. Three days later I received a payment confirmation:

Bought at agreed price.
There are several in less than NM condition. Not enough to lower the offer this time. Thank you.

This offer was for the following cards currently in the
possession of adventuresON.com:

1 x Distorting Lens English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - 8th Edition - Magic The Gathering - $0.13 each
1 x City of Brass English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - 8th Edition - Magic The Gathering - $2.25 each
1 x Obliterate English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - 8th Edition - Magic The Gathering - $1.00 each
2 x Descendants' Path English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Avacyn Restored - Magic The Gathering - $0.35 each
2 x Archwing Dragon English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Avacyn Restored - Magic The Gathering - $0.12 each
1 x Cranial Extraction English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Champions of Kamigawa - Magic The Gathering - $0.32 each
1 x Time Stop English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Champions of Kamigawa - Magic The Gathering - $0.98 each
4 x Ghostly Prison Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Champions of Kamigawa - Magic The Gathering - $3.15 each
1 x Avatar of Slaughter English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Commander - Magic The Gathering - $0.54 each
2 x Vorapede English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Dark Ascension - Magic The Gathering - $0.85 each
1 x Eternal Witness English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Duel Decks: Izzet Vs. Golgari - Magic The Gathering - $1.02 each
1 x Juniper Order Ranger English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons - Magic The Gathering - $0.37 each
1 x Kilnmouth Dragon Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons - Magic The Gathering - $0.57 each
1 x Drove of Elves Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Duels of the Planeswalkers - Magic The Gathering - $0.62 each
1 x Crackleburr English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Eventide - Magic The Gathering - $0.90 each
1 x Skaab Ruinator English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Innistrad - Magic The Gathering - $0.32 each
1 x Tsabo's Decree English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Invasion - Magic The Gathering - $0.25 each
1 x Fledgling Dragon English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Judgement - Magic The Gathering - $0.29 each
1 x Overwhelming Stampede English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Magic 2011 Core Set - Magic The Gathering - $0.54 each
10 x Ponder Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Magic 2012 Core Set - Magic The Gathering - $0.45 each
2 x Spontaneous Generation English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mercadian Masques - Magic The Gathering - $0.17 each
1 x Sangromancer English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mirrodin Besieged - Magic The Gathering - $0.85 each
1 x Phyrexian Hydra English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mirrodin Besieged - Magic The Gathering - $0.17 each
3 x Praetor's Counsel English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mirrodin Besieged - Magic The Gathering - $1.64 each
2 x Hellkite Igniter English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mirrodin Besieged - Magic The Gathering - $0.12 each
1 x Victory's Herald English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Mirrodin Besieged - Magic The Gathering - $0.25 each
2 x Chancellor of the Tangle English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - New Phyrexia - Magic The Gathering - $0.13 each
2 x Norn's Annex Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - New Phyrexia - Magic The Gathering - $0.50 each
1 x Mortivore English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Odyssey - Magic The Gathering - $0.60 each
1 x Future Sight English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Onslaught - Magic The Gathering - $1.40 each
2 x Biorhythm English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Onslaught - Magic The Gathering - $0.20 each
2 x Ravenous Baloth English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Onslaught - Magic The Gathering - $0.28 each
1 x Beacon of Unrest English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Planechase - Magic The Gathering - $1.75 each
1 x Razia, Boros Archangel Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Planechase - Magic The Gathering - $0.90 each
4 x Suppression Field English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Ravnica - Magic The Gathering - $0.72 each
1 x Geth, Lord of the Vault English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Scars of Mirrodin - Magic The Gathering - $2.50 each
1 x Hand of the Praetors English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Scars of Mirrodin - Magic The Gathering - $0.47 each
3 x Beseech the Queen English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Shadowmoor - Magic The Gathering - $1.50 each
1 x Sigil of Distinction English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Shards of Alara - Magic The Gathering - $0.15 each
1 x Lotus Petal Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Tempest - Magic The Gathering - $2.00 each
1 x Dralnu, Lich Lord Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Time Spiral - Magic The Gathering - $0.25 each
1 x Kher Keep English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Time Spiral - Magic The Gathering - $0.35 each
1 x Major Teroh English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Torment - Magic The Gathering - $0.16 each
2 x Basilisk Collar English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Worldwake - Magic The Gathering - $4.39 each
1 x Comet Storm Make Sure It Is From This Expansion,English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Worldwake - Magic The Gathering - $0.75 each
1 x Bloodchief Ascension English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Zendikar - Magic The Gathering - $2.50 each
1 x Scute Mob English Only,Mint/Near Mint Only - Zendikar - Magic The Gathering - $1.00 each

They determined that not all my cards were not near mint, but offered the full value anyway. This was my smallest order, but I was certainly satisfied and will be looking to sell to them in the future, though based on “this time” in the e-mail, I will tread with caution.

MythicMTG

I fit this order into a small plastic case I received when buying cards and shipped in a small bubble mailer for a couple dollars.

Total Cash: $98
Total Credit: $111.5

Note that the list also shows what they would pay in store credit:

• Card name Rarity Color Set Cash Credit Sell Qty
• Genju of the Realm rare White/Blue/Black/Red/Green Betrayers of Kamigawa $1.00 $1.25 3
• Umezawa's Jitte rare Artifact Betrayers of Kamigawa $28.00 $32.00 1
• Grave Pact rare Black Eighth Edition $7.00 $7.50 1
• Collective Restraint rare Blue Invasion $1.50 $1.75 1
• Magma Sliver rare Red Legions $4.00 $4.50 2
• Dolmen Gate rare Artifact Lorwyn $1.50 $1.75 1
• Nath of the Gilt-Leaf rare Black/Green Lorwyn $1.50 $1.75 2
• Sleight of Hand Common Blue Ninth Edition $1.00 $1.25 2
• Chromatic Lantern rare Artifact Return to Ravnica $2.00 $2.25 1
• Twincast rare Blue Saviors of Kamigawa $1.75 $2.00 1
• Decree of Justice rare White Scourge $1.75 $2.00 2
• Dragonspeaker Shaman Uncommon Red Scourge $3.00 $3.25 3
• Sygg, River Cutthroat rare Blue/Black Shadowmoor $3.50 $4.00 4
• Battlegrace Angel rare White Shards of Alara $1.25 $1.50 1
• Stoic Angel rare White/Blue/Green Shards of Alara $1.00 $1.25 1
• Citanul Flute rare Artifact Urza's Saga $0.50 $0.75 1
• Vernal Bloom rare Green Urza's Saga $1.50 $1.75 1
• Dragonmaster Outcast Mythic Red Worldwake $6.50 $7.00 1
• Beastmaster Ascension rare Green Zendikar $1.50 $1.75 2

Eight days after shipping I received this e-mail:

Hello,

We have received the cards sent in for Buylist #356.

After grading, every single card in the lot is either slight played or less.

We can offer 2 options for this buylist.

A) we can offer $78.40, instead of the original amount of $98

Or

B) we can return all the cards to you.

Please let me know which option you would like.

Thanks

“Every single card” was hyperbole, which was frustrating to hear from a supposed legitimate retailer, but I was not going to argue and was fine selling my cards at a 20% discount. I would proceed to sell to MythicMTG with caution, selling only truly mint cards.

Conclusions

I had a good buylist experience overall. I made hundreds of dollars for stacks of cards I was doing nothing with, and I can turn that money into something more useful. The whole process has taught me to better organize my cards, as well as be sure to keep them in better condition. It has also colored my opinion on trading, and I'll be sure to go after the best condition cards.

One thing I have yet to discuss is the store credit option. Most stores offer a bonus on taking store credit rather than cash. This is important to keep in mind when buylisting, because if you are just going to turn around and buy cards, this may very well be a better option.

Here is a list of retailers and their store credit buylist bonus:

• Troll and Toad: 25%
• ABU Games: 25%
• CardKingdom: 30%
• MythicMTG: varies card by card
• AdventuresOn: varies card by card
• StarCityGames: 25%

Please turn to the comment section with any buylist questions or comments!

-Adam