TRADING:what's up!?!?

[disrupting specter]

I've been trying to build a deck for months. Either the metagame shifts or I loose heart/interest before I get half
the cards. I end up playing with the same out dated deck I always do. Unfortunately I have very limited resources.

Tight student budget. I was lured into competitive Magic when you could play a Rath cycle/
Urza's deck with proxmoxes. *sigh*

No computer. I'm on a computer with security to prevent downloads. The 5
libraries/universities near me have the same thing. This means no MWS/appr.
   
I hate proxies! This does not count powr or legends/arabian. I forget to play cards because
they looks like a mesa pegasus with some ink on it. Also, txt and mechanics questions always
come up with no way to answer.

The only option is trading, and lots of it. I've been to several game stores with little luck, even with cards that are legal
in T 1.x and standard. I've faced a number of situations and traders. I'd love to hear if anyone finds the same.
   
Old timers. People who have been playing for a very long time. People who did a lot of hard trading and $aving. People
who got great graduation gifts. People who spent too much of their paycheck on gaming.
These folks usually don't need anything. They are the type to trade for the sets of the 1-3 rares from each expansion
to put in their Keeper deck. They don't carry a binder most times because they have what they want. They have lots of old mojo that people want,
which makes trading easy. They are a great source of random integral uncommons because they got them when the sets came out. The problem is these cards are buried in their basements. Some practically want gold bullion for their goods because they can afford to hold out. Some can use a few extra duals and FoWs from me but won't offer anything worthwhile.

Lazy gamers
This is the most problematic bunch. They are bored and nauseated with the peculiar meta and its constant shifts. They don't know what deck they would play or if they are even still interested. I'm have equal resources with lots of them. Ideal for trading IF YA EVER BROUGHT THEIR
FREAKEN CARDS, YA BUMS!
   
Little kids
Great source of Troll Ascetics, Thirst for knowledge, oxidize and Shrapnel Blast. You won't get that 4th bayou here though.

I wonder if there is another route that I missed. I do have other interests, though, and don't want to search for Piledrivers
like the Arc of the Covenant. Anyone else have the same problems trading or have advice on how to get around these problems?

[Eastman]

MOVED
-Eastman[/b]

[firebird365]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I have no idea what you're actually trying to say here.

[Added] If we're talking about ways to get access to cards, MOTL and eBay are the two best ways, but they involve very different styles of trade; which is better will depend on what kind of trader you are.

Personally, I like eBay more than MOTL, because I'm able to get deals that I wouldn't get on a trading site. I started a couple years ago, but I'm fortifying my collection (eventually going to purchase power) - the best way for me to do this is to trade my older cards that I don't need for cash, and then purchase what I need. On MOTL, it's a different atmosphere, because you reach more people (so you can get the more specialized cards, like BB versions of something) but it's not very good for making a profit (or building up a collection). I think of MOTL as better for people who don't have access to an alternate system where they can sell off stuff for cash, and then trade in the cash for cards online.

[blankpagez]

I think he is venting out on how hard it is to get good cards. I feel ya bro/sis !! All you are able to do is just wait patiently. I am always asking those certain players that have a p9 or two whether or not they are willing to sale or trade for them. Thats all I do. I am like what you can call a bottom dweller. Keep asking around who is selling their stuff cause they need money for either college, wife or etc.

Open your ears to gossip and eyes for those new faces that once a while walk into the card store you hang out at. They could have valuable cards you might not have. So thats my advice. Try saving money every week.

[a50e10]

I feel ya on some of your trading woes. As far as T1 goes, all you can do is be patient, and you'll eventually start getting playsets. You just need the discipline to not trade anything you know you'll be trading back for.

To get cards you have to realize and tap into your resources. For me that means I have a casual group I can visit at college, I know some friends at home who will have T2 stuff I need to get. I know which stores to go to and when to meet up with people that have older stuff, etc. Just take the time to try and find as many new card stores, groups to play with. Build your trading resources.

Also it may be in yout interest to look into something like MOTL (magic online trading league). You can find most things you're looking for, but getting them is another issue. Either way, it's another good place to get cards.

Hope some of this helps.

[warlocker19]

A place not mentioned is the internet.  Well, it was but not from my point of view.  If I can not get the cards I need by trading, I just save money or ask my charitable grand-parents to help me buy cards.  Try places like card-haus, anycraze, and even e-bay.  You may be forced to chip in that extra ten bucks for a set of survival's, but you won't have to worry about getting rid of any of your cards.

[RoadTrippin]

I really wish this site had a link to magictraders.com off the home page so this didn't happen and no one needed to complain about trading not being allowed through TMD.

[Razvan]

I really wish this site had a link to magictraders.com off the home page so this didn't happen and no one needed to complain about trading not being allowed through TMD.

Problem is, MOTL isn't that great a place to trade. Only about 25% of the traders there are even usable.

I miss the old TMD trading threads. I only got a little done, but still, apparently, more than MOTL.

And yes, for little things, eBay is the best. Bargains galore.

[Tank]

yup, little things=ebay. I got my four quirion dryads for the same amount og $ (that'd be 4!).

Anyways, buying cards? Use Ebay! I've bought via MOTL as well, but Ebay usually granys you the best cards (bought FoW on ebay for $48 for a playset. they were mint. then bought two on MOTL for $28. they were like EX- )

Anyways, I trade a lot on a Danish rading-forum and then on MOTL. I trade for T1 cards on MOTL and get twice their value locally (poeple here will give their mom, dad AND siblings for a played playset of FoW's or duals! and they'll give you their dog as a throw-in...)

But do try Magictraders.com with the new search feature you can search for specific cards and the auctions also give you some really neat cards sometimes (that's how I get berserks, duals, bazaars, libraries and later traded them up for a few pieces of power ). But using MOTL takes patience, but is often well worth it as well. Check out my list here:

http://www.magictraders.com/ubb//Forum2/HTML/178056.html

[disrupting specter]

My point is that resources have dried up and regular store trading, at least in this area, is in pretty bad shape. I can easily name about ten dudes that I used to rely on that have quit, dropped to casual or disappeared. As far as online goes, I've been advised by many that it is bad (*bad*) My original closing comment was I shouldn't have to stress this much over trading. When you lose at a game all the time, it is not fun. When you need to put so much time and effort into a game to win, it is not a game anymore but a job.

[ganandorf]

as long as you are very careful, online trading can be wonderful. I have been on MOTL for over a year now using the same username. I think I have completed about 50 transactions, including trades, sales, and buyings. I have never been ripped. the main thing to remember is to try and trade with people who have solid refs, and if a deal seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. I highly recomend MOTL, it opened up a whole world of cards that I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.

[pi]

Hi,

I usually went to this tournament that was organised once a month, but, they quit because a lot of people stopped coming when they changed their location. Back then I would be trading all day at that place (I didn't play in the tournaments very often) and the reast of the month I would do some trades in a local gaming store and with some friends. Near the end I also discovered the internet for trading, but I didn't trade online all that often. When the tournaments stopped I needed to find a way to do more trades and I focust more and more on online trading.

Nowadays I trade about twice as much online as I do IRL and only once have I been ripped (and it was indeed a deal that was to good to be true, I knew up front and decided to take the risk). If you're carefull online trading can be very good for you, always ask for a discription of the conditions of the cards (I usually ask people to compare the cards with the descriptions and images on this link, always check their references (and make sure you get ref's as well) and don't do any deal you feel uncomfortable with for any reason.

Good luck!

pi

[Diddler]

I have been dealing cards on the internet for about 3 years.  I've mostly tried MOTL and eBay, with a strong preference on the latter.  

When dealing on MOTL, you have to realize that you're trading with people.  That means that you have to have what they want, and they have to have what you want, AND be willing to swap for a fair deal.  I found that this process was far too tedious as I'd be getting posts and emails from people trying to get a great deal off me.  I wasn't even that difficult to trade with...  

EBay is much simpler since you can always find a buyer and always find a seller for what you have/want.  You do, however, have to pay a small percentage in selling fees, but it's well worth it in the long run.  So, sell off all your small stuff to people on eBay and build up a balance on PayPal.  When you have enough to buy P9 cards, start shopping!

I think there's no better way to do it than that

[Tha Gunslinga]

Go to MOTL.  I've been a member there for 2 1/2 years now.  When I started the best cards in my collection were a Gaea's Cradle, a few random duals, and a Serra Avatar.  Now the only cards I'm missing are 5 P9, a 4th Void, and 4 Bazaars and 4 Shops, plus most of the newer overpriced stuff (Exalted, Akroma, etc).  I've got pretty much everything else, and I got the majority of it, including 3 pieces of power, 2 Libraries, 9 Drains, 6 Masks, 4 Berserks, and a zillion Sinkholes, off MOTL.

I never use Ebay anymore.  It's hard as hell finding decent deals, and half the auctions are fake nowadays.  Paypal and Ebay are extremely dangerous to use, and you'd be surprised at the lack of fraud protection.

MOTL is the way to go.  I get most of my cards in the T/A and Sales forum, so go put up a buylist there.  You can get stuff much cheaper than any online store, and often cheaper than Ebay.  Buy from established members with large numbers of references.  It's extremely easy.